Tag Archives: Bret McKenzie

Conchord Bret McKenzie on His Serious Solo Debut

Conchord Bret McKenzie on His Serious Solo Debut

He has written duets for man and Muppet, parodied Morrissey in The Simpsons, and become Hollywood’s go-to for bringing ‘heart’ to the movies. Now Academy Award-winning Wellington musician Bret McKenzie, 46, is ready to…

Deadpan NZ Comedy Acts Resonate Far and Wide

Deadpan NZ Comedy Acts Resonate Far and Wide

The peculiar brand of awkward, self-deprecating, deadpan humour Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie and Taika Waititi developed on stage in the late 1990s – let’s call it the Wellington School of comedy – has now…

Bret McKenzie Speaks on the Oddness of Fame

Bret McKenzie Speaks on the Oddness of Fame

The Flight of the Conchords star Bret McKenzie, 43, who is guest curating this year’s New Zealand Festival, speaks to The Guardian’s Charlotte Graham-McLay about his career thus far and the cost of compromise. Although…

New Zealand Hosts US Comedian Stephen Colbert

New Zealand Hosts US Comedian Stephen Colbert

In a stunt hailed as a coup for the New Zealand travel industry, American comedian Stephen Colbert has screened segments from his trip here on The Late Show. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern…

Flight of the Conchords Announce New Album

Flight of the Conchords Announce New Album

New Zealand’s “fourth most popular parody duo” Flight of the Conchords have announced a new live album to follow their 2018 HBO special Flight of the Conchords: Live in London. Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie…

How Flight of the Conchords Took Off

How Flight of the Conchords Took Off

Few comedians ever play London’s O2 Arena and fewer still manage three nights in a row. Those who do tend to have some things in common: a relatable observational style, limited creative ambition and…

Best of Flight of the Conchords – Favourite Moments

Best of Flight of the Conchords – Favourite Moments

“Is it the accents? Is it the hirsuteness? Is it the manner in which they stumble around an awkward social situation while singing a lovely / silly ditty? Just what is it that makes…

Top 2018 Comedy Acts Include Two NZ Favourites

Top 2018 Comedy Acts Include Two NZ Favourites

Flight of the Conchords and Rose Matafeo are two “uproarious” comedy acts Guardian readers are recommended to buy tickets for this year, included alongside the world’s biggest standup Chris Rock and fellow American Maria…

Flight of the Conchords Announce UK Tour Dates

Flight of the Conchords Announce UK Tour Dates

Flight of the Conchords’ Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie are back, and will tour the UK and Ireland in March 2018 for the first time in more than seven years. The ‘Flight of the…

Flight of the Conchords Aimless and That’s Okay

Flight of the Conchords Aimless and That’s Okay

There was a time, about 10 years ago, when this unassuming pair seemed to have it all figured out in their own quiet way. The Flight of the Conchords had a well-received HBO series…

Conchords Kick Off US Tour on High Note

Conchords Kick Off US Tour on High Note

Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie have begun their highly anticipated Flight of the Conchords Sing Flight of the Conchords Tour in the United States with a sold-out gig in Cleveland. “The duo kicked off their…

Sam Neill Says NZ Cinema like Nothing Else on Earth

Sam Neill Says NZ Cinema like Nothing Else on Earth

In a career of almost unparalleled versatility, Sam Neill’s latest role in Taika Waititi’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople finds him returning to his roots. Elle Hunt tracks the New Zealander down in Sydney for…

Disney’s Muppets Most Wanted – Bret McKenzie

Disney’s Muppets Most Wanted – Bret McKenzie

Disney presents this bonus clip from Muppets Most Wanted with Bret McKenzie singing “I’ll Get You What You Want” with the Muppets.

“Man or Muppet” Wins Original Song – 2012 Oscars

“Man or Muppet” Wins Original Song – 2012 Oscars

Take a look at the hilarious Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis as they present Bret McKenzie the Oscar for Music (Original Song) for “Man or Muppet” from The Muppets…

Flight of the Conchords Announce US Tour

Flight of the Conchords Announce US Tour

The Flight of the Conchords return to stages in the United States playing at nearly 30 locations across the country in June and July, the first time the duo has toured since co-headlining 2013’s…

Ukulele Orchestra Strums up Fans in US

Ukulele Orchestra Strums up Fans in US

Andy Morley-Hall is a member of the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra, an eight-piece band that combines high-energy ukulele covers of classic pop and rock songs by the likes of Blondie, Cyndi Lauper and Salt-N-Pepa…

Bret McKenzie Digs Himself Into a Big Hole

Bret McKenzie Digs Himself Into a Big Hole

Starring Bret McKenzie from Flight of the Conchords digging himself a massive, literal hole in the ground, the latest single by the New Zealand powerpop group Phoenix Foundation features on the Guardian’s music site. “If…

