Wikipedia

True Jackson, VP

True Jackson, VPis an Americanteen sitcomcreated byAndy Gordonthat aired onNickelodeonfrom November 8, 2008, to August 20, 2011. The series starsKeke Palmer,Ashley Argota,Matt Shively,Danielle Bisutti,Greg Proops,Robbie Amell,andRon Butler.The theme song was written byToby Gadand Keke Palmer and is performed by Palmer. The series was shot before alive audience,although alaugh trackwas used for sweetening. The pilot episode garnered 4.8 million viewers on its first airing and set network records among kids 6–11, tweens 9–14, and several other demographics.[1]On May 5, 2009, Nickelodeon renewed the series for a second season.[2]The season consisted of 31 episodes, and premiered on November 14, 2009. This season was later split into two, thus making a third season.

True Jackson, VP
GenreTeen sitcom
Created byAndy Gordon
Starring
Theme music composerToby Gad
Keke Palmer
Opening theme"Change It Up"
by Keke Palmer
ComposerEban Schletter
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No.of seasons3
No.of episodes56(list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Producers
Production locations
CinematographyGregg Heschong
EditorBrent Carpenter
Camera setupVideotape(filmized);multi-camera
Running time23 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkNickelodeon
ReleaseNovember 8, 2008(2008-11-08)–
August 20, 2011(2011-08-20)

In August 2011, Palmer posted a video on herYouTubeaccount[3]and posted on her blog,[4]confirming that "Mystery in Peru" is the series' finale. After the series ended, Palmer renewed her contract with Nickelodeon; she did voiceover work forWinx Club[5]and starred in the television filmRags.[6]

Premise

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Fifteen-year-old True Jackson is selling sandwiches and lemonade with her friend Ryan in the fashion district of New York City when she is complimented by fashion designer Max Madigan, founder and CEO of Mad Style. Max realizes the clothes True is wearing are his designs, but True had altered them to suit her own purposes. Max likes the modified design and hires True as Vice President of his fashion company's youth apparel division. True hires her best friend Lulu to be her assistant after firing Cricket, her former assistant, who was upset and bitter about being surpassed in the business world by a child. True must juggle teenage antics with her new role as VP, aided by her friends and coworkers.

Episodes

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Main article:List of True Jackson, VP episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
125November 8, 2008(2008-11-08)October 24, 2009(2009-10-24)
218November 14, 2009(2009-11-14)August 7, 2010(2010-08-07)
313September 11, 2010(2010-09-11)August 20, 2011(2011-08-20)

Cast

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Main

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Main article:List of True Jackson, VP characters
The show's main cast, from left to right:Danielle Bisutti,Matt Shively,Ashley Argota,Greg Proops,Keke Palmer,Ron Butler,andRobbie Amell
  • Keke Palmeras True Jackson, a teenager who serves as theVice Presidentof the Youth Fashion Department at Mad Style, where she works, and gets into mishaps and has a lot of fun with her friends. She is intelligent, funny and hardworking with an odd family. In the beginning of the series, she has a crush on Jimmy, Mr. Madigan's nephew, and they eventually become a couple. A running gag in the series is her catchphrase, "(you/she/he) (I/said/did) (there was) what now?".
  • Ashley Argotaas Lulu,[7]True's best friend and secretary–assistant. She is loud, clueless, and easily distracted. Although not many people believe it, she is very intelligent and loves math. She also suffers fromtrichophagiaand is alsoafraid of birds(as she mentions to True in one episode, "They give me the creeps but I'm not sure why" ). Her last name was not revealed during the series. She has a boyfriend named Mikey J.
  • Matt Shivelyas Ryan Leslie Laserbeam, True's second best friend. Though he does not have an official job at Mad Style, he is always there to help and hang out with True and Lulu. He will often try, at unnecessary times, to lighten the mood of the scene, as he loves telling jokes and pulling pranks around the Youth Fashion Department. He is not very intelligent and is very clumsy. Ryan's middle name is Leslie, but he dislikes it. Oscar is not sure if Laserbeam is Ryan's real last name, but according to Ryan's big brother, he got the name when one of his ancestors was given the name "Laserbeam" by his crew captain while he was working on a ship. Max makes him the website editor in one episode.
  • Danielle Bisuttias Amanda Cantwell, one of the many workers at Mad Style. She is the Vice President of Women's Fashion. At the beginning of the series, Amanda dislikes True and often disagrees with her, embittered by True's seniority within the company despite her youth. Over time, Amanda becomes close with True and her friends.
  • Robbie Amellas Jimmy Madigan, a mail deliverer at Mad Style, the nephew of Max Madigan, and the boy of True's affection. The two are affectionate towards one another, and eventually enter a relationship.
  • Ron Butleras Oscar, the main secretary and operator for Mad Style, and works behind the reception desk on the floor where Mad Style offices are. He is seen taking calls on his headset or delivering messages to Amanda. Known for his style and dry humor, he is flamboyant. He wears ascots all the time.
  • Greg Proopsas Max Madigan, theeccentric,good heartedCEOof Mad Style, Jimmy's uncle, and True’s Boss. Max often glorifies True, and rarely criticizes her. He is like a father figure to the children, but especially True, when she feels downhearted.

