The Amazing Dermot

The Amazing Dermot Review

Rhys Darby's cheeky enthusiasm wasn't enough to keep a sputtering script on the right path...

The weakest of what's been a promising run from C4's Comedy Showcase season, this will mainly be of curiosity value to fans of Flight Of The Conchords.

Rhys Darby, who plays The Conchords' ineffectual manager Murray, stars as hypnotist and magician Dermot Flint (or "Flunt" as it's pronounced in his New Zealand accent). Written by writing brothers Jack and Harry Williams (Roman's Empire), this sees Flint checking into a rehab clinic to repair his reputation after a series of scandals.

Noel Edmonds and Ulrika Jonsson (neither of whom are actually in this) are also reported to be patients, with "Edmonds" and his stash of prescription painkillers becoming the butt of much of the humour.

A deaf nurse and a body double are unwisely shoe-horned into a busy half hour that can't overcome the unpleasantness of the central character.

Still it's nice to see Holby's Alex MacQueen, who plays the director of the Wellbright centre, allowed out to do comedy.

"Does she know she's deaf? Poor thing keeps trying to talk." Rhys Darby's non-Conchord work has often paled beside scene-stealing Murray Hewitt. His stand-up, full of characters and sound effects, is just too sweet and silly to compete. Here, though, his fallen illusionist/hypnotist Dermot Flint puts him on to a possible winner. In rehab (for a career move), arrogant, stupid and self-obsessed Dermot attempts to get his career back on track while managing to insult just about everyone.

Kiwi comic Rhys Darby (previously known as Murray, the gormless band manager in the sitcom Flight of the Conchords) stars as a TV illusionist attempting to revive his career in this comedy pilot. I'm Alan Partridge explored this scenario with more wit and guile, and The Amazing Dermot soon resorts to crassness in a desperate bid for laughs.

Flight Of The Conchords's star Rhys Darby anchors tonight's comedy test-out pilot. He's Dermot, a not so amazing magician trying to get his life on track by checking himself into a rehab clinic after screwing up a hypnotising trick. he has a rubbish catchphrase and is as uncool as he is un-PC - qualities that bring to mind Alan Partridge's spell holed up in a Linton Travel Tavern in I'm Alan Partridge. It worked for Steve Coogan: will it work for Darby?