Keke Palmer Stars in New Nickelodeon Series True Jackson, VP

Keke Palmer Stars in New Nickelodeon Series True Jackson, VP

All-New Half-Hour Live-Action Series Joins Hit TEENick Line-up in Fall 2008

Series Created by Award-Winning Veteran Comedy Writer/Producer Andy Gordon

SANTA MONICA, Calif., July 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Critically acclaimed teen sensation Keke Palmer (Akeelah and the Bee) gives new meaning to "passion for fashion" in Nickelodeon's newest live-action series True Jackson, VP. The network has ordered 20 episodes of the series centered around 15-year old True Jackson (Palmer) who is tapped to head the youth division of a major fashion label. True soon learns that corporate life has the same highs and lows as high school, complete with cliques, mean girls and crushes -- but with cool perks like designing for up-and-coming rock stars and casting super cute models. True Jackson, VP, created and executive produced by award-winning comedy veteran Andy Gordon (Back to You, News Radio, Just Shoot Me Mad About You), begins shooting in Los Angeles in September with a cast that includes Ashley Argota, Danielle Bisutti, Matt Shively and a recurring role by Greg Proops (Whose Line is it Anyway?).

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080728/NYM078 )

"True Jackson, VP taps into the fun and fantasy fulfillment of favorites like Big and Devil Wears Prada, with its own unique spin on the 'kids-in-charge' theme," said Marjorie Cohn, Nickelodeon's Executive Vice President, Development and Original Programming. "And we couldn't be more excited to welcome Keke Palmer to the Nick family, who brings her considerable talent and charisma to the role of True."

The first episode introduces True Jackson as a no-nonsense teenager selling sandwiches outside the offices of a major fashion label. When the head of the company Max (Greg Proops) is solicited by her, he notices True's young yet marketable fashion sense and offers her a job on-the-spot as Vice President in charge of his youth apparel line. She accepts and soon encounters the office politics: her older -- and bitter -- executive assistant Cricket and resentful colleague Amanda (Danielle Bisutti). But with the help of her high school friends, Lulu (Ashley Argota) and Ryan (Matt Shively), True quickly acclimates to the corporate culture and deals with it as if it was just another day in high school.

True Jackson, VP will join the powerhouse TEENick line-up this Fall, which includes hits Zoey 101 and iCarly, the #1 and #2 ranked shows with tweens on all basic cable (#2 and #3 on broadcast, respectively, only behind #1-ranked American Idol), and the popular series The Naked Brothers Band, H20 and Drake & Josh. The popular TEENick block, which has become destination programming, has helped propel the network into the number one viewing choice for Tweens (9-14) and Kids 6-11.*

Fourteen-year-old Palmer has already established herself as one of the fastest rising young stars of her generation, with credits that span film, television, and music. Palmer's breakthrough performance was starring as the title character in the Lionsgate Films/Starbucks Entertainment sleeper hit Akeelah and the Bee, opposite actor Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett. Her performance garnered a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture. Palmer also received a SAG nomination in the Best Leading Actress category for her role in the Emmy-nominated made for TV movie, The Wool Cap, opposite William H. Macy in 2004, marking her as the youngest actor to ever be nominated by the Guild in a Lead Actor Category. In 2007, she also released her debut pop/R&B album So Uncool on Atlantic Records. Palmer can be seen starring opposite Ice Cube this August in the Weinstein Co. feature, The Longshots based on the true story of a female quarterback that makes Pop Warner history. Palmer is also close to wrapping production on Shrink for Lionsgate starring opposite Kevin Spacey and Robin Williams. Palmer is repped by William Morris Agency and Untitled Entertainment.

Award-winning comedy veteran Andy Gordon has written and produced such shows as Back to You (CBS), Just Shoot Me (NBC), News Radio (NBC), Get a Life (Fox), The Jeff Foxworthy Show (ABC), Dream On (HBO) and Mad About You (NBC), for which he received a Golden Globe and a Peabody Award. With former writing partner Eileen Conn, he co-created the NBC comedy DAG, starring David Alan Grier, and co-wrote the play Arrivals & Departures, which premiered at the Aspen Comedy Festival. Gordon has also done punch-up on dozens of movies, including Curious George, Ant Bully, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Walter the Farting Dog, Space Chimps, and Meet Dave. Most recently, Gordon co-wrote the cheerleader comedy Fired Up, which will hit theaters in March of 2009.

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, now in its 29th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 96 million households and has been the number- one-rated basic cable network for 14 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:VIA.B).

*(Source: NMR - Full 2Q08 - 3/31/08 - 6/29/08)

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