Starbright (Part 1): Falling Star is the sixth episode of the first season, and the 6th episode overall, of the Jem animated series.
Synopsis[]
Jem stars in Howard Sands' new movie, part of the prize she and The Holograms won in the Battle of the Bands. But Pizzazz convinces her father to buy the movie studio making the film and give ownership to Eric Raymond, who quickly seizes control of the film and includes The Misfits in the cast. Eric places the focus of the film on The Misfits and Jem and The Holograms are relegated to supporting roles. Jerrica, in return, is forced to serve as Eric's assistant.
Finally fed up with The Misfits' disruptive behavior, Jem and The Holograms, along with Video, quit the movie. Meanwhile, Jerrica receives shocking news about Ba Nee, who has been diagnosed with a rare, optical condition that will leave her blind within a matter of months.
Plot[]
Jerrica is at a celebratory party for Jem and The Holograms, with the Starlight Girls helping out. Danielle Du Voisin is wondering where Jem is, and Jerrica quickly changes into her to take a look at the new line of fashions the Countess has created for the girl group. The Holograms wow the crowd in the new clothes, and Rio compliments Jem just as Mrs. Bailey asks for Jerrica - so Jem quickly runs off and changes back into her. It soon becomes a battle for Jerrica to keep up with the constant switching, as Anthony Julian wants to introduce Jem to someone, and she checks on Synergy quickly to ensure her power levels are holding up. Anthony introduces Jem to Video, who politely asks if she could make a documentary about her film. Lela calls out for Jerrica again and she makes the switch, telling Becky to order more ice. Rio seems to get sick of both Jem and Jerrica running off every few minutes, and pulls Jerrica outside for some alone time and a rest. He complains that despite it being Jem's party, Jerrica is the one who is putting in all the work. Rio then gives his thoughts on Jem; saying that she can make the air sizzle like a dream, but says that he loves Jerrica because she's the opposite, and is always dependable and responsible. The pair kiss as "Who Is He Kissing?" plays, and once the song is over Jerrica states she has to get back to work.
Pizzazz is watching the party from the Gabor Mansion, owned by her father Harvey Gabor, who Roxy and Stormer admire for being so rich. Pizzazz says she doesn't care about the money, that she wants to be famous and that she deserves to have the movie instead of Jem. Roxy states that with all this money she would just make her own - which gives Pizzazz the idea to ask her father to invest the money into the same movie studio that made Jem's film as a birthday present. He caves after Pizzazz throws a fit and returns to his business call. Later on, Jem and The Holograms arrive at the studio, where Howard Sands informs them that the studio was sold unexpectedly. Inside, they are shocked to meet The Misfits and Eric Raymond, who announces they are co-starring in the movie. They are given a new script and instructions by a boasting Eric. Jem tries to refuses the changes, but Eric brings out their contracts to remind them that if they fail to perform in any way, The Misfits take over completely. Howard suggests they quit, but Jem and The Holograms angrily tell Eric that nobody is taking the movie away from them.
The first day of shooting with The Misfits, Anthony Julian questions why Eric didn't consult him on any of the changes made. Eric simply brushes him off and moodily tells Jem to go to hair and make-up after she shows up late. The girls worry about what might happen if the make-up artist touches Jem's hologram, but don't have time to think of ideas as The Misfits cut in line and swarm the make-up department. Aja almost loses it but Jem tells her that's what The Misfits want; a reaction. In the dressing room, Pizzazz is telling the make-up artist that Jem is a snob, so that when Jem says she has to do her own make-up, the artist agrees with Pizzazz. Back on set, Pizzazz feigns a humble personality and asks the crew to treat her like any other star. Kimber nearly topples over when a chair is pulled from underneath her, and their stuntman Jeff Wright catches her. He tries to introduce himself to Kimber, but she is enamored with celebrity Nick Mann. Roxy approaches Jeff, trying to flirt with him, but he quickly excuses himself. Jem is reading her lines as Nick approaches her, taking her by the hand and telling her he is delighted they have finally met. Pizzazz interrupts, introducing herself as his other co-star, but Nick ignores her and requests Jem to go over the love scene. Jem quickly introduces him to Kimber, but he still takes no notice. Rio watches in jealousy as Nick lays on the charm, with Pizzazz making a comment about Jem being fickle.
At the security gate, Video shows her pass and drives through. Behind her, the security guard is bewildered to see another Video - meaning the first was a fake. Clash, Video's cousin, then meets The Misfits and tells them she's their biggest fan. Video arrives at the set and informs Jem that her troublesome cousin has snuck into the studio. Anthony tries to get her to leave, but Pizzazz uses her position of power on set to help her stay, and Anthony decides he's had enough of The Misfits and Eric's interference in the movie. He quits, and storms off set, which enables Eric to take over his position as director which can only mean Jem is about to experience even more hardship. Back at the Starlight Mansion, Mrs. Bailey reminds Jerrica that Ba Nee's appointment with the Eye Doctor is on Saturday and she agrees to take her. She then walks in on Shana, Kimber and Aja all sat glumly in her own room after the hard day's work they'd been put through. Shana cries that things couldn't be any worse, and Jerrica tries to apply her own positive outlook on things, saying that things can only get better - but the rest of the girls don't agree.
