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Drive By (Flight of the Conchords)
Encyclopedia
"Drive By" is the seventh episode of the HBO comedy series Flight of the Conchords
. This episode first aired in the United States
on Sunday, July 29, 2007.
". Murray is smitten with the new tech support lady at the consulate.
They visit the consulate for a band meeting where Bret is clearly upset about the incident. There they meet the pretty blonde tech support lady that is updating the consulate's aging Commodore VIC-20
computers with newer P.C.s
. After she leaves, Murray tells the band that he is in love with her. Bret asks about his wife and Murray reminds them that he is separated. Bret receives a package from home — his favorite cardboard box — and Murray lends them a tape
of New Zealand TV shows that he received from his mother.
At home the pair discuss the incident while they watch some of the recorded shows on Murray's tape. One of the shows is an episode of "Albi The Racist Dragon". Bret, who is still upset about the vendor's attitude, watches from the comfort of his cardboard box.
Bret and Jemaine go to see Dave to ask him about the racism they experienced. Dave tells them that there is a lot of "prejudism" against the English
in America. Disregarding their pleas that they are not English, Dave admits that even he hates them sometimes. A montage of scenes follow in which we see Jemaine and Bret being jostled on the street, being denied entry to a nightclub, getting cheated by a hot dog
vendor (only getting the bun
with some ketchup
and mustard
) and being forced to ride at the back of a bus.
They try once more to buy fruit from the vendor but are chased off again. The frustrated pair ride off on their bicycles singing "Mutha Uckas".
At another band meeting, Murray fakes a computer problem in order to see Jessica, the tech support lady, again. He asks the band to help him with a love song he is writing for her. (His first attempt contains one word - "Hi." - which Jemaine thinks is better than he expected.)
Back at their place, Bret, Jemaine and Dave try to come up with ideas for dealing with the vendor. Dave suggests they frame him for murder by poisoning his fruit, but settles for the lesser option of teaching them how to "flip the bird
".
After the vendor escalates the conflict by nailing a kiwifruit
to their door, the boys head over to his fruit stand to have a showdown with him. They furiously flip him the bird and chastise him for his racism. However they soon realize that he has New Zealanders and Australians mixed up and it is actually Australians that he hates. Realizing his mistake, the vendor apologizes and gives them some free fruit.
Back at the consulate, Murray learns from Greg that Jessica (the tech-support girl) is gone; her duties are complete. An upset Murray sings "Leggy Blonde" to his lost love.
Over the end credits, we see shots of Bret, Jemaine and Sinjay the fruit vendor flipping the bird to the guard at the Australian consulate.
The following songs are featured in this episode:
boy." It is mostly spoken word set to an animated
sequence in a children's TV style. The animated sequence was directed by Oliver Dear, a storyboard artist
and illustrator
, who has previously worked with Executive Producer
Troy Miller
on the opening sequence for the 76th Academy Awards
in 2004. The plot parodies the simplistic and ridiculous resolutions that occur in plots of children's TV shows.
which was also directed by Taika Waititi and starred Jemaine Clement
.
. This is a real New Zealand television show from the 1980s that broadcast sheepdog trial
competitions.
After this, we hear an ad for What Have You Done to My House?, another TV show. This show is fictional, but references a number of shows with the same premise.
In the advertisement for the telephone, the man asks to reserve the new Gipsy Kings
album; the Gipsy Kings are a French band.
The writer and director of this episode, Taika Waititi
, makes a small cameo in this episode. He plays a character in the "Learning to Use the Phone" advertisement on the tape they watch. He also directs Jemaine Clement in the 2007 film Eagle vs Shark
.
The cinematography
in the scene where Bret and Jemaine approach the fruit vendor in order to flip him the bird has many similarities to early John Woo
action films.
Dave makes reference to the film Escape from Alcatraz
.
Flight of the Conchords (TV series)
Flight of the Conchords is an American television comedy series that debuted on HBO on June 17, 2007. The show follows the adventures of Flight of the Conchords, a two-man band from New Zealand, as its members seek fame and success in New York City. The show stars the real-life duo, Jemaine Clement...
. This episode first aired in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on Sunday, July 29, 2007.
Plot synopsis
Bret and Jemaine are shocked by the prejudiced actions of a fruit vendor who won't sell to them because they are New Zealanders. Dave recommends a strong response and teaches them how to "flip the birdFinger (gesture)
In Western culture, the finger , also known as the middle finger, is an obscene hand gesture, often meaning the phrases "fuck off" , "fuck you" or "up yours"...
". Murray is smitten with the new tech support lady at the consulate.
