New Zealand, an island off the coast of Australia, appears seemingly unimportant to the untrained eye.
However, the island's isolation has given New Zealanders an edge on creativity and originality. They have gigantic turtles, for one. This is ingenuity at its best. Also, hobbits and wizards are known to roam the island.
Just when New Zealand appears to run out of surprises, it unloads yet another creative force.
Enter Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement. This hobbit-haired, folksy New Zealand duo appears in the HBO series "Flight of the Conchords."
Bret and Jemaine play, well, Bret and Jemaine on the witty comedy. The two dim-witted companions struggle to make it big in New York City.
Advertising themselves as "Formerly New Zealand's fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo a capella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo," they acquire a manager, Murray, who is as dim and clueless as they are.
In each episode, Bret and Jemaine undergo the trials of unknown bands, and unsuccessfully book shows and pick up obsessed fans. Rather, one obsessed fan, Mel.
Sprinkled in each episode's humorous banter are songs. Bret and Jemaine stop the action of dialogue to reward the audience with hilarious music videos.
"Flight of the Conchords" is one of the best things to come out of New Zealand. The first season premiered in June and is currently for sale on DVD. For a schedule of when it airs, visit www.hbo.com/conchords.
yay, flight of the conchords.
you're awesome, ms. lily.