The 'Muppets' were a very big part of my childhood, and 'Flight of the Conchords' definitely has elements of the 'Muppets' in it, specifically the way we mixed music and comedy.

Bret McKenzie

Categorized in : Way Music Comedy Childhood

You've got to try and do your best, and the failure is what's funny. But you can't be aware of the failure, you've just got to keep trying to do your best.

keep-trying trying

I was genuinely starstruck when I met Kermit the Frog. Like many stars here tonight, he's a lot shorter in real life.

tonight stars real

My acting's very understated. I think my sad and happy don't play... by Bret McKenzie

My acting's very understated. I think my sad and happy don't play that differently onscreen.

sad-and-happy play thinking

I think the radio is kind of cool, because you're really free to do whatever you want, because you can go into another world. Whereas in TV, you have to make that world.

want world thinking

It's easy to struggle in New York. I think New York is a bit expe... by Bret McKenzie

It's easy to struggle in New York. I think New York is a bit expensive.

new-york struggle thinking

There are a lot of good shows that don't get picked up. Like that Ben Stiller pilot, Heat Vision And Jack? That would have been a great show, but somehow it slipped by.

heat pilots vision

At the end of your life, you're lucky if you die. by Bret McKenzie

At the end of your life, you're lucky if you die.

lucky ends death

Sometimes when you play music, you start thinking, "This is rocki... by Bret McKenzie

Sometimes when you play music, you start thinking, "This is rocking!"

play sometimes thinking

Now it looks like I'll be known as the musical comedy guy. Which is good news for me. Or I'll be known as the New Zealand idiot.

musical guy looks

When you think of famous New Zealanders, there aren't many. by Bret McKenzie

When you think of famous New Zealanders, there aren't many.

thinking

I'm easy to get along with, and intolerant. by Bret McKenzie

I'm easy to get along with, and intolerant.

easy-to-get easy

I definitely miss New Zealand. Mainly friends and family. by Bret McKenzie

I definitely miss New Zealand. Mainly friends and family.

new-zealand family-and-friends missing

Music-wise, I listen to everything. Leonard Cohen, Randy Newman,... by Bret McKenzie

Music-wise, I listen to everything. Leonard Cohen, Randy Newman, I guess I like a lot of 70's music.

newman randy wise

I don't know, man. Look at me. I've changed. I've grown up. I've got a job, got a career ... I drink coffee now.

coffee jobs men

One of the mistakes I made was thinking chickens and penguins could sing, just like all the other animals in the 'Muppets.' But it turns out those animals are not allowed to sing words.

mistakes animals words thinking

I grew up watching the 'Muppets.' In New Zealand, the 'Muppets' were as big as anywhere else I think. It was a pretty global phenomenon.

watching new big think