Tenacious D (TV series)

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Tenacious D
Tenacious D (TV series) title card.png
Title card
Created by
Starring
  • Jack Black
  • Kyle Gass
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes3
Production
Executive producers
  • David Cross
  • Bob Odenkirk
  • Jack Black
  • Kyle Gass
  • Troy Miller
Producers
Production locations Silvercup Studios, Los Angeles
EditorSteve Welch
Camera setup Single camera
Running time21–26 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network HBO
ReleaseNovember 28, 1997 (1997-11-28) –
March 15, 2000 (2000-03-15)
Related
Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny

Tenacious D is a limited television series that ran on HBO from 1997 to 2000. It features the fictional accounts of the real-life comedy rock duo of the same name, 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 Master Works DVD. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Contents

There were three half-hour episodes total in the season, each containing two segments. The show included many songs that would later be re-recorded for the band's studio albums Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny . [6]

In June 2020, the show was added to HBO Max. [7]

Synopsis

The series follows the exploits of JB and KG, the two halves of Tenacious D, the self-proclaimed "greatest band on earth". Their music is heavy on power chords and lyrics about sex, Satan, and why they are "the greatest band on Earth".

Episodes are typically bookended by scenes of the band performing at an open mic night, with the events in between often serving as inspiration for a song performed at the end. [8]

Dispute with HBO

According to 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. [9] Gass and Black decided to make a movie instead of giving HBO creative control of Tenacious D, and they made Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny . [9]

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"The Search for Inspirado" Tom Gianas Jack Black, David Cross, Kyle Gass, Tom Gianas, Bob Odenkirk November 28, 1997 (1997-11-28)
"Angel in Disguise"

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 inspiration ("inspirado"), but ends up with nothing. The pressure of this leads to the band's brief break-up, which becomes the inspiration for the new song, "Kyle Quit the Band". [8]

Songs Played:

After the band performs a sexually explicit song, they are met backstage by a woman (Laura Kightlinger) who propositions them. Kyle immediately agrees, but Jack makes a speech, causing the woman to go away. Jack explains that he is in love with a girl named Flarna, who has several unusual interests. Kyle uses this knowledge to impress Flarna as she is opening up the store she works at, and Jack comes upon them clogging. Flarna enters the store, and Jack and Kyle fight. During their struggle, a robber enters the store unnoticed. He comes out pointing a gun at Flarna, and when Jack objects, fires it at him. Kyle dives in front of the bullet and is seen lying motionless. As Jack sings of his loss, Kyle reappears, and in song attributes his survival to an oversized friendship medallion Jack had given him. [8]

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"
2"Death of a Dream"Tom Gianas
Troy Miller 		Jack Black, David Cross, Kyle Gass, Tom Gianas, Bill Odenkirk, Bob OdenkirkNovember 27, 1999 (1999-11-27)
"The Greatest Song in the World"

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), [10] a disillusioned ex-musician who compares believing in the rock star mythos to believing in the Sasquatch. The band almost gives up on their dream, but as they prepare to burn their guitars in a campfire near a forest, they encounter the Sasquatch, (played by John C. Reilly). [11] The Sasquatch attempts to join Tenacious D as a drummer and is rebuffed, but the band writes and performs a song about him, which he witnesses in disguise. [8]

Songs Played:

  • "Cosmic Shame"
  • "Kielbasa" (released on the album Tenacious D)
  • "Sasquatch"

As Jack and Kyle are playing a golf game within their apartment, they are interrupted by a writer (played by Scott Adsit) who has moved into the apartment next door. After he leaves, the band engages in several bizarre and noisy pre-show rituals, which bother their new neighbor. He calls the police, and the band sings their song "Tribute", to explain their side of the story. [8] [11]

Songs Played:

  • "Tribute" (revised version released on the album Tenacious D)
3"The Fan"Tom Gianas
Troy Miller		Jack Black, David Cross, Kyle Gass, Tom Gianas, Bill Odenkirk, Bob OdenkirkMarch 15, 2000 (2000-03-15)
"Road Gig"

At the open mic night, JB throws a large collection of guitar picks into the crowd, including his special clear pick, which he cannot continue the show without. After the band leaves the venue, they meet their biggest fan, Lee (actor JR Reed), who gives them the pick and asks them for a picture of the band for his fansite. Jack and Kyle visit the site after getting home, and become obsessed, visiting Lee late at night to give him the photos he requested. The next day, they leave 33 messages on his answering machine, and break into his house after he gets home from work. They sing a song about him, "Lee", which causes Lee to cry tears of joy. The band, plus Lee, then sing a song about their friendship, titled "Special Things", at open mic night. [8] [11]

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 Things"

