Conchords fail to fly at Emmys
By Tom Cardy - The Dominion Post | Monday, 22 September 2008

Flight of the Conchords ditched their trademark T-shirts for tuxedos on the red carpet at the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, but did not walk away with any awards. Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie were in Los Angeles for the ritzy, glitzy annual Emmys, where their American comedy series was nominated for four awards.

But the Wellington comedy duo missed out on best original song, which was won by the Jimmy Kimmel Live show, and outstanding writing for a comedy series, which went to 30 Rock.

Flight of the Conchords director James Bobin, nominated for outstanding directing for a comedy episode, missed out to show Pushing Daisies. The Amazing Race, hosted by Kiwi Phil Keoghan, won best reality-competition show. It is the sixth time the show has won an Emmy.

The ceremony at the 7100-seat Nokia Theatre will also feature the stars and creators of other television shows, including The Simpsons, The Office, Heroes, Ugly Betty and Boston Legal.

Clement and McKenzie were nominated for 'outstanding writing in a comedy series' along with the show's British director James Bobin, and twice in the 'outstanding original music and lyrics' category for the songs The Most Beautiful Girl (in the Room) and Inner City Pressure. Bobin was also been nominated for best director for a comedy series for the episode Sally Returns.

Clement and McKenzie have been shooting the second season of their series in New York and will return to continue shooting after the award ceremony.

They won a Grammy award for best comedy album in February and have been nominated for best album, best group and breakthrough artist in the New Zealand Music Awards next month.