The Presidential Dilemma - Episode Guide

#5205-29 The Presidential Dilemma
Written by Beth Bornstein

Synopsis:
Jem and the Holograms are invited to perform a special concert for the president and the first lady, at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. But Jerrica discovers that Synergy's signal won't penetrate the security system. So the Holograms are forced to bring Synergy to Washington D.C. When the FBI receives an anonymous tip that Jem and the Holograms have smuggled unauthorized equipment, Synergy is being taken away to undergo the required tests.

Characters:
Jem/Jerrica and the Holograms, the Misfits, Synergy, Eric, Lin-Z, president, Paul Davis the white house's entertainment coordinator, washington marauder.

Focus on:
Synergy, Jerrica.

Locations & vehicles:
Starlight Mansion, Washington D.C., Kennedy center in Washington D.C., Gabor Mansion, Misfits Music, United States Capitol in Washington D. C., hotel 410 in Washington D.C., Glitter 'n Gold Roadster, White House in Washington D.C., government's truck, Pentagon in Washington D.C., washington marauder's truck, washington marauder's museum in Washington D.C., Iwo Jima memorial Arlington in Virginia, Lincoln memorial in Washington D.C., Grand Canyon in Arizona, Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone in South Dakota, Washington monument in Washington DC, the moon.

Songs:
"Star Spangled Fantasy" The Misfits
"Time Is Running Out" Jem and the Holograms
"Freedom" Jem and the Holograms

Genres:
Action, Adventure, Message, Mystery, Drama, Humor.

Original airdate:
2 November 1987.

Releases:
Released on DVD.

International:
Italy: Aired on TV. The episode title was "Un Invito Del Presidente" (A invitation of the president).
France: Aired on TV. Released on DVD. The episode title was "Le Dilemme Présidentiel" (The presidential dilemma).
Venezuela: Aired on TV. The episode title was "El Dilema Presidencial".
UK: Aired on TV. Released on VHS.

Trivia:
Synergy's signal can't penetrate the Kennedy center's new security system.

The Misfits come closer than ever to finding out about Synergy, they even get a good clear sight of Synergy as they spy on Jerrica and the Holograms when they put Synergy togheter. Roxy's comment is that it's a "pretty fancy machine". Eric makes the connection to the machine his private investigator found in the Truly Outrageous five parter episodes. Apparently Eric still has the photo of it.

Synergy is actually plugged in as she is taken apart, or she is running on her batteries.

Jerrica tells the president about Synergy, she says Synergy is an intergral part of Jem and the Holograms act, she is an extremely sofisticated computer, she is more than just a computer, she is the back bone of their act. Finally, Jerrica actually revelas her secret to the president.

According to the people taking Synergy apart, they have never seen anything like it before, it's lightyears ahead of our present technology, the machine's program is too complex for them to understand.

The song "Time Is Running Out" by Jem and the Holograms is re-used. Previously appeared in the episode "In Stitches".

In the music video "Freedom", Jem is the only main character seen.