The open-mic night host informs Jack and Kyle that his brother needs a few bands to play at his new club. He suggests the band go, exciting them about the prospect of a "road gig" (although the club is not far). On the way to the show, a bug hits their car's windshield, and Jack pulls over, since the car is out of wiper fluid. Searching for a place to get a refill, the band comes across Jesus Ranch, where a cult is living. The cult buries all of their feces at the ranch, since they believe that whenever people defecate, they lose a portion of their soul. After the band learns this, the county health department arrives at the ranch and demands everyone evacuate immediately. The members of the cult prepare for an armed standoff, and will not allow the band to leave. The health department employees attempt to drive the cult out by playing loud music, so Jack and Kyle play their own music in a sort of battle of the bands. This convinces the health department to pack up their equipment and leave, and after the cult leader gives the band a jug of wiper fluid, they make it to the road gig, where they perform the song "Jesus Ranch". [8]

Songs Played:

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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tenacious D</span> American comedy rock duo

Tenacious D is an American comedy rock duo formed in Los Angeles, in 1994. It was founded by actors Jack Black and Kyle Gass, who were then members of The Actors' Gang theater company. The duo's name is derived from "tenacious defense", a phrase used by NBA basketball sportscasters Walt Frazier and Marv Albert. Backing members include John Konesky, John Spiker, and Scott Seiver. Dave Grohl has recorded drums and percussion on all studio albums, but does not perform live.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Black</span> American actor and musician (born 1969)

Thomas Jacob Black is an American actor, comedian, and musician. He is known for roles in family and comedy films, in addition to his voice work in animated films. His awards include an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, and nominations for three Golden Globe Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Gass</span> American musician

Kyle Richard Gass is an American musician, singer and actor, best known for co-founding—and being a member of—Tenacious D, a Grammy-winning comedy band. He is also a member of Trainwreck and the Kyle Gass Band.

<i>Tenacious D</i> (album) 2001 studio album by Tenacious D

Tenacious D is the debut studio album by American comedy rock duo Tenacious D, released on September 25, 2001 by Epic Records. The album's polished production was a departure from the band's acoustic origins, due in part to the production of the Dust Brothers. "Wonderboy" was the first single released from the album, followed by "Tribute". Both singles had music videos filmed for them, with the Liam Lynch-directed "Tribute" video achieving cult status. While Tenacious D did not achieve chart success after its release, it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) by the end of 2005. Despite only peaking at number 38 in the UK, it had sold 426,000 copies countrywide by 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tribute (song)</span> 2002 single by Tenacious D

"Tribute" is a song by American comedy rock duo Tenacious D, and the second single from their self-titled debut album (2001). It was released on February 11, 2002, in the United States and on June 24, 2002, in Australia. The song is a tribute to what Kyle Gass and Jack Black refer to as "The Greatest Song in the World".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wonderboy (Tenacious D song)</span> 2001 single by Tenacious D

"Wonderboy" is the debut single by American rock-comedy duo Tenacious D. It was released in September 2001 on the same day as their self-titled debut album. The song peaked at number 36 in the UK and number 44 in Australia; the video, directed by Spike Jonze, was also well received. The song is also the entrance theme for UFC fighter Stephen Thompson whose nickname is "Wonderboy".

<i>The Complete Master Works</i> 2003 video by Tenacious D

The Complete Master Works is a two-DVD set by Tenacious D, documenting their gig at the Brixton Academy on November 3, 2002. The DVD also contains the band's TV series, a collection of short films, two documentaries on the band, music videos, and live TV appearances. The video was a major success, going 6× platinum in the US and 2× platinum in Australia in the Video Longform category. The disc's cover features band members Jack Black and Kyle Gass in Baroque era costume, replete with powdered wigs, a violin and harpsichord.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trainwreck with Kyle Gass</span> American rock band

Trainwreck with Kyle Gass is an American southern and comedy rock band formed in Los Angeles, in 2002. It was founded by Tenacious D guitarist Kyle Gass and actor and singer JR Reed.

<i>Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny</i> 2006 film by Liam Lynch

Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny is a 2006 American musical fantasy comedy film about comedy rock duo Tenacious D. Written, produced by and starring Tenacious D members Jack Black and Kyle Gass, it is directed and co-written by musician and puppeteer Liam Lynch. Despite being about an actual band, the film is a fictitious story about the band's origins, and their journey to find a magical pick belonging to Satan that allows its users to become rock legends.

