Nirvana the Band the Show

This article is about the original web series. For the spiritual sequel television series, see Nirvanna the Band the Show. For the movie based on both the web and television series, see Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie.

Nirvana the Band the Show (also called Nirvana the Band) is a Canadian mockumentary sitcom web series created by Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol, who co-star as fictionalised versions of themselves.^[1] It was produced and released independently online between 2007–2009,^[2] with a single bonus episode releasing in 2010. In addition to the main episodes, various "Extras" and "Adventures" mini-episodes were produced as well.^[3][4]

Nirvana the Band the Show
Genre	Mockumentary Sitcom
Created by	Matt Johnson Jay McCarrol
Written by	Matt Johnson Jay McCarrol
Directed by	Matt Johnson
Starring	Matt Johnson Jay McCarrol
Opening theme	"Pop Looks Bach" by Sam Fonteyn Various
Ending theme	"Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana "Army" by Ben Folds Five
Country of origin	Canada
No. of episodes	11
Production
Production locations	Toronto, Ontario
Running time	10–20 minutes
Original release
Release	2007 (2007) – 2009 (2009)
Related
Nirvanna the Band the Show Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie

The show was adapted by Johnson and McCarrol into the 2017–2018 spiritual sequel television series Nirvanna the Band the Show.^[5] A feature film based on both the web series and the television series, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, premiered at SXSW on March 9, 2025.^[6][7]

Synopsis

The series stars creators and lifelong best friends Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol as fictionalised versions of themselves in a band called "Nirvana the Band," consisting of Jay improvising on piano and Matt doing improvised spoken word performances. The duo engage in a series of complex publicity stunts around their home city of Toronto in the hopes of landing a gig at the Rivoli, despite the fact that they have never actually written or recorded a single song, nor taken any steps to contact the Rivoli's management about booking a show.^[5]

Cast

• Matt Johnson as Matt
• Jay McCarrol as Jay

Episodes

Series	Episodes		Originally released
			First released	Last released
1	10		13 December 2007 (2007-12-13)	11 February 2008 (2008-02-11)
Bonus Episode	1		2010 (2010)

Episodes (2007–08)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date
1	1	"The Beginning"	Matt Johnson	Matt Johnson, Jay McCarrol	13 December 2007 (2007-12-13)
After having rehearsed at their apartment, Matt calls the Rivoli to book a show; The staff request a press package which he delivers to a woman standing near the bar.
2	2	"The Buzz"	Matt Johnson	Matt Johnson, Jay McCarrol	17 December 2007 (2007-12-17)
In an attempt to garner attention from the Rivoli's staff and clientele, Matt and Jay erect flyers around Toronto. In the final minutes of the episode, they realise that the flyers contain no information about the band other than their name. Opening Title: Growing Pains
3	3	"The Break-In"	Matt Johnson	Matt Johnson, Jay McCarrol	24 December 2007 (2007-12-24)
Disguised as the Rivoli's (fictitious) manager, Vince Valence, Matt attempts to book the band himself by sneaking into his office and finding his schedule. When he fails to do so, he hurriedly creates a folder on Vince's desktop named "Nirvana the band should play the Rivoli". Opening Title: Frasier
4	4	"The Basement"	Matt Johnson	Matt Johnson, Jay McCarrol	31 December 2007 (2007-12-31)
Matt and Jay break into Valence's house, and hide in his basement when he returns unexpectedly early. Once his back is turned, the pair steal the booking schedule and run. Opening Title: Lost
5	5	"The Banned"	Matt Johnson	Matt Johnson, Jay McCarrol	7 January 2008 (2008-01-07)
Matt, having blinded himself by staring at the sun, insists on going back to the Rivoli in disguise, given that he and Jay have been banned for breaking into Valence's house. As he leaves, he accidentally swaps the unedited schedule for a copy of Treasure Island belonging to another client at the Rivoli. Opening Title: CSI: Miami
6	6	"The B-Day"	Matt Johnson	Matt Johnson, Jay McCarrol	14 January 2008 (2008-01-14)
In a chance encounter, Matt and Jay try to recover the booking schedule from the customer who took it, only to learn that he returned it to the staff at the bar; A desperate Jay throws a last minute birthday Masquerade for Matt, unknowingly hiring his sister to strip for him. In a post credits sequence, Matt kicks Jay from the band's lineup. Opening Theme: "Trap Door" by Jake One featuring MF DOOM
7	7	"The Battle of the Bands"	Matt Johnson	Matt Johnson, Jay McCarrol	21 January 2008 (2008-01-21)
Following the breakup, both Matt and Jay experiment with new bandmates. Jay has more luck than Matt, although tensions are poked to rise when Jay's pick steals his Halloween candy. Upon meeting back up at their apartment, the two reconcile and reform Nirvana The Band. Opening Title: It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
8	8	"The Burn"	Matt Johnson	Matt Johnson, Jay McCarrol	28 January 2008 (2008-01-28)
Matt and Jay break into Valence's house to place a wiretap in an attempt to blackmail him. They also attempt to contact Rivoli employees under the guise of being FBI agents, asking for any incriminating evidence regarding Vince, with no eventual result; However, the following morning, Jay sees that Valence has been recorded saying an antisemitic slur to a Jewish charity. Opening Title: The Wire
9	9	"The Band"	Matt Johnson	Matt Johnson, Jay McCarrol	4 February 2008 (2008-02-04)
The band write a ransom note to Valence and receive troubling news that there is already a band with whom they share part of their name. After getting a bill of copyright clearance from former member Ronnie Hawkins, Matt absentmindedly tears it up. As the two begin to quarrel, Jay receives a phonecall informing him that his band is to play at the Rivoli tomorrow. Opening Title: The Wonder Years
10	10	"The Rivoli"	Matt Johnson	Matt Johnson, Jay McCarrol	11 February 2008 (2008-02-11)
Matt wakes up Jay for a last minute rehearsal.

Bonus Episode (2010)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date
11	1	"The Buena Vista Social Club"	Matt Johnson	Matt Johnson, Jay McCarrol	2010 (2010)
Opening Title: Star Trek