Monty Python's Flying Circus - Classic or Dud?

YESSS!!!! Can it get any better than that?!

My Python geekery is shining especially brightly on this thread.

Isn't the beauty of Python that it allows for happy juvenile geekdom too, though?

The Simpsons, The Day Today, Tommy Cooper, Morecambe and Wise, Wayne's World, Police Squad, Blackadder, early Friends.

One edit I always found curious in the versions I have (which are some kind of US VHS ones done in the late 80s) - the sketch where the black spot appeared on the guys face. In the original showing they apparently said he died of cancer. In the copy I have it is dubbed over (very badly and obviously - on purpose?) with the word "gangrene" which is absurd.

I dont know if the dubbing was a BBC thing or a US thing... *consults her 200 years of python book* Ah it was a BBC thing. Which word is used in the box sets? I'd like to buy the DVDs but now I'm dubious if it is true they're poor prints...

This is very interesting.

Most consistent/coherent Python show was the one with Palin as the cyclist, more or less parodying himself 20 years later (Pole to Pole etc.), which probably remains funny because it doesn't get rerun that often.

I don't know how accurate this is, or if this is actually true - but I recently read that Thames offered to produce Monty Python in 1969, and planned it as a 45 minute show in a primetime slot. For some reason Thames couldn't commit themselves to doing the show until 1971 and so they went with the BBC. Again, I'm not sure if this is true, as I'm sure I remember something about them being with the BBC from day one but it's an interesting "what-if" story, anyway.

Most consistent/coherent Python show was the one with Palin as the cyclist

Mr Pither's Cycling Tour. Very good that - with Terry Jones losing his memory and thinking he's Clodagh Rogers, and then Lenin.

"Pither! What a stroke of luck to find you again!"

"Well, yes and no..."

the Jesus on the telephone poles thing is BIZARRE.

I remember for the LONGEST time being utterly befuddled by the brief clip of the animation of that showing in the 'episode recap' and trying to pause the videotape just so so I could read it.

Wonderful book, picked up a republication when I was 16 or so. Very goofy and ridiculous. The Famous Five parody is absolutely stellar.

Annoying how the BBC has lost so much wonderful old footage - Goodies, python, dr who etc.

"To save time, I will continue in English ..."

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2092-806332_1,00.html

(not even sure why I care at this point though, slow day at work obviously)

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/sotcaa/python.html

The above link is of a truly incredible website that examines the production of the shows, movies and records, with fantastically detailed examinations of various edits, out-takes, alternate versions of episodes/records, acres of quotes from actual rehearsal scripts featuring - yes! - the Wee-Wee Sketch in full, along with a great big press archive dating back to the very first article ever written about Python in the Radio Times in 1969! It is wonderful and I have spent virtually the whole evening reading it.

Gonococcal urethritis, streptococcal ballinitis,
Meningo myelitis, diplococcal cephalitis,
Epididymitis, interstitial keratitis,
Syphilitic choroiditis, and anterior u-ve-i-tis.

"Medical Love Song," I salute you.

One story: when King Arthur crossed the rope bridge, it was actually an extra, as Graham was suffering from the shakes and couldn't really perform that day.

Cleese fought to play Brian in TLOB, but he was shouted down.
Eric Idle wrote strictly on his own, and out of all five, he's the only one who comes across as a primadonna and an arrogant jerk. He seems to despise Cleese with a passion, and always blames Cleese for any trial or tribulation suffered by the group, usually contradicting all four of the other pythons.

This--and I know you're just paraphrasing--is fucking brilliant.

ask neil innes!

This--and I know you're just paraphrasing--is fucking brilliant.

agreed!

In Idle's defence, he was responsible for one of the great TOTP performances - "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" where he systematically demolished the stage set.

Very pleasant and likeable, in the same way Palin's travelogues are very pleasant and likeable. Jones and Palin are still very good friends, I believe.

Agreed. I was so happy to see that at long last, having heard about it for years.

Basically the dispute between him and Innes is well known, and I watched the Rutles with the "director's commentary" i.e. Idle's, and two things struck me:

1) No mention at all of Innes
2) or anybody else who did non-oncreen work.

Until about halfway through when he discusses Innes' wonderful songs, the co-director's work and everyone else. Ah well, I guess he warmed up.

Oh, and 4) It actually isn't unfair to claim he wrote it, as there is a great deal in it that isn't purely beatlessong or story.

Also, that he 'idly' pondered getting out all the out-takes and extras and making a sequel. "YOU NUTS??" I thought.... (It's easy to think this bloke chatting over the film is in the chair next to you)..

So I look up on Amazon, IMDB etc, and that is exactly what he did do. And how dreadful the reviews were for it.