Flight of the Conchords

**ryberg** · 09-30-2007

Anybody else watch this? I'm impressed.

From the Wikipedia link: Wikipedia link

Quote:

Flight of the Conchords is an American television sitcom that follows the adventures of the Flight of the Conchords, a folk duo from New Zealand, as its members seek fame and success in New York City. The show portrays a fictionalized version of the real-life duo, Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie, who play themselves. Though in reality Clement and McKenzie are a comedy duo and perform music parodies, their characters within the series take themselves and their music seriously.

The first episode of the series aired on HBO on June 17, 2007.

Business Time

Inner City Pressure

Steve

cuffedlinks · 09-30-2007

The one fellow, Jermaine, did Outback Steakhouse commercials here in the States too....

It's a pretty good show.

**ryberg** · 09-30-2007

It's funny but mostly I'm impressed by those video parodies spliced into the shows at various moments. That is a dead on Pet Shop Boys in that second one above, for example -- I would certainly have been fooled by the voice of the Bret character, at least, if the parody lyrics hadn't given away that it was a joke -- and many other of the videos are more generally dead on for a particular genre (more like the first one).

I always appreciate that sort of level of detail and attention on something like that, really getting it absolutely right even if there would seem to be a minority in the audience who would notice or "get it" -- and they're certainly of that type. In that sense, it reminds me of the level of commitment evident in MST3K, where I believe Joel (the show's creator) once said something to the effect that they never asked themselves if enough people would get it, but instead took the approach that the right people would get it.

Steve

horizon200 · 09-30-2007

Haven't watched the show but a guy posted teh Business Time vid on our car club forum. Had a good lauch over it!

Jimmy-James · 09-30-2007

The song parodies are the best part. The rest of the humor seems to be hit or miss with me, but can be very funny at times.

**ryberg** · 09-30-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy-James

The song parodies are the best part. The rest of the humor seems to be hit or miss with me, but can be very funny at times.

I tend to think the rest of the humor may not in general go over too well with most of the American market. Seems too dry, what is typically thought of as the understated aspect of British humor here. The videos I doubt would suffer that fate because they're inherently more active, they lyrics sort of intensify the humor and because it's pretty hard to miss the satire in them. But they are very well done -- they absolutely know even the more weird subgenres of music and their videos. Check out this one (the beginning of which also illustrates that bit about the humor being a bit too understated, I think):

Steve

I think I need a 1983 Casio DG-20 electric guitar, set to electric mandolin...

horizon200 · 09-30-2007

Fox Sports just used "Business Time" as the opening song for the Dallas - St Louis game!

cyndyj1 · 10-01-2007

The songs are the GREATEST. "Business Time" is just hilarious, as they all are.

Jimmy-James · 10-01-2007

I have to say my favorite episode is the one where Brit has a series of dreams that involve David Bowie (played by Jerome of course)

I also liked the one where they were discriminated against by the fruit stand vendor because they were "dirty New Zelanders"

**ryberg** · 10-01-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy-James

I have to say my favorite episode is the one where Brit has a series of dreams that involve David Bowie (played by Jerome of course)

I also liked the one where they were discriminated against by the fruit stand vendor because they were "dirty New Zelanders"

That Bowie impersonation is also spot on (at least in the song/video, the parts done by Bret).

Steve

Shawny · 10-02-2007

I haven't seen the show but the Business Time video made me laugh so much. The guy is funny looking and the words are hilarious.

Thank you for posting this Steve.

jtm1631 · 10-03-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryberg

Anybody else watch this? I'm impressed.

Steve

I've just lost all respect for you. I suppose next you will be telling us you watch Tell Me You Love Me for the story line.

Cosmo · 10-03-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by horizon200

Haven't watched the show but a guy posted teh Business Time vid on our car club forum. Had a good lauch over it!

Love that one, and the show in general. Quirky...raves Cosmo...

**ryberg** · 11-11-2007

Had to come back for a couple more of these I saw tonight when catching up on a couple of episodes with a friend. Actually just put the first one, obviously from the regular scenes within the show (Bret was feeling down), over on PDS's live/obscure music video thread, since it seemed to fit. The second again illustrates how absolutely spot on their impersonations of style are. I'm sure Bowie loves it.

**Heather** · 01-05-2008

01-05-2008	#15 (permalink)
Heather employee of the month Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Playa del Carmen Posts: 9,443	I am seriously in love with Jemaine Clement. No kidding.

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09-30-2007	#2 (permalink)
cuffedlinks añejo Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The City of Presidents Posts: 16,003	The one fellow, Jermaine, did Outback Steakhouse commercials here in the States too.... It's a pretty good show.

09-30-2007	#3 (permalink)
ryberg playa maya guy Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: wandering between the Village Vanguard, NYC, 1961 and the Plugged Nickel, Chicago, 1965 Posts: 10,873	It's funny but mostly I'm impressed by those video parodies spliced into the shows at various moments. That is a dead on Pet Shop Boys in that second one above, for example -- I would certainly have been fooled by the voice of the Bret character, at least, if the parody lyrics hadn't given away that it was a joke -- and many other of the videos are more generally dead on for a particular genre (more like the first one). I always appreciate that sort of level of detail and attention on something like that, really getting it absolutely right even if there would seem to be a minority in the audience who would notice or "get it" -- and they're certainly of that type. In that sense, it reminds me of the level of commitment evident in MST3K, where I believe Joel (the show's creator) once said something to the effect that they never asked themselves if enough people would get it, but instead took the approach that the right people would get it. Steve

09-30-2007	#4 (permalink)
horizon200 añejo Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Delaware Posts: 4,427	Haven't watched the show but a guy posted teh Business Time vid on our car club forum. Had a good lauch over it!

09-30-2007	#5 (permalink)
Jimmy-James gotta have it Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Southern, CT Posts: 875	The song parodies are the best part. The rest of the humor seems to be hit or miss with me, but can be very funny at times.

09-30-2007	#7 (permalink)
horizon200 añejo Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Delaware Posts: 4,427	Fox Sports just used "Business Time" as the opening song for the Dallas - St Louis game!

10-01-2007	#8 (permalink)
cyndyj1 añejo Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Playa Del Carmen, MX Posts: 2,604	The songs are the GREATEST. "Business Time" is just hilarious, as they all are.

10-01-2007	#9 (permalink)
Jimmy-James gotta have it Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Southern, CT Posts: 875	I have to say my favorite episode is the one where Brit has a series of dreams that involve David Bowie (played by Jerome of course) I also liked the one where they were discriminated against by the fruit stand vendor because they were "dirty New Zelanders"

10-02-2007	#11 (permalink)
Shawny way into it Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Don't ask me! Posts: 120	I haven't seen the show but the Business Time video made me laugh so much. The guy is funny looking and the words are hilarious. Thank you for posting this Steve.

11-11-2007	#14 (permalink)
ryberg playa maya guy Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: wandering between the Village Vanguard, NYC, 1961 and the Plugged Nickel, Chicago, 1965 Posts: 10,873	Had to come back for a couple more of these I saw tonight when catching up on a couple of episodes with a friend. Actually just put the first one, obviously from the regular scenes within the show (Bret was feeling down), over on PDS's live/obscure music video thread, since it seemed to fit. The second again illustrates how absolutely spot on their impersonations of style are. I'm sure Bowie loves it.

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