 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Flight of the Conchords
Common Sense Media says
Mock-folk music duo strums hip Kiwi comedy.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this musical comedy about a faux folk duo is pretty mild for HBO. The language is uncensored, but it's nowhere near the levels of shows like Deadwood and Six Feet Under. And while some scenes show social drinking and touch on drug use, and storylines typically revolve around dating attempts (most of which fail), there's probably nothing here that mature teens haven't seen or heard before. Song lyrics occasionally insult women, but they're more intended to poke fun at traditional pop music than to reveal any inherent misogyny.
What's the story?
New Zealand music/comedy duo Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement play themselves: Two hapless Kiwi musicians who've just moved to New York City hoping to make a name for their band. They fumble about, planning their big break with their moronic manager, Murray (Rhys Darby) -- whose day job is the New Zealand Cultural Attaché -- and try to avoid the attentions of their obsessive (and perhaps, only) fan, Mel (Kristen Schaal). As the guys go about their indie boy life -- attending parties, meeting with Murray, tuning their guitars -- they frequently break into clever songs. Sometimes they relate to the action on the screen, such as when Clement sees a girl at a party and sings a Prince-like love song about her ("you could be a part-time model") as viewers watch the two meet, flirt, date, and wind up back at his apartment. Other songs pop up when Bret and Jemaine are actually practicing their music or filming (sort of) a music video.
Is it any good?
McKenzie and Clement garnered a cult following thanks to their hilarious performances at comedy and music festivals around the world; they turned their traveling act into this hipster musical series. FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS is kind of like a hip Dumb and Dumber, following two rather brainless-but-quite-charming guys as they navigate single-guy life while remaining committed friends and partners.
With its clever writing, appealing characters, and unique approach to comedy, the show attracted a loyal niche following during its two seasons on HBO. Teens may well dig the show's wit, and despite its attention to romance and relationships and unbleeped profanity, most parents should feel OK about letting mature kids watch.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the series' take on pop and folk music. Which aspects of each genre are being made fun of? What makes them good targets for comedy? Do the guys on the show remind you of any real bands?
How does the fact that the stars are from New Zealand affect the show's humor? Do you think it would be as funny if it were about Americans?
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AGE
I laughed until I cried
Flight of the Conchords was humor beyond humor. Bret and Jemaine's individual personalities ricochet beautifully off each other, making it a hilarious television program. While it may not be appropriate for kids my age, (eh, my parents let it slide,) I think that if you watch it with your preteen and explain the subtle humor, it might even turn into a family comedy! I think this is a must-see for anyone over 13.
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AGE
Maybe
Okay. I'm just going to start off by saying...this is the best show on television. The funniest thing I've ever seen. But it might not be appropriate.
Everything is a moderate offense, except for maybe language. Words like S**t, D**k, and A*s are used in moderation, with even an occasional F-Bomb. Since Flight of the Conchords is on HBO, there are no bleeps, so you hear the words.
The swearing, although offensive, is used in moderation. The two main characters never use swear words, instead they use substitutes. For example, Bret says "Flip" when he's mad, a song starts off with Jemaine saying "I'm the motherflippin'...", and one song is called "Mother Uckers" with the repeated lyrics "Too many mother uckers ucking with my shi".
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AGE
This show would be ok for 13 years easliy there is some drug references though in one of the episode along with some foul gestures
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AGE
First off, the show is pure comedic genius. The awkward silences and witty dialogues perfectly compliment the cute, catchy songs. However, while I enjoy watching this show with my friends, I doubt I would be very comfortable with my mom. There are some episodes that I would show her, but most of them I would avoid watching with her. There are too many uncomfortable sexual references, even if they are used in a humorous light.
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AGE
Music stand-up best, shows second, cd's ... not quite.
I came across FotC through a linked youtube of "The Humans are Dead". Being an aspiring musical comedian myself, I have analyzed all the videos of their live shows. These are top class performances and I have analyzed their techniques thoroughly on our blog, starting at below link.
I didn't like their tv series nearly as much, though the songs as intermezzos are often very funny again. Strangely so, the same songs when produced onto a cd, lose a lot of their humoristic qualities, probably because these masters of mime and timing haven't got enough verbal virtuoso to offer for mere text and melody.
blog.stanzamuziek.be/2010/07/21/een-analyse-van-humor-aan-de-hand-van-het-repertoire-van-flight-of-the-conchords-1/
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AGE
Enjoyed the bizarre humor of this show, and I would watch it with my husband, and while I would cringe and not want to see it too often, its fine after the kids are in bed. But based on the review here, I thought it would be okay for my 15 year old to watch it, and it was awkward. Really awkward, as one cast member mentions pretty gross names of porn movies, they do a funny but raunchy dance montage about their "sugarlumps" referencing their sexual attractiveness to women... I won't be watching this again with a 15 year old.
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| TV rating: | TV-MA |
| Network: | HBO |
| Cast: | Bret McKenzie, Jemaine Clement |
| Genre: | Comedy |
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