November 8, 2008 (2008-11-08) – August 20, 2011 (2011-08-20)
True Jackson, VP is an American teen sitcom created by Andy Gordon for Nickelodeon. It aired from November 8, 2008, to August 20, 2011. The series stars Keke Palmer, Ashley Argota, Matt Shively, Danielle Bisutti, Greg Proops, Robbie Amell, and Ron Butler. The theme song was written by Toby Gad and Keke Palmer and is performed by Palmer. The series was shot before a live audience, although a laugh track was used for sweetening. The pilot episode garnered 4.8 million viewers on its first airing and set network records among kids 6–11, tweens 9–14 and several other demographics.[1] On May 5, 2009, Nickelodeon renewed the show for a second season.[2] The season consisted of 34 episodes, which premiered on November 14, 2009. This season was later split, making a third season.
In August 2011, Palmer posted a video on her YouTube account[3] and posted on her blog,[4] confirming that "Mystery in Peru" is the series' finale. After the show ended, Palmer renewed her contract with the network; she did voiceover work for Nickelodeon's Winx Club[5] and starred in the Nick TV movie Rags.[6]
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 altered design and hires True to be the 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.
Keke Palmer as True Jackson, a teenager who serves as the Vice President of the Youth Fashion Department at Mad Style, where she works, and gets into mishaps and has a lot of fun with her friends. She is intelligent, funny and hardworking with an odd family. In the beginning of the series, she has a crush on Jimmy, Mr. Madigan's nephew, and they eventually become a couple. A running gag in the series is her catchphrase, "(you/she/he) (I/said/did) (there was) what now?".
Ashley Argota as Lulu,[7] True's best friend and secretary–assistant. She is loud, clueless, and easily distracted. Although not many people believe it, she is very intelligent and loves math. She also 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 second best friend. Though he does not have an official job at Mad Style, he is always there to hang and help out with True and Lulu. He is not very intelligent and is very clumsy. Ryan's middle name is Leslie, but he dislikes it. Oscar is not sure if Laserbeam is Ryan's real last name, but according to Ryan's big brother, he got the name when one of his ancestors was given the name "Laserbeam" by his crew captain while he was working on a ship. Max makes him the website editor in one episode.
Danielle Bisutti as Amanda Cantwell, one of the many workers at Mad Style. She is the Vice President of Women's Fashion. At the beginning of the series, Amanda dislikes True and often disagrees with her, embittered by True's seniority within the company despite her youth. Over time, Amanda becomes close with True and her friends.
Robbie Amell as Jimmy Madigan, a mail deliverer at Mad Style, the nephew of Max Madigan, and the boy of True's affection. The two are affectionate towards one another, and eventually enter a relationship.
Ron Butler as Oscar, the main secretary and operator for Mad Style, and works behind the reception desk on the floor where Mad Style offices are. He is seen taking calls on his headset or delivering messages to Amanda. Known for his style and dry humour, he is flamboyant. He wears ascots all the time.
Greg Proops as Max Madigan, the eccentricCEO of Mad Style, Jimmy's uncle, and True’s boss. Max often glorifies True, and rarely criticizes her.
Recurring
Dan Kopelman as Kopelman, a Mad Style employee who hardly speaks and is frequently ridiculed by Max.
The indoor recording of Mad Style took place in the studio at stage 25 of Paramount Studios in Hollywood. 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.
In episode four of season 2, True goes to see a fortune teller with Lulu and Ryan. The indoor recordings were recorded in the studio. The outdoor shot was shot at 178 Prince Street in New York.
Gallery
Filming location, Mad Style's New York fashion company and office, actually 1251 Avenue of the Americas
Broadcast
The series has aired on-and-off on TeenNick in the United States since 2008, with the most recent airing in 2023. BET also briefly aired episodes of the series in 2009.
The show also premiered on the Canadian network YTV on March 5, 2009, and every Thursday since, but was changed to Friday to accommodate with iCarly & Big Fun Fridays. Then, the show moved again to Mondays at 6:30pm. As of 2010, the series no longer airs on YTV.
The series continues to air regularly on Nickelodeon networks around the world. The show ended in Australia and New Zealand on 17 December 2011. The last two remaining episodes premiered in the UK on Wednesday 4 January 2012 and Thursday 5 January 2012 and with "Mystery in Peru" premiering on Friday 6 January 2012.
The series is currently[when?] shown in Jamaica on one of the national stations TVJ (Television Jamaica) at 4:30pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
On May 1, 2019, the series began airing on Nick Pluto.
In Italy, the series began airing on Pluto TV on January 18, 2023.
Home media
True Jackson, VP: Season 1, Vol. 1 was released in a 2 disc set on September 8, 2009. Running time is 321 minutes, presented in full screen video, and English stereo audio. The set also includes behind-the-scenes, cast member's screen tests, bloopers and the first 13 episodes of season 1.[9] Even though there is Season 1 Volume 1, for unknown reasons, a Volume 2 was never released.
The following releases were only released on Amazon.com's CreateSpace manufacture-on-demand (MOD) service:
True Jackson, VP: Season 2 was released on September 9, 2011. Running time is 468 minutes, presented in full screen video, and English Stereo audio. This DVD release has 20 episodes from the second season.[10]
True Jackson, VP: Season 3 was released on September 9, 2011. Running time is 327 minutes, presented in full screen video, and English Stereo audio. This DVD release has 14 episodes from the third season.[10]
On March 24, 2021, the series was added to Paramount+.[11]
Best Performance In A TV Series (Comedy or Drama) - Leading Young Actress
Keke Palmer
Nominated
2011
Young Artist Awards
Best Performance In A TV Series - Recurring Young Actress Ten and Under
Ava Allan
Nominated
2011
Writers Guild of America
Children's Episodic & Specials, For the episode True Magic
Andy Gordon
Nominated
2012
NAACP Image Award
Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Program - (Series or Special)
Keke Palmer
Won
2012
Young Artist Awards
Best Performance In A TV Series - Recurring Young Actress
Ava Allan
Nominated
Merchandise and in other media
Clothing line
In August 2009, a line of clothing inspired by the show called "Mad Style by True Jackson" was released. The line was available exclusively at Walmart and is aimed at children and teens. This was the first line of clothing for the show and was a first for Nickelodeon releasing a line of clothing from one of their television shows. Commercials advertising the clothing line could be seen on Nickelodeon and TeenNick. Featured in the show and commercials is an instrumental version of the show's theme song.
Book series
A set of novels based on the show were released, via Amazon.[12]
Notes
^ abcdefghiAppeared in two episodes in the series.
