Flight of the Conchords
Two Seasons of New Zealand Musical Satire
Prime-time television often features shows that are unimaginative, predictable and reiterative, especially when it comes to comedy. Apart from cartoons like The Family Guy, situational comedies are frequently unable to improve on such original plots as was found in Three's Company, classic scenes in Saturday Night Live and many episodes of Cheers or Friends.
The Flight of the Conchords is an exception. A show that premiered in June of 2007, this situational comedy features two friends and fellow musicians who move their titular band to New York in the hopes of making it big. Three aspects set this show apart from so many others: its particular brand of language-based humour, its hilarious and poignant characters and its music videos that intersperse and elaborate on the plot.
Humour in Flight of the Conchords
This comedy duo was formed by Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clemant in 1998 while the two shared an apartment during university. In 2000, they performed their first live televised event and in 2003 they were nominated for the Perrier award in Edinburgh. 2008 saw them winning a Grammy for best comedy album for their record, The Distant Future.
Although they have often been denied funding by their own country, their sense of humour branded as too particular, they have attained a cult following in the rest of the western world. The series jokes are frequently based on double entendres, malaprops, word play and situational mishaps. Mix-ups and rivalries between New Zealand and Australia also lead to much humour, as when representatives from both consulates end up at a party together or when Gemaine starts dating an Australian girl. Visual gags such as the helmet made of a wig and Gemaine's glued on beard in one episode also create giggles. The humour is satirical, both of the music business and of cultural relations, as well as of the foibles of gender.
The Characters in Flight of the Conchords
Bret and Jemaine obviously play a version of themselves in this show, which adds the flavour of reality and vulnerability to the plots. The alternately supportive and bickering relationship between the two creates many of the plots relating to shows they play and the women they date. They are supported by a cast of superb comedians, the most prominent being Rhys Darby as their manager Murray and Kristen Schaal as their obsessed fan, Mel. Everything from Murray's geeky style of dress, to his manner of running meetings where everyone must respond "present," is funny, as is Mel's gawky face and lascivious fantasies, which lead her at times to create absurd collages or paintings that represent her desire for these hapless musicians.
Other main characters include the Mel's befuddled but compliant husband, Doug, Dave the man of malaprops and libido who runs the pawn shop and who provides many of the show's satirical notions about "being American," and Eugene the nosy and blank-faced landlord. The show has also featured many other prominent comedians.
The Music Videos in Flight of the Conchords
As the show is about a band, the musical numbers are a key part of what makes this series so hilarious and unique. The audience is allowed to see Bret and Gemaine composing songs together, thinking of lyrics that are usually ludicrous, too long winded or full of bad rhymes, often composed for sudden paramours or due to the dangerous exigencies of living in New York. Then these songs, which emerge directly out of a comedic situation, become music videos that feature dream sequences, romance montages or guest stars such as David Bowie giving them advice about how to be rock stars: "Wear an eye patch." Sometimes the other characters like Mel or Murray also sing parts.
These elaborate, ridiculous and bizarre videos are counterpointed by scenes of the band actually performing at clubs, libraries, the park or even in the elevator. Live, they usually only play one song, "I like to Rock the Party," in truncated version, with missing instruments or poorly. The episodes move quickly between various key scenarios: the apartment, the pawn shop, the meetings, live events and the music videos among others.
This series only ran for two seasons, the first of 12 episodes and the next of 10, but its originality will continue to live on in DVD.
Flight of the Conchords
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