Flight of the Conchords is to sitcoms what Elaine Benes was to dancing. Once you settle in to its slightly jarring rhythms, the whole enterprise is pretty amusing, and occasionally, quite hilarious. I’d purposely avoided reading much about HBO’s latest comedy — although I did know that it followed the lives of a New Zealand folk-singing duo — so it took me by surprise when Jemaine (Jemaine Clement, on the bike) burst into a spontaneous musical ode to a hot chick at a party (Rachel Blanchard of TV’s Clueless), with bandmate Bret (Bret McKenzie, standing) lending background vocals from across the room. But their ditty struck just the right balance of sincere and inept, and its lyrics ("You could be a part-time model. But you’d probably still have to keep your normal job") never made me feel like the show’s writers were overly infatuated with their ability to be clever or quirky. Ditto for the band’s "The Humans Are Dead" video, uproariously shot in the budget-conscious camera-phone format.
The guys’ penchant for repetitive conversation, meanwhile, wasn’t always as successful as their musical endeavors, but an extended debate about what derailed Jemaine’s date with Sally — Bret interrupting them by turning on a light, or the fact that Bret had previously dated Sally for six months — did indeed get progressively more amusing. And let’s hope every episode includes a run-in with Kristen Schaal, as the band’s only (obsessed) fan. Her lustily recounted report from the band’s canceled set at the local aquarium — "Some species of fish require two or more sexual partners" — was the kind of twisted punch line that’s got me programming my DVR for a season pass. What did you think of Flight of the Conchords? Will it be the next Curb Your Enthusiasm, or instead go the way of the Lucky Louie?
I thought this show was quite hilarious. Probably the funniest thing I’ve seen on tv in a long time.
This show is the funniest show in the whole wide room.
“The Humans are Dead” is my new summer jam. A chilling vision of things to come.
Michael, I can’t share the same enthuz with you on this one, I watched the premiere on HBO.com and I thought it SUCKED! When the two guys broke out into song that’s when I clicked the X at the top.
Joe from Cinn is starting to get to me in a good way, I’ll stick with that.
I’ve been rehashing “I’m Not Crying” in my head all day long (but in a good way)! Screw you guys… I’m going home…
That pilot was unbelivably good … it is not often you find yourself quoting so many lines from a first show.
Sorry you were created without a sense of humor, Mr. Ed.
I think more likely than it reaching Curb Your Enthusiasm levels, it seems more destined to Stella like cult aclaim followed by a fairly swift cancellation.
I think it’s fantastic though. I’m hoping they give the borderline comedic genius Eugene Mirman more screen time.
I’ve been a fan of the Conchords for a while now, and I’m glad they have a shot at real stardom. Thought the show was great and look forward to a fantastic season. Summer just got a lot better.
any chance we could get a tv watch on this show? it is easily one of the brighter spots in the summer-television doldrums
The guy on the right is the lead in a little, indie movie from New Zealand called EAGLE VS. SHARK. I had the opportunity to see an advance screening a couple of weeks aga, and I absolutely loved it. It’s a quirky, romantic, and hilarious love story about two nerdy losers. It’s already being touted as NAPOLEON DYNAMITE 2. While I agree that both share an off-beat, random humor, EVS has a better screenplay. I really hope it’s the little summer movie that breaks out a la LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE b/c it’s truly great!
after that first scene where they realized they didn’t need a map to dave’s, i was hooked. the random musical numbers were an added bonus.
I don’t get HBO, but I remember Jermaine from The Outback commercials that were pretty damn hilarious.
I liked it…laughed out loud several times…wasn’t sure about it at first when the first song started, but once you get used to their accents and rhythm of their humor the show was very enjoyable. I’ll keep watching!
Jermaine used to really bug me. He did this series of Outback Steakhouse ads, and I could tell he wasn’t Australian. Turns out he’s a Kiwi!
That said, I saw their special on HBO and “Business time” made me laugh hard enough to rewind the Tivo a few dozen times.
Now that they’ve got a new series, I’ve gone from finding Jermaine annoying to thinking his series is kind of fun to watch. And of course, the biting question of the night was never answered.
Is it more awkward to have your roomate turn the light on while you make out on the couch, or for the girl you’re making out with to discover your roomate is her ex boyfriend?
Business Hours are over baby!
I’m so proud of the boys from NZ. I met them as SXSW in Austin a couple of years ago and that thing the show about the fan carrying Jemaine’s lips in her wallet is from a real woman that was at the Austin show. I was there when she showed them. I think Jemaine turned as red a person can. Go Conchords!