Jemaine Clement first caught the attention of American audiences when HBO started airing “Flight of the Conchords” in 2007. While this musical sitcom may be Clement’s most popular work, the actor, singer and comedian has plenty of credits to his name. Here’s a quick guide to Clement’s work on TV and in film.
Flight of the Conchords
“Flight of the Conchords” follows the comedic struggles of Clement and his band mate Bret McKenzie as they try to make it in NYC. While they deal with conventional sitcom problems, from dating woes to new band members, they don’t handle their problems in the normal way. They sing about them. “Flight of the Conchords” featured a number of hilarious songs, like “Inner City Pressure,” “Bowie in Space” and “Stay Cool.” The series ran for two seasons, and it was nominated for a number of awards. In 2009, Clement was nominated for an Emmy for Oustanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.
Eagle v. Shark
In 2007, when Clement’s TV show was gaining a cult following, he was also busy starring in the New Zealand film “Eagle v. Shark.” This comedy, which was directed by Taika Waititi, stars Clement as a nerd who works at a video game store. He catches the eye of a sensitive songwriter named Lily, who travels with him to his hometown. A quirky romance ensues, and the two oddballs find love amidst familial chaos. The film premiered at Sundance and received generally positive reviews.
What We Do in the Shadows
In 2014, Clement teamed up with Taika Waititi once again for “What We Do in the Shadows,” a hilarious vampire mockumentary. The film follows the daily lives of four vampires sharing an apartment in Wellington. Clement plays Vladislav, an 862-year-old vampire who’s always complaining about his breakup with The Beast. The vampires have a hard time adjusting to life in the 21st century, and they struggle with modern technology, making new friends and evading the police. This clever comedy received universal acclaim, and rumors of sequels and spinoffs have swirled since its release.
Moana
Jemaine Clement is a popular voice actor thanks to his charming New Zealand accent and vocal virtuosity. His talents were put to good use in “Moana,” Disney’s 2016 animated adventure. Clement voices Tamatoa, a coconut crab who loves to hoard treasure. He sings one of the film’s most memorable songs, “Shiny,” a glam rock ballad about Tamatoa’s favorite possessions.
Legion
Jemaine Clement returned to TV to play Oliver Bird in the FX series “Legion.” This series, which draws from the X-Men mythos, follows David Haller as he learns to control his superpowers. Clement plays a beat poetry-loving mutant trapped in the astral plane.
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