Monty Python's Flying Circus - Classic or Dud?

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.

Monty Python & Stephanie Edwards hosting A.M. America in 1975. Includes bonus Peter Jennings reporting on the fall of Saigon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfmS-DM8Jc0

My son has just started watching Monty Python and repeating the lines as I did as an irritating teenager (although he's only 11) and indeed still do as an irritating 40 something. It was one of the first programmes I was allowed to stay up and watch back in the early 70s. The circle is unbroken.

palin's 70s diary rocks. great book to have on a pain-in-the-arse long journey.

Monty Python Youtube Channel Launches

holy fuck was the series lame. dig the movies, but i hadn't properly sat down to watch eps of the actual MPFC in aeons. so far not a single lol.

total classic, btw. as I have written elsewhere recently, almost unspeakably *important* at times.

― robin carmody (robin carmody), Monday, September 1, 2003 1:12 AM (5 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

wonder what he meant. maybe it was the comedy working-class accents or preponderance of loldolly-birds.

the rutles movie is a stinker as well.

Would you leave your kids with Eric Idle alright?

It matters not which Python's were right bastards and which were nice guys, the comedy is still funny after all these decades (at least whatever was funny the first time through) and that is quite a feat. Classic, obv.

nrq keeps rong streak goin

the series beats any of the movies (as well as just about any other sketch comedy) any day.

i love how brits frantically detest any comedian of theirs with overseas appeal, then turn around and lionize shit like "friends."

TS: Benny Hill vs Curb yr Enthusiasm

i love how brits frantically detest any comedian of theirs with overseas appeal, then turn around and lionize shit like "friends."

Yeah, we ALL do that.

Because americans never lionised Friends or anything.

so far not a single lol.

And you, so renowned for your gaiety and hearty sense of humour

John Cleese, who at 70 is the oldest of the group, in addition to appearing in movies and sitcoms and making golf-ball commercials, sometimes turns into a cranky old buffer complaining about cultural decline and Britain’s tabloids. He doesn’t watch much comedy anymore. “As you get older you laugh less,” he says, “because you’ve heard most of the jokes before."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/04/arts/television/04mcgr.html?