S3E4: “Beauty and the Rock Performer”

Hello and welcome to the JEMcast on Hologram Radio. This is Alex Knight and I am joined Aleen Simms, founder of the Less Than Or Equal podcast, and science fiction writer, K. Tempest Bradford.

Synopsis: In Season 3, episode 4: “‘Beauty and the Rock Performer,’ Jem and The Holograms are invited to perform at a rock opera based on Beauty and the Beast in England, but when the rehearsals and photo-shoots become too frequent, Jem becomes overworked and exhausted.”

Stay tuned for an action packed episode.

Episode 57 (S3E4) is written by Clare Noto.

We open in London England, where Red Johnny Mack is having an impassioned phone conversation where he’s trying to book a concert for The Rockets. The members of The Rockets show up at Mack’s office looking to get paid, but he hasn’t come up with the money. Mack escapes the office and discovers Jem and the Holograms playing on the TV at a local club.

Harold, a concert promoter shows up with a thug to get some money out of Mack for the last failed tour, but when the put the pressure on him, he lies about putting together a Beautify and the Beast musical, starring Jem.

At Starlight Mansion, a package arrives for Jem with an enclosed letter, script, and contract from Red Johnny Mack. He invites her to star in the lead role of his rock opera: Beauty and the Beast. After reading the script, Jem tells the Holograms she’s going to do the play.

Jem and the Holograms arrive in London with Rio, who meet with Mack.

Rio: I’m surprised he didn’t kiss my hand.

Mack introduces Zero Jones, the set designer and Yoji Yakamura, a techno artist “of the highest quality. Yoji will be designing the Beast (he proceeds to demonstrate the effects he plans to build into the suit). Zero suggests the castle could be a giant power plant with a turbine engine in the living room. Jem appears to approve of the designs. Rehearsals begin the next day at 7:00am.

At Misfits Music, Eric informs Pizzazz that Jem is playing the lead role in the rock opera: Beauty and the Beast. Pizzazz doesn’t seem all that interested though, which seems odd. Eric explains that if the soundtrack is a success, it will make the Holograms internationally famous. Suddenly this piques Pizzazz’s interest. The Misfits decide to go to London.

Just before rehearsal begins, the Holograms are asked to take some promotional photos for the musical.

The musical opens with an old man stealing an electric guitar for his daughters, who write and sing music together. The Beast threatens the old man and makes him an offer: if he sends his daughter to him, he will let him go. If his daughter refuses, he will be forced into slavery.

The father arrives him with the guitar in hand, but looks incredibly sad.

Beauty: Hello, father.

Father: Beauty, where are your sisters?

Beauty: Oh, they’ll be home for dinner. Where did you get that?

Father: I have made a terrible mistake. Oh…

Beauty’s sisters fight each other for the guitar. Father explains the situation how he took it from the Beast, but he originally thought it didn’t belong to anyone. After Beauty’s sisters accuse her of being a “goody goody,” Beauty accepts the Beast’s terms to save her father.

Beast: Do I disgust you? No matter. I will win your love!

Jem and the Holograms music video: “You’ll Never Win My Love”

In anger, the beast grabs a chair and threatens to kill Beauty. They cut as some stage people tell Jem the sets need to be worked on to prepare them for opening night. Jem runs off in search for the actor who is playing the Beast, but when she finds Mack in his dressing room, he tells her he already left. Jem is excited to meet the actor in person. Mack tells Jem she has more promotion to do for the musical.

After an exhausting photo session, Jem asks to cut it short for the day. Later in …