Tenacious D

If you were wondering, Tenacious D is the name of the show of the greatest band in the world of the same name. It consists of Jack Black and Kyle Gass. Add a camera and if you air their crazy adventures on HBO then you have yourself one of the funniest half hours since neanderthals tried to create fire. Although it only ran for 3 episodes, I hope this goes the way of the short-lived Clerks animated series and is updated to DVD with more episodes.

i've seen this series and i must say that it is absolutely brilliant. the music is great, the characters are hilarious and jack black is just the funniest man alive. if you own or have heard any of tenacious d's album you should definitely watch the show; it will really make you have a greater appreciation for the D, as many of the songs on that album were featured, in early versions without bass or drums, on this show. so basically if you havent seen this show try to find someone who has a copy of it on tape (try ebay) and if you dont have the album then buy it. if you havent experienced the D then you simply have not lived!

The true spirit of Tenacious D is actually captured quite accurately in the other reviews on this site (well, the fanatical ones anyway). For the uninitiated, I'll try to clear things up. Tenacious D is composed of two guys, Jack Black & Kyle Gass, who have a two man band in which they both play acoustic guitar and sing (though Jack is the primary singer). They play some bizarre hybrid of heavy metal and folk. All their lyrics center around how they are truly the greatest band in the universe and have incredible, unfathomable sexual prowess. All of this is sung with 100%, almost hyper-conviction. This is, basically, the joke. I was never a big fan of them live, or their whole act in general (it's amusing and unquestionably original in presentation, but I feel it wears kinda thin fast). However, when Bob Odenkirk and David Cross (and their creative team) from "Mr. Show" got a hold of them for a group of shows for HBO, they transformed the concept into something even better. The show, which presents the two as two out-of-work oddballs who get into all sorts of screwy adventures in between gigs, is as hilarious and out-of-left-field as "Mr. Show" (which is saying something, as "Mr. Show" is the best comedy show of the last decade, easily). Each "adventure" is about fifteen minutes long, each containing a thematically-linked live song. The whole kit-and-kaboodle is bracketed by appearances by Jack & Kyle speaking as hosts directly to the TV audience, as Burns & Allen and Abbott & Costello used to do on their shows. All in all, the total effect is as if "The Abbott & Costello Show" has been updated for the '90s starring Tenacious D and adding music. Did I mention, it was really funny?

I was lucky enough to record all three episodes that aired on HBO before they pulled the plug on the show, and I still watch them ritualistically and laugh my butt off. Jack Black is definitely one of comedy's funniest actors, and this is the highlight of his career (so far). Kyle Gass plays a mean guitar, and together these two will rock your socks off. They have caught the national attention of Tim Robbins, Ben Stiller (producing the Tenacious D movie!), the Foo Fighters (they have a cameo in a Foo Fighters video), and have a record deal with Epic Records (owned by Sony). There was talk of a Rhino video release of these episodes, and when it happens, buy it, because unfortunately, that is the only way you will ever be able to see this extremely funny show.

Two musicians with acoustic guitars attends a weekly open mic night. Doesn't sound like much, but it really is. The comedy is truly funny (especially the parodic stand-up bits), but the highlight of the show, and it is a bright highlight indeed, is the musical numbers. The song writing is without a doubt exceptional. "...having sex with me and KG, now were talking double team..." All songs are delivered with incredible feel and musical prowess, especially "Sex Supreme", "Explosivo" and "The Greatest Song in the World". The episodes should really come out on DVD, even if there only is about 60 minutes of material. For now, you could buy their CD. It features all their best songs from this show, except "Cosmic Shame", which i really enjoyed.

Get your hands on this show, especially if you have a keen interest in alternative music.