‘Flight of the Conchords’ star looking for lift-off

Rhys Darby didn’t think anyone would get the joke. “New Zealand humour can be extremely dry,” says the stand-up and actor.

“Someone described it as just the right side of boring. It is very understated. You ask yourself, ‘will it travel’?” He is discussing the hit comedy TV show, Flight of the Conchords, in which he starred alongside Brett McKenzie and Jemaine Clement. The show, featuring Darby as the hapless manager of Kiwi songwriters, McKenzie and Clement, was a surprise smash for American network, HBO. Despite the acclaim, McKenzie and Clement ended the series after just two seasons — leaving Darby out of a job as he was on the verge of fame.

“They guys were always going to finish it after two,” he says. “Going into the second season, we all had a pretty clear idea it was the end. We created a piece of art and put it on the wall and it will always be there. HBO couldn’t understand why anyone would wish to do that.That is very different to the American model of working on something for 15 years. It’s funny — ever since, people are forever asking ‘why did you get cancelled?’ We took the British outlook towards television, which is that shows have a natural lifespan”.