Flight of the Conchords Musical Is Coming

Flight of the Conchords Musical Is Coming

The upcoming Flight of the Conchords movie is shaping up to be a musical like no other, co-creator Jemaine Clement has promised – albeit tentatively. The film is “definitely a couple of years away,…

Flight of the Conchords Role Models for Success

Flight of the Conchords Role Models for Success

Flight of the Conchords stars Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie are California-born stand-up comedian Arj Barker’s role models, he tells the Guardian. Barker, who is best known for his role as pawnshop owner Dave in…

Bret Mckenzie Nails Music for Old Spice Commercial

Bret Mckenzie Nails Music for Old Spice Commercial

Bret McKenzie has composed a “lunatic” 60-second musical for men’s aftershave brand Old Spice, and “Dadsong” “isn’t just an important component – it’s the main component, around which everything revolves”, according to Adweek. Sara Matarazzo,…

Flight of the Conchords – Issues (Think About It)

Flight of the Conchords – Issues (Think About It)

Have a little laugh with Flight of the Conchords as they perform their song “Issues” – also known as Think About It. The song is featured in the episode…

Flight Of The Conchords – Robots

Flight Of The Conchords – Robots

Have a little laugh with Flight of the Conchords as they perform their song “Robots” – also known as Humans Are Dead. The song is featured in the episode…

Flight of the Conchords – The Most Beautiful Girl (In The Room)

Flight of the Conchords – The Most Beautiful Girl (In The Room)

In the first episode of the HBO show, Jemaine from Flight of the Conchords, finds himself the most beautiful girl in the room. Will he sing his way into…

Music Man Reunites with the Muppets

Music Man Reunites with the Muppets

Having worked on the 2011 film The Muppets (winning an Oscar for his soul-searching power ballad Man or Muppet), 37-year-old New Zealander Bret McKenzie was signed up for the follow-up, a crime caper called…

Flight Of The Conchords – Jenny

Flight Of The Conchords – Jenny

Flight of the Conchords perform in America singing another comical story about a girl name Jenny meeting a man in the park. Guaranteed, you will be on the floor…

Flight of the Conchords – I’m Not Crying

Flight of the Conchords – I’m Not Crying

If you’re feeling a bit blue, broke up with your partner or just need a good laugh, this may be the video for you. “I’m Not Crying” was featured…

Flight of the Conchords: Frodo (Don’t Wear the Ring)

Flight of the Conchords: Frodo (Don’t Wear the Ring)

Watch as Flight of the Conchords film a hilarious parody music video of The Lord of the Rings about Frodo and the One Ring. Greg acts as cameraman whilst…

‘Out Of Character’ with Bret McKenzie

‘Out Of Character’ with Bret McKenzie

In this HBO interview, Flight of the Conchords’ Bret McKenzie talks about his ‘big break’, embarrassing outfits, and, in a bit of foreshadowing, his love for The Muppets. …

Plans Afoot for Animated Comedy Set in NASA Office

Plans Afoot for Animated Comedy Set in NASA Office

Academy Award winner Wellingtonian Bret McKenzie, 37, is creating an animated workplace comedy for Fox set in the world of NASA, according to TV Guide. McKenzie will executive produce the untitled show he came up…

Bret McKenzie and Kermit the Frog sing “Life’s a Happy Song”

Bret McKenzie and Kermit the Frog sing “Life’s a Happy Song”

Sing-along with Bret McKenzie and Kermit the Frog’s, “Life’s a Happy Song”, featured in the 2011 film, The Muppets. The Muppets, a American musical comedy produced by Walt Disney…

McKenzie Stars in Austenland Though More a Brontë Man

McKenzie Stars in Austenland Though More a Brontë Man

Bret McKenzie, 37, one half of the comedy duo Flight of the Conchords, stars opposite Jane Seymour in the new romantic-comedy Austenland, which opened in the UK in September. “I’m not a crazy Jane Austen…

Plans for Labyrinth-inspired Puppet Musical

Plans for Labyrinth-inspired Puppet Musical

Flight of the Conchords star, Academy and Grammy Award-winner Bret McKenzie, 37, wants to bring back to life the eighties classic storytelling technique of real people and puppets singing and dancing side by side…

Glowing Gold at Grammys

Glowing Gold at Grammys

New Zealand pop star Kimbra, 22, has won two Grammy Awards for record of the year and best pop duo/group with Australian musician Gotye. “Somebody That I Used To Know” was…

These Kids are Feeling Good

These Kids are Feeling Good

A song written by The Flight of the Conchords to raise money for medical research for children, soared straight to No. 1 on iTunes within 90 minutes of release. Their song, Feel Inside (and…

Taking Australia by Storm

Taking Australia by Storm

Twelve years on since their television debut on Wellington’s regional TV station, the Flight of the Conchords, Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, haven’t changed. McKenzie still looks perplexed and Clement still looks…

Up to No Good in the Caitlins

Up to No Good in the Caitlins

Flight of the Conchord Bret McKenzie and Australian comedian Hamish Blake star in a screwball manslaughter comedy who end up on the road trip of their lives in the feature film Two Little Boys,…

Bret McKenzie Nominated for Oscar

Bret McKenzie Nominated for Oscar

Bret McKenzie speaks to Conan about his Oscar nomination and acting in Lord of the Rings.

