Flight of the Conchords [this is not a film]

Through comedy festivals, TV appearances and radio shows, New Zealand ‘digi-folk’ parodists, Flight of the Conchords, have been wowing listeners with their musical prowess and unique lyrical styling for several years now (examples include: as “I want to tell her how hot she is but she’ll think I’m sexist / She’s so hot she’s making me sexist / Bitch” and so on). Now HBO (the American network with a knack for churning out television gold) has tapped into the band’s cult following by focusing their latest comedy effort around the escapades of this wacky Kiwi duo.

Musicians Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement (who you may recognise from last year’s Eagle Vs Shark) play exaggerated, fictionalised versions of themselves, as they struggle to stay afloat and obtain some level (any level) of musical success in the ruthless city of New York. They’re joined by Rhys Davies as their somewhat out-of-touch manager (who also heads a rather eccentric New Zealand tourism campaign, and constantly vies against his Australian competitors for the tourist dollar), as well as Kristen Schaal as their one and only fan (who seems to spend most of their day loitering outside their apartment awaiting a kiss).

Flight of the Conchords is yet another comedy to jump aboard the ‘deadpan humour’ bandwagon popularised by The Office. As usual you’ll find a fair amount of awkward silences, several eccentric characters that seem distinctly disconnected from the world around them, and that familiar affectionate mockery of nerdom. However, despite being amusing in and of their own right, the dialogue and narrative of the show basically serve only as catalysts for the duo’s songs. These musical treats are woven (often very tenuously) into the fabric of the story, and they help to keep each new episode fresh. For fans of music and fans of comedy, this show is a must-see. Channel Ten have therefore scheduled the series for the inconvenient hour of 10:10 on a Sunday night. When will they learn?