Wednesday, December 28

Dream Casting: Jem and the Holograms 2012

I did this before split up but I decided to do it again as new talent has arisen and match up better. It's almost 2012 and I'm talking about a series from 1985!
 
Jerrica Benton/Jem / Rachael McAdams
Jerrica could have be considered a goody goody two-shoes but she was concerned for her family, friends and foster kids. She had internal conflicts like any person. The mysterious Jem with no last name and no past. Jerrica got to go free. Dunno if she can sing. I know you might be saying, why not Gwen Stefani but unfortunately age is a factor and Jerrica was a teenager or in her early twenties I think. No, I didn't pick Rachael McAdams because of the new pink streaks she has but because I think she has the qualities for Jerrica that would make the audience care for her. On Pop Culture talk show on 9/14/10, Samantha Newark (the speaking voice of Jem) even said she thought Rachael would be a good pick. but people might lean on... Lady Gaga might be the most popular chocie. I know she said she wanted to act.

 
Rio /  Tyler Hoechlin / Rodrigo Santoro
Jerrica's long time sweetheart who learned under her father and became the group's manager. He fell for Jem and was torn between the two. He also had a mean streak, a thing about liars. Of MTV's Teen Wolf and 7th Heaven, he has those dreamy blue eyes and jet black hair. And he's a good actor, so I think that would be good for Rio. And we know he can handle having a mean streak.


HOLOGRAMS
 
Kimber Benton / Katy Perry
Jerrica's kid sister, the youngest and most passionate of the group. She let men hang on by a string, she dated and dated. She had her own 'sister shadow' issues like any little sister. She wrote the songs for the band. I like her music but I don't like her personality, but eh, people like her and I think she might do a decent job as Kimber, be a little sister to Lady gaga and be the girl who has lots of boyfriends.

 
Shana Elmsford / Nicki Minaj
In the beginning she played the drums. She was real good at designing clothes and dreamed to have her own fashion line or something. She was a foster girl who grew up with the Benton sisters. She is clearly inspired by Jem, and I think would make a great Shana, even though my last choice Rihanna would still make a good choice too.

 
Aja Leith/ Jenna Ushkowitz
Lead guitarist and tomboy, Aja also grew up with the others. She was very courageous and no bull kind of gal. Tina from Glee can sing and I think she would make an awesome Aja.

 
Carmen 'Raya' Alonso / Belinda
Raya was the 'new' Hologram and naive to the show business and had a Latina accent. Mexican pop singer, born in Spain. The only English she has done was in "Cheetah Girls 2".


THE MISFITS
 
Pizzazz/Phyllis Gabor / Alecia Beth Moore "P!nk"
The spoiled brat who is really a lonely girl inside, the leader of the Misfits. She was the bad girl you loved to despise. Okay I know what you're thinking, she should be Jem but come on, playing the bad girl is way more fun. I'm sure she'd have fun with it. And I also think, she can pull the soft side of Miss Gabor. I chose her before and I still think she'd be great!


Roxy / Avril Lavigne
The second hand man to Pizzazz. She'd follow Pizzazz but when she wanted to. She was illiterate and came from the 'bad side of town'.  I think she'd have more fun as a baddie. She can sing but Roxy didn't sing that much solo--except for in one episode but they used Pizzazz's singer.


Stormer / Felicia Day
The sweet compassionate 'always look at the bright side' pushover of the group. Oh, sweet sexy Felicia. She was in 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog, I think she can cover the sweet pushover anytime. And in my fantasy movie, she gets the guts and stands up to her group mates. How will she look like in a dark blue wig? I don't know.

 
Jetta / April Pearson
She was the tough new girl in the Misfits. She played the saxophone. She took crap from nobody. According to Christy Marx, when she suggested the new Misfit be African-American, the people in charge were against the idea but that a British character would be fine. It's funny. My vision of a black Misfit would have a mohawk for some reason. British actress from "Skins."

 
Eric Raymond / Julian McMahon
His name is the show writer Kristy Marx's brother. He was the only major character that wasn't a doll. He was the 'villain.' Basically the Misfits made him their bitch. The go-to bad guy? And Eric wasn't sexy at all but heh, its a movie. I think he'd be a nice fit and it be nice women chewing him out for a change. I picked him last time and still think he'd be a good choice, him or Zachary Quinto or Dylan Mcdermott.


MINOR CHARACTERS
 
Synergy / Brenda Strong
How Jerrica actually transformed into Jem was through a super advanced computer that her father built, originally meant for using holograms to revolutionize the music and entertainment industry but it became so powerful that he feared it landing in the wrong hands so he left it in possession of his birth and foster daughters. Her personality was modeled after Jerrica and Kimber's singer mother who died when they were young. As it can be imagined, it was hard to think about what actress can balanced a stoic computerize mentor that gave motherly advice and also be coy. Brenda is the go-to dead mother narrator, I can see her both being funny and good with advice. I don't know how she will look in purple, but she would be good as Jacqui Benton in flashbacks.

