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Keke Palmer Stars in New Nickelodeon Series True Jackson

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, 2008 – 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 on 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, NewsRadio, 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?).

“True Jackson,VP taps into the fun and fantasy fulfillment of favorites like Big and The 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. “Keke Palmer brings her considerable talent and charisma to the role of True, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome her into the Nick family.”

 
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 the position, but is soon forced to navigate the office politics:  skepticism and negativity from her older (and bitter) executive assistant and open resentment from her more experienced 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.