You must know where I’m going with this!
I’ve talked about Jem on here a few times, and unfortunately, it wasn’t for anything positive or redeeming.
I was talking about the live-action movie that took a beloved 1980s carton, gave it the 2016 treatment (in other words, made it modern), and completely dumped all over the willing audience of 30-something women would have killed to see Jem on the big screen. The result was not only something adults didn’t like, but apparently something their kids (or anyone else) didn’t like either. When the film quietly disappeared from theaters after the mandatory two-week minimum run, I was left saying “I told you so!”
So were alot of other people.
Here nor there.
Anyways…
1987 was the year for Glitter and Gold, and who was better to bring that to you than Jem, singer of Debbie Gibson-inspired pop music. By 1987, the toyline began to dwindle in sales, thanks to competition from Mattel’s own attempt at “Battle of the Bands” (more on this for Flashback Friday!) with Barbie and her own band. The result was bad for both Hasbro (Jem’s toyline distributors) and Mattel (Barbie’s toyline distributor), and Jem’s toyline was discontinued at the end of 1987. Despite that happening, the cartoon continued on in syndication until 1988.
But, while she still existed in 1987, she did have a variation on her usual look, in the form of Glitter and Gold. And trust me, the song in the commercial is as catchy as the theme song.
And you know you haven’t gotten that out of your head since 1988.
For me, that theme song getting stuck in my head is like the flute solo in “Colour My World.”
Don’t believe me, just watch the commercial!
Truly outrageously catchy, don’t you think?
I swear they mentioned her crossing her legs in the commercial.
Truly outrageous!
As I mentioned, the dolls had some stiff competition from Mattel pushing Barbie into her latest venture: rock stars. It didn’t work for either side, and while Barbie just moved on to her next career, Jem and the Holograms faded away. The dolls, after failing to meet expectations, ended production at the end of 1987.
Again…truly outrageous. And not in a good way.
The cartoon ended its syndicated run on May 2, 1988, after three seasons and 65 episodes, but has been in reruns at various times since 1993. The dolls have also made comebacks in the last six years, as produced by several companies.
Truly outrageous…in a good way!
So as we move on through Thursday and Glitter and Gold, we cross over into the path of a band made to take Jem down. I’ll give you a hint, it wasn’t The Misfits or the Stingers.
Enjoy the rest of your Thursday!