Jack of All Trades (TV series)


Jack of All Trades is a half-hour-long syndicated 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 since the 1970s. The show was canceled in the middle of its second season.

Plot

The program is set at the turn of the 19th century on the fictional French-controlled island of Pulau-Pulau in the East Indies. 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 attaché, and in order to protect his identity as a secret agent, while acting against the enemies of America, Jack often adopts the identity of a legendary masked hero: "the Daring Dragoon".
The show contained many ongoing gags, such as historical inaccuracies, Jack being responsible for many important historical events but not receiving credit, Emilia inventing a miraculous invention in an obvious deus ex machina, sexual puns and innuendos, and Jack and Emilia's ongoing romantic tension.

Cast

Theme song

The tune and lyrics are based on numerous period songs, such as the "Marines' Hymn" and "Yankee Doodle". The theme song was nominated for the "Outstanding Main Theme Title Song" Emmy in 2000, but lost to The West Wing.

Historical figures

Many episodes of Jack of All Trades involved parodies of historical figures. Furthering the show's inaccuracies, 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:
Season 1
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