Bret McKenzie, half of the comedy and singing duo Flight of the Conchords, has one really big thing over his partner, Jemaine Clement: He has just been nominated for an Oscar.
His composition, "Man or Muppet" from "The Muppets" is up for a Best Original Song award and McKenzie has a really good chance of winning, considering there is only one other song nominated in the category. He'll compete with Sergio Mendes' "Real In Rio" from the film "Rio" for the coveted golden statue.
The low-key McKenzie was home in New Zealand when he heard about his nomination and spoke to The Huffington Post about the honor.
Congrats on your Oscar nomination!
Thanks very much, it's awesome news. There's a lot of Oscar buzz at my house. I just woke up and got the news. We're going to have a big family dinner tonight to celebrate, but we had a dinner planned anyway for my mom's birthday. We're tacking on the Oscar nomination to my mom's birthday. Hopefully it doesn't take too much attention away from her day.
You have a 50 percent chance of winning.
I know, it doesn't look like a proper list. It looks like there's been some sort of mistake, like they need to add a few more songs on there. It's great -- I've got 50-50 odds. The only thing that would be better is if there was one nomination.
Are you excited to hear your song played at the Academy Awards?
It's pretty mind-blowing. Actually, it's not pretty mind-blowing -- it's very mind-blowing. It feels like one of those "I made it" moments. After you go to the Oscars, what else do you do? That's where Hollywood stops.
You wore a lot of animal t-shirts on your HBO show "Flight of the Conchords." Will you be wearing one to the Oscars?
Perhaps, or one of those tuxedo t-shirts, something slightly more formal. That's more Hollywood; that's what [George] Clooney will be wearing. I was at the Critics' Choice Awards last week and it's very surreal being in the same room as people like Meryl Streep, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg.
Do you think being from New Zealand gives you a good perspective?
Oh yeah, it's great to be able to leave America and take a break from it because it's a very career-driven place and New Zealand is almost the opposite. New Zealand is more about lifestyle than it is about career.
Check out some photos of other 2012 Oscar nominees below:
