I've looked all over so, hopefully this is the right place to put this...but I am so excited to see the new HBO show Flight of the Conchords. I've been a fan since way back in the Figwit days of Lord of the Rings fandom (yay).

It's essentially a show about two guys from New Zealand trying to make it as a digi-folk band in New York City. The band is made up of Bret McKenzie (Figwit) on guitar and vocals, and Jemaine Clement on guitar and vocals. It's kind of a live-action version of their radio show in Britain and it's just clever in this low-key way. They really have lovely music (dry, funny, and weird) and it looks like the show will involve them making sort of music videos for their songs intermingled with the story.

So, HBO has put the first ep and I thought it was terrific. Anyone else going to follow this show?

ETA: I put the cutesy stuff before the show title, instead of after. This is why I've never made a new topic! Aiee!

I am so excited by this: I love the Flight of the Conchords. I'm a bit miffed that they are getting a show in America and couldn't get one here in New Zealand. I will be living vicariously through posters here...

The show has the thumbs up from Time's tv critic: Tuned In - Flight of the Conchords and you have to check out the Robot song featured here. Ha!

I have never heard of these guys before, but somehow I stumbled upon the pilot episode the other day on Myspace. It was cute, funny, and smart. I will most definetly be watching come June.

Just watched this on HBO and it was brilliant. I love how the songs start off in a mundane direction and just get more and more amusing and silly. I'll definitely be tuning in, as it's about time HBO produced something for me to watch since they axed Carnivale (noooo I'm not still bitter about that).

Should I be worried about the fact that I like this? I've been the kiss of death for two great 1/2 hour sitcoms this year: Andy Barker PI and The Knights of Prosperity.

I'm excited about this show. I watched the pilot and became mildly obsessed (youtube searching for old videos of them). I've recommended it to a few other people but it seems their humor doesn't really work for everyone.

But HBO is usually pretty good about promoting their shows so I think it should be ok. I can't wait to see what they do with other episodes.

Yay! I'm so happy to see other people are digging this show. I just like its mellowness and unexpected humor as a change of pace from some of the stuff that's so anger-based (which works for me too...just it's different).

Also, Flight of the Conchords will reportedly be on Letterman on June 11th to promote the show.

I'm really psyched about this new series - wasn't familiar with the boys until I saw the first epi on HBO's website, which sent me into a mad YouTube flurry. End result was that I'm totally hooked (their song, "Jenny," is particularly funny).

To my bemusement (and, I'm sure, the resigned collective sighs of many Kiwis): Wonkette covered an HBO screening party for Flight of the Conchords - and described them as "quirky loveable idiot Australians."

(Even my ex-patted-to-Palmerston-North-daughter was outraged. ;)

I had heard this show was being previewed early somewhere but I couldn't recall where. So this weekend I went to On Demand to see if it was there. It wasn't but they did have their One Night Stand available. Normally, I'm not too fond of songs with silly lyrics but I kept watching and by the end I was doubled over in laughter. I then found the pilot online. While I didn't find it as funny as just the songs, I do think it'll keep getting better.

They were on Letterman last night singing the "You're the most beautiful girl" song that Jermaine sang at the party during the premiere.

They will be on Conan as well next Monday, I think. I'm not sure about the date.

NY times gave them a great review!


Plus an interview with them in Salon.

I'm looking forward to seeing something beyond the pilot.

flove. that is all.

It helps that I love Kiwi accents (not Aussie ones, just Kiwi), but the premiere of this show had me on the floor with tears of laughter running down my face. If the rest of the series is even half this good, I will be a very happy girl this summer.

It looks like I am the only one who hated his. I spent three years living in Europe so I am well acquainted with the offbeat humor of some other countries comedy shows but I thought this sucked. It actually made me kind of miss Life with Louie, kind of. HBO really needs to get it together because with the Sopranos now gone, Big Love and Entourage are the only shows of theirs that I still enjoy watching.

I didn't hate it, and the songs were clever, but ultimately they're going to have to show me something more than "different." Overall it's not that funny. I can see some of what they're going for, but from my perspective they're not hitting the target.

I hadn't read a thing about this show until watching it. I thought it was hilarious. While I enjoyed the songs, I didn't laugh out loud until the argument over why the woman left. Was it the roommate turning the light on? Or was it the fact that the woman had previously dated the roommate for six months, a fact that was left out until that very moment.

