Saw the pilot episode of the Flight of the Conchords "sitcom", as funded by HBO the other day. It's really good. Admittedly, Bret's acting could do with a bit of work, but that's really my only complaint. The show is pitched perfectly to the duo's dry, laidback comedy. In fact, despite being set and filmed in New York, it could just as easily be Mt Cook in Wellington, such is the familiarity of the grubby boho (or should that be hobo?) surroundings in which the characters find themselves. Other things don't translate quite so well, such as a song lyric about a guy buying a girl a kebab (as in salad and meat wrapped in pita bread), but the visual had them eating shishkebabs. But generally, it works great. Hope it goes down well.
The obvious question is how HBO saw the genius in these guys that New Zealand TV execs couldn't. The equally obvious answer is that the NZ TV execs are too bound up with being New Zealand TV execs, and feel that Letter to Blanchy or Six Periods with Mr Gormsby are the height of comic wit in this country. They'd be telling Bret and Jemaine about the absolute necessity of a laugh track, and wondering if people in the South Island would get it, and fretting that it might be safer to put it on after the late news.* HBO know exactly what to do. Admittedly they aren't exactly taking any risks, since the show's budget is small (though appropriately so), they're airing it in the US TV off-season, and they're only making 12 episodes. Even so, that's more appropriate than slapping it on head-to-head against Two and a Half Men. They know that this show will only attract a cult audience, but if they get enough of them, it might just work out in DVD sales!
Will there be more than one season? Even if the network were keen, I can't imagine the boys would want to work in US TV indefinitely. It doesn't seem like their style. But who can say?
Thanks to Mr Clover for sending me the link.
* Okay, I'm really just having a go at TVNZ here. TV3 have at least been kind enough to inform us of Conchords' existence and US fame, and will probably show the HBO series. Given that this will be cheaper than paying to have it made themselves, you can't help admire them for having their cake and eating it.
Posted by stuart at May 26, 2007 3:35 PM