I am Rhys Darby. You know me from Conchords, I have a new show called Short Poppies, AMA.

Jermaine? Present. Brett? Present. Murray...?

Present.

Hi Rhys!

My wife and I always thought you would have been the best person to replace Steve Carell on The (American) Office.

Were you ever considered/interested/offered? This just seems like such a missed opportunity.

They were going to hire me. I even had a meeting with them. Then they decided not to. Shame. Oh well..

Well thanks very much everyone. It was a blast. and by that I mean a real explosion. I have to go now and get ready for a nerd podcast and @midnight, which is a chat show. Be sure to catch my show when it hits Netflix tomorrow.. See ya dudes! #onlythepos

1. Was the band meetings from FOTC mostly scripted or ad-libbed? Do you have an example of any accidents that made it to the final edit?

2. Will you ever work with Bret and Jemaine again? You had great chemistry!

1. They started off scripted and then more and more they became ad-libbed. We constantly tried to crack each other up. Jemaine always broke first, he's a big laugher. The 'we shouldn't be arguing in front of the map' was completely made up on the spot...
2. Jemaine directed 2 episodes of my new show Short Poppies. Of course the 3 of us will work together again one day, it's just a matter of someone getting us together...

I am a huge Flight of the Choncords fan and I learned to do a New Zealand accent by imitating your voice, so thank you so much for that!

As for a question, what's your favourite thing about New Zealand that you can't do or can't get anywhere else?

Best pies in the world. Best coffee in the world. Best eggs in the world.

What was your favorite episode of Flight of the Concords? If you don't answer this, I'll feel UNPROTECTED, LIKE A BABY IN THE SNOW, DEJECTED, LIKE A CLOWN WITHOUT A SHOW. So please don't make me feel rejected.

I like it when Murray takes the band on the road. The swearing break down and the leather jackets! Oh and the mixed nut caper of course.

What is your favourite type of pie? You never elaborated on this in 'leggy blonde'.

I'm a steak and cheese man.

Thanks for signing your book for me (Fringe festival 2012)

thanks for buying it. wait... was it one of my books?

has anyone actually called you Ginger Balls?

No, not to my face. Not yet... every one's too scared, they know I'm army trained and will smash them.

How cool was Jim Gaffigan?

very cool. like a big cucumber.

What did you do when Brett won an Oscar? How did you feel?

flabbergasted and proud. I stood up.

Rhys! Just wanted to say, I saw you live at Edinburgh fringe a couple of years ago and it was the FUNNIEST show I've ever been to, absolutely hilarious! Love your work man, all the best.

Huzzah!

Have you ever been offered a part in Lord of the Rings?

(It's probably been filming nearby, after all...)

I optioned myself as a manager of Bilbo, but Peter Jackson said no.

Finally, my time to shine. Mr. Darby, I hope you appreciate my user name. Does such a name elevate me on the friendship chart?

yes.

Which gives better health benefits: being a band manager or working for the New Zealand consulate?

Neither are good for your health. Lots of drugs and rock n roll.

What do you miss the most about FOTC? The songs, the band meetings, or just the cast in general?

Everything man...

Did you write your song on Flight Of The Conchords or was that Brett and Jemaine? Either way it's awesome! "I had a budgie but it died. Whoa-oh-oh. I like pie."

Also, any plans to do Funny As Hell again?

The guys wrote that song... it's great tho eh?

I'm excited that Stephen Merchant is in the Short Poppies trailer. Does he have a recurring role on the show? Any other names you can drop at this point? Can't wait for it to arrive!

Sam Neil, Karl Urban, Bear Grylls... all guest star in eps.

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I wasn't even aware that it was filmed.

Hey Rhys! I’m a big fan of yours and my friends and I saw recently saw you in New York City at the Gotham Comedy Club. They can’t be here right now, so Mikey, Brandon and Matt say hello.

What I wanted to ask is how did you discover your talent of imitating noises and sounds? It is unlike anything I've ever heard! Also, I hope to visit New Zealand one day because sheep are my favorite animals and I hear that you guys have lots of them :)

Oh yes. We love sheep in NZ. I can do weird noises because it... well it just makes sense to me. Why can't you guys do weird noises?

