18: “Hot Time in Hawaii”

Synopsis: “The Misfits and The Holograms are both invited to compete in the “Battle of the Music Stars” in Honolulu. Eric’s hired thug, Zipper supplies the Misfits with rigged sports equipment to give them the edge in the competition. Later on, Kimber is kidnapped, and the Holograms have to find her in time to compete in the final event.”

Summary: Episode 18, written by Beth Bornstein. We open with Aja instructing an intensive aerobics session for the Holograms and the Starlight girls. The doorbell rings and Jerrica is delivered a priority letter, stating that Jem and the Holograms have been invited to participate in the annual “Battle of the Music Stars” competition in Honolulu, Hawaii. The winner will receive not only a trophy, but a chance to perform at the governor’s mansion.

Cut to the “special music star buffet” where the Misfits decide to celebrate their invitation by filling up their plates. Stormer raises concerns about gorging on the free food and suggests that the band should start training for the competition. Naturally, Pizzazz says there’s no need, as they’re going to higher Zipper as their coach, to train them in “the art of cheating.”

During the flight to Hawaii, Kimber leaves her seat and heads to the bar to order a large pineapple juice. She clumsily bumps into a man named Steve and spills her drink. It turns out, Steve is also heading to Honolulu. Fortunately for the Holograms, Steve knows a lot about sports and offers to help coach the band.

Later at the beach, we see Jem and the Holograms exercising on the beach, while the Misfits lounge in the sun. Stormer observes the Holograms exercising and decides to go for a run on the beach, but she’s stopped by Zipper.

Zipper: No need to do that, Stormer. With old Zipper here, you won’t have to do nothing. Nothing legal, that is.

Zipper has brought some “special” equipment with him to give the Misfits the upper hand in the competition, starting with some very James Bond style bicycles. On the bike, it features an electromagnet, which can pull you up to whoever is in front of you, rear tire slashing spikes, and an oil slick. Before Zipper can finish explaining all of the bikes tricks to Roxy, she takes off and starts pushing random buttons, which sets off the oil slick, causing Zipper to lose control.

Pizzazz helps Zipper test his modified pole vault, which artificially helps propel whoever uses it with no effort (via a hidden spring at the base of the pole).

Speaking of springs, Stormer is given special running shoes which feature springs that help her reach new heights. Those must be some seriously industrial strength springs.

Meanwhile, the Holograms continue training with Steve. At the beach, Kimber is swimming and practicing laps, but when Steve mentions she beat her previous record, a shark appears and heads towards her. Steve tries to warn her to swim in, but it doesn’t seem like she hears him right away. Kimber turns around and tries to swim as fast as she can, screaming for help. Steve comes to Kimber’s rescue on a Sea-Doo and fires a harpoon at the Shark, but we see a small spark of electricity and then the Shark explodes, revealing it was entirely mechanical. Where does Zipper find all of this stuff?

Watching the scene unfold from shore, Zipper doesn’t appear to be phased by the failure of his mechanical shark, because he has a lot more in store for Jem and the Holograms. The Misfits compliment Zipper on the food he brought them, but when Zipper says he thought he’d bring them shark since the Holograms were having it, the Misfits promptly spit it out in disgust.

The competition commences with a bicycle race, but things are off to a terrible start when Roxy blows out Shana’s tire, causing Roxy to win the race.

Next up is the pole vault, where Pizzazz end…