Tuned In

FOTC* Watch: Where Did You Get That Preposterous Hypothesis?

conchords05web.jpg
HBO photo: Nicole Rivelli

I missed last night’s Entourage, owing to a difference of opinion between my Tivo and Time Warner Cable as to what channel HBO HD is on. At this point, anyway, I’m more interested in Flight of the Conchords, which I’d already seen on a preview screener. This show is obviously a much less serial, more self-contained sitcom than Entourage, but it’s good to see that, already, the leads are developing into defined, distinct characters, or, at least, distinct sets of attitudes. It was a kick, in particular, to see Jemaine’s particular monotone–”Wot? Wot?”–imitated both by the police clerk and his friends and his friends, believing that he was dead. By the end of the summer, probably every one of you will have a friend who does a Jemaine imitation that you will be getting sick of.

The songs from last night’s episode were both drawn from FOTC’s stage show, and while “Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros” was hilariously executed, both of them seemed wedged into the show–not necessarily a bad thing, but I think the songs work best here when they’re woven in to the story, like “Most Beautiful Girl in the Room.” When the show started, I wondered what would happen, down the road, when FOTC runs out of familiar songs to work into the episodes, but now I think it may be better once the duo is writing more originals for the show. (Or was “Most Beautiful Girl” from their stage show as well? I’m not too familiar with their concerts, so correct me if I’m wrong.) On the other hand, I’m waiting for “Business Time,” probably my favorite FOTC bit I’ve heard.

Next week, anyway, look for “She’s So Hot… BOOM!” [Correction: Scratch that, we saw it last week. Pitfalls of having watched the episodes a month and a half ago.] This show is so hot, it’s making me sexist.

* [Update: Pronounced "FOT-see." Like POTC, but less lucrative.]

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  • Chaddogg

    What, no mention of Mel, FofC’s lone obsessed fan? For the third straight week, she provided the biggest laughs on the show….(although Murray was phenomenal, as well).

    I seriously love this show. Oh, and for those not yet watching, this past episode was arguably the weakest of the three they’ve aired so far, and was STILL great.

    As for me, I’m waiting for “Hilarious Misunderstanding” to be worked into an episode….what a song. (James – She’s So Hot…Boom! was played last week)

  • James Poniewozik

    @chaddogg–You’re right, ny bad. (I misremembered, because Bret’s girlfriend from his sign-holding job figures in next week as well.

  • BeerBaron

    Yeah, both the songs kind of fell flat for me because I’d seen the concert special. So far I’ve preferred the “live” version to the “series” version every time. There’s something about the spontanaeity of the live show that makes some of the small moments more hilarious. Like in “Think, Think About It”, after the first line of the chorus Jemaine confidently raps “What’s wrong with the world today?” then kind of mumbles nervously like he forgot the next rhyme. It played so perfectly in the live show, but didn’t work nearly as well last night.

    I’m starting to think Mel is one of my favorite TV characters right now. You know she’s only going to have about one scene per episode, but she steals the show every time.

  • Jon88

    I too was very surprised to see HBO-HD moved to 780 — a couple of weeks ago. Slow roll-out?

  • jon

    …and its music are hilarious
    ???

  • Anonymous

    unwatchable

  • Horse Artist

    His name is Jemaine not Jermaine.

  • James Poniewozik

    Fixed–thanks for pointing it out.

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