It’s Gone To His Head

It’s Gone To His Head

Bret McKenzie celebrated his Oscar nomination for best song with some Vegemite and toast. McKenzie, who wrote the meta-power ballad ‘Man or Muppet’ for The Muppets, is up against ‘Real in Rio’ from Rio: The Movie,…

Lads On Film Make Festival

Lads On Film Make Festival

Duncan Sarkies’ film Two Little Boys, featuring Bret McKenzie and Australian actor Hamish Blake, will premiere at the Berlin Film Festival, screening in the Generation section, in February. The film is described as an irreverent…

Critic’s Choose McKenzie

Critic’s Choose McKenzie

Wellington-born comedian Bret McKenzie, 35, has trumped Elton John and Mary J. Blige to win the Critics’ Choice best song award for ‘Life’s a Happy Song’, which he penned for the recently-released The Muppets movie as…

Grass-Roots Campaigning

Grass-Roots Campaigning

Bret McKenzie is in Utah, where he’s “picked up some sort of Mormon cold” while filming a scene with a foal for Austenland: he delivers a foal. “We shot it in England this summer, and…

Cranking Out A Conchords Film

Cranking Out A Conchords Film

Bret McKenzie has said he has hopes for a film version of his and Jemaine Clement’s hit television show Flight of the Conchords. “We’re going to try and do a movie,” McKenzie said at The Muppets premiere…

Jackson’s Effect

Jackson’s Effect

New Zealand filmmaking is at an all-time high thanks to Lord of the Rings’ director Peter Jackson who, 12 years ago, boosted the country’s Hollywood stock The Hollywood Reporter’s Pip Bulbeck writes. Jackson — who also appeared on…

Bret McKenzie Sings with Kermit

Bret McKenzie Sings with Kermit

Bret McKenzie and Kermit the Frog sing ‘Life’s a Happy Song’ from The Muppets.

Composing For Kermit

Composing For Kermit

Wellingtonian Bret McKenzie has applied “his rare talents to a sacred” and “daunting” “Muppets-related endeavour” writing three songs for the forthcoming movie The Muppets. The New York Times’ cultural editor Adam Sternbergh writes for the publication’s magazine:…

Making Music with Muppets

Making Music with Muppets

Former Flight of the Conchord Bret McKenzie, 35, has written four original songs for the soundtrack of the new Disney film The Muppets, which will be released on 21 November. McKenzie is also the…

Austenland Role for Conchord

Austenland Role for Conchord

Wellington actor Bret McKenzie will star alongside Keri Russell in indie romantic comedy Austenland. In the film, Russell plays a woman with a secret obsession with Colin Firth’s Mr Darcy in the BBC adaptation…

Elfin Airs For McKenzie

Elfin Airs For McKenzie

Former Conchord, Wellingtonian Bret McKenzie, is joining the cast of Peter Jackson’s epic The Hobbit as the elf Lindir from Rivendell. McKenzie previously played an elf nicknamed Figwit in The Fellowship of the Ring…

Onward to Invercargill

Onward to Invercargill

Wellington actor Bret McKenzie will co-star with Australian television and radio personality Hamish Blake in a New Zealand feature film, Two Little Boys, which is due to start filming in January in Southland. Based…

Not quite themselves

Not quite themselves

Flight of the Conchords’ stars Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie will make a guest appearance on hit show The Simpsons in the first episode of the new season, Elementary School Musical, to be broadcast…

Fame becomes them

Fame becomes them

Tickets for The Flight of the Conchords’ two May shows at Dublin’s Olympia Theatre sold out in a record 12 seconds. “It’s all just weird,” Bret McKenzie says. But then he finds a lot…

Attention seeker

Attention seeker

“A little bit of Clement can go a long way,” writes Katey Rich for US entertainment site Cinema Blend.com. Quiet Earth is reporting that Clement, “who was so woefully underused in Gentlemen Broncos”,…

Return to self

Return to self

Flight of the Conchords duo Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement have ended their HBO series after two seasons. On their website, the pair said: “We’re very proud of the two seasons we made, and…

He’s Lippy

He’s Lippy

Wellington actor Jemaine Clement is included in Bust magazine’s ‘Fall Preview’ film section showing off “his sugar lumps on the big screen” in Gentlemen Broncos. In the film, directed by the folks behind Napolean…

They’re Rock n’ Roll

They’re Rock n’ Roll

The Flight of the Conchords near the end of their 2009 Spring US tour with a pit stop in Las Vegas, playing at The Joint and reviewed by the local paper, which says the…

Not Very Boring

Not Very Boring

Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie of the Flight of the Conchords discuss silly songs, the sweet tooth of success and why Australians are always in the cross hairs, with CNN reporter Shanon Cook. Asked…