Rewatching Flight of the Conchords never gets old, but there are still more HBO comedies to watch if you’re in the mood for random musical numbers, surprising cameos and observational humor.
Miss seeing Jemaine Clement on HBO? Watch him in the new comedy Divorce, starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Thomas Haden Church. Unsatisfied in her marriage, Frances (Parker) has an affair with college professor, Julian (Clement). Jemaine may not be singing or rapping in Divorce, but he brings his deadpan humor to his stereotypical hipster character. Teaser: he actually makes his own granola and drinks kombucha out of a mason jar.
Bob Odenkirk (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) and David Cross (Arrested Development) star in this sketch comedy similar to Flight of the Conchords in that you never know when they might break out in song — or even a mini-musical featuring Jack Black. If you want something uninhibited and original, try Mr. Show.
Pete Holmes stars in Crashing as a struggling stand-up couch-surfing his way through New York City. The first season features a collection of celebrity cameos including, Hannibal Buress, Sarah Silverman and Artie Lange. Just as Bret and Jemaine try to expand their fan base beyond superfan Mel, Pete tries to expand his fan base beyond his parents. Just kidding — his parents don’t like his comedy either.
Similar to how Bret and Jemaine play parody versions of themselves in Flight of the Conchords, Curb Your Enthusiasm is the outlandish version of Larry David you never knew you needed. Curb Your Enthusiasm is essential for any Seinfeld fan.
If you are looking for another underdog duo, try Bored to Death starring Jason Schwartzman and Zach Galifianakis. Author Jonathan Ames took a cue from Larry David and created Bored to Death as a parody of his life. Schwartzman plays the fictionalized Jonathan Ames as he struggles to face life’s reality after a bitter breakup, posting a Craigslist advertisement offering his services as an “unlicensed” private detective.
If watching people strive to break into show biz is your thing, check out this comedy starring Bill Hader as the eponymous Barry, a hitman trying to start a new life as an actor. While Bret and Jemaine are trying to prove themselves as musicians, Barry is trying to prove himself as an actor capable of delivering Shakespearean monologues… with the occasional kill to fulfill. Both shows depict the different ways people tackle creative expression, to hilarious effect.