Recurring

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  • Dan Kopelmanas Kopelman, a Mad Style employee who never seems to speak and is frequently ridiculed by Max.
  • Jennette McCurdyas Amanda "Pinky" Turzo, True's archnemesis.
  • Trevor Brown as Mikey J, Lulu's boyfriend.
  • Jordan Monaghan as Kelsey, Ryan's on-and-off girlfriend.
  • Joy Osmanskias Ms. Patti Park, True's teacher.
  • Melanie Paxsonas Doris Madigan (née Aidem), Max Madigan's capricious wife and True's school librarian.
  • Taylor Parksas Shelly, one of True's friends.
  • Vincent Ventrescaas Mr. Jeff Jamerson, True's science teacher.
  • Jo-Anne Krupa as Ella, the Mad Style accountant.

Guest stars

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Production

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The series was shot on stage 25 at Paramount Studios inHollywood, California.This is the same stage where seriesThe Lucy Show,Here's Lucy,Cheers,andFrasier[8]were shot.

Filming locations

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  • The indoor recording of Mad Style took place in the studio at stage 25 of Paramount Studios inHollywood.The outdoor shots of Mad Style's fashion company and office took place around1251 Avenue of the Americas(Exxon Building) inNew York.
  • The location of the school is on the premises of the Paramount Studios. Indoors were shot in the studio, and the school's outdoor shot was shot on the premises of Paramount Studios.
  • In episode four of season 2, True goes to see a fortune teller with Lulu and Ryan. The indoor recordings were recorded in the studio. The outdoor shot was shot at 178 Prince Street in New York.
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  • Filming location, Mad Style's New York fashion company and office, actually 1251 Avenue of the Americas

Broadcast

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The series has aired on-and-off onTeenNickin the United States since 2008, with the most recent airing in 2023.BETalso briefly aired episodes of the series in 2009.

The show also premiered on the Canadian networkYTVon March 5, 2009, and every Thursday since, but was changed to Friday to accommodate withiCarly& Big Fun Fridays. Then, the show moved again to Mondays at 6:30pm. As of 2010, the series no longer airs on YTV.

The series continues to air regularly on Nickelodeon networksaround the world.The show ended in Australia and New Zealand on 17 December 2011. The last two remaining episodes premiered in the UK on Wednesday 4 January 2012 and Thursday 5 January 2012 and with "Mystery in Peru" premiering on Friday 6 January 2012.

The series is currently[when?]shown in Jamaica on one of the national stations TVJ (Television Jamaica) at 4:30pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

On May 1, 2019, the series began airing onNick Pluto.

InItaly,the series began airing on theSuper! Girl PowerPluto TVchannel on January 18, 2023, and it was previously aired onNickelodeon,Italia 1andVH1in that country.

Home media

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True Jackson, VP: Season 1, Vol. 1was released in a 2 disc set on September 8, 2009. Running time is 321 minutes, presented in full screen video, and English stereo audio. The set also includes behind-the-scenes, cast member's screen tests, bloopers and the first 13 episodes of season 1.[9]Even though there is Season 1 Volume 1, for unknown reasons, a Volume 2 was never released.