Plot
A fruit vendor at a sidewalk stand refuses Bret and Jemaine service due to the fact that they are New Zealanders. He disinfects any fruit they touch and they must leave empty handed.They visit the consulate for a band meeting where Bret is clearly upset about the incident. There they meet the pretty blonde tech support lady that is updating the consulate's aging Commodore VIC-20
Commodore VIC-20
The VIC-20 is an 8-bit home computer which was sold by Commodore Business Machines. The VIC-20 was announced in 1980, roughly three years after Commodore's first personal computer, the PET...
computers with newer P.C.s
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
. After she leaves, Murray tells the band that he is in love with her. Bret asks about his wife and Murray reminds them that he is separated. Bret receives a package from home — his favorite cardboard box — and Murray lends them a tape
Videotape
A videotape is a recording of images and sounds on to magnetic tape as opposed to film stock or random access digital media. Videotapes are also used for storing scientific or medical data, such as the data produced by an electrocardiogram...
of New Zealand TV shows that he received from his mother.
At home the pair discuss the incident while they watch some of the recorded shows on Murray's tape. One of the shows is an episode of "Albi The Racist Dragon". Bret, who is still upset about the vendor's attitude, watches from the comfort of his cardboard box.
Bret and Jemaine go to see Dave to ask him about the racism they experienced. Dave tells them that there is a lot of "prejudism" against the English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
in America. Disregarding their pleas that they are not English, Dave admits that even he hates them sometimes. A montage of scenes follow in which we see Jemaine and Bret being jostled on the street, being denied entry to a nightclub, getting cheated by a hot dog
Hot dog
A hot dog is a sausage served in a sliced bun. It is very often garnished with mustard, ketchup, onions, mayonnaise, relish and/or sauerkraut.-History:...
vendor (only getting the bun
Bun
A bun is a small, usually sweet, bread. Commonly they are hand-sized or smaller, domed in shape, with a flat bottom. A bun can also be a savory bread roll similar to a bap or barmcake....
with some ketchup
Ketchup
Ketchup is a sweet-and-tangy condiment typically made from tomatoes, vinegar, sugar or high-fructose corn syrup and an assortment of...
and mustard
Mustard (condiment)
Mustard is a condiment made from the seeds of a mustard plant...
) and being forced to ride at the back of a bus.
They try once more to buy fruit from the vendor but are chased off again. The frustrated pair ride off on their bicycles singing "Mutha Uckas".
At another band meeting, Murray fakes a computer problem in order to see Jessica, the tech support lady, again. He asks the band to help him with a love song he is writing for her. (His first attempt contains one word - "Hi." - which Jemaine thinks is better than he expected.)
Back at their place, Bret, Jemaine and Dave try to come up with ideas for dealing with the vendor. Dave suggests they frame him for murder by poisoning his fruit, but settles for the lesser option of teaching them how to "flip the bird
Finger (gesture)
In Western culture, the finger , also known as the middle finger, is an obscene hand gesture, often meaning the phrases "fuck off" , "fuck you" or "up yours"...
".
After the vendor escalates the conflict by nailing a kiwifruit
Kiwifruit
The kiwifruit, often shortened to kiwi in many parts of the world, is the edible berry of a cultivar group of the woody vine Actinidia deliciosa and hybrids between this and other species in the genus Actinidia....
to their door, the boys head over to his fruit stand to have a showdown with him. They furiously flip him the bird and chastise him for his racism. However they soon realize that he has New Zealanders and Australians mixed up and it is actually Australians that he hates. Realizing his mistake, the vendor apologizes and gives them some free fruit.
Back at the consulate, Murray learns from Greg that Jessica (the tech-support girl) is gone; her duties are complete. An upset Murray sings "Leggy Blonde" to his lost love.
Over the end credits, we see shots of Bret, Jemaine and Sinjay the fruit vendor flipping the bird to the guard at the Australian consulate.
Songs
"Albi the Racist Dragon"
"Albi the Racist Dragon" (a.k.a. Albie), sung by Jemaine, concerns the eponymous character's persecution by an angry mob and subsequent redemption, through the companionship of one of his victims, a "badly burned AlbanianAlbanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
boy." It is mostly spoken word set to an animated
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
sequence in a children's TV style. The animated sequence was directed by Oliver Dear, a storyboard artist
Storyboard artist
Storyboard artist is a profession specialized in creating storyboards for advertising agencies and film productions.A storyboard artist is able to visualize any stories using quick sketches on paper at any moment...
and illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
, who has previously worked with Executive Producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
Troy Miller
Troy Miller
Troy Miller is an American film producer, director and screenwriter. Miller is best known for his work in directing.- Stand-up comedy :Miller has produced and/or directed comedy shows and specials for a variety of comics including Robin Williams, Martin Short, Katt Williams, Jim Gaffigan, Brian...
on the opening sequence for the 76th Academy Awards
76th Academy Awards
The 76th Academy Awards ceremony honored the best films of 2003 and was broadcast from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California on ABC beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST/8:30 p.m. EST, February 29, 2004 . The show was produced by Joe Roth and was hosted for the eighth time by comedian Billy Crystal.The...
in 2004. The plot parodies the simplistic and ridiculous resolutions that occur in plots of children's TV shows.
