Why the Conchords really took flight

They're New Zealand's hottest international artists, have been nominated for an Emmy - and are now worth millions of dollars.But it appears a relatively paltry sum of $300,000 was the real reason TVNZ turned down comedy duo Flight of the Conchords four years ago.That much-criticised decision by TVNZ's commissioners led the Conchords, Wellingtonians Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, to seek fame, fortune and their own show overseas.Their series, picked up and produced by American cable network HBO, is now an international hit, viewed by millions each week, and has been shortlisted for an Emmy for outstanding comedy series.Herald on Sunday inquiries have revealed the real story behind TVNZ's decision to turn down the Conchords - it involves money, intrigue and a belief that the pair did not have broad enough appeal.The saga starts in 2004, when McKenzie and Clement were commissioned by TVNZ to develop a project, and a pilot show was made - a nine-minute teaser called Folk the World - as part of a plan for a 90-minute special show.




The secret pilot was non-transmittable, meaning it could not go to air, but was funded jointly by TVNZ and NZ On Air after TVNZ's general manager of commissioning at the time, Tony Holden, approved development based on a pitch by the Conchords.TVNZ would not disclose how much it spent on the project, but a source working there at the time said it was a "large amount of money", estimating it was more than $30,000.TVNZ public affairs spokeswoman Megan Richards confirmed the pilot was made and development was seriously considered, but she said the proposed budget was the issue."The guys [Clement and McKenzie] wanted an awful lot of money to make it - we couldn't afford it, and couldn't come to any agreement on it. They then went overseas, where people have more money, and got the deal with HBO."She added there were also concerns the show didn't have a broad enough appeal."We felt it didn't fit quite right with either TV One or TV2. [As the show is now] it was specifically designed for an American cable audience, and that does make it niche programming."Holden did not want to comment on as he was bound by confidentiality clauses, but said he felt a "strong effort" had been made to get the Conchords to make a local television show.Clement told the Herald on Sunday in an interview last year that the Conchords "pick on TVNZ because we had written the pilot for them. But also they're the state broadcaster and I think they've got a responsibility to reflect New Zealand culture, which they don't. They take American programmes and copy them."