Just Say Julie

Did You Know?

• Julie Brown's 1984 song 'The Homecoming Queen's Got a Gun' was refused airplay by MTV, but she finally got to show its video in the episode 'My Evil Twin'.
• Brown hosted two editions of 'Julie's Choice For The Julie's,' a parody of the Emmy's complete with a song and dance.
• The show was parodied on Tiny Toon Adventures as 'Just Say Julie Bruin,' with Brown voicing the host.
• In 2006, Brown bought the rights to the show and released two DVDs: The Very Best of Just Say Julie Volume #1 and The Very Best of Just Say Julie Volume #2 1/2.

Series background

Brown, though considered an MTV VJ, only played videos through her own show. The program gained popularity by defying MTV's tendency to defer to popular artists. Brown portrayed a satirical valley-girl version of herself, often introducing videos or appearing within them via blue screen, then delivering scathing remarks about the performers. Teen stars such as Tiffany and Debbie Gibson were frequent targets, along with Samantha Fox and Paula Abdul, whose tap dancing and talent were questioned.

After a Sheena Easton video, Brown suggested that sleeping with Prince might be a path to getting songs written for one; Easton, whose work included Prince-produced songs like "Sugar Walls," was reportedly outraged, though she later appeared as herself on the show. In another episode, Brown provided running commentary during the Whitesnake video "Here I Go Again," remarking that Tawny Kitaen modeled in the video because she was sleeping with David Coverdale.

Brown also directed barbs at the MTV audience, advising them on personal hygiene and noting that their co-workers at Burger Boy deserved consideration. Madonna was a popular target: Brown implied that the young boy in Madonna's "Cherish" video was the love child of Madonna and a dolphin. In "How to Date," Brown commented on the value of parking in cars, referencing Madonna, and in "The Nuclear Show" she linked meaningless sex to Madonna. Brown later created a scathing mockumentary of Madonna titled Medusa: Dare to be Truthful.

Cast

Julie Brown starred as a valley girl with attitude. Larry Poindexter played cute characters such as the Nuclear Technician in "The Nuclear Show" and Recycle Man in "Eco Girl and Recycle Man"; he was introduced in "How to Date" as a musician, actor, and man about Hollywood. Stacey Travis, a longtime friend of Brown, appeared in nearly all of Brown's videos, playing roles like model Lake Arrowhead in "How to be a Model," Sissy White in "Just Say Bon Jovi 2," and Ashley in "Salute to Animals."

Charlie Coffey, the associate producer, usually portrayed the stage manager, as seen in "The PMS Show" and "Just Say Bon Jovi 2." Stanley DeSantis played the Devil in two episodes, attempting to get Brown to sell her soul, along with other oddball characters. Jodi Carlisle played mother types, including a contest winner given a makeover in "How to Be a Model" and advice columnist Abbey Landers in "How to Date." Celia Arden, Brown's real-life mother, appeared as herself in episodes such as "Popo the Clown" and "My Very Own Movie."

Paul Brown, Brown's real-life brother, played himself, typically broke and trying to borrow money from Julie in episodes like "How to be a Model" and "My Very Own Movie."