[Televisionary]

Things are looking about as grim as Murray's love life for fans of Flight of the Conchords today. Flight of the Conchords creators Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie, and James Bobin have announced that there will not be a third season of their eponymous Emmy-nominated HBO comedy series, as first reported by The New York Times . Following months of speculation about the fate of the series, the trio announced their intentions not to pursue a third season of Flight of the Conchords on their official website : "We’ve noticed the less we say about the future of the show, the more people want to talk about it, so in an effort to reverse this trend we are today announcing that we won’t be returning for a 3rd season. We’re very proud of the two seasons we made and we like the way the show ended. We’d like to thank everyone who helped make the show and also everyone who watched it. While the characters Bret and Jemaine will no longer be around, the real Bret and Jemaine will continue t...

Welcome to your Wednesday morning television briefing. Flight of the Conchords star/co-creator Jemaine Clement has indicated that there might not be a third season of their HBO comedy series but said that a final decision will be made within a month, once Clement discusses it with fellow co-creators Bret McKenzie and James Bobin. "It very likely might not," said Clement. "It could come back in a shorter season or like a special." One major hurdle is that the team would not only have to write the scripts for the series but also the music as well. HBO, meanwhile, will stand by the Conchords' decision either way. "We've left their future entirely in their hands," said HBO spokesperson Nancy Lesser. "We would love to have more, and we left an open door at HBO." ( Hollywood Reporter ) Chuck executive producer Scott Rosenbaum has replaced Scott Peters as the showrunner on ABC's sci-fi series V , which launched yesterday evening. Peters wi...

Another quick bit of indulgent self-promotion on Emmy day. Please be sure to check out my latest piece for The Daily Beast, entitled "HBO's Troubadours Take Flight," featuring a one-on-one interview with Flight of the Conchords co-creator James Bobin. It's the latest installment of an Emmy story package at The Daily Beast and features a Q&A with James Bobin about the possibility of a third season, musical influences, Jemaine Clement's nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, working with Michel Gondry, and much more. You can read the piece in full here . Be sure to read the whole intro for Flight of the Conchords and then click on the gallery to read the Q&A .

HBO's Richard Plepler and Michael Lombardo took to the stage yesterday at the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour in Pasadena that HBO had locked in its entire current Sunday night lineup for additional seasons next summer. The pay cabler has officially renewed True Blood for a third season, Hung for a second season, and Entourage for a staggering seventh season. All will return to the lineup next summer rather than premiering earlier. " True Blood , Hung , and Entourage will all be coming back next summer and we're very excited about it." Lombardo told the press. "So stay tuned for next June." The duo, in an executive session at the aforementioned TCA panel, also relayed information about HBO's other crop of series and whether we could expect to see them return or not, with the fate of several series still very much up in the air. Curb Your Enthusiasm returns September 20th with a new series and will be slotted together with new comedy...

I have to say that I'm pleasantly surprised this early morning in Los Angeles. The Emmy nominees were announced this morning and I have to commend them for showering such love onto diverse and unique series such as Big Love, Mad Men, 30 Rock, Breaking Bad, Little Dorrit, Flight of the Conchords, , and Damages , even though Battlestar Galactica failed to garner a single nomination in the major categories. Hell, one of the talented troika of female leads on AMC's Mad Men --Elisabeth Moss--even landed a nomination, as did the entire main cast of 30 Rock ! So, something's right in Hollywood for a change. Meanwhile, FOX's Family Guy snagged the first outstanding comedy series nomination for an animated series... in fifty years. (Not since The Flintstones has an animated comedy scored a nomination.) Something which sadly The Simpsons was never able to achieve in its heyday. So which series and actors landed Emmy nominations? Let's talk about the major categories. (The ...

Was anyone else let down by the series finale of HBO's Flight of the Conchords ? Last night's episode of Flight of the Conchords ("Evicted") marked what is likely to be the series' last installment as Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie have publicly indicated that it's unlikely that they'll return for a third season. In the episode, Bret and Jemaine discovered that, unless they were able to raise roughly $7000 (in US currency, that is) within a month, they would be evicted from their apartment. Unable to do so, they end up moving in with Mel and Doug and launching a bid at Broadway stardom by putting on a play written by Murray about their lives (with a little Star Wars thrown in). Inevitably, however, the play's themes about illegal immigrants attract the attention of the INS and the duo are deported to New Zealand, where they return to their previous lives as shepherds. I wasn't terribly impressed with this installment and it felt almost haphaza...

