Today in TV History: ‘Flight of the Conchords’ Serenaded the Most Beautiful Girl in the Room

Of all the great things about television, the greatest is that it’s on every single day. TV history is being made, day in and day out, in ways big and small. In an effort to better appreciate this history, we’re taking a look back, every day, at one particular TV milestone. 

IMPORTANT DATE IN TV HISTORY: June 17, 2008

PROGRAM ORIGINALLY AIRED ON THIS DATE: Flight of the Conchords, “Sally” (Season 1, Episode 1). [Watch on HBO GO.]

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT: Flight of the Conchords was an incredibly rare kind of TV show, an internet-era show, airing on HBO of all places, that always seemed to be exactly as acclaimed/popular/talked-about as it should be. It was never underrated. It was never overrated. If it was ever problematic, you never heard about it. Its best moments went viral, but modestly so. Its worst moments were endured with the gentle good humor of a patient audience. Honestly, this was the chillest show HBO has aired maybe ever. It was a miracle of steadiness in a typhoon-ravaged ocean of hype.

This all might suggest a mediocre television show, but Flight of the Conchords wasn’t really that either. Peculiar thought it was, Flight of the Conchords was reliably funny and occasionally brilliant. Its premiere episode, “Sally,” isn’t an all-time great, but it sets a good template, establishes their manager, Murray, as the show’s funniest character, and introduces Kristen Schaal as their neighbor/stalker. Jermaine Clement and Bret McKenzie at times feel like they’re testing the dictionary limits of the word “aloof,” but its a sneakily effective delivery.

As you are doubtless aware, HBO holds an iron grip on embeddable YouTube videos, but here’s “Most Beautiful Girl in the Room,” the first song performed on the show:

And even though it’s not in this episode, here’s “Business Time,” because “Business Time” is fantastic:

[You can watch “Sally” on HBO GO and HBO Now.]

Joe Reid (@joereid) is a freelance writer living in Brooklyn. You can find him leaving flowers for Mrs. Landingham at the corner of 18th and Potomac.

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