<i>The Pick of Destiny</i> 2006 studio album by Tenacious D

The Pick of Destiny is the second studio album and the soundtrack for the feature film of the same name by American comedy rock band Tenacious D. The album was released on November 14, 2006, through Epic Records, and debuted at number 8 on the Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">POD (song)</span> 2006 single by Tenacious D

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">JR Reed (actor)</span> American actor

JR Reed is an American character actor and singer, originally from Corvallis, Oregon. He is best known for his roles as "Lee" with American rock band Tenacious D, mainly in their television series and in their 2006 film The Pick of Destiny, as well as featuring at live concerts. He would also form the band Trainwreck with Kyle Gass in 2002 alongside Tenacious D guitarist Kyle Gass, performing as the lead singer. Trainwreck broke up in 2010, though reformed in 2018. Outside of these appearances, Reed mainly features in sporadic television, web-series and film appearances, as well as in commercial work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Pick of Destiny Tour (2006–2007)</span> 2006–07 concert tour by Tenacious D

The Pick of Destiny Tour was a worldwide concert tour by American rock band Tenacious D. The tour was in support of the band's 2006 film, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny and its accompanying soundtrack The Pick of Destiny, released as the band's second studio album. The tour visited North America, Europe and Australia, beginning on November 11, 2006 and ending on February 21, 2007, featuring 32 shows in total. Footage from the shows at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle on February 16 and 17, 2007 were released on The Complete Master Works 2 DVD and Blu-ray in November 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tenacious D discography</span>

The discography of Tenacious D, an American comedy rock band, consists of four studio albums, one live album, one extended play (EP), six singles, two video albums, ten music videos and four other appearances. Formed in Los Angeles, California in 1994, the band is a duo composed of lead vocalist Jack Black and lead acoustic guitarist Kyle Gass, who perform with additional members during "full band" shows. After signing with Epic Records, the band released its self-titled debut album in 2001, which featured Dave Grohl on drums, Warren Fitzgerald on electric guitar and Steven McDonald on bass, among other contributors. The album reached number 33 on the US Billboard 200 and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Lead single "Tribute" peaked at number 4 on the Australian Singles Chart, where it was certified platinum, and number 9 on the New Zealand Singles Chart, where it was certified gold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Konesky</span> American guitarist, record producer

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<i>Rize of the Fenix</i> 2012 studio album by Tenacious D

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<i>Post-Apocalypto</i> 2018 studio album by Tenacious D

Post-Apocalypto is the fourth studio album by American rock band Tenacious D. Produced by bassist John Spiker, it was released in North America on November 2, 2018, by Columbia Records. The album features songs and audio snippets from the band’s animated web series Tenacious D in Post-Apocalypto.

<i>Tenacious D in Post-Apocalypto</i> American TV series or program

Tenacious D in Post-Apocalypto is an American series of animatic shorts by Jack Black and Kyle Gass as Tenacious D, released independently through the band's YouTube channel. The soundtrack for the series was released as the band's fourth studio album, Post-Apocalypto, by Columbia Records. The stills from the series were used to create a graphic novel released by Fantagraphics Books in September 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Post-Apocalypto Tour</span> 2018–20 concert tour by Tenacious D

The Post-Apocalypto Tour was a concert tour by American comedy rock band Tenacious D. The tour was in support of the band's YouTube animatic series Tenacious D in Post-Apocalypto and its accompanying soundtrack album Post-Apocalypto, which were released in November 2018. The tour began on November 3, 2018 and ended on February 26, 2020. This tour surpassed the band's 2012 Rize of the Fenix Tour as the longest Tenacious D tour in October 2019 with over 1.8 million people.

References

  1. ↑ Video on YouTube
  2. ↑ Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny (2006) Synopsis, Storyline, Plot - MovieWeb
  3. ↑ "Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny (2006) - Production Information". Archived from the original on March 24, 2008. Retrieved March 12, 2008.
  4. ↑ Tenacious D: The Greatest Band On Earth (HBO) Archived July 16, 2012, at archive.today
  5. ↑ Gallo, Phil (March 24, 1999). "Tenacious D". Variety . Retrieved March 25, 2008.
  6. ↑ Scott Thurlow, James Caverly (May 22, 2003). "HBOwesome". dailytargum.com. Retrieved March 23, 2008.[ permanent dead link ]
  7. ↑ Foutch, Haleigh (June 7, 2020). "HBO Max: Every Movie & TV Show Confirmed for the Streaming Service". Collider. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Zoromski, Brian (November 20, 2006). "Tenacious D: The Series". IGN. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  9. 1 2 Fischer, Paul. "Exclusive Interview : Jack Black & Kyle Gass". Moviehole. Archived from the original on February 23, 2007. Retrieved April 21, 2007.
  10. ↑ Ernest Garcia, "IMDB", Internet Movie Database, 2012
  11. 1 2 3 Tenenbaum, Max (April 13, 2020). "Tenacious D's 10 Funniest On-Screen Songs". ScreenRant. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
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