Due to the loveliness that is a three-day weekend, I didn't quite get around to discussing everything that aired this past weekend, although I did manage to write up my theories and thoughts about the Cylon race, past and future, on Battlestar Galactica and offer an illuminating Talk Back for the series premiere of FOX's new drama series Dollhouse . However, rather than let the week go by without discussing what else was on this past weekend, I just wanted to share a few thoughts about Sunday night's premiere of The Amazing Race and new installments of HBO's Flight of the Conchords and Showtime's Secret Diary of a Call Girl . The long weekend might be over and the work week sadly beginning, but that doesn't mean we can't dish about Hannah and Alex, Mike White and his dad, and Kiwis Jemaine and Bret on this rainy Tuesday morning. The Amazing Race . I'll admit that I was considering giving up on TAR after a lackluster season that saw more drama at the ...

If you're at all like me, you've been singing "Sugalumps" since Jemaine first uttered those immortal lyrics this season on HBO's comedy Flight of the Conchords . Thanks to the magic of the internets, you can go behind the scenes on Flight of the Conchords to see everyone's favorite Kiwis, Bret and Jemaine, lay down some tracks for their new album, due out April 14th. One bit of difference between Season One and Season Two of Flight of the Conchords : the guys had previously written the songs used in the first season and created storylines around the songs; this year, they wrote the stories first and then wrote the music for such songs as " Hurt Feelings ," " Sugalumps ," " Angels ," and others. Oh, and you can now download the songs via iTunes the morning after they're featured on that Sunday's episode of Flight of the Conchords , so you'll never be without their latest hysterical hit. Find out more via HBO's The ...

Welcome to your Thursday morning television briefing. I'm sure many of us didn't get a very good night's sleep after the last night brought us the two-hour premiere of Lost , new installments of Damages and Top Chef , and the launch of FOX's Lie to Me . Since when did Wednesday become the go-to night for top-notch television programming? George Clooney is filming scenes this week on NBC's ER , where he will reprise his role as Dr. Doug Ross. He last appeared on the series in an uncredited cameo in 2000. No word on whether he'll bring Ross' Caesar cut with him. ( Entertainment Tonight ) Season Two of HBO's Flight of the Conchords has lined up a host of intriguing guest stars including Saturday Night Live 's Kristin Wiig, My Boys ' Jim Gaffigan, and Lost 's Alan Dale. Also of note: Michel Gondry ( Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ) directed the February 15th episode, in which Jemaine dates an Australian (shock horror!). ( Chicago Tribune...

While I love Flight of the Conchords ' Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, the real breakout stars of their HBO series are Murray, played by Rhys Darby, and the Conchords' stalker/number one fan, Mel, played with pitch perfect precision by New York-based comedian Kristen Schaal. Flight of the Conchords is set to return to HBO on Sunday with a second season of what Schaal promises are "madcap adventures." I caught up with the baby-voiced comedian last month to discuss Mel, why Matthew Weiner made her put her cigarette down while filming the Mad Men pilot, her comedic influences, and what character she'd most like to play on 30 Rock . Televisionary: What it is like working with Bret and Jemaine and the writers of Flight of the Conchords ? How involved are you in coming up with any storylines for the show involving Mel? Kristen Schaal: Pretty involved, but they come up with amazing ideas and they are great to collaborate with, so I can say, I don't think Mel wou...

HBO's deliciously absurd musical comedy Flight of the Conchords returns after a far-too-long hiatus between seasons due to the writers strike. I had the opportunity last week to watch the first three episodes of Season Two of Flight of the Conchords , which launches January 18th on HBO, and like the title sequence's whale, I too soared away on a magical carpet of storytelling and imagination. While the season premiere has been available online via various platforms for a few weeks now, I was particularly curious to check out the season's second and third episodes. Time has not dulled Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement's peculiar brand of off-kilter humor, fortunately, and they return after a seemingly endless break between seasons to engage in bizarro conversations about nothing in particular and perform more hysterical songs. (If you've seen their "women's only toothpaste" commercial advert in the season premiere, you know what I mean.) For fans of Fo...

