Tenacious D (TV series)

{{Short description|American television series}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Infobox television | image = Tenacious_D_(TV_series)_title_card.png | caption = Title card | creator = {{Plainlist| * Jack Black * David Cross * Kyle Gass * Bob Odenkirk }} | starring = {{Plainlist| * Jack Black * Kyle Gass }} | executive_producer = {{Plainlist| * David Cross * Bob Odenkirk * Jack Black * Kyle Gass * Troy Miller }} | producer = {{Plainlist| * Thomas Sherren <small>(episodes 2–3)</small> * Tom Gianas }} | editor = Steve Welch | country = United States | location = Silvercup Studios, Los Angeles | language = English | camera = Single camera | runtime = 21–26 minutes | company = {{Plainlist| * Dakota North Entertainment Inc. * HBO Original Programming }} | network = HBO | first_aired = {{start date|1997|11|28}} | last_aired = {{end date|2000|3|15}} | num_episodes = 3 | list_episodes =  | 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.<ref>{{YouTube|Cr3urgTAz0w}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.movieweb.com/movies/film/89/3189/synopsis.php |title=Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny (2006) Synopsis, Storyline, Plot - MovieWeb |access-date=March 12, 2008 |archive-date=February 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080222003105/http://www.movieweb.com/movies/film/89/3189/synopsis.php |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.visualhollywood.com/movies/tenacious-d/about.php |title=Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny (2006) - Production Information |access-date=March 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324160312/http://www.visualhollywood.com/movies/tenacious-d/about.php |archive-date=March 24, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://tenaciousjoes.com/tenaciousdhboshow.html Tenacious D: The Greatest Band On Earth (HBO)] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120716172347/http://tenaciousjoes.com/tenaciousdhboshow.html |date=July 16, 2012 }}</ref><ref name="Variety">{{cite news|url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117491951.html?categoryid=32&cs=1|title=Tenacious D|last=Gallo|first=Phil|date=March 24, 1999|work=Variety|access-date=March 25, 2008}}</ref>

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''.<ref>{{cite news |author=Scott Thurlow, James Caverly |title=HBOwesome |date=May 22, 2003 |url=http://media.www.dailytargum.com/media/storage/paper168/news/2005/03/22/InsideBeat/Hbowesome-899368.shtml |work=dailytargum.com |access-date=March 23, 2008 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref>

In June 2020, the show was added to HBO Max.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Foutch|first=Haleigh|date=June 7, 2020|title=HBO Max: Every Movie & TV Show Confirmed for the Streaming Service|url=https://collider.com/hbo-max-movies-tv-shows-originals-list/|access-date=December 21, 2020|website=Collider|language=en-US}}</ref>

==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.<ref name="IGN">{{cite web |last1=Zoromski |first1=Brian |title=Tenacious D: The Series |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/11/21/tenacious-d-the-series |website=IGN |access-date=June 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127024517/https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/11/21/tenacious-d-the-series |archive-date=November 27, 2020 |language=en |date=November 20, 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Dispute with HBO== According to Gass, HBO offered Tenacious D a deal to make ten episodes, but in doing so, Black and Gass would have to relinquish their role as executive producers.<ref name="HBO dispute">{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Fischer |title=Exclusive Interview : Jack Black & Kyle Gass |url=http://www.moviehole.net/interviews/20061115_exclusive_interview_jack_black.html |work=Moviehole |access-date=April 21, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070223201835/http://www.moviehole.net/interviews/20061115_exclusive_interview_jack_black.html  |archive-date=February 23, 2007}}</ref> 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''.<ref name="HBO dispute"/>

==Episodes== {{Episode table |background = #000 |overall = 8 |title = 30 |director = 15 |writer = 23 |airdate = 11 |episodes = {{Episode list |NumParts = 2 |EpisodeNumber = 1 |Title_1 = The Search for Inspirado |Title_2 = Angel in Disguise |DirectedBy = Tom Gianas |WrittenBy = Jack Black, David Cross, Kyle Gass, Tom Gianas, Bob Odenkirk |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1997|11|28}} |ShortSummary = 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".<ref name="IGN"/>

'''Songs Played:''' *"History" (released on ''The Pick of Destiny'' album) *"Kyle Quit the Band" (released on the album ''Tenacious D'', alternative version released on the EP ''D Fun Pak'') ---- 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.<ref name="IGN"/>

'''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" | LineColor = 000 }} {{Episode list |NumParts = 2 |EpisodeNumber = 2 |Title_1 = Death of a Dream |Title_2 = The Greatest Song in the World | DirectedBy = Tom Gianas ---- Troy Miller |WrittenBy = Jack Black, David Cross, Kyle Gass, Tom Gianas, Bill Odenkirk, Bob Odenkirk |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1999|11|27}} | ShortSummary = 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),<ref>Ernest Garcia, [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0305201/ "IMDB"], ''Internet Movie Database'', 2012</ref> 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).<ref name=rant>{{cite web |last1=Tenenbaum |first1=Max |title=Tenacious D's 10 Funniest On-Screen Songs |url=https://screenrant.com/tenacious-d-funniest-on-screen-songs/ |website=ScreenRant |access-date=December 21, 2020 |date=April 13, 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref name="IGN"/>

'''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.<ref name="IGN"/><ref name="rant"/>

'''Songs Played:''' *"Tribute" (revised version released on the album ''Tenacious D'') | LineColor = 000 }} {{Episode list |NumParts = 2 |EpisodeNumber = 3 |Title_1 = The Fan |Title_2 = Road Gig | DirectedBy = Tom Gianas ---- Troy Miller |WrittenBy = Jack Black, David Cross, Kyle Gass, Tom Gianas, Bill Odenkirk, Bob Odenkirk |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2000|3|15}} | ShortSummary = 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.<ref name="IGN"/><ref name="rant"/>

'''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".<ref name="IGN"/>

'''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'') | LineColor = 000 }} }}

==References== <references/>

==External links== {{wikiquote|Tenacious D (TV series)}} *{{IMDb title|0180241|Tenacious D}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tenacious D}} Category:HBO original programming Category:Tenacious D Category:1990s American musical comedy television series Category:2000s American musical comedy television series Category:1997 American television series debuts Category:2000 American television series endings Category:English-language American television shows Category:Television series based on singers and musicians

Tenacious D (TV series)

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