  • The following releases were only released onAmazon's CreateSpace manufacture-on-demand (MOD) service:
True Jackson, VP: Season 2was released on September 9, 2011. Running time is 468 minutes, presented in full screen video, and English Stereo audio. This DVD release has 20 episodes from the second season.[10]
True Jackson, VP: Season 3was released on September 9, 2011. Running time is 327 minutes, presented in full screen video, and English Stereo audio. This DVD release has 14 episodes from the third season.[10]

On March 24, 2021, the series was added toParamount+.[11]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Recipient Result
2009 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Children's Program True Jackson, VP Nominated
2009 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Program - (Series or Special) Keke Palmer Won
2009 Casting Society of America Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Children's Series Programming Krisha Bullock & Harriet Greenspan Nominated
2009 Gracie Allen Award Outstanding Adolescent Program True Jackson, VP Won
2010 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Children's Program True Jackson, VP Nominated
2010 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Program - (Series or Special) Keke Palmer Won
2010 Casting Society of America Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Children's Series Programming Harriet Greenspan Won
2010 2010 Kids' Choice Awards Favorite TV Actress Keke Palmer Nominated
2010 Writers Guild of America Children's Episodic & Specials, For the episodeThe Rival Dan Kopelman Nominated
2011 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Children's Program True Jackson, VP Won
2011 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Program - (Series or Special) Keke Palmer Won
2011 Casting Society of America Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Children's Series Programming Harriet Greenspan Nominated
2011 UK 2011 Kids' Choice Awards Nick UK's Funniest Person Matt Shively Nominated
2011 Young Artist Awards Best Performance In A TV Series (Comedy or Drama) - Leading Young Actress Keke Palmer Nominated
2011 Young Artist Awards Best Performance In A TV Series - Recurring Young Actress Ten and Under Ava Allan Nominated
2011 Writers Guild of America Children's Episodic & Specials, For the episodeTrue Magic Andy Gordon Nominated
2012 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Program - (Series or Special) Keke Palmer Won
2012 Young Artist Awards Best Performance In A TV Series - Recurring Young Actress Ava Allan Nominated

Merchandise and in other media

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Clothing line

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In August 2009, a line of clothing inspired by the show called"Mad Style by True Jackson"was released. The line was available exclusively atWalmartand is aimed at children and teens. This was the first line of clothing for the show and was a first for Nickelodeon releasing a line of clothing from one of their television shows. Commercials advertising the clothing line could be seen onNickelodeonandTeenNick.Featured in the show and commercials is aninstrumentalversion of the show's theme song.

Book series

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A set of novels based on the show were released, viaAmazon.[12]

Notes

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  1. ^abcdefghiAppeared in two episodes in the series.
  2. ^abAppeared in three episodes in the series.

References

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  1. ^Starr, Michael. (November 12, 2008)'iCarly' Breaks Records.NYPOST. Retrieved November 25, 2011
  2. ^TV by the Numbers
  3. ^TJVP Movie "Mystery In Peru" airs August 20thonYouTube- KekePalmerVideos, YouTube
  4. ^It's Not Over.....It's Just The BeginningArchivedMarch 16, 2012, at theWayback Machine,August 6, 2011, Keke Palmer's blog post from official website
  5. ^"Hour-Long Specials Feature Voice Talents of Nickelodeon's Keke Palmer, Matt Shively, Elizabeth Gillies and Ariana Grande".Screener.June 9, 2011. Archived fromthe originalon February 4, 2016.
  6. ^@Nickelodeon (January 23, 2012)."Yup, she voices a character on Winx Club and will be starring in our upcoming TV movie Rags"(Tweet).RetrievedJuly 21,2019– viaTwitter.
  7. ^Twitter / @Ashley Argota: Makes me laugh when people...
  8. ^"Floorplan"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on March 2, 2020.
  9. ^True Jackson VP: Season One, Vol. One (2009),Amazon
  10. ^abTrue Jackson, VP - 2 New DVD Releases of the Nickelodeon Series Are Now Available on MODArchived2011-10-04 at theWayback Machine
  11. ^"True Jackson, VP".Paramount+.November 7, 2008.RetrievedMarch 24,2021.
  12. ^True Jackson, VPbook series at Amazon
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