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True Jackson, VP

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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)

True Jackson, VP is an American teen sitcom created by Andy Gordon that aired on Nickelodeon from November 8, 2008, to August 20, 2011. The series stars Keke Palmer, Ashley Argota, Matt Shively, Danielle Bisutti, Greg Proops, Robbie Amell, and Ron Butler. The theme song was written by Toby Gad and Keke Palmer and is performed by Palmer. The series was shot before a live audience, although a laugh track was 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.

In August 2011, Palmer posted a video on her YouTube account[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 for Winx Club[5] and starred in the television film Rags.[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 aired
First airedLast aired
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, and Robbie Amell
  • Keke Palmer as True Jackson, a teenager who serves as the Vice President of 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 Argota as 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 from trichophagia and is also afraid 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 Shively as 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 Bisutti as 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 Amell as 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 Butler as 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 humour, he is flamboyant. He wears ascots all the time.
  • Greg Proops as Max Madigan, the eccentric, good hearted CEO of 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 Kopelman as Kopelman, a Mad Style employee who never seems to speak and is frequently ridiculed by Max.
  • Jennette McCurdy as 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 Osmanski as Ms. Patti Park, True's teacher.
  • Melanie Paxson as Doris Madigan (née Aidem), Max Madigan's capricious wife and True's school librarian.
  • Taylor Parks as Shelly, one of True's friends.
  • Vincent Ventresca as 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 in Hollywood, California. This is the same stage where series The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy, Cheers, and Frasier[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 in Hollywood. The outdoor shots of Mad Style's fashion company and office took place around 1251 Avenue of the Americas (Exxon Building) in New 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
    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 on TeenNick in the United States since 2008, with the most recent airing in 2023. BET also briefly aired episodes of the series in 2009.

The show also premiered on the Canadian network YTV on March 5, 2009, and every Thursday since, but was changed to Friday to accommodate with iCarly & 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 networks around 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 on Nick Pluto.

In Italy, the series began airing on the Super! Girl Power Pluto TV channel on January 18, 2023, and it was previously aired on Nickelodeon, Italia 1 and VH1 in that country.

Home media

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True Jackson, VP: Season 1, Vol. 1 was 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 on Amazon.com's CreateSpace manufacture-on-demand (MOD) service:
True Jackson, VP: Season 2 was 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 3 was 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 to Paramount+.[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 episode The 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 episode True 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 at Walmart and 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 on Nickelodeon and TeenNick. Featured in the show and commercials is an instrumental version of the show's theme song.

Book series

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

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Appeared in two episodes in the series.
  2. ^ a b Appeared in three episodes in the series.

References

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  1. ^ Starr, Michael. (November 12, 2008) 'iCarly' Breaks Records. NYPOST.com. Retrieved November 25, 2011
  2. ^ TV by the Numbers
  3. ^ TJVP Movie " Mystery In Peru" airs August 20th on YouTube - KekePalmerVideos, YouTube
  4. ^ It's Not Over.....It's Just The Beginning Archived March 16, 2012, at the Wayback 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 from the original on 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). Retrieved July 21, 2019 – via Twitter.
  7. ^ Twitter / @Ashley Argota: Makes me laugh when people ...
  8. ^ "Floorplan" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 2, 2020.
  9. ^ True Jackson VP: Season One, Vol. One (2009), Amazon.com
  10. ^ a b True Jackson, VP - 2 New DVD Releases of the Nickelodeon Series Are Now Available on MOD Archived 2011-10-04 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "True Jackson, VP". Paramount+. November 7, 2008. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  12. ^ True Jackson, VP book series at Amazon.com
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