At the movie studio the next day, Jem and The Holograms perform Jealousy which includes Rio being jealous over Jem and Nick's on-screen romance. At the end of the scene, Rio punches Nick which causes him to fall to the floor. Jem is shocked by his behaviour, reprimanding him, and Eric yells at Rio to get off the set. However, Pizzazz appears to enjoy the drama, and once again Pizzazz uses her authority to make Rio stay. Lindsey Pierce arrives at the studio to hold a press conference for the movie's third day of production and Nick takes Jem aside to try to convince her to play up their "romance" to the viewers. Meanwhile Pizzazz flirts with Rio and vaguely tells him she has a surprise in store. Miguel, who is in charge of the production schedules, worriedly informs Eric that they're a day behind. Typically, Eric ignores him and demands him to get the reporters, clearly more interested in the fame side of things. In the interview, Nick Mann does exactly what Jem told him not to; he kisses her, to spark rumors that they're a potential couple. Kimber walks away from the conference, believing that the reporters only care about Jem, and Eric offers her a scene with Nick. The Misfits decide to release their banner during the conference which has their name plastered in bold letters, and Jem and The Holograms are placed at the bottom in small lettering. This causes the reporters to question who's movie it really was, and The Misfits get to work by charming the reporters with lies.
Howard Sands approaches Harvey Gabor at his office and states that since he bought the studio he really needs to know what's happening; Eric has taken over and is running it into the ground which will eventually cost him millions. Mr Gabor simply responds that if it keeps his daughter happy and out of his hair, he will gladly fund it. Back at the studio, Jem learns her big number has been replaced by The Misfits' performance of Universal Appeal. Jem gets into a short fight with Pizzazz, throwing one of the star props on set at each other, and Eric steps in to blame the entire thing on Jem, who yells that she can't take anymore and quits the production entirely. Eric suggests that Kimber can stay, but she storms off too after remembering her sense of loyalty to her sister. Video runs after them and comforts the girls, saying that their new-found friendship was worth everything they had gone through. The Misfits celebrate that they have an entire movie for themselves and Pizzazz is ecstatic that she finally won.
It is the day of Ba Nee's appointment, and Jerrica learns that Ba Nee has a degenerative eye condition that may have been inherited through her parents. The eye doctor tells her that in a matter of months, or even weeks, Ba Nee will eventually be blind.
Songs featured[]
- "Who Is He Kissing?" - Jem and The Holograms
- "Jealousy" - Jem and The Holograms
- "Universal Appeal" - The Misfits
Outfit changes[]
From this episode and on, the main characters' original outfits (as well as their faces somewhat) were changed to better resemble the Hasbro dolls and even the animation improved quite a bit to resemble the show's intro. Main changes included:
Jem/Jerrica[]
- Jem's pink belt became white.
- Jerrica's pink and blue striped dress with a red belt, a hat and pink shoes, became white and blue striped with a white belt, without hat and blue shoes.
The Misfits[]
- Pizzazz has a longer black stripe on her collar and skirt. She no longer has a black sash on right knee and her sock has switched legs. She also gained a bracelet, while lost a leg band.
- Roxy's sweater has changed from black to purple. She has lost her pearls and her pants have changed from the red and green with black letters to green/blue/yellow stripes. She lost her necklace, gained a bracelet, her belt changed shape and she got new shoes.
Others[]
- Lindsey Pierce's look has changed dramatically from the fist time she was seen. She has gone from the jacket and pants outfit to an orange and green one. Her hair changed from being choppy to being permed. Lindsey is unusual in that her appearance was changed despite not having a doll.
Quotes[]
- Video: Jem, wait up. They're not getting an inch of my tape.
- Jem: I'm sorry that you wasted your time.
- Video: Getting to know you is definitely not a waste of time.
- Jem: (After The Misfits finish singing "Universal Appeal") You're through throwing your weight around.
- Pizzazz: I've only begun. (Throws a hanging star at Jem)
- Jem: (Catches the star) You're a falling star. (Throws the star back at Pizzazz which knocks her down)
- Roxy: (To Jeff) I've got time, handsome.
- Jeff: Uh, sorry. (shrugging Roxy off) I've got to go fall off of a roof or something.
- Jerrica: Jem looks pretty good, doesn't she?
- Rio: Yeah. She makes the air sizzle like some bright and dazzling dream. If you can find her.
Goofs[]
- When The Misfits are getting their make-up and hair done, Stormer's whole left arm is pink like her top.
Trivia[]
- Apparently, Pizzazz never told Roxy and Stormer that she was enormously wealthy, since the two seemed somewhat shocked of this.
- The episode was filled out with extra scenes and/or partly re-animated.
- This episode aired almost seven months after its predecessor, The Battle of the Bands.
- This episode marks the first appearance of Clash and Video.
- This episode shows one of the Starlight Girls with a degenerative, medical condition.
- Jem and The Holograms seem shocked to see Eric Raymond in this episode, thinking he was still in jail. However, he told Jerrica and Rio in the last episode (The Battle of the Bands) that his lawyers got him out. This is a plot hole since Jem/Jerrica was the one who said she thought he was in jail, which she should have already known.
- An explanation could be because this scene might have been written/animated before the pilot was re-edited with the extra scenes when it became an actual episode with a different ending, instead of being just clips between shows.
- Jem probably answered to Lela as Jerrica since she was still getting used to her new identity. This is further evidenced as she immediately looks at her reflection in a mirror and seems to realize she was acting the wrong personality.
- Nick Mann is one of the few love interests to have flirted with Jem on the show.
- This episode is a rare instance where Jem actually retaliates to Pizzazz by pushing a prop star at her (same which Pizzazz first pushed at Jem).
- During this scene, Jem speaks out loud the subtitle of this episode, telling Pizzazz that she is a "falling star".