Willow Smith Makes Her TV Debut on Special One-Hour Episode of Nickelodeon's
Hit Series True Jackson, VP Saturday July 25 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Eight-Year Old Smith to Play Young True Jackson Opposite Series' Star Keke
Palmer
NEW YORK, July 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Willow Smith, daughter to one of Hollywood's
hottest couples, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, will make her television debut
in a new, one-hour special episode of Nickelodeon's hit live-action comedy
series True Jackson, VP, starring Keke Palmer, on Saturday, July 25 at 8 p.m.
ET/PT. Currently the number-two program on Saturday nights with kids and
tweens, True Jackson, VP's must-watch episode will guest-star Smith playing a
young version of True in flashback scenes that appear throughout the episode.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090706/NY42106)
"I get my style ideas from True Jackson, VP," said Willow Smith. "If I had my
own fashion company, I would call it 'Willow's Reign.'"
In the hour-long episode, True finds out that she will be helping the Mad
Style team create a window display for the fanciest department store in New
York City. True is especially excited about this assignment since it has been
a childhood dream of hers. The only problem is that True, Lulu (Ashley
Argota) and Ryan (Matt Shively) are all headed back to school for a new year
and True quickly discovers that balancing her school life and her work
responsibilities is harder than she thought. True's father finally has to
intervene after True gets detention, threatening to make her quit Mad Style if
she does not ace her upcoming oral report for school. Meanwhile, Amanda's
(Danielle Bisutti) polar opposite--and very pleasant--twin sister Lisa Marie
comes to visit the office and Max (Greg Proops) is distressed that his
ex-fiance has come back into his life to try and steal him away from Doris.
"After seeing True mostly in the office, it is fun to see another side of her
life. Most kids don't have dual lives as vice presidents and high school
students, so True's comic dilemma is how to balance both. She faces this
crisis with lots of comedy and her usual flair," said Marjorie Cohn,
Nickelodeon's Executive Vice President, Development and Original Programming.
"Willow Smith is fantastic playing the young True and was able to channel
Keke's energy yet put her own signature on it."
Following the premiere, viewers can log on to Nick.com for an exclusive online
podcast interview with Willow Smith. In the week leading up to the special,
Nick.com will also be featuring a new True Jackson, VP Game of the Week as
well as Extra Scoops from the episode.
True Jackson, VP is the number-two program on Saturday night on all of
broadcast and basic cable television with kids 2-11 and 6-11 as well as tweens
9-14. (Source: NMR, Live + 7 Day from 12/29/08; Live + Same Day from
5/18/09-5/31/09). 7.2 million total viewers watch the series each week (NMR,
NPower, Average Weekly CUME, Live + 7 Day from 12/29/08; Live + Same Day from
5/18/09-5/31/09). For the month of May, Nickelodeon scored three of the top
10 regularly scheduled programs on basic cable with total viewers, including:
iCarly (#1); The Penguins of Madagascar (#4); and SpongeBob SquarePants (#6).
Nick also ended May ahead of all competition with kids, tweens and total
viewers by significant leads, averaging 2.1 million total viewers and a
3.3/1.1 million kids 2-11.
Willow Smith has appeared in various feature films, including the role as
Countee Garby in Kit Kittredge: An American Girl and alongside her father as
Marley in I Am Legend. She has also voiced the role of Baby Gloria in
DreamWorks Animation's Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.
About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 30th 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 99 million households and has been the
number-one-rated basic cable network for 15 consecutive years. For more
information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all
related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA,
VIA.B).
SOURCE Nickelodeon
George Cabico of Nickelodeon/LA, +1-310-752-8644, George.Cabico@mtvstaff.com,
or Maria Poulos of Nickelodeon/NY, +1-212-846-6283, Maria.Poulos@nick.com