 
Lindsey Pierce / Sandra Benhard
She is a VJ that had her own show. Now, could any old MTV VJ play her or someone with personality? I think Kathy Griffin would be hilarious as a mix of Lindsey and gossip queen Harriet Horn. Or to be totally vicious, maybe someone like Perez Hilton in drag. Too bad Divine is gone. She could totally do the vicious gossip queen shtick.

 
Anthony Julian / Lee Thompson Young
Shana's boyfriend and confidant and director for virtually everything involving the Holograms such as movies and music videos. Best known for 'The Famous Jett Jackson,' I think he would be charming.

 
Vivien 'Video' Montgomery /  Debbie Ryan
The videographer of Jem's friends, if they keep it in the 80's, the big lugging camera would make sense. I guess if it is set now, she can have one of those small DVs and just be a doing a web-exclusive material for them. Sweetheart from Suite Life on Deck and Disney's Jessie.

 
Constance "Clash" Montgomery / Taryn Manning
Video's cousin. She was the wild and crazy fan of the Misfits, she made a ruckus with symbols on her wrists. She desperately wanted to be a Misfit. Her dad was always bossy over Video's dad. McCrazy, she has done Crossroads, Crazy/Beautiful, and Hustle & Flow.
 
Zipper / Chris Zylka
He wasn't a doll but had his name on his jacket for some reason. Eric Raymond (baddie) used him for dirty deeds to 'ruin' Jem. He was a shady character that was also used for comic relief. For some reason, in some episodes his hair turned black. From "Secret Circle" and the short-lived "10 Things I hate about you" would be perfect. He's good at being sneaky and hot at the same time.

 
Techrat / Eric Millegan
When writers got bored with Zipper, a new character was introduced. Techrat, a tech expert who Eric Raymond employed to 'ruin' Jem. Show writer Christy Marx originally wanted Techrat to be a Boy George-like androgynous and ambiguous. Unfortunately, whoever was in charge wasn't comfortable with the idea and made him male. He was on "Bones," it was hard tot ell if he was a woman or a man, I think he'd be a good androgynous Techrat.

 
Giselle "Danse" Dvorak / Julianne Hough
Guess what she did? Well, she had an awesome storyline in which she broke her leg and had to go through rehab. Cartoon characters going through rehab. Also she was from Eastern European decent. Good dancer and singer.


THE STINGERS
 Riot / Trevor Donnovan
 Lead singer of the Stingers that came in Season 3 and was competition for Rio, he loved Jem and not Jerrica. He also had daddy issues. It would be an interesting wrench to throw in. Sure he looks like a Ken Doll but wasn't Riot based on a doll? (Even though the doll was not released---as of yet). He has played the bad guy before and also an egoistical jerk, also the sensitive gay guy so I am sure he can handle the duality of Riot being self-centered, but also charming, and have daddy issues.

 Rapture / Annelynne McCord
A con-artist and I found her annoying, she was so self-righteous. 90210, Nip/Tuck, good at being a witch.

Minx / Anna Faris
German character, she was always after Rio and had a hinted romance with Techrat. She was selfish and cruel and anti-American. I wanted a young actress but I can't think of anyone else better. She can handle the accent.

Monday, December 26

Scarce Female Superheroes

We know plenty of male superheroes... Batman, Spider-Man, Superman, Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and the list goes on and on. When it comes to Superheronies, there is just wonder Woman. Of course, there is Bat Girl and Supergirl but they are based on prominent male characters. The only independently created superheronie character was Wonder Woman, here in the United States and other countries. In Japan, it is Sailor Moon, who I will mention later. I really wish they had more recognition and were revived in some way.

 Wonder Woman
Created by a male feminist, she had a popular series starring Dana Carter in the 70's and got a new outfit recently. But her movie was canceled, movie plans have been going on for various years, even Joss Whedon is briefly attached but the Powers that Be nixed the idea. Many actresses coveted the role. Adrianne Palicki was signed up for a NBC pilot but it wasn't picked up, after fans were upset about the costume. Joss Whedon said in an interview that we don't only need Wonder Woman, we need Wonder WOMEN.

 Xena Warrior Princess
1995 spin-off series from Hercules, it was a big hit. The story was about Xena, who was a bad guy who went on a road to redemption along with her partner Gabrielle, fighting with a sword and fighting disc. But now she is virtually unknown to children and buried in pop culture. The only mention of her in pop culture was last summer's Thor short reference. I have not heard any plans to revive the series.