The ensuing deadpan argument was wonderfully absurd. I thought the episode was a whimsical and welcome change of pace, and I laughed several times.

My only concern is whether the show will seem as funny once the novelty wears off.

I had never heard of Flight of the Conchords and only watched because it came on after Entourage and I was too depressed to look for the clicker... (Sunday nights are weird without the Sopranos!!) Pleasant surprise, though--VERY talented and funny guys! Now maybe I'm just rebounding hard from my Tony Soprano crush but Jemaine is HOT! That voice, that mouth....mmmmm.

I enjoyed this. I'd seen them on Letterman and watched the features on On Demand, but the show was even better.

The dinner scene with the duck was very funny, and I also got a kick out of their fan base, Mel. "Just because I'm married to Doug doesn't mean I can't be there for you (for two-and-a-half hours)."

I totally lost it at the end, with the binary solo (00000001, 00000011) and the line, "Come on sucker, lick my battery."

Do you carry around a picture of his lips?

I really like this, especially when they suddenly go into a video.

"For your information I have an inflammation in my tear gland." Nice!

These guys are hilarious, and I hope the rest of the series keeps up the momentum of the pilot. And, I'm really hoping there will be an impromptu video for "Albi the Racist Dragon."

Man, this was weird, but in a really good way. Bret's line in the crying song -- "I'm making a lasagne.....for one" had the hubby and I hysterics.

Is Jemaine the guy that was in a commercial for the Outback? It really looks like him -- which we only noticed because he looks just like my brother-in-law.

I was SO wanting to love this show but we both thought it was totally lame. I'm really disappointed. So far, post-Soprano's, there's not much on HBO to keep me paying for it.

I'm pretty sure he is the Outback guy, who oddly enough I always thought was faking his accent. Maybe it was the Aussie/Kiwi disconnect? Or maybe I'm just crazy.

So, since the robot song talked about coming from the future in the year 2000 - any guesses what year this is supposed to be taking place?

I cracked up several times last night, especially at the songs...the bits in between ran a little long sometimes, I thought, but I'll definitely be watching again.

"And if we were on a street (depending on the street), you'd definitely be in the top threeee..." Hee!

I think its just supposed to take place today. The "year 2000" is usually played as part of the humor of the robot song.

Its funny having this show follow Entourage. Such different levels of being an entertainer. Vince in Hollywood vs Jermaine and Brett in Williamsburg, Brooklyn . . . I'm glad they shot on location, I recognized the Kebob place and some of the streets.

Don't you mean ke-baab? As in taking Sally (who is so hot she could be a waitress) for one? This show is a riot!

In the 'Outback' ad Jermaine is faking an Australian accent IIRC.

Oh and also, my favourite line is where he's not crying his eye is just sweaty because he's been looking around a lot. Te Choice eh!

I lived in NZ for a while... a kebab (ke-baab) in NZ is basically the equivalent of a burrito here (California)-- they're big, cheap, delicious and available pretty much everywhere. They also look more like burritos (they're middle eastern burritos-- gyros?) than what they were eating (i.e. they don't come on sticks-- ouch!).

ElectricPeach, I'm so jealous! We went to NZ on our honeymoon and spent a week in The Bay Of Islands, and just loved everything about it. It's so beautiful -- like being inside a postcard.

Ahhh The Bay of Islands is beautiful! What a lovely place to honeymoon!
In general, I loved living in NZ. Lately, I've been thinking a lot about going back (Flight of the Conchords makes me all nostalgic)... the people there are just so *nice* and laidback (not to mention the high percentage of extremely attractive guys). I just need to figure out a way to convince my friends and family to move there too. hmm...

I heard their interview on Fresh Air so had to check it out- and I really enjoyed it. Funny songs.

I find it funny that most people are oohhing and ahhing over Jermanine when I think Bret is the more attractive one. Plus- he was Figwit in LOTR!

I wasn't a fan. I wanted to like it, but it seemed like it was trying too hard. At the risk of sounding like Grandpa Simpson, am I too old (40) for it?

Maybe. Or maybe you just need to give it a few episodes. Pilots often seem kind of forced, contrived and contain too much exposition. I liked their stand up show enough to stick around for more episodes. Then again, I did like the pilot, I just hope I like later episodes more.

