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| The Show: (Claudio, an Italian Jem fan has sent me
the info in blue about the Jem airing information):
"Jem WAS a real hit in italy, but only as a TV show. The show (and its horrible italian theme!), were hugely popular and it got re-run many times. the very first series started as a very short sunday special on January 87 (months after the release of the dolls), but as the season was over they repeated it in a compacted episodes formula and by September 87, they went on with the second series daily. It was on every day for almost three years in a row and on the 1989-90 season the third series was introduced. Many kids who were kids at the time know her, boys and girls, and the italian theme is still a classic in Camp gay clubs were they play music from the 80's. The only thing i can add is that all the names were the same, but in the TV show they called raya RAJA (which sound so much like aja!) and jetta was Yetta: but i'm quite sure this is due to the ignorance of the dubbing or maybe a mistyping, but definitely not a choice of the authors." Jem had one more run on Italian television in 2000 (it's since been cancelled again) The show is basically the same, except a totally new opening song/credit sequence (I like it a lot, it's for sure as good as either English theme), though the opening is quite longer and shows NO Misfits. The names of the episodes are written (translated) on a still from the show. It is dubbed in Italian, I'm happy with most of the voice actors used, though many sound a bit older than their English counterparts. The songs remain in English. A funny note, Pizzazz's name is "Pizza" in the Italian version. And yes, pizza in Italian means pizza. |
| Hasbro's Toyline:
The following information was submitted by Claudio, an Italian Jem fan: "Jem was introduced in italy on May 1986 through an ad campaign that only showed the main title of the tv show and invited to go and meet jem and her friends in toy stores. The dolls hit the stores in july, and a massive press campaign was made through the Mickey mouse comic book (topolino, in italian) all through the summer: that was definitely the most popular children magazine of the time. All the dolls from the first year were released, but no board games and no fashions, (clothing reached the stores only on the following christmas). The dolls were far too expensive compared to any other fashion doll (of course incl. Barbie, which had never got to such an expensive price at the time) and not many children bought them, even after a revitalizing commercial campaign this time featuring the dolls and the introduction of the fashion lines on Xmas. on the following year, Xmas 1987, only three dolls of the 1987 line surfaced in stores: Glitter & Gold Jem (as an exclusive of a popular toy store chain, La Giraffa) Rock 'N Curl Jem and, in a very anonymous way, Clash. G&G jem had some kind of introduction through the toy catalogue of those toy stores (which were quite popular catalogues) but R&C jem and clash were just put on the shelves of the same stores, with no sign of advertisement. and that was it." Jem items were put out in Italy, in Italian boxes. Apparently there is little or no difference between Italian and American dolls. The easiest way to tell an Italian box is the tagline on the doll boxes: "Truly Outrageous/Rock N' Shock" Interestingly, the 1st year doll boxes are dated 1986, not 1985 like the US ones were. Thanks to Davide for much of the information in this section. Italy got:
See Jem:
1st Year Boxes for more information on packaging differences.
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| Jem Books:
Issue #1 (Year 1, Number 1, November 1987) Issue #2 (Year 1, Number 2, December 1987) Panini sticker Book Ad, Star Stage Ad. Issue #3 (Year 2, Number 1, January 1988) Issue #4 (Year 2, Number 2, February 1988) Love this cover! *Thanks to Davide for the scans of the #1, #3, and #4 issue covers. Check out the Topolino section to see some scans of the ads. |
| Title | Episodes Included | Date | Distributor | other |
| Fivelandia TV | Jem opening credits | 1987 | Copyright Five Records/
Reteitalia/Hasbro Inc. |
This is a compilation of Italian TV cartoons opening themes, Jem being only one of them. |
| Magia a Broadway | Broadway
Magic and The Rock Fashion Book |
c.1988 | Stardust di Minotti. | Cover illustration: Traditional Jem illustration as seen on the box of the first Jem\Jerrica doll |
| Avventura in Cina | Adventure In
China and Last Resorts |
c.1988 | Stardust di Minotti. | Directly translated from Italian, this episode is titled "Mountain
Holidays"
Cover Illustration: Jem singing; a lacy glove is visible |
| Una calda estate alle Hawaii | In Stitches and Hot time In Hawaii | c.1988 | Stardust di Minotti. | Literally translated into "A Hot Summer in Hawaii"
Cover Illustration: Jem wearing "Moroccan Magic" |
| Il Concerto Jem Jam | The Jem Jam pt 1 & 2 | c.1988 | Stardust di Minotti. |
| Other Jem Items:
Special thanks to C. Baglini for most information in this section and E. Gervasio for most information in Italian Jem merchandise. |