Conchords Returns to BBC

Critically acclaimed comedy series Flight of the Conchords will return to BBC Four later in the Spring for its second season and the BBC acquires the UK rights from HBO. Contains BBC Press Release.

The second season of Emmy-nominated comedy Flight Of The Conchords, which follows the lives of New Zealand’s premiere digi-folk parodists Jemaine and Bret as they try and break New York, has been acquired by BBC Four for transmission in Spring 2009. Music-comedy duo Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie return as the hapless musicians who have left their native New Zealand for New York’s Lower East Side in a bid to create success for their band.

Over the course of the new season, Bret and Jemaine resort to a variety of unconventional strategies in an attempt to jump-start their lives and career, including: taking desperate measures to pay the bills; starting up a gang; and even dating an Australian – a taboo in New Zealand. Their efforts rarely yield dividends but do spawn new tunes about life, love and the pursuit of an elusive music video.

Among the familiar faces rejoining Jemaine and Bret for the second season of Flight Of The Conchords are: Murray (Rhys Darby), who still works at the bare-bones New Zealand consulate and serves as their inept manager; Mel (Kristen Schaal), their married, obsessive fan, and Doug (David Costabile), her long-suffering husband; their friend Dave (Arj Barker), who works at a pawn shop and lives with his parents; and Eugene (Eugene Mirman), their meddling landlord.

Among the guest stars in the new season are Seymour Cassel, Jim Gaffigan, Greg Proops and Kristen Wiig. The first season of Flight of the Conchords transmitted on BBC Four to rave reviews and a fan-base that Bret, Jemaine and Murray could only dream of. It received four Emmy nominations including Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (James Bobin) and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (James Bobin, Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie).

“The likeable naivety of the characters and their brilliantly comedic musical fantasy sequences make a winning combination and we are really looking forward to welcoming them back for season two!” Sue Deeks, BBC Head of Series Acquisition

Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie first teamed up in 1998, performing briefly under the names Moustache and Vested Interest before becoming Flight of the Conchords. Earning a worldwide cult following through their live performances, the duo was named Best Alternative Comedy Act at the 2005 US Comedy Arts Festival, and Best Newcomer at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, and was nominated for the Perrier Comedy Award at Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Flight of the Conchords released the live album Folk The World in 2002, and headlined a six-part BBC Radio 2 series, which won a Sony UK Comedy Award. They made their HBO debut in 2005 on their own edition of stand-up comedy series One Night Stand. In February 2007, Flight of the Conchords received the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album for their EP The Distant Future and last year their debut full album Flight Of The Conchords entered the US charts at number three and hit the UK top 40.

Flight Of The Conchords is co-created by James Bobin, Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie. The executive producers are Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie, James Bobin, Troy Miller and Stu Smiley; co-executive producer, Tracey Baird; consulting producer, Paul Simms. The acquisition of the second season of Flight Of The Conchords is the latest in an impressive portfolio of hits for BBC Programme Acquisition.