New York Times Interview - February 26, 2009

Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clemet will appear in the NY Times Magazine this Sunday, telling interviewer Deborah Solomon what it's like living in New York, and what they think of Obama's stimulus package.

Here's a snippet:

Bret: [New York is] a good city if you want to struggle. It's easy to struggle in New York. I think New York is a bit expensive. It's too expensive to hang out unless you've got a TV show.

Any thoughts on the president's new stimulus package? What do you recommend for the U.S. economy?
Jemaine: Budgeting.
Bret: Yeah, the government should do a budget.

I believe we already have a budget.
Jemaine: It doesn't seem like it…Maybe the American government could get a second job.
Bret: A part-time job. Or maybe the government should get its own TV show.

I'm excited for this interview!

giggletycoon wrote:

Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clemet will appear in the NY Times Magazine this Sunday, telling interviewer Deborah Solomon what it's like living in New York, and what they think of Obama's stimulus package.

Here's a snippet:

Bret: [New York is] a good city if you want to struggle. It's easy to struggle in New York. I think New York is a bit expensive. It's too expensive to hang out unless you've got a TV show.

Any thoughts on the president's new stimulus package? What do you recommend for the U.S. economy?
Jemaine: Budgeting.
Bret: Yeah, the government should do a budget.

I believe we already have a budget.
Jemaine: It doesn't seem like it…Maybe the American government could get a second job.
Bret: A part-time job. Or maybe the government should get its own TV show.

I'm excited for this interview!

I'll be on the lookout for that one. Thanks!

The government should get a second job?

Bret thinks the goverment should have a part time job.

God I love that man.

thedistantfuture wrote:The government should get a second job?

That's classic

We've seen these questions recently (from above and something posted in another thread), but here's the complete interview:

Questions for Bret Mckenzie and Jemaine Clement
Dynamic Duo

Interview by DEBORAH SOLOMON
Published: February 26, 2009

As the creators and co-stars of “Flight of the Conchords,” the HBO cult comedy series, do you expect the show to be renewed for a third season?
Jemaine: Unlikely.
Bret: We’re going to go straight to the fourth season.

The show is a loosely autobiographical tale about two goofy band mates from New Zealand trying to make it in Manhattan. Is New York a good place for struggling artists?
Bret: It’s a good city if you want to struggle. It’s easy to struggle in New York. I think New York is a bit expensive. It’s too expensive to hang out unless you’ve got a TV show.

Your show is sort of the anti-“Entourage,” in part because there is no cursing or nudity.
Jemaine: We have facial nudity.

Do you see the show as musical comedy?
Bret: It’s definitely closer to the comedy end than the music end.

Next month, you’re releasing a new album and embarking on a U.S. tour. Is it fair to describe your music as a hybrid form that parodies folk music and other genres?
Bret: I would describe our music as weird. I mean, I wouldn’t want to listen to it.

Do you find it surprising that you’ve managed to have a hit television show in spite of your twangy accents?
Jemaine: In New Zealand, people don’t like the New Zealand accent, so we weren’t able to get a TV show there.

What do they watch in New Zealand?
Jemaine: American shows.
Bret: They don’t understand their own accents, so they don’t talk very much.


Pej Behdarvand for The New York Times

What do Australians think of your accent?
Jemaine: They think our accent is crude.
Bret: They do make fun of our accents when we’re there.

You first met as drama students at Victoria University in Wellington.
Bret: It started off as a punch-out.
Jemaine: In the New Zealand tradition, we started off fighting like two Russell Crowes. Now we’re amicable rivals. Bret: In between fights we’d write comedy songs.

Is that a joke?
Bret: I don’t know.

Is it true there are more sheep than people in New Zealand?
Jemaine: Ten times more. But in America there are probably more ants than people.
Bret: More cars than people.

Is there anything you can say about the episode being shown this Sunday?
Jemaine: The prime minister of New Zealand comes to New York and wants to meet Barack Obama.

Does New Zealand’s actual prime minister, John Key, appear in the episode?
Bret: No, we decided to go with an actor rather than a politician.
Jemaine: The same way George Bush wasn’t on “24.”

Does President Obama make a cameo appearance?
Jemaine: We can’t tell you.
Bret: HBO might have put him in there as a treat for us.

Any thoughts on the president’s new stimulus package? What do you recommend forthe U.S. economy?
Jemaine: Budgeting.
Bret: Yeah, the government should do a budget.

I believe we already have a budget.
Jemaine: It doesn’t seem like it.
Bret: They need to put aside a certain amount each week for rent and then some money for food and then some money for partying, having a good time. Jemaine: Put aside some for invasions!

INTERVIEW CONDUCTED, CONDENSED AND EDITED BY DEBORAH SOLOMON

Source

"CONDENSED"

"We have facial nudity."  

Oh Jemaine, I love you.

Amily wrote:"CONDENSED"

I know.  

gezyka wrote:

Amily wrote:"CONDENSED"

I know.      

I'm so greedy!

awesome interview.

Is that a joke?
Bret: I don’t know.

The NYT site has this at the bottom of the interview page:

A version of this article appeared in print on March 1, 2009, on page MM13 of the New York edition.

Notice their comments about the government getting a second job are not in the online version.  There may be some other differences in the NY print edition. I wish we could see the "non-condensed" version - I'm greedy too.

More from this photoshoot by Pej Behdarvand.