HBO charts 'Flight' plan with comics
Cabler greenlights 11 episodes of scripted comedy
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Similar in style to "Curb Your Enthusiasm," partially improvised laffer, to be titled "Flight of the Conchords," will offer a fictional version of the lives of Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, including original songs by the comedian-songwriters.
Clement and McKenzie will star. They also co-exec produced the pilot.
Stu Smiley, exec producer of "Everybody Loves Raymond" and HBO's "The Mind of a Married Man," executive produced the pilot,alongside Troy Miller ("Greg the Bunny") and James Bobin ("Da Ali G Show"). Bobin directed the pilot.
Conchords previously developed a pilot with Lester Lewis ("Four Kings") and NBC. Peacock execs had seen their act at the Montreal Comedy Festival, and HBO has featured the duo on its half-hour standup series "One Night Stand."
"Conchords" joins paybox's slim roster of half-hour comedies. HBO greenlit a sixth season of "Curb" last month (Daily Variety, Aug. 9), and "Entourage" concludes the second half of its third season next year in the plum post-"Sopranos" slot. Meanwhile, jury is still out on a renewal for blue-collar rookie "Lucky Louie."
Flight of the Conchords took the award for alternative act in the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival and toplined their own series on BBC Radio 2.