What is Kristen Schaal like to work with?

She is awesome. I really like her as a human lady. She's a very funny too. Top stuff.

What's the best advise you can give a guy about sex?

do it.

What was it like to work on The Boat That Rocked? A cast like that must have been an experience.

One hell of a ride. It was as fun as it appeared on screen. Very rock n roll. i even had a beer between takes once. ha ha... keep that quiet.

What was the funniest scene to record in Flight of The Conchords?

impossible to answer... but maybe the band meeting where 'Bret's the dickhead...' sandwich throw.

If you had a friend named Carl would you call him Car?

yes. how did you know that? Oh wait... that was in a movie. Hang on was that a movie?

You made me laugh harder on that show than Brett or Jermaine ever could. Thank you for that, Rhys.

shucks.

If you could go back in time, where/when would you go, and what kind of sandwich would you take as a snack?

I would go back to the Inca days and explore their pyramids whilst they're active, munching on a pulled pork roll.

I was always curious...why the name change from Nesbitt to Murray when you guys went from radio to TV?

Looking forward to Short Poppies!

They felt the BBC may have retained ownership of Nesbitt. Hewitt is actually his cousin.

What's your favourite part of the newspaper?

What's your favourite type of sauce?

The TV guide. Those bottles that you can put upside down. Amazing those ones..

Who was your favorite comedian to do standup with?

who was? what do you mean... is he dead? I like Glenn Wool a lot. He's still alive though..

Will you be coming back to Dublin any time soon? Ireland misses you

I miss you guys too. I hope I can get back there one day. It's an awesome city.

How was it like on set with Jermaine and Brett? I can imagine that many of those scenes took awhile to shoot due to just how funny they were. You gave the show such a great dimension, so thanks for contributing to the hilarity of it!

We are old friends so as you can imagine, it's like hanging out with your mates... having a laugh and forgetting that there's cameras there!

How do you look so good as a woman? Mary is the best!

Thank you. I agree Mary is possibly the best. She's fun to be.

You're from New Z. There's talk that Arnold's "King Conan" will be filmed there. what are the best locations there for filming in Conan's world? Any suggestions?

Pakuranga Plaza

Hi "Rice", when does Short Poppies hit Netflix (UK)?

tomorrow man!!!!

How did you land the role in District 9?

I wrote it didn't I?

What came first, the chicken or the egg?

well the... oh.

First of all, you are fucking awesome. My question: What/who inspired you to become a comedian?

Thank you. Monty Python were my first love.

the distinct lack of them in New Zealand at the time... I saw an opportunity.

Are you planning to be on another British comedy panel show again? much like you were with QI, big fan!

When I'm in the UK if an opportunity comes up yes.

Huge fan Rhys! You were amazing on FotC, of course but you cemented my lifelong love when I saw you perform "This Way To Spaceship" live in Dublin.

My question is will you be touring the world with your latest standup? Please say yes!

Also, could you please call my brother Ben "ginger balls". I'd tell him but it doesn't have the same ring with my accent :(

Best DVD I've ever bought! http://i.imgur.com/JsdJIXg.jpg

Yes! Mr. Adventure... keep an eye out. Ben you're a ginger balls.

Sir you are one of the kindest, funniest, best improvisers I've seen in my life! You always manage to get your laughs off of me.

Do you wax your mustache?

When it's longer I do. Thanks.

Do you prefer acting or stand-up? Also any news on a possible conchords movie

Acting, that's why I put so much of it into my stand up.

What is the furthest you've swam?

200 meters

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first gig, pretty bad. I did Frank Spencer impressions. I like Frank Spencer.

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sit down, shut up and pay attention.

What would it be like if Janson Skivvy and Murray Hewitt met? Do you think they would get along?

Like a house on fire... that one of them possibly started. Most likely Janson.

Rhys, how did you get so good at making sound effect noises?! Loved your live show.

brrrr brrr cha cha cha cha...ddddddgggggahhhh!!!!

I just thought you should know that not only is your stand-up excellent and had me in shameless bouts of laughter, but also I was completely oblivious to the fact that you're also Bill Napier.

What? I'm Bill Napier? No way... That guy's an idiot.

Who was your greatest inspiration growing up?

