Taking on a pop culture icon is a monumental task, but if there was one girl up to the task, it was Jem. First created as a doll that Hasbro hoped would steal a little of the market share from Mattel’s enormously successful Barbie line, Jem soon proved that she was a star in her own right. And to give her career a little boost, she was given some screen time on the Super Sunday block in 1985. Quickly proving her worth as a pop star, she would get her own animated series, Jem, in 1986.

Before there was the pink-haired Jem, there was an altruistic girl named Jerrica Benton, who ran Starlight Music and its charitable Starlight Foundation. Her father Emmet had invented a computer called Synergy, capable of projecting 3D holograms that were incorporated into Starlight’s music videos. After her father passed away, Jerrica was contacted by Synergy, thanks to some special earrings her father had designed for her. Utilizing the power of Synergy, she transformed herself into Jem, a rock star like no other. Her backing band, The Holograms, consisted of her sister Kimber and a duo of orphans, all whose identity was hidden by the holographic power of Synergy. Their main competition/nemesis was a rival girl’s band appropriately called The Misfits.

A product of the 80s, Jem seemed to have it all. Besides her handsome boyfriend, Rio, she had two careers – that of sexy rock queen, and the slightly more admirable role as social activist, where she used her fame to tackle such issues as illiteracy and drug abuse. And when she wasn't saving the world, her and her bandmates were producing numerous music videos that cleverly mimicked the popular MTV videos of the day.

She may never have actually caused Barbie to lose any sleep, but Jem was certainly a force to be reckoned with. Besides the successful 3-year run of the animated series, she proved herself to be a merchandising powerhouse, with a formidable line of dolls, accessories and music.  The series was released on DVD in 2004, complete with a 5.1 surround remix.