 Buffy the Vampire Slayer
In 1992, a film written and created Joss Whedon, but directed and creatively stirred by Fran Rubel Kuzui. The movie was a bomb but it was pleasantly revived by Joss Whedon in 1997 (to 2003) with the TV series that gained a cult following and has a comic that is still going. Kuzui announced two years ago she was planning a revamp of the franchise with a movie without Whedon, but thankfully we haven't heard a thing. The 'Vampire Slayer' concept continues in spoofs like Big Time Rush Halloween special in 2010 and Vampire Sucks, the Twilight spoof.

She-Ra Princess of Power
In 1985, She-Ra was a spin-off from He-Man, when He-Man was brought back in 2002, she wasn't. Recently they have released commemorative action figures of her. She is remembered but like all others, she is in the past and a small amount of people know of her.

Powerpuff Girls
Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup had their own series on Cartoon Network from 1998 to 2005 and was widely possible, spawning a movie that was a bomb and Anime Powerpuff Girls Z spin-off. It was created by Craig McCracken in 1992. They are known but not as known as Spongebob. Some kids know of them because of reruns on CN.

Sailor Moon
In 1992, Japanese comic book artist Naoko Takeuchi created Sailor V which eventually became Sailor Moon manga which Toei Animation made into a popular Anime from 1992 to 1997, which was been dubbed in 1995 in the United States. It has been dubbed all over the world, it has small cult following. In 2003, Toei made the live-action Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon TV series. In America, it was canceled and then the other 'seasons' were dubbed except for the last one. Some people still know about it. 2012 is her anniversary and Toei has been merchandising some Sailor Moon products in the US and Canada this year. Kondasha has been re-releasing the Manga as well.

Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders 
It is also known as Starla, was a 1995 series inspired by the Arthurian myths, produced by Bohbot Productions (now BKN) with association with Hong Ying Animation and internationally syndicated by Bohbot Entertainment. The 3rd season has been reportedly planned for the fall 1998 season, but apparently it was then canceled.  She is mostly forgotten.

Pop Culture:
In some other films, there has been fictional superheronies in their worls and
1985 Jim Henson's "A Christmas Toy" proceeded Toy Story and it was a NBC TV special, a spin-off series later popped up in the 90's on Disney. Meteora was a fictional sueprheornie doll, one that never excited. This is sort of the reason I made this post. On how in some films, they have superheronies that don't exist and not real. It is interesting.

Recently before The Muppets (2011), there is a short of Toy Story called Small Fry. It features forgotten fast food kids meal toys, the lead one Queen Neptuna was played by Jane lynch (Sue of Glee). She was said to be part of the mythical (borrowing a word from John Lascetter when speaking of Buzz Lightyear's TV show) show called The Mermaid Battle Squadron. I like her design and wish she really existed.

Jem and the Holograms Truly Outrageous Complete Series DVD Review

I have been waiting for this in a long time, I got it for Christmas. I have spoke about Jem before, the series based on the Hasbro toyline running from 1985-1987. The DVD set has all three seasons, the first season has 4 discs--26 episodes, second had 4 discs--27 episodes and third season has 3 discs--12 episodes. It is about Jerrica Benton who poses as Jem, lead singer of the all-girl band known as the Holograms thanks to her dad's super-tech computer Synergy. They have a rival group the Misfits who are competition and a thorn on their sides. Misfits are more beloved by fans other than the 'goody goodies' but these girls were mean-spirited, selfish, lazy and greedy. I have the first season on DVD thanks to Rhino back in 2003. They released season 2 but I didn't get it, it was too much money at the time. The original set has commentary from Christy Marx, these dvd sets don't have the commentary but some great featurettes, one including the male producers and Christy Marx. 

 (The Rhino DVD to left and the Shout! Factory to right)

Some great insights such as the opening sequence was rotorscoped, that the music videos were intentionally made to be animated better, the animation was done by Toei Animation (famous for Sailor Moon) and originally they did Anime eyes for the Holograms. Also, the music videos were inspired by music videos of an now-old Anime, whose name is said but i can't find the spelling for. Anyway, the quality isn't that great for the episodes. Some episodes of Season 2 have a darkness and weird tint that makes Kimber's red hair look hot pink. I personally believe that the Rhino Season 1 DVD had better quality. But anyway, I think it is the only time we will get this, so it is a good set. It also has the cool Jukebox option. As for the episodes, I hadn't seen Season 3 in a long time and it was pretty good, the new bumpers were amazing, it is a shame it is the shortest season but Sunbow/Marvel/Toei had a commitment only for 65 episodes and the toy line was already canceled (because the dolls were too tall--boxes didn't fit on shelves and barbie clothes didn't fit them and the prices were too high), plus they introduced lots of characters that were to be released but never were released like Riot, Minx, and Rapture the Stingers and also fashion designer Regine and magician Dazzle.