Tenacious D (TV series)

Tenacious D
Format	Comedy
Created by	Jack Black Kyle Gass David Cross Bob Odenkirk
Starring	Jack Black Kyle Gass
Country of origin	United States
Language(s)	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	3
Production
Location(s)	Los Angeles Silvercup Studios
Camera setup	Single camera
Running time	15 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	HBO
Picture format	NTSC (480i)
Audio format	Stereo Dolby Digital 5.1
Original run	November 28, 1997 – March 15, 2000
Chronology
Followed by	Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny

Tenacious D, (formally: 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 their studio albums Tenacious D and The Pick of Destiny.^[1]

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.^[2] Gass and Black decided to make a movie instead of giving HBO creative control of Tenacious D, and they made The Pick of Destiny. ^[2]

Episode list

Episodes consisted of two shorts, shown back-to-back. Altogether, the duration was 30 minutes.^[3][4][5][6]

1. "The Search for Inspirado"/"Angel in Disguise"
2. "Death of a Dream"/"The Greatest Song in the World"
3. "The Fan"/"Road Gig"

Episode Synopsis

Episode 1

Short 1: The Search for Inspirado

• Directed By: Tom Gianas

After a successful gig at the open-mic night, Open Mic 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:

• "History"
• "Rocket Sauce"
• "Bowie"
• "Kyle Quit the Band" (later "Kyle Quit")

Short 2: Angel in Disguise

• Directed By: Tom Gianas

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" (later "Double Team")
• "Florna"
• "You Broke the Rules" (later "Karate")
• "Kyle Took a Bullet for Me"

Episode 2

Short 3: Death of a Dream

• Directed By: Tom Gianas

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, 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 Sasquatch does exist.

Songs Played:

• "Cosmic Shame"
• "Kielbasa"
• "Sasquatch"

Short 4: The Greatest Song in the World

• Directed By: Troy Miller

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"

Episode 3

Short 5: The Fan

• Directed By: Tom Gianas

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" (later revised and re-recorded)
• "Lee" (later revised and re-recorded)
• "Special Thing"

Short 6: Road Gig

• Directed By: Troy Miller

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 J.B 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.)
• "History"
• "Jesus Ranch"

Songs that were officially released

Episode	Song	Official Release	Note
Episode 1: The Search for Inspirado	"Tenacious D Time"	Tenacious D	This song was released as part of "Kielbasa"
Episode 1: The Search for Inspirado	"History"	The Pick of Destiny
Episode 1: The Search for Inspirado	"Kyle Quit the Band"	Tenacious D
Episode 2: Angel in Disguise	"Sex Song / Sex Supreme"	Tenacious D	This song was released as "Double Team" on the album
Episode 2: Angel in Disguise	"You Broke the Rules"	Tenacious D	This song was released as "Karate" on the album
Episode 3: Death of a Dream	"Kielbasa"	Tenacious D
Episode 4: The Greatest Song in the World	"Tribute"	Tenacious D
Episode 5: The Fan	"Explosivo"	Tenacious D
Episode 5: The Fan	"Lee"	Tenacious D
Episode 6: Road Gig	"The Road"	Tenacious D
Episode 6: Road Gig	"Jesus Ranch"	D Fun Pak

References

1. ^ "HBOwesome". dailytargum.com. 2003-05-22. http://media.www.dailytargum.com/media/storage/paper168/news/2005/03/22/InsideBeat/Hbowesome-899368.shtml. Retrieved 2008-03-23. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Fischer, Paul. "Exclusive Interview : Jack Black & Kyle Gass". Moviehole. Archived from the original on 2007-02-23. http://web.archive.org/web/20070223201835/http://www.moviehole.net/interviews/20061115_exclusive_interview_jack_black.html. Retrieved 2007-04-21. 
3. ^ Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny (2006) Synopsis, Storyline, Plot - MovieWeb
4. ^ Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny (2006) - Production Information
5. ^ Tenacious D: The Greatest Band On Earth (HBO)
6. ^ Gallo, Phil (1999-03-24). "Tenacious D". Variety. http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117491951.html?categoryid=32&cs=1. Retrieved 2008-03-25. 

External links

• Tenacious D at the Internet Movie Database
• Tenacious D at TV.com
• Tenacious D IGN article (Retrieved 7/12/06)