Welcome to your Wednesday morning television briefing. I'll have another post up in just a bit recapping the news at yesterday's FOX panel at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour, including news about Prison Break wrapping its run, so sit tight. TV maven Maureen Ryan talks with Lost masterminds Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse about the new season. In this phenomenal interview, Team Darlton talks about finding the balance between mythology-based storylines and character-driven ones, time travel, "The Constant," the Dharma Initiative, why they have to go back to the island, Daniel Dae Kim, and, well, cherry pie. ( Chicago Tribune 's The Watcher ) Elsewhere, Matthew Fox talks to Details magazine about whether there is, in fact, life after Lost , which will end its six-season run next year. "When it's all said and done, you'll be able to look at the six seasons of Lost and see a pretty amazing character arc," said Fox. "Jack...

Welcome to your Monday morning television briefing. It's been a busy few days, between the ongoing Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour and the Golden Globes, so let's dive right into today's headlines. Pushing Daisies might (sadly) be canceled but working relationship between creator Bryan Fuller and former co-star Swoosie Kurtz looks to continue. Kurtz has signed on to appear in at least one episode of Heroes , where she will play Millie, a society friend of Cristine Rose's Angela Petrelli. Kurtz's episode, written by Fuller, is slated to air in April and there is the potential that her character could be recurring next season. ( Entertainment Weekly 's Ausiello Files ) Buffy the Vampire Slayer 's Amber Benson will guest star on ABC's Private Practice , where she will play a young woman who "in the aftermath of being brutally attacked seeks not just medical care ... but perhaps something more ." Benson will appear in the series...

With just the opening words of the second season premiere of HBO's Flight of the Conchords , I felt as though I had refound my lost Linus blanket, all comforting and cozy and warm. Say it with me now: "Band meeting." If you haven't already watched the Season Two premiere of Flight of the Conchords (either at FunnyOrDie.com or right here at Televisionary ), I suggest you do so immediately as it's only available online through the weekend. (The actual linear television premiere of Flight of the Conchords will air on HBO on January 18th.) Just a few quick thoughts about the premiere as my full thoughts on this and the first few episodes of Conchords will come in a full advance review at a later date. I've missed Bret and Jemaine (not to mention Murray and Mel). The season premiere ("A Good Opportunity") kicks off just where we left off at the end of Season One: with Murray achieving fame and success with new band Crazy Dogs (complete with three gold ...

Have all of you watched the second season premiere of HBO's Flight of the Conchords over on FunnyOrDie.com? If not, watch it straightaway (you can watch the episode in full after the jump) and then come back tomorrow to discuss the episode, which will air on linear television starting January 18th on HBO. In the meantime, I'm chatting with Conchords ' Kristen Schaal (a.k.a. Mel) in just a few minutes, so email me any burning questions about the Conchords' Number One fan you might have that are screaming out to be answered. Season Two of Flight of the Conchords launches January 18th at 10 pm ET/PT on HBO.

January brings us new beginnings, fresh starts, and the return of some of our favorite television series, sadly off the air for reasons as numerous as the writers strike, truncated seasons, and the vagaries of cable network scheduling. But in less than two months, we can look forward to the return of such series as Lost , Big Love , Damages , and HBO's inimitably zany comedy Flight of the Conchords . While I miss each and every one of those dramas something crazy, I have to say that I am just itching with anticipation to catch up with Bret and Jemaine, Murray and Mel, and, well, the music. Check out the promo for Season Two of Flight of the Conchords , lifting off on January 18th on HBO, after the jump. Just the sight of Bret firing off that gun like he's in a 1970s cop show makes my heart soar with glee. (I think I've watched the promo now about five times.) Flight of the Conchords ' second season begins January 18th on HBO.

Good morning and welcome to your Wednesday morning television briefing. I ended up watching 90210 's two-hour debut last night, so look for a review of the premiere in just a little while. Could the upcoming second season of comedy Flight of the Conchords --set to air in 2009 on HBO--be the series' last? That's the indication of a report in The New Zealand Herald, in which creator/stars Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement are quoted as saying that, due to creative difficulties with creating songs for the sophomore season, Flight of the Conchords could be over sooner rather than later. "The second series seems to me like it would be a good end to the show," said McKenzie. ( TV Guide ) Jennifer Aniston will guest-star on 30 Rock this season as Liz Lemon's former roommate/stalker. But you lucky Televisionary readers knew that yesterday. ( Televisionary ) Ted Danson ( Damages ) has been cast as a lead in HBO's comedy pilot Bored to Death , opposite Jason Schwa...