25: “Culture Clash”

Synopsis: “An eccentric artist, Fitzgerald Beck, is the art director for Jem and The Holograms’ new video. His art dealer is using his sculptures to smuggle stolen diamonds. The Misfits discover this and plan to rig the sculptures to explode onstage while Jem and the Holograms are filming a music video. The police blame Jem and the Holograms for the diamond theft. Will the band be able to find evidence to clear their name?”

Summary: Episode 25 is written by David Wise.

We open with Jem and the Holograms arriving in New York City. As the band makes an attempt to leave the airport, they’re mobbed by the press, who ask them questions regarding the length of their stay and what they’ll be doing. Kimber answers a reporter by asking him if he reads the paper, because apparently they made an announcement that they’ll be shooting their new music video. The Misfits are close by, watching the Holograms get all of the attention. Stormer and Roxy are not happy about how Eric dropped the ball, but Pizzazz actually promises to make sure their stay in New York is a disaster.

In the limo ride to the hotel, Anthony Julian and Video join the Holograms to tell them about the new art director for the music video: Fitzgerald Beck. But when Julian mentions Beck’s name, the Holograms admit they haven’t heard of him.

Video: He’s only the hottest conceptual artist in America.

Anthony: These are some of his performance works. You’ll understand more at this party he’s throwing.

Cut to Fitzgerald’s party as the Holograms walk in and are greeted by a collection of very peculiar robot art pieces.

Aja: I guess sometimes more is less.

A man takes the stage and stands in front of a glossy black grand piano, with mallet in hand. Kimber asks a lady standing next to her what he’s about to do, and she tells Kimber that he’s about to perform Fitzgerald Beck’s piano sonata. The man immediately starts to smash the piano with the mallet. Moments later, we see a chainsaw come down on the piano, tearing it to shreds. Kimber asks what the performer is doing, and the lady explains he’s now entering the second movement.

On the set of the new Jem and the Holograms music video, Jem impatiently remarks at Fitzgerald’s Beck’s tardiness.

Jem: Does this guy bother to show up for anything?

Clearly, Jem is remarking at the fact that Fitzgerald didn’t both to show up at his own party. But just as Jem complains about him not showing up to set, suddenly the Holograms are splashed with a rainbow of paint from above. We see Fitzgerald repelling down on a rope to meet the band.

Julian: He’s coming down. You don’t want to hurt his feelings. You know how sensitive artists are. Jem, meet Fitzgerald Beck.

Fitzgerald: You know, you fascinate me.

Jem: Oh ya? You sure have a funny way of showing it.

Wouldn’t the Holograms’ expensive equipment be damaged by the paint? This stunt seems very poorly thought out on Beck’s part.

Elsewhere, Jem and the Holograms continue to a different location to shoot another scene for their music video–this time, it’s on a boat which is hauling heaps of putrid garbage.

Kimber: So much for our glamorous image.

Aja: I think we lost that the day Fitzgerald Beck walked into our lives.

Whilst Julian is explaining how the shoot will work, on the garbage boat, we see Pizzazz sabotaging the motor and/or possibly the electrical system, with the Misfits watching behind her.

Julian calls “action” on the camera boat, but as Fitzgerald fiddles with the remote control system, he realizes it’s broken. The garbage boat begins speeding out of control and the Holograms begin to lose sight of the camera boat. Danger is fast approaching as the Holograms get close to crossing paths with a large cruise ship. Jem heads to the control room to try and get a han…