TVNZ Article - July 16, 2007

Kiwi comics woo US viewers
Jun 16, 2007 8:53 PM
Two Kiwi comics are winning rave reviews in the United States for their new TV series.

The show, Flight of the Conchords, follows the pair's antics, as they try to break into the New York music scene.

Kiwi comics Flight of the Conchords are starring in the TV series on HBO, the cable channel more famous for mob hits than comedic riffs.

"We worked over one hundred days consecutively," says Bret McKenzie of Flight of the Conchords.

"We filmed for like 12 hours a day and in the weekends, we'd write the music and scripts."

Fellow Conchord Jemaine Clement says it was a lot of work and more work than he has ever had to do.

While the show, which includes fellow Kiwi Rhys Darby is being given a big push by HBO, it's very low-key.

Americans are often blind to jokes that aren't obvious. Will they get Kiwi deadpan?

The Conchords think they do get it, but say the problem comes when the Americans don't understand what the two comedians are saying.

HBO are clearly banking on Flight of the Conchords becoming part of America's televisual landscape and down on New York's lower east side, they're already halfway there, with Flight of the Conchrods posters gracing walls and train carriages.

It has been a big week for Clement. His film, Eagle versus Shark, opened in the US.

"It's quite strange at the moment around here. There's these posters and Flight of the Conchord posters all over the place. So I try and hide a little," Clement says.

The show will screen on prime later this year, by which time the Conchords might have crossed over to the American mainstream.