Last week, HBO series Flight of the Conchords picked up a surprising six Emmy nominations, and apparently, nobody was more shocked than one of the show’s cast members.
“Wow, I didn’t know they got that many,” said Arj Barker, who plays pawnshop clerk Dave, while in Toronto performing at the Just For Laughs Festival.
“I don’t take any credit for it. I feel privileged and lucky to be part of a show that’s so successful. I did my little part but again, it’s a little part.”
Undoubtedly, the recent nominations will serve to boost the series’ mainstream popularity and stoke shaky speculation regarding the show’s future.
A quirky comedy centered around two naïve New Zealand musicians (Bret McKenzie, Jemaine Clement) trying to make it in Manhattan, the show’s two leads have publicly stated that producing the second season was especially gruelling and it was “a good end to the show.”
HBO may have other plans, however. President of west coast operations Michael Lombardo recently told an industry webzine that, after a break, he “fully expects them to be back in late 2010 or early 2011.”
“You want to know the real word right now?” asked Barker when prodded for the inside scoop. “The show might not come back but Arj Barker is here to stay.”
As elusive as that statement may seem, Barker’s busy slate suggests a disappointing outlook for fans of the show. A popular stand-up comedian who’s about to embark on a lengthy tour in Australia, Barker will also remain busy making his webisode series’ Arj and Poopy (“basically they’re just animated shorts of me and a farting cat”) and recording with his rap group, The Sanchez Brothers.
As well, Barker hopes to make his own waves when a Comedy Central special airs later this year, coinciding with an upcoming DVD release. Above all however, Barker hopes that Flight of the Conchords does return. After all, he’s got a lot on the line. “I’d like to (act) more and I think I have a lot of potential — an untapped potential — especially if you’ve ever seen me act, you’re like ‘Wow, that potential is untapped.’”