Monty Python... and the Loch Ness Monster.

What should I expect from Short Poppies?

Hilarity. and nice scenery.

Hi Rhys! I loved your singing on 'Leggy Blonde', did you help write it with the guys? Any chance we might get a Rhys Darby solo album??

I'm working on a rap album at the moment...

Hey Gingerballs... Did you meet any actual leg models before you started shooting Short Poppies?

Also, do you have another stand up comedy special in the works after the certain worldwide success of Short Poppies?

Mr. Adventure will be my next stand up special... it should go to Netflix.

I saw you on @midnight a while ago doing this character of an adventurer and I thought it was hilarious. Is that what your stand up is like? If so, where can I access / buy it?

itunes.

Rhys, I love what you do. During college, my friends and I watched FOTC and and we imitated your accent and quoted you for...about a year after that. Does anyone ever come up to you and imitate your own voice in conversation?

Also, is New Zealand as magical as it seems?

Yes, people impersonate me in front of me all the time. it's weird. New Zealand is a magical place. It's almost unreal.

Hi Rhys :) I just finsihed watching all of Flight of the Conchords & loved every second.

What is your favorite song at the moment? And will you be in Montreal anytime soon??

Hope you`re having a great day xoxox!

I like all songs.

Can we expect a new season of Flight of the Conchords with more of you singing? Please please please?

Hmmmm. no, sorry.

Who are your comedic influences? I'm going to assume Carl Winslow is one of them on account of the voices.

Python, Goons, Sellers, Atkinson, Carrey, Chase, and Steve.

What's your favourite Italian dish?

saucer.

Rhys! I'm a very large fan, and I'm excited to watch Short Poppies. Hearing you on FOTC was how I developed my Kiwi accent, as it's quite beautiful. Were the sound effects you do always a part of your stand up routines, or did they come in later?

I developed them as a child and took them into my stand up stories, not realizing that not 'everybody' could do such sounds.

Apples or oranges?

pears. sorry.

What's your favourite FOTC song to sing along to? My mum rocks out to Too Many Dicks on the Dance Floor all the time....

I like that one. I like crying. I also love hearing Angels live. Mutha Uckers is my favourite though..

Did you know Jemaine and Bret before the show? I like to believe I was actually just watching a documentary and that you were really their band manager.

Let's believe that then. It's real to me too...

Do you like Vampire Weekend?

Yes. I even have there remastered extended album: Vampire Long Weekend.

What's your favourite toast topping?

peanut butter (crunchy)

Oh, man. I totally had the hots for Murray .. You've got everything I'm looking for in a man: gentle, helpful, funny, ginger, a Kiwi...

That's not really a question. I just wanted to throw it out there. clears throat nervously

call him.

What has been your favourite project to work on? And which do you regret the most?

Short Poppies. hmmm I can't say for legal reasons.

Big fan! Welcome!

Serious question that's been driving me insane: Did you play the AA Coach in The World's End? We never see their face but it looks and sounds like you, but I can't find a credit for anyone anywhere.

Thanks!

No that wasn't me.

Are those your actual legs?

One of them is.

Are you aware of Dean "Rocket" Hall and his project DayZ? Between that and Flight of the Conchords I think New Zealanders are getting some well-deserved attention!

Never heard of him.

Should I be planting squash now or should I wait for warmer temps? Last year I planted about this time but it has been colder that usual. How will this effect the harvest time?

Keith answers these ones...

Seriously, though, why was FotC cancelled?

It wasn't cancelled. We still do it, they just turned the cameras off...

You're a funny man. That is all.

damn it, that's it?

This one goes out to Rhys Darby

First let me begin by saying you have been one of my favorite Adventurer-Thespian-Comedians for a LONG time, huge fan and thank you for doing this AMA.

As an American who has caught a lot of flak and contreversy here in the United States about taking a GAP year to Australia or New Zealand I was wondering that as a fellow adventurer if you had any (positive or negative) opinion(s) on the subject and if you'd recommend any particular programs.

Go hell for leather. yes... buy leather. Adventure tells you where to go. You know it in your heart. Your studies can wait, or do them on the road. Life is about experiences not books. Unless you buy a book about experiences.

What's your favourite colour?

blue. but I prefer green.