FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS 1.9 – "What Goes On Tour"

Writer & Director: Paul Simms

Cast: Jemaine Clement (Jemaine), Bret McKenzie (Bret), Kristen Schaal (Mel), Rhys Darby (Murray), David Costabile (Doug), Emily Swallow (Becky), Kate Pierson (Club Owner) & Morgan (Blonde Girl)

Using the band's "emergency fund," Murray organizes a warm-up tour in preparation for a big gig in Central Park...

Jemaine: How big is the bus gonna be? The tour bus...
Murray: This is the tour bus, Jemaine.

As we approach the end of the first season, new writers/directors are being brought in to put their own stamp on Flight Of The Conchords. What Goes On Tour is written and directed by Paul Simms and, while the plot is more developed than usual – sadly, it's at the expense of any big laughs.

Murray (Rhys Darby) dips into the Conchords' "emergency fund", which appears to be money shared with his estranged wife Shelley, and uses the cash to fuel a warm-up tour before the band play at Central Park.

The episode has the trio going on a road trip to various poor venues (primarily an airport lounge), where Murray does his best to pretend he's the manager of rebellious, talented rockers and not socially-inept simpletons who waste their expenses on buying leather suits that shrink in the rain.

As previously mentioned, the actual storyline flows well this week, and takes some interesting turns – particularly when Bret and Jemaine are conned by a women's water polo team – and generally does a better job of keeping your interest, thanks to the variety of locations, and a clearer sense of direction.

But the jokes aren't particularly memorable and often predictable (the TV out the window), so it ultimately proves to be one of the season's least amusing outings. There's also only one musical interlude ("Mermaids"), which is shoehorned into the script quite badly.

Once again, the episode is rescued by Rhys Darby's performance, as the Conchords themselves are too vacant and aloof to engage me. Murray may be a NZ twist on The Office's David Brent, but at least he has punch and spirit to his character – plus bags of commitment to their cause.

What Goes On Tour is definitely one of the weakest episodes, but only because the music and laughs are sacrificed for a better narrative. Murray gets more interesting and sympathetic every week, and it was nice to see the characters on the road together – but when there are no funny moments and decent songs in an episode of a musical-comedy, there's clearly something wrong...


20 November 2007
BBC Four, 9.30 pm