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 as a teenager whose interest in fashion leads her to become vice president at a major fashion company. The series co-stars Ashley Argota, Matt Shively, Danielle Bisutti, Greg Proops, Robbie Amell, and Ron Butler.
Developed to center around Palmer, the series was shot before a live audience while utilizing a laugh track for sweetening. Palmer also performed the theme song, co-written with Toby Gad. The series was successful for Nickelodeon, with the pilot episode garnering 4.8 million viewers on its first airing, and setting network records among kids 6–9, tweens 11–14, and several other demographics.Starr, Michael. (November 12, 2008) 'iCarly' Breaks Records. NYPOST.com. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
On May 5, 2009, Nickelodeon renewed the series for a second season, which premiered on November 14.TV by the Numbers With the episode order expanded to 34 episodes (31 with hour-long episodes combined), the season was split to create a third and final season. In August 2011, Palmer posted a video to her YouTube account confirming the end of the series. - KekePalmerVideos, YouTube and posted on her blog, confirming that "Mystery in Peru" is the series' finale. She renewed her contract with Nickelodeon, doing voiceover work for Winx Club and starring in the television film Rags.
Premise 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
Cast Main
Keke Palmer as True Jackson, a teenager who serves as the Vice President of the Youth Fashion Department at Mad Style. She is an intelligent, optimistic, hardworking young woman who values her friendships and acquaintances and tries to find humor in even the worst of situations. She often uses her skills and personality to get out of mishaps and situations. She has a crush on Mr. Madigan's nephew Jimmy from the start of the series, and they eventually become a couple. Ashley Argota as Lulu,Twitter / @Ashley Argota: Makes me laugh when people ... True's best friend and assistant. She is loud, clueless, and often easily distracted. These traits often mask her high intelligence and love of math. However, she is a loyal and kind friend to True and Ryan, the latter of whom she constantly bashes. Lulu 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 other best friend. He is unintelligent, clumsy, and goofy friend who holds hyperfixations. He often pulls pranks or tries to lighten the mood at times that are unnecessary or inappropriate, and in ways that often cause injury to him or others. He hangs around at Mad Style with True and Lulu despite not holding an official job there, which is constantly pointed out by others. He dislikes his middle name, while his surname was given to one of his ancestors by a crew captain while working on a ship. Danielle Bisutti as Amanda Cantwell, True's co-worker who is the Vice President of Women's Fashion. She is vain, rude, materialistic, sarcastic, which masks deep insecurities related to her past as a "dork." Initially embittered by True's seniority within the company despite her youth, Amanda frequently disagrees and belittles her, and works to sabotage her. Over the course of the series, she warms to True and her friends. Robbie Amell as Jimmy Madigan, nephew of Max and True's love interest. As Mad Style's mailroom delivery boy, Jimmy is loyal, sweet, and supportive. He and True are affection towards one another, though hesitate entering a relationship due to Max frowning upon interoffice dating. However, they eventually enter a relationship with his blessing. Ron Butler as Oscar, the main secretary for Mad Style. Often seen taking calls on his headset or delivering messages, Oscar is calm and observant, possessing a flamboyant style (frequently wearing ascots) and dry sense of humor, while also offering caring advice. Greg Proops as Max Madigan, the founder and CEO of Mad Style. He is an eccentric, good-hearted man who has a propensity for childlike behavior at times. Nonetheless, he can also be a very wise and supportive father figure, especially to True when she feels discouraged.
Recurring Dan Kopelman as Kopelman, a mute Mad Style executive frequently belittled, ridiculed, or humiliated by Max (or sometimes others) before being rudely dismissed. Trevor Brown as Mikey J, Lulu's quiet and passive boyfriend. Jordan Monaghan as Kelsey, Ryan's aloof and dramatic "girlfriend." 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. Dana Silver as Dana, one of True's friends. Joy Osmanski as Ms. Patti Park, True's sardonic History and homeroom teacher. Vincent Ventresca as Mr. Jeff Jamerson, True's geeky science teacher. Jo-Anne Krupa as Ella, the Mad Style accountant. Michael Weaver as Brock Champion, Amanda's fiancé who plays baseball in Peru.
