Flight Of The Conchords Returns

By Harmon Leon
Fancast.com

Think about it. No, really, think, think about it. The Flight of the Conchords are back for another low-key season. Celebrate! Celebrate! Dance to the music! More episodes! More songs. More deadpan hjinks. We love F o the C (the official street slang for Flight of the Conchords). What makes New Zealand’s fourth most famous folk-parody comedy duo stand out amongst other successful rock-themed comedy shows, who stem from the long linage of The Monkees and The Partridge Family, all the way to CBS’s short-lived Love Monkey?

Great songs. Humans Are Dead, Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenocero, Ladies Of The World, and Business Time are all hilarious and musically impressive–spanning a multitude of styles.

The Archie’s couldn’t claim those laurels (though Sugar Sugar is the quintessential bubble-gum pop song).

Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie (“Is it Brit?” “No Bret” “Oh…Brit.”) spent over 10 years honing their musical/comedy skills around the globe at such notable places as the Edinburgh Festival, where they first made a huge splash and landed a BBC radio show. For the second season, the Conchords had to wipe the slate clean and come up with their own brand spanking new songs. Even the Monkees had their songs written for them.

Another question: Are the Conchords the Monkees of today? They both have improper spellings to get their band’s point across.

Another key Conchord element is the ensemble cast; all very hilarious comedians in their own right. Last year I saw Kristine Schaal’s (Mel) solo show at the Edinburgh Fringe. Years back I gigged with Kiwi countryman Rhys Darby (Murray), in his pre-Flight days, at the Wellington Fringe Festival. Comedian Arj Barker, in fact once helped me infiltrate the Family Feud with our fictional family, The Smunts.

Arj, as you know, plays Bret and Jemaine’s best friend, Dave. Or, as Arj puts it, “The 5th most sighted character on the show.” Arj explained, “Ok, it goes like this, Bret and Jemaine, Reese who plays Murray, Christine, whose a wonderful person-they’re all really great people-then it goes (makes sound of object on slide). Then there’s me.“

That a pretty big claim, being its a show about New Zealand’s fourth most famous folk-parody comedy duo. (You do the math).

CHECK OUT FLIGHT’S PHOTO GALLERY

Arj gave Fancast a brief Q&A while at the Seattle airport where he was really pissed off about the prospects of finding a cab.

ARJ: I’m stuck on an elevator right now. This is a fucking complete joke.

FANCAST: Why so angry? Your show’s premiering on Sunday.

ARJ: By Season 4, maybe I’ll have someone to help me operate elevators.

FANCAST: So in Season 2 you have to operate your own elevators?

ARJ: Season 2, it’s all about you’re in charge of your own elevator operation. Season 1, I wasn’t even allowed in elevators. It’s the next step, but I’m learning how to use them.

FANCAST: What are the perks now of Season 1 over Season 2, other than elevator usage?

ARJ: I’m going to scream in about ten seconds. (Scream emitted.) I’m about to punch Seattle in the head.

FANCAST: What surprises do we have in store for us in Season 2?

ARJ: It’s going to be more of the stuff you love. New songs. New dilemmas. New characters.

FANCAST: In Season 1 we learned that Dave’s roommates photoshopped into photos to make it look like they were his parents. Do we learn more about Dave?

ARJ: With my character I’m involved in a couple of the songs. I think we’re going to see a more sensitive side to him.

FANCAST: In what way?

ARJ: Hopefully you’ll see it when Dave raps.

FANCAST: What does he rap about?

ARJ: Well,,,,,balls one time. Dicks the other time.

I guess that would show Dave’s sensitive side (or hidden issues about Dave). Regardless, it’s Christmas come early with the premiere of Flight of the Conchords this Sunday (which you can also see right here on Fancast).

And the Conchards should always remember the wise words of Monkee’s Davy Jones, with his advice for other rock comedy shows, “Forget about the bling-bling and just sing-sing.” That’s just what the Flight of the Conchords do; they forget about the bling-bling (they have none) and remember the sing-sing (they do a fair share of that).

GET MORE FLIGHT INFORMATION HERE.