Cinemax has dated the second season of Mike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus:
MIKE JUDGE PRESENTS: TALES FROM THE TOUR BUS, chronicling the exploits of legendary music artists, begins its eight-episode second season FRIDAY, NOV. 2 (10:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on CINEMAX. While the first season of the show spotlighted country musicians, the new season focuses on funk music greats, including George Clinton, Rick James, James Brown and Bootsy Collins. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Parliament-Funkadelic founder Clinton serves as consulting producer and provides original music for the series.
Marking a return to his roots in animation and as a musician, Judge (“King of the Hill”; “Beavis and Butt-Head”; Emmy® nominee for HBO’s “Silicon Valley”) co-created, narrates and serves as an executive producer on the series, which recounts the raucous adventures of these musicians, as told by those who knew them best.
TALES FROM THE TOUR BUS features animated interviews with former bandmates, friends and other erstwhile associates, who share uncensored anecdotes about the artists, brought to life by animated reenactments, and woven together with live-action archival performance footage and photos.
Upcoming episodes:
Episode #9 (season 2, episode 1): “George Clinton”
Debut date: FRIDAY, NOV. 2 (10:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT)
A cornerstone figure in funk music, George Clinton went from singing a capella in a barbershop to chasing Motown glory in Detroit with his band, The Parliaments. But the introduction of LSD took him to the next level, as he built a funk empire with outrageous costumes, frequent band-name changes and an occasional bit of nudity. From his first hit, “(I Wanna) Testify,” to the smash anthem “Tear the Roof Off the Sucker (Give Up the Funk),” Clinton forged a lasting sound that went on to fuel a whole new genre: hip-hop.
Written by Mark Monroe and Mike Judge; directed by Mike Judge.
Episode #10 (season 2, episode 2): “Rick James Pt. 1”
Debut date: FRIDAY, NOV. 9 (10:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT)
The self-proclaimed “King of Punk Funk,” Rick James came from humble beginnings in Buffalo before hooking up with Neil Young while dodging the draft in Canada. With a penchant for pyrotechnics, glitter, custom boots and marijuana, his quest to become a black rock star reached its apex when a throwaway song, “Super Freak,” topped the charts and gave him the fame he’d dreamed of.
Written by Mark Monroe and Mike Judge; directed by Mike Judge.
Episode #11 (season 2, episode 3): “Rick James Pt. 2”
Debut date: FRIDAY, NOV. 16 (10:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT)
In the mid-’80s, funk star Rick James was riding high on top of the music world. But between his rivalry with Prince, crusade against MTV and run-ins with the law, he fell further under the influence of cocaine. Even a shot at a comeback, when M.C. Hammer sampled his greatest hit, couldn’t pull James back from the brink.
Written by Mark Monroe and Mike Judge; directed by Mike Judge.
Returning for season two are executive producers Glen Zipper and Sean Stuart, along with writer and co-executive producer Mark Monroe. Joining the show is veteran music journalist Nelson George (“Finding the Funk,” HBO’s “Life Support”) as consulting producer.
Debuting on CINEMAX in Sept. 2017, the first season of TALES FROM THE TOUR BUS spotlighted country music legends, including Johnny Paycheck, Jerry Lee Lewis, George Jones and Tammy Wynette, Billy Joe Shaver, Waylon Jennings and Blaze Foley.
The Los Angeles Times described the series as “addictive,” while Decider called the show “unlike anything you’ve ever seen before,” Rolling Stonehailed it as “informative as it is hilariously raw” and A.V. Club termed the series “storytelling gold.”
MIKE JUDGE PRESENTS: TALES FROM THE TOUR BUS was created by Mike Judge, Richard Mullins and Dub Cornett; executive produced by Mike Judge, Glen Zipper and Sean Stuart; composer, John Frizzell.
