The Talent Search (Part 1)

The Talent Search (Part 1) is the first episode of the second season, and the 27th episode overall, of the Jem animated series. It is the series' second season premiere.

Synopsis[]

When Shana decides to leave the band to pursue her designer career, Jem has to find a new drummer, and decides to hold a contest.

Plot[]

Krissie is admiring a dress that Shana had made for her, when she is called by Jem to do a practice session. Shana suggests that someone else play the drums for a change as she misses her guitar, but the rest of The Holograms are preoccupied with their own instruments. Anthony Julian rushes in and explains that he's directing a miniseries for the actress Liz Stratton, and since she fired her dress designer, he said that Shana could be a great replacement. Shana doubts her skills, but Jem and The Holograms support her and send her off enthusiastically. They soon realize, however, that if Shana gets the job she won't be able to go on their tour, and Jerrica contemplates getting a new band member.

Shana arrives at Liz's mansion with Anthony, and Liz loves Shana's designs so much that she hires her immediately. Shana informs her about her busy band schedule, but Liz tells her that if she doesn't show up, she will never have her dream fashion career. Anthony drives her home, and The Holograms are thrilled that Shana has succeeded in her new career. They let her know of their plans to have a talent search to find a new drummer and Shana feels as though they couldn't wait to get rid of her, despite her bandmates crying once she had left.

The next morning, Jerrica and The Holograms get to work creating posters for the talent search, advertising them in rock magazines and record stores. Once Pizzazz hears the news, she gets jealous of all the free publicity, and Eric Raymond suggests getting a new Misfits member. They trek from club to club in search of a talented musician and end up at a gig by The Tinkerbillys. They enter just as one of the members is swinging her saxophone at a crowd of hecklers, and Pizzazz invites her to perform "I Like Your Style" with them. Pizzazz invites the British saxophonist, Jetta, to be a new Misfit, although Roxy is entirely against the idea.

Aja visits a music store where she overhears someone playing the drums. He introduces himself as Craig, informs her that he's only there to visit his sister, and offers to talk about his career over dinner. She declines, which only makes Craig more determined.

A female drummer and fan of The Holograms, Carmen Alonso, is informed about the contest by her father, and decides to audition under her nickname "Raya" (much to her unsupportive mother's dismay) . She turns up to the audition, only to see that the line is impossibly long, so she heads home. Once her father hears about her concerns, he takes her back to the studio under the premise of a special flowery delivery for The Holograms and convinces Jem to let Raya audition. Meanwhile, Liz is giving Shana a hard time about her color and style choices, forcing her to redo everything.

At the audition, Raya plays and the band slide into "Believe In Yourself". Raya fits in so well with their music and style, that The Holograms are instantly amazed by her, and invite her to come back for the semi-finals. However, as Jem changes back into Jerrica, Raya catches her. She quickly leaves the building with her father, afraid she'll give away that she knows something. Craig Phillips then arrives for his audition, and performs "I Got My Eye On You" alongside Aja, who is smitten with him.

Later that week, Jem and The Holograms throw the semi-finals at the Starlight Mansion, where they have invited all their friends and the press. Raya arrives with a piñata for the Starlight Girls, but is quickly approached by another semi-finalist who tries to shoot her down by telling Raya that she is a nobody. Aja and Kimber swiftly kick the mean drummer out, and Jem comforts Raya by saying they're looking for talent, not conceit. Jem announces that Raya and Craig have made it through to the finals. At the same time, The Misfits are broadcasting that Jetta is their newest member - but unfortunately for them, it's the Holograms that the make the cover of the newspaper the next morning. Stormer reads about the finalists for the Starlight Talent Search, and quickly runs out. Eric comes up with another plan to foil Jem's plans, and approaches Raya to convince her that she won't win. He then gives her a counter-offer, in return that she finds out Jem's real identity.

Songs featured[]

Quotes[]

Eric: Your attention, please. Your attention. I'm pleased to announce the addition of a sizzling new star from Britain. England's loss is our gain. The new Misfit: Jetta.

Raya: All I ever wanted was a chance.

Mr. Alonzo: (to Raya) A loser is someone who never tries, Raya.

Mrs. Alonzo: (giggling) That silly name, Raya. Can't you call her Carmen? Carmen, you're right. No young lady wants to be a drummer.

Pizzazz (to Jetta): Hey! You play a wicked sax. How'd you like to be a Misfit?

Jetta: Sounds pretty ace to me.

Roxy: Not so fast. Nobody joins this group unless me and Stormer say so too. What do you say, Stormer?

Stormer: I love her accent.

Shana: Oh, Kimber. (grabbing drumsticks and giving them to her) You take drums for this one.

Kimber: Me?!

