Precious Plum

A product of the popular comedy brand CollegeHumor, Precious Plum originated as a web series in 2013 and continued into 2014. CollegeHumor has a reputation for its satirical and witty content, often aimed at young adults and college students, and Precious Plum is no exception. The web series is a satirical take on the popular reality TV genre, specifically spoofing shows that focus on the lives of young pageant competitors and their families.

Characterized by its hysterical tone and exaggerated scenarios, Precious Plum centers around the eponymous character, Plum, and her overzealous mother. Plum, a child beauty pageant contestant, and her mother, a confident and driven woman, embark on various antics, endeavors, and misadventures in their pursuit of pageant success. The relationship between Plum and her mother is a central aspect of the series, typified by their distinct chemistry, comedic dynamics, and mutual dependence.

Plum, who is the central character of the series, is anything but ordinary. With her zany personality and idiosyncratic charm, she effortlessly captivates viewers with her antics. Despite her young age, she has a particular naive wisdom that, combined with her innocent and yet often surprisingly shrewd observations, adds to the humor of the series.

In stark contrast is Plum’s mother, a character with hefty ambitions and a penchant for drama. Ambitious and sometimes overbearing, she’s firmly invested in her daughter’s success and goes to interesting lengths to ensure it. Her unconventional parenting style, coupled with her distinctive townie accent, contributes to some of the most humorously bizarre and memorable moments in the series.

The show employs a unique storytelling approach in that each episode places Plum and her mother in new, often outlandish, situations. These scenarios often underscore the ridiculous methods for pageant preparation and the lengths to which participants will go to win. The shock humor and exaggerated, larger-than-life characters form the core of the narrative style, lending to the series' satirical nature.

Precious Plum, however, is not just about over-the-top humor. The series also subtly critiques the outlandish, often unhealthy dynamics of child beauty pageants and the reality TV genre in general. It exposes the objectification, competition, and pressures associated with these pursuits, doing so through comedic lens that makes these issues more accessible. As a result, the viewers are not just left laughing – they are also thought-provoking and insightful.

The success of Precious Plum owes much to its writing. The scripts are audacious, profound, and consistently comical, complementing the brilliant performances of the lead actors. The dialogue, often loaded with popular references and witty retorts, keeps viewers engaged and adds to the authenticity and relatability of the characters. Through smart writing and fantastic comedic performances, CollegeHumor succeeds in maintaining the series' momentum and humor throughout its run.

In terms of production style, Precious Plum has a low-budget, homemade feel that mimics the aesthetics of reality television. The inconsistent camera work, abrupt editing, and seemingly spontaneous scenes reinforce the impression of peering into the chaotic and unfiltered life of a child pageant star and her ambitious mother, mirroring the familiar "fly-on-the-wall" approach that is prevalent in many reality shows.

In conclusion, Precious Plum is a unique web series that combines hilarity with subtle social commentary, all set within the peculiar world of child pageants. It's an entertaining and fun watch that provides a good laugh while making audiences think about the deeper issues at play. Packed full of memorable jokes, outlandish characters, and ridiculous situations, Precious Plum is a brilliant satire that fans of comedy and reality TV tropes won't want to miss.