Jemaine Clement (L) and Bret McKenzie. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Jemaine Clement (L) and Bret McKenzie. Photo / Mark Mitchell
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Critics are disappointed Kiwi comedy export Flight of the Conchords failed to land an Emmy nomination for best comedy series.
The HBO show written by and starring Wellingtonians Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie was shortlisted in the top nine for the outstanding comedy series section of the Americantelevision awards, but failed to make the final cut.
Entertainment writers and critics across the US have lamented the show's non-appearance in the top five, although the musical comedians have been nominated for four other awards. Sarah Hughes, who writes a blog for the UK's Guardian newspaper, was also shocked by their non-inclusion.
She said an "oversight occurred in the comedy section where the wonderful Flight of the Conchords was ignored in favour of Two and a Half Men. This may be the point at which words literally do fail me - although not the Flight of the Conchords' writers, who at least picked up a nomination."
San Francisco Chronicle critic Tim Goodman included the series on his list of "forgotten people or shows", and the MTV News site said it would have liked to see the Conchords "get a fair shot" at the award.
Chicago Daily Herald columnist Ted Cox predicted the series would fail to make the final cut, despite having a high opinion of the show.
"HBO's Flight of the Conchords was listed among 10 Emmy finalists, but is almost certain to be slighted in the nominations. A wry, deadpan look at two New Zealand musos displaced in Manhattan, Conchords was and is wickedly funny."
The shows nominated were Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, The Office, last year's winner 30 Rock and Two and a Half Men.
But the Conchords still garnered nominations for outstanding directing and writing, for original music, and lyrics for two songs, Inner City Pressure and The Most Beautiful Girl (In the Room).