Shana: I miss my guitar. (putting on her guitar) I haven't played it in ages.

Kimber: But I've got to play keyboards.

Aja: I'm hopeless on drums.

Jem: I wouldn't know where to start.

Shana: All right, but... (going over to her drums) I wish someone else could play drums for a change.

Kimber: Now what? We got a tour coming up.

Aja: If Shana gets this job, she won't have time to go on tour.

Jerrica: I'm afraid you're right, but if this is Shana's big chance to make as a top designer, we can't let her think that she can't take it. We may have to get someone else to play the drums.

Liz Stratton (to Shana): Now we have a 6-month shooting schedule in 3 countries and we're pressed for time. So pack a few things and come back here this evening.

Shana: There's just one problem. I play drums for Jem and The Holograms.

Liz Stratton: (interrupting) Jem and the what?

Shana: The Holograms. And we're about to go on tour and... (cutting Shana off again)

Liz Stratton: My dear. I'll be on prime-time television and in dozens of magazines. Millions of people will see me in your designs and you want to play drums?

Liz Stratton: (to Shana) Either you show up here tonight or not at all.

Shana: But what about the band? Who'll play drums?

Jerrica: We'll have a Talent search.

Kimber: Yeah. We'll find a great new drummer.

Aja: And get lots of publicity in the process.

Shana: You... you want me to go. (sobbing as she walks up the stairs)

Kimber: That's the hardest thing I've ever done.

Aja: We had to do it. Shana's so loyal, she never would have left unless we made her.

Jerrica: And like it or not, we must find another drummer and quickly. Our tour won't wait.

Eric: What's wrong, Roxy? Scared we'll find somebody better than you.

Roxy: They don't come any better than me, buster.

Roxy: Well... (grabbing Jetta's sax) I say she gets lost.

Jetta: Well, I say I oughta clean your clock.

Roxy: Go ahead and try.

Jem: Our first semi-finalist is... Craig Phillips. Our second semi-finalist is... Raya Alonzo.

Eric: (to Raya about Jem) Find out who she really is.

Raya: And for this, you'll give me a contract.

Aja: (to a rude woman who has just made Raya cry) "Look, we don't need your kind in our group".

Kimber: "Make like a drum solo and beat it!" (Aja and Kimber grab her arms and lead her away).

Gallery[]

Goofs[]

Shana's hat turns from black to white during one moment in Anthony Julian's car.
Pizzazz's hair turns orange during the "I Like Your Style" video.
In the Rhino DVD release of this episode, the song "I Like Your Style" is labeled as "I Like Her Style".

Trivia[]

"I Got My Eye On You" was first sung in Kimber's Rebellion.
This is the first episode to have a song that was previously featured.
Shana prefers to play guitar but hasn't gotten a chance to play it much since The Holograms were formed. Kimber is one of the band members who can play the drums and guitar but she's needed on the keyboard.
Aja wears the same outfit two days in a row at both Talent Search auditions.
First appearances of Raya and Jetta.

Episodes
Season 1
The Beginning • Disaster • Kimber's Rebellion • Frame Up • The Battle of the Bands • Starbright (Part 1): Falling Star • Starbright (Part 2): Colliding Stars • Starbright (Part 3): Rising Star • The World Hunger Shindig • Adventure in China • Last Resorts • In Stitches • The Music Awards (Part 1) • The Music Awards (Part 2) • The Rock Fashion Book • Broadway Magic • In Search of the Stolen Album • Hot Time in Hawaii • The Princess and the Singer • Island of Deception • Old Meets New • Intrigue at the Indy 500 • The Jem Jam (Part 1) • The Jem Jam (Part 2) • Culture Clash • Glitter and Gold
Season 2
The Talent Search (Part 1) • The Talent Search (Part 2) • Scandal • One Jem Too Many • The Bands Break Up • The Fan • Father's Day • Treasure Hunt • Aztec Enchantment • Music is Magic • The Jazz Player • Danse Time • Roxy Rumbles • Alone Again • KJEM • Trick or Techrat • The Presidential Dilemma • Rock n' Roll Express • Mardi Gras • The Middle of Nowhere • Renaissance Woman • Journey to Shangri-La • Journey Through Time • Britrock • Out of the Past • Hollywood Jem (Part 1): For Your Consideration • Hollywood Jem (Part 2): And the Winner Is...
Season 3
The Stingers Hit Town (Part 1) • The Stingers Hit Town (Part 2) • Video Wars • Beauty and the Rock Promoter • Homeland, Heartland • Midsummer Night's Madness • The Day the Music Died • That Old Houdini Magic • Straight from the Heart • A Change of Heart • Riot's Hope • A Father Should Be...