"Mutha'uckas"
"Mutha'uckas" features Jemaine and Bret singing about their frustration with the racist vendor and other annoyances of daily life. The self censoring ("Mutha Uckas") is intentional — the band has always sung it that way in concerts."Leggy Blonde"
"Leggy Blonde" (sometimes listed as "Leggie Blonde") is a love song sung by Murray about the tech support lady. Bret and Jemaine sing backup and other consulate staff provide percussion using office supplies. The visuals for this song were inspired by the music video for the song "War Over Water" by Samuel Flynn Scott. Scott, as part of The Phoenix Foundation, contributed to the soundtrack of the movie Eagle vs SharkEagle vs Shark
Eagle vs Shark is a 2007 New Zealand romantic comedy film directed by Taika Waititi and financed by the New Zealand Film Commission. The screenplay was also written by Waititi, based on the character of Lily created by Loren Horsley....
which was also directed by Taika Waititi and starred Jemaine Clement
Jemaine Clement
Jemaine Clement is a New Zealand comedian, actor and musician, best known as one half of the musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords along with Bret McKenzie.-Early life:...
.
Cultural references
The first TV show we see them watch on Murray's video tape is A Dog's ShowA Dog's Show
A Dog's Show was a New Zealand television series featuring sheepdog trials, presented by John Gordon. It screened regularly on Sunday at 6 pm, before the news...
. This is a real New Zealand television show from the 1980s that broadcast sheepdog trial
Sheepdog trial
A Sheepdog trial is a competitive dog sport in which herding dog breeds move sheep around a field, fences, gates, or enclosures as directed by their handlers. Such events are particularly associated with hill farming areas, where sheep range widely on largely unfenced land...
competitions.
After this, we hear an ad for What Have You Done to My House?, another TV show. This show is fictional, but references a number of shows with the same premise.
In the advertisement for the telephone, the man asks to reserve the new Gipsy Kings
Gipsy Kings
The Gipsy Kings are a group of musicians from Arles and Montpellier, who perform in Spanish with an Andalucían accent. Although group members were born in France, their parents were mostly gitanos, Spanish Romani people who fled Catalonia during the 1930s Spanish Civil War. Chico Bouchikhi is of...
album; the Gipsy Kings are a French band.
The writer and director of this episode, Taika Waititi
Taika Waititi
Taika Waititi , also known as Taika Cohen, is a New Zealand-born film director, writer, painter, comedian and actor named as one of Varietys "ten new directors to watch" in 2007....
, makes a small cameo in this episode. He plays a character in the "Learning to Use the Phone" advertisement on the tape they watch. He also directs Jemaine Clement in the 2007 film Eagle vs Shark
Eagle vs Shark
Eagle vs Shark is a 2007 New Zealand romantic comedy film directed by Taika Waititi and financed by the New Zealand Film Commission. The screenplay was also written by Waititi, based on the character of Lily created by Loren Horsley....
.
The cinematography
Cinematography
Cinematography is the making of lighting and camera choices when recording photographic images for cinema. It is closely related to the art of still photography...
in the scene where Bret and Jemaine approach the fruit vendor in order to flip him the bird has many similarities to early John Woo
John Woo
John Woo Yu-Sen SBS is a Hong Kong-based film director and producer. Recognized for his stylised films of highly choreographed action sequences, Mexican standoffs, and use of slow-motion, Woo has directed several notable Hong Kong action films, among them, A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, Hard...
action films.
Dave makes reference to the film Escape from Alcatraz
Escape from Alcatraz (film)
Escape from Alcatraz is a 1979 American thriller film, directed by Don Siegel and starring Clint Eastwood. It dramatizes possibly the only successful escape attempt from the maximum security prison on Alcatraz Island. The film co-stars Fred Ward, and also features Patrick McGoohan as the...
.
Filming locations
- The scenes during the song "Mutha Uckers" with Bret and Jemaine on bicycles were filmed on Ludlow Street, between Canal Street and Hester Street in ManhattanManhattanManhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. The bicycle-bouncing shots were filmed nearby at the Worth St end of Columbus Park.
- Bret and Jemaine confront Sinjay with their "offensive hand gestures" on the corner of Mosco Street and Mulberry Street in front of Columbus Park.