Jack of All Trades (TV series)

Infobox Television


show_name = Jack Of All Trades
caption =
genre = Action , Adventure, Comedy
creator =
developer =
presenter =
starring = Bruce Campbell
Angela Dotchin
Stuart Devenie
Stephen Papps
voices =
narrated =
theme_music_composer =
opentheme =
endtheme =
country = United States
language = English
num_seasons = 2
num_episodes = 22
list_episodes =
producer = Bruce Campbell
Sam Raimi
executive_producer =
location = Auckland, New Zealand
camera =
runtime = 22 Minutes
network =
picture_format =
audio_format =
first_run =
first_aired = January 17, 2000
last_aired = December 2, 2000
preceded_by =
followed_by =
related =
website =
imdb_id = 0220906
tv_com_id = 869

"Jack of All Trades" is a half-hour long syndicated comedy/action television series which ran for two seasons in 2000. With "Cleopatra 2525", it formed the "Back2Back Action Hour" and both shows were notable for being the first American non-animated action series to be produced in the half-hour format since the 1970s. The show was canceled in the middle of its second season.

The program is set at the turn of the 19th Century on the fictional French-controlled island of Palau-Palau. Jack Stiles is an American secret agent sent there by President Jefferson. While there, he meets his British contact and love interest, English spy Emilia Rothschild. Together, the two work to stop Napoleon and various other threats to the United States. To the public, Jack is seen as Emilia's servant (she sometimes serves as his), but when the need arises, he transforms into a masked hero: the Daring Dragoon.

The show contained many on-going gags, such as deliberate historical inaccuracies (such as Canada being a French territory rather than part of the British Empire), Jack being responsible for many important historical events but not receiving credit, Emilia inventing a miraculous invention in an obvious deus ex machina, and Jack and Emilia's ongoing romantic tension. In many ways, the show was meant to be a historical fantasy in the vein of "The Wild Wild West".

As the show's producer and star, Bruce Campbell had an opportunity to use many one-liner jokes for which he is known.

Cast

*Bruce Campbell - Jack Stiles
*Stuart Devenie - Governor Croque
*Angela Dotchin - Emilia Rothschild
*Stephen Papps - Captain Brogard
*Verne Troyer - Napoleon Bonaparte (recurring guest - 4 episodes)

Episodes

Season 1

Season 2

Theme song

The show used a rollicking theme song sung by a bunch of barflies. The tune and lyrics are based on the Marines' hymn. The theme song was nominated for the "Outstanding Main Theme Title Song" Emmy in 2000. It lost to "The West Wing".

In eighteen-hundred-one the Revolution had been won

And Uncle Sam’s favorite son had a job he needed done

Which brought Jack to a lady, both beautiful and smart

Who found his mix intriguing; a scoundrel with a heart!

From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli

There was never a leatherneck braver, a Daring Dragoon is he

He’ll halt the bold advance of Napoleon’s attack

There ain’t a French or pirate rogue who don’t... know Jack!

From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli

Sailin’ ’round the bloody world to defend democracy

And when ya need a fightin’ man ya’d trust to watch yer back

Just ask the bloke right next ta ya - (parrot: "Damn right!") - it’s… Jack!

Historical Figures

Many episodes of Jack of All Trades involved real historical figures, usually drastically parodied for the sake of humor. Furthering the show's intentional inaccuraciesFact|date=August 2008, some of these figures died before the show's 1801 time period.

The following is a list of historical figures who appeared on the show:

* Thomas Jefferson
* Blackbeard
* Benjamin Franklin
* James Madison
* Napoleon and Josephine Bonaparte
* Marquis de Sade
* Meriwether Lewis and William Clark
* Sacajawea
* King George III
* Catherine the Great
* Leonardo da Vinci is parodied by his fictitious descendant Nardo da Vinci.

External links

*imdb title|id= 0220906 |title=Jack of all Trades
* [http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=22698 DVD Talk's Review of The Complete Series]
* [http://www.hulu.com/jack-of-all-trades View full episodes at Hulu.com (U.S. only)]