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Tenacious D (TV series)

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Tenacious D
Created byJack Black
Kyle Gass
David Cross
Bob Odenkirk
StarringJack Black
Kyle Gass
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes6 (list of episodes)
Production
Production locationsSilvercup Studios, Los Angeles
Camera setupSingle camera
Running time25 minutes
Original release
NetworkHBO
ReleaseNovember 28, 1997 –

March 15, 2000

Tenacious D: The Greatest Band on Earth is a TV series that ran on HBO in 1997, 1999 and 2000. It featured the fictional accounts of the real band Tenacious D, which is composed of members Jack Black and Kyle Gass. All of the episodes of the show are available on Tenacious D's The Complete Masterworks DVD.

The show included many songs that would later be recorded for the band's studio albums Tenacious D and The Pick of Destiny.[1]

Dispute with HBO

According to Kyle Gass, HBO offered Tenacious D a deal to make ten episodes, but in doing so, they would have to relinquish their role as executive producers.[2] Gass and Jack Black decided to make a movie instead of giving HBO creative control of Tenacious D, and they made The Pick of Destiny.[2]

Episodes

There were three episodes total in the season; episodes consisted of two shorts, shown back-to-back. Altogether, the duration was 23 minutes. All the episodes combined can be viewed on The Complete Masterworks, the full runtime is 70 minutes.[3][4][5][6][7]

No.TitleDirected byOriginal air date
1.1"The Search for Inspirado"Tom GianasNovember 28, 1997

After a successful gig at the open-mic night, host Paul F. Tompkins asks Tenacious D to perform a new song. The band searches for "inspirado", but ends up with nothing. The pressure of this leads to the band's break-up. The band's break-up becomes the inspiration for the new song.

Songs Played:

1.2"Angel in Disguise"Tom GianasNovember 28, 1997

Jack falls in love with a girl named Flarna, and confesses his love for her to Kyle. Kyle is then seen clogging with Flarna, and Jack employs karate on him. During their struggle, Flarna is taken away by an armed robber who shoots at Jack, but Kyle dives in front of the bullet. Kyle is seen lying motionless. As Jack sings of his loss, Kyle reappears, and in song attributes his survival to an over sized friendship medallion Jack had given him.

Songs Played:

  • "The Sex Song/Sex Supreme" (released on the album Tenacious D as "Double Team")
  • "You Broke the Rules" (released on the album Tenacious D as "Karate")
  • "Kyle Took a Bullet for Me"
2.1"Death of a Dream"Tom GianasNovember 27, 1999

After another open-mic night, the band announces a T-shirt signing. When nobody shows up for the autograph session, the pair have a chance to talk to the store owner, Captain Ed, played by Ernest M. Garcia,[8] who convinces the duo that believing they could be rock stars is like believing in Sasquatch. The band almost gives up on their dream, but are saved when they discover that Sasquatch does exist.

Songs Played:

  • "Cosmic Shame"
  • "Kielbasa" (released on the album Tenacious D)
  • "Sasquatch"
2.2"The Greatest Song in the World"Troy MillerNovember 27, 1999

A writer (actor Scott Adsit) moves in to the apartment next to the D's, and when the D commences their pre-show rituals, their new neighbor gets extremely bothered. He calls the police, and the D then sing their song "Tribute", to explain their side of the story.

Songs Played:

  • "Tribute" (revised version released on the album Tenacious D)
3.1"The Fan"Tom GianasMarch 15, 2000

After playing open mic night, JB foolishly throws his clear pick into the crowd and can no longer continue the show without it. After the show, Lee (actor Jason Reed), gives them the pick and divulges the information of his Fan site. The D immediately check it out, and become stalkers of Lee. They break into his house, and sing a song for him, titled "Lee", and then by the end of the episode, they are all friends again, and together they sing the song "Special Thing" at open mic night.

Songs Played:

  • "Explosivo" (released on the album Tenacious D, alternative version released on the EP D Fun Pak))
  • "Lee" (revised version released on the album Tenacious D)
  • "Special Thing"
3.2"Road Gig"Tom GianasMarch 15, 2000

The open-mic night host, Paul F. Tompkins, informs the D that his brother needs a few open mic night bands to play at his new club. He invites the D to go, and the D is set to go on their road gig (although the club is down the road). On the way to the gig, a bug is hit by the car's windshield, and there is no wiper fluid. Searching for a place to get a refill of washer fluid, the band comes across Jesus Ranch, a ranch at which a cult is living. Since the cult's philosophy is that whenever you produce feces, you part with a part of your soul, everyone at the ranch buries their "shits" as JB puts it. Because of this, the health department comes to the ranch and demands everyone evacuate immediately. The members of the cult are ready for a standoff, so the D are forced to stay. The health department employees decide to play loud music, so the D have a battle of the bands. They win, and make it to the road gig.

Songs Played:

  • "Warning"
  • "The Road" - first half in the episode, second half during credits (released on the album Tenacious D)
  • "History" (released on the The Pick of Destiny album)
  • "Jesus Ranch" (demo version released on the EP D Fun Pak)

References

  1. ^ Scott Thurlow, James Caverly (2003-05-22). "HBOwesome". dailytargum.com. pp. accessdate=2008-03-23. {{cite news}}: Missing pipe in: |pages= (help)
  2. ^ a b Fischer, Paul. "Exclusive Interview : Jack Black & Kyle Gass". Moviehole. Archived from the original on 2007-02-23. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
  3. ^ Video on YouTube
  4. ^ Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny (2006) Synopsis, Storyline, Plot - MovieWeb
  5. ^ Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny (2006) - Production Information
  6. ^ Tenacious D: The Greatest Band On Earth (HBO)
  7. ^ Gallo, Phil (1999-03-24). "Tenacious D". Variety. Retrieved 2008-03-25.
  8. ^ Ernest Garcia, "IMDB", Internet Movie Database, 2012