CraveOnline: Which Muppets do you want to write for this time who didn’t get a song in the last one?
Bret McKenzie: I’m always trying to get Lew Zealand in because his name sounds like New Zealand. Lew Zealand is one of the rarer Muppets. He has a boomerang so he’s sort of a mixture of Australia and New Zealand.
Will Gonzo get a song this time?
Gonzo has a couple of verses. He doesn’t have a feature song. Piggy has a big song. Ricky Gervais has a really great voice so it’s exciting.
We were all surprised by Chris Cooper in the last one.
Yeah, yeah, that was one of the strangest sessions I’ve ever had, getting him to rap. He’s a very serious man.
He committed to it so much.
I think he went kind of method. He went Method Man on it. Anyway, that’s exciting, that film. It doesn’t come out until March which feels like ages away.
Will the Moopets be back?
I don’t know, maybe. I’m not a big fan of the Moopets to be honest, but they do show up a little bit. I like the Fozzy one. [In New York accent] “Wacka Wacka.”
I just thought it was funny that someone thought they could create fake Muppets, and they’re so sad trying to be Muppets.
I feel like it might be a Nick Stoller gag.
Did you actually fight against that?
No, I just didn’t find them that funny.
What is the musical fairy tale you’re doing?
It doesn’t have a name yet. It’s still in script form.
What kind of music will it be?
I don’t know yet. I haven’t decided yet.
Jemaine is busy with his acting career too. Will you guys reunite for a new Flight of the Conchords album? I know you’re not going to do any more of the show but could we at least get more music?
We’re about to do a big tour. We start in a couple weeks with Dave Chappelle. It’s called The Oddball Festival. We’re touring the whole country. That’ll be fun to play some songs again and hopefully come up with some new ideas on the road.
My favorite Flight of the Conchords song is “Mutha’uckas” because I also have too many mutha’uckas ‘uckin’ with my shi’. What can I do about all those mutha’uckas ‘uckin’ with my shi’?
Just tell them. Just tell them to ‘uck off.
How did you guys hook up with Chappelle?
Well, we’re just on the same bill so he’s not joining the band.
No, but to tour together.
It’s Funny or Die.
Those are two big comebacks, both from voluntary retirements.
I know, it’s a bit of a comeback tour because we’ve been away for a few years. He’s been away for ages. It’s interesting. I can’t wait to meet him and hang out hopefully on the tour.
Will the billing be “Academy Award-Winner Bret McKenzie… and Jemaine Clement?”
That’s what I’ve asked for. [Laughs] I think it might be “Flight of the Conchords featuring two original members.”
Let’s talk about Labyrinth a little more.
Yeah, I love it, why not?
I just think it’s the most supremely creative movie.
I know David Bowie’s really proud of what he did for the music in that. Looking back at it, I do agree that he did manage to get a pretty fresh sound on that.
The music is great, but even on the Henson side, the details in the background, the individual characters populating the labyrinth…
That’s the kind of tone I want to get for this film. We have creatures but who are dropped down into interpersonal relationship issues.
I hope you can bring that back.
Fred Topel is a staff writer at CraveOnline and the man behind Shelf Space Weekly. Follow him on Twitter at @FredTopel.
