Jack of All Trades
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- For other uses, see Jack of all trades.
Jack of All Trades was a half-hour long action/comedy 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 in a number of years.
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 man-servant (she sometimes serves as his), but when the need arises he transforms into the masked hero: the Daring Dragoon.
Full of joking inaccuracies, the show contained many on-going gags, such as Jack being responsible for many important historical events and not receiving credit, Emilia inventing a miraculous invention in an obvious deus ex machina, or Jack and Emilia's on-going romantic tension. In many ways, the show was meant as an historical fantasy in the vein of The Wild Wild West. The show was canceled in the middle of its second season.
As both the show's lead and producer, Bruce Campbell had an opportunity to use many one-liner jokes for which he is known.
Contents |
[edit] 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)
[edit] Episodes
Season 1
| Episode Number | Episode title | Originial air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1-1 | "Return of the Dragoon" | 22 January 2000 |
| 1-2 | "Sex and the Single Spy" | 29 January 2000 |
| 1-3 | "The Floundering Father" | 5 February 2000 |
| 1-4 | "Once You Go Jack..." | 12 February 2000 |
| 1-5 | "The People's Dragoon" | 19 February 2000 |
| 1-6 | "Raging Bully" | 26 February 2000 |
| 1-7 | "Daddy Dearest" | 4 March 2000 |
| 1-8 | "One Wedding and an Execution" | 11 March 2000 |
| 1-9 | "Croque for a Day" | 15 April 2000 |
| 1-10 | "Dead Woman Walking" | 22 April 2000 |
| 1-11 | "Love Potion No. 10" | 29 April 2000 |
| 1-12 | "Up the Creek" | 6 May 2000 |
| 1-13 | "X Marquis the Spot" | 13 May 2000 |
| 1-14 | "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Opera" | 20 May 2000 |
Season 2
| Episode Number | Episode title | Originial air date |
|---|---|---|
| 2-1 | "A Horse of a Different Color" | 7 October 2000 |
| 2-2 | "Shark Bait" | 14 October 2000 |
| 2-3 | "Monkey Business" | 28 October 2000 |
| 2-4 | "The Morning After" | 4 November 2000 |
| 2-5 | "Croquey in the Pokey" | 11 November 2000 |
| 2-6 | "One, Two, Three, Give Me Lady Liberty" | 18 November 2000 |
| 2-7 | "Hamnesia" | 25 November 2000 |
| 2-8 | "Seventy Brides for One Brother" | 2 December 2000 |
[edit] 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.
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!
[edit] Historical Figures
Many episodes of Jack of All Trades involved real historical figures. Furthering the shows intentional inaccuracies: some of these figures died before the show's 1801 time period. In addition, in the first episode, Canada is shown as a French Territory, but in reality, in 1801 Canada belonged to the British Empire. Most of the time the depiction of the figure was a drastic parody for the sake of humor. The following is a list of historical figures who appeared on the show.
Thomas Jefferson
Blackbeard
Benjamin Franklin
James Madison
Napoleon Bonaparte
Josephine Bonaparte
Marquis de Sade
William Clark
Meriwether Lewis
King George III
Catherine the Great
Leonardo da Vinci is parodied by his fictitious descendant Nardo da Vinci.