He is the Outback guy, and my understanding is that the NZ/Australian accents are distinct, so he he might have been faking his accent in the commercial a little.

I liked the "One Night Stand" show they had on HBO with the guys a while back, and thought the first episode of the show was good. I'm slightly concerned that their brand of humor will get a little repetitive after a while, but for now I think it's great.

"You're beautiful...like a waitress...like an air hostess from the '60s. You could be a part-time model...model part of the time, but have to work the other part of the time..."

Ok, I'm paraphrasing. But I watched this last night with no idea what to expect and the song lyrics had me howling. So smart! I am a sucker for smart, funny lyrics.

This show just killed me. Loved it.

I loved the posters for New Zealand in their manager's office.

Just Like Lord of the Rings!

New Zealand, lower your expectations, you'll love it!

Something like that anyway.

I really liked the pilot - so funny! I loved the songs, especially the robot one. Brett and Jemaine did great robot walks and voices (I'm sure Murray was proud), and the 'binary solo' at the end was classic.

Also, being a big 30 Rock fan, I really enjoyed Judah Friedlander's brief, quirky cameo.

So brief and/or quirky that I missed it.

Which one was he?

I'm only like a seriously huge fan.

I loved it: the lyrics to the songs, Mel, how insubstantial the whole thing was. I think it is the perfect summer tv fare.

He was the traveling cake salesman. His hair looked really funny, and he wasn't wearing a hat, so with that and it's being a small part, he was easy to miss.

I loved it, too. It was just right. The musical interludes were just right, including the binary song. They just seem so down to earth.

Now, Lucky Louie? That was bad, and not in a good way.

Oh yeah. This is miles in quality and entertainment value above Lucky Louie. That show was so bad it made me feel like I needed a shower afterwards.

I can't stop singing the words "part time model" and emphatically bobbing my head. I have watched this episode 3 times since Sunday. Man was it funny. I especially loved the "I'm not cryin' " song. Brilliance.

This show was great. I hope it sticks around for a while, because I read a lot of hatred/backlash on the HBO boards.

I *was* crying with laughter during the "I'm not crying" song. "I'm not crying - I just cut up an onion."

Lucky Louie
I only watched about 5 minutes of one show...5 minutes I'll never get back! Ever.

I watched the pilot the other day. It was funny, I laughed quite a bit. Later I was telling my friend about it (she is a fellow Figwit fan), except I had to stop at the robot song because I was laughing too hard. "I poked one, it was dead," is going to be my new excuse for everything, no matter how little sense it makes.

Too bad I don't get HBO. *sadface*

If you're a Figwit fan you may wish to search youtube and see if you can find the Flight Of the Conchords version of LOTR:FOTR

I found this site as I was searching for the lyrics to "The Most Beautiful Girl in the Room" (in the whole wide room) and it seems pretty comprehensive. Page 2 has a clip of Jemaine singing the beautiful girl song..damn, when he seals the deal with his move...kills me every time. Conchords


Sugarcane1, since you mentioned this I can't get it out of my head..would it be weird if I did that?

Watched it again, and this time caught Judah.

He's the guy trying to get some cash or electronic gear -- in exchange for a cake.

Amazing.

You wouldn't be the first person to do it. That scene was inspired by a real experience they had, although the actual fan isn't a scary stalker like Mel is on the show.

Another good source for all things Conchord is What the Folk, which is pretty much the original fan site, started by one of the women who helped coin the whole Figwit name.

I got into FotC about two years ago and have been waiting anxiously for the show to finally air. At the moment, I prefer the BBC radio version of the show, but I'm still enjoying the HBO show and look forward to seeing how it progresses. I hope Rhys Darby (Murray the manager) gets some more good lines. He's brilliant! I loved the whole Fleetwood Mac/Rumors bit between he and Bret. So perfectly delivered!

Yeah, there's a few good jokes like that that are delivered so straight and quickly that its hard to pick up on them. I might have to watch again to see if I can remember the one bit that I liked the best.

Well, it was a beautiful cake.

I can now die happy since I have seen Bret's helmet hair. I'm going to start working on a secret project and draw a picture of it on my weekly calendar, but alas, I'm sure I will never be able to think of anything as awesome as the helmet hair. So much body!