by Ashley Shankle

Created on: February 05, 2009   Last Updated: February 13, 2009

True Jackson, VP is Nickelodeon's newest kid's sitcom, which follows the hijinks of 15 year old True Jackson (Keke Palmer) after a chance meeting with one of her favorite fashion designers, Max (Greg Proops). She is quickly turned from normal highschool girl to vice president of the youth apparel division of Max's company, MAX Style. The premise for True Jackson, VP is as unlikely as any other show on Nickelodeon or the Disney Channel. While the show may seem like a fresh breath of air to the programming either Nickelodeon or Disney host, it is just another tween show with a new gimmick.

The show sticks to the trend set by That's So Raven, iCarly, and Hannah Montana with ridiculous scenarios, condescending adults, and uninspired humor. The only thing that distinguishes these types of shows is the storyline, and True Jackson, VP's story just happens to mirror the last story arc in That's So Raven. Even True's best friends, Lulu (Ashley Argota) and Ryan (Matt Shively), are unoriginal. Lulu is loud and a little stupid with a good heart. Ryan is even louder and dumber with - surprise surprise! - a good heart. Every single sitcom made for children follows this pattern and it leaves little room for variation. It's a shame because True Jackson, VP has promise, but it needs something different from what the other shows offer.

Each episode opens saying that it is filmed in front of a live studio audience, which is something you don't hear in television shows these days. But while it boasts having the live studio audience, there is an obvious laugh track that cheapens the gesture. The physical comedy in the show, like Lulu enthusiastically opening and closing True's giant, remote controlled refrigerator, is occassionally amusing, but the jokes themselves are uncreative and a awkwardly delivered. It leaves the viewer wondering if anyone in the audience really laughed as much as it sounds like.

Keke Palmer is the high point in the show, she plays her role well and doesn't come off as a goofy caricature. She played another lead role in the 2007 Disney movie Jump In! and proved she could be a hot commodity in the market for children's programming. Nickelodeon signed her to a television contract before Disney could get the chance to, much to her benefit. Disney has a long track record of sucking their young actors and actresses dry. Keke has huge acting potential and it would be a shame to see her wasted on shows like these for the rest of her career.

Overall True Jackson, VP panders to the tween demographic in the exact same ways that it's predessesors do. Switching between this and iCarly, which is also on Nickelodeon, is like reading something forwards and then backwards. When it's backwards it looks different than forwards, but at a closer look it is really just the same thing. True Jackson, VP is good for a couple laughs, whether a kid or an adult, but it's all flair and no substance. True Jackson, VP airs every night on Nickelodeon on rotating times between 7:00 and 8:30.

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