Talk about a stuffin' awesome premiere

Just when you thought your only option was to suffer through an endless amount of crappy holiday specials and made-for-TV movies ... "Flight of the Conchords" has returned, just in time for the holidays! OK, just the one episode, but it's good enough that you can watch it over and over until the real season begins Jan. 18.

The epic return of the HBO hit premiered on Funny or Die! Wednesday and we, the Channel Surfing bloggers, found it only appropriate to recap our favorite moments via an official band meeting. Enjoy.

Sara: OK ... band meeting.

Malavika? ... "Check, minus one right foot shoe."
Thomas? ... "Present."
And Sara ... "Yes, present thank you ... I'm always here anyway, I don't know why I bother with my line."

Item one: Premiere reactions
A.) Reactions to the premiere

Sara: Wow. What a return. Everything and more. There was quite a bit of pressure on the line for this premiere, but I thought it was most excellent. All the characters were at their best, but I do have to give the nod to Murray -- best. performance. ever. Also, I think we're in for a treat this season -- it looks like with the success of the first season plus the added fund-age from the world tour, the Conchords may be dealing with a bigger budget. I mean, enough money for fake Grammy awards (Best Management, priceless) AND giant toothpaste costumes? Seems like our Kiwi duo is finally able to bask in their greatness.

Malavika: I'm not sure if it's because it's been so freaking long since our favorite non-Hobbit New Zealanders graced the screen, but I was inspired to make a plain white T-shirt with "Flight of the Conchords" written in small letters after watching the episode last night. Between Murray's downfall and subsequent return to the consulate, the female-oriented toothpaste ad and the immigration-related hilarity that ensues when it turns out our dynamic duo don't have work permits, I'm confident season two will improve on the first. Props to the folks at funnyordie.com for bringing us the first episode a month before it airs.

Thomas: I've been super down on TV this year, so I reaaaaaaaalllly needed this to deliver. And a Murray-centric episode was the only way to go. His return to the consulate with only three messages, one of which was a wrong number ... bloody brilliant. Though the in-episode songs were kept to a minimum, his operatic turn on the balcony was side-splitting. The DVD and album release led me to watch Season One over and over again, and I thought the second half of the season was much funnier with repeat viewings. This premiere was rock solid from the get-go. It was just the TV boost I needed heading into the new year. Also, I had no idea Polish "cover bands" were so skilled with the keytar.

Item two: Best moments
A.) Moments that were best

Sara:
Murray: "Actually there's another item on this agenda, that I missed out. Item four: Stuff you. Stuff you, Bret and stuff you again, Jemaine." ... "Why did I get double stuffed?"

Mel: "Why did you come, Doug, if you didn't want to light a fire?!"

Also, when Jemaine attempted to double it ... "it" being nothing.

Malavika:
Bret: "I've got your doll... now I just need some of your hair."

Dave: "Did you know that the word Dave actually means deal in Latino?"

Agent: "I know you're from New Zealand ... what is this, "Lord of the Rings?" We don't have all day!"

Thomas:
Jemaine: "My dad was a women's rights activist."
Bret: "What about your mum?"
Jemaine: "No, dad wouldn't allow it."

Murray: "I've probably been ostracized now. I'm persona non regatta. You know what that means?"
Jemaine: "You're not at a ... yacht race?"

It was all about Murray, though. 1) How he had to move his car every three hours to avoid getting harassed by police and 2) How his "behind the scenes" work was not only unappreciated, but it led to made up words (was it 'hengling?'). Also, I loved Greg Proops' turn as the Femident agent. "He already doubled it in his mind."

Item three: President-elect Barack Obama will appear on Channel Surfing
Sara: Oh wait, sorry, wrong agenda. "What a mess."

Item four: The jingle

Sara: Which do you prefer?

The first rough draft ...
“Some women like men, some are lesbian … Femident Toothpaste.”

or the final version ...
“You are a woman, you're a woman well. You have breasts and longish hair. Oh yeah. You’re kind of fun everywhere yet you’re still very rare. Oh yeah. You’re a woman and you love to weave. You’re a woman; you have woman’s needs. I know you have woman’s rights, you’re a woman with teeth, now take a bite. Oh Femident Toothpaste, yeah, for your feminine dental care, oh yeah. Oh Femident Toothpaste, Femident, Femident … Femidennnnnt.”

Band meeting finished ... forever!

Just in case you haven't seen it -- check the full episode out here.

-- Sara Boyd, sboyd2@greenbaypressgazette.com, Malavika Jagannathan, mjaganna@greenbaypressgazette.com, Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com