Mike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus

Genius portrait and great story telling. It is my favorite series ever.

Mike Judge knows how to make a good show. The animation is reminiscent of King of the Hill, but better and more defined. The show is better for it.

The first episode floored me. I'm not a fan of documentaries so this means a lot coming from me. I instantly queued up the rest of the episodes. I love that the episodes are 30 minutes and no censorship. This all combines into a show that is never boring.

Thanks to Cinemax, Judge, and everyone else involved.

I'm not much for reviewing shows, but after watching the first six episodes of this one, coming here to see that it didn't have any yet, I feel like I owe it to the music enthusiasts out there to give you a heads up here. Okay, well aside from Jerry Lee Lewis, the episodes have only focused on country music stars so far (Waylon Jennings, George Jones etc (legends, really)), but you don't have to be a fan of country to enjoy them (I've never been much for it, myself). The first hand accounts of the behind-the-scenes antics will have you fascinated, riveted to your screen and often laughing your butt off. I tried the first episode on a whim, having little idea what I'd be watching and then ended up binging the next five episodes...before coming here to rave a little bit.

Its the stories, combined with top-notch story-telling...these guys, musical geniuses do the most surprisingly insane things...everything from stealing cars to engaging in heated arguments with their split personality (that speaks with a Donald Duck voice). Some of this stuff is just...you can't make it up, its hilarious, its debauchery, its just entertaining as hell.

I suppose that in the end though, they're stories about extraordinary, yet ordinary and flawed people, without the spotlights, fanfare and glitter. The retelling of them lays their humanity bare and you can be belly laughing in one moment and getting dust out of your eye in the next. That's another thing...they do a great job of giving the viewer an insight into the rambunctious nature of some of these people, but the arching narrative of their life is woven throughout, which balances the show into one that has "human interest" written all over it.

If you're 25-45, maybe older, this series is likely one that your parents would be grateful for you turning them on to, which is exactly what I plan on doing tomorrow...my Mom is going to freak.

Oh, except for the fact that its animated, which I don't quite understand. Not all of it...just the people telling the stories. For true fans of the musicians being showcased, I can see the animation being a turn-off, as they're likely much older. No problem for the Beavis and Butthead generation, except that at 44, I'd heard some of the songs, but had never heard some of these names behind them.

The animation might be necessary for the reenacted scenes, but wish they could just show the storytellers without it. It seems like an unnecessary, separating layer that distances the viewer from the speaker, detracts from the intimacy, I guess. Hence 9 stars instead of 10.

I found myself singing along to Grevious Angel and so I began to look it up. I feel the song because I did that, more or less. He didnt write it ? Who then was Annie Rich ? The story of Grand theft Parsons and after is perfect for Tales From the Tour Bus.

To address the two former reviews, both of which I agree with: Yes, Mike Judge is a genius. Just check his body of work for confirmation. You can't go from Beavis and Butthead (originally a student project) to Silicon Valley without some serious visionary cred.

The series is animated because that's Judge's metier. He can work outside of it with ease, but that is where his magic happens most often.

Honesty, transparency, access. Who the hell can put all that together and still make it fun? Mike Judge, that's who. The art of storytelling is alive, all you have to do is watch.