Notable Guest Stars
Pamela Adlon as Babs, an adult returning to finish high school that Lulu mentors. Dave Allen as Mitchell, copy room operator. Craig Anton as Snackleberry Junction chef Tim Bagley as Ed Wheeler, True's driving instructor Natasha Bedingfield as herself Justin Bieber as himself Jordan Black as Troy, True's unlucky uncle.Appeared in two episodes in the series. Samantha Boscarino as Carla Gustav Julie Bowen as Claire Underwood, an unlikeable assistant of Amanda’s Laura Ashley Samuels as Bijou Stinkbottom Yvette Nicole Brown as Coral Barns, one of Amanda's assistants. Care Bears on Fire as themselves John Cena as himself Noah Crawford as Stan, a teen who works at "All Things Lemon." Allie DeBerry as Cammy, Pinky's friend. Fefe Dobson as herself Julia Duffy as Ms. Watson Stephen Dunham as Chad Brackett, Amanda's smarmy ex-boyfriend. Tiffany Espensen as Young Lulu Kevin Farley as Officer Jake HooleyAppeared in three episodes in the series. Dave Foley as Ted Begley, Jr., company retreat mediator. Vivica A. Fox as Mrs. Jackson, True's mother. Gage Golightly as Vanessa, a runaway disguised as a flight attendant Ian Gomez as Jobi Castanueva, the director of Fashion week Kelli Goss as Monique Sean Gunn as Justin, a computer maintenance man Philip Baker Hall as Mr. Jenkins, chairman of Galaxy Airlines. Rachael Harris as Kitty Monreaux, a scathing red carpet reporter David Anthony Higgins as Dave, one of Amanda's assistants Victoria Justice as Vivian, a model whom Jimmy briefly dates. Richard Karn as Fire Marshal O'Dannon Tom Kenny as Bingo, owner of Snackleberry Junction. Nathan Kress as Prince Gabriel Emma Lockhart as Callie, a girl True hires to run a Mad Style store. Wendie Malick as Libby Gibbils, Max's fellow fashion colleague. J. P. Manoux as Snackleberry Junction waiter Laura Marano as Molly, a high school freshman whom True mentors. Tristin Mays as Hailey, a cheerleader who kicks Kelsey out of the squad but befriends Ryan. Jennette McCurdy as Amanda "Pinky" Turzo, a bully at True's school who wears roller skates. Cymphonique Miller as Bernie, Ryan's rival magician. Oliver Muirhead as Ian, Prince Gabriel's butler. Arden Myrin as Jenna Lutrell, a popular but ditzy TV actress. Suzy Nakamura as Cricket, True's former assistant. Gail O'Grady as Sophie Girard, Max's very mean ex-girlfriend. Nick Palatas as Skeet Janel Parrish as Kyla Kelly Perine as Larry Jackson, True's father. Jack Plotnick as Mr. LaRue, Doris and Max's short-tempered wedding planner. Nathalia Ramos as Dakota North, a spoiled supermodel. Italia Ricci as herself, playing a character in a fictional John Cena film. Andy Richter as Simon Christini, Max's fashion nemesis. Raini Rodriguez as Nina Travis Schuldt as Lance Whipple, a hunky assistant librarian whom Max becomes jealous of. Kent Shocknek as himself Ryan Sheckler as himself Willow Smith as Young True Stefán Karl Stefánsson as Karl Gustav French Stewart as Donald the Delightful, Max's magic assistant turned rival. James Patrick Stuart as Burt Burlington, a television personality who embarrassed Max on television. Nicole Sullivan as Kreuftlva, a fortune teller. Sharon Tay as herself Leon Thomas III as himself Bobb'e J. Thompson as Nate, a high school freshman whom Ryan mentors. Stephen Tobolowsky as Lars Balthazar, a famous cellist whom Max likes. Paul F. Tompkins as Royce Bingham, an international spy. Julie Warner as Rose Pinchbinder, Mad Style's fear-inducing accountant. Tyler James Williams as Justin Webber, a famous rapper whom True develops a crush on. Tom Wilson as Benjamin Franklin The cast of Yo Gabba Gabba!
Humor True Jackson, VP has drawn positive reviews for its unique building of humor in comparison to other Nickelodeon and Disney Channel series. Much of this humor comes from running gags in a fashion similar to the CBS sitcom The Nanny.
A constant source of humor is from catchphrases and/or responses, especially if its eccentric or odd. One example is Palmer's delivery of the catchphrase of "(you/she/he) (I/said/did) (there was) what now?" that is said by Jackson when stunned by bad news from another character. Another is a character - mostly True - making a positive comment, only to be interrupted by Amanda angrily screaming "Where's (person)?" in relation to the comment, sometimes followed by her confronting and admonishing the person over something irritating her.
Another is patterned behaviors of characters. The most notable running gag in the series is Madigan's belittlement of finance employee Kopelman, usually ending with Madigan dismissing him from the meeting by screaming "Kopelman, OUT!" and pointing out the door. Another major running gag is Ryan's relationship with Kelsey, whom he worships despite her seeming lack of interest and outright rejection of him. Ryan will usually mention he plans to, or something interferes with, plans he has with Kelsey, and either True or Lulu will correct him saying Kelsey is not his girlfriend, or make a sarcastic comment such as "does Kelsey know?" Other major themes are behaviors or actions that sound hyperbolic, but later demonstrated to not be. One example is the turnover rate of Amanda's assistants, which is mentioned to be every day, or every few minutes, often for a nugatory reason. For example, in the episode "ReTRUEnion," True talks on the phone with Amanda's new assistant Erica, even though True saw her previous assistant Mindy ten minutes prior (with Erica starting "nine minutes ago").
Production 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 were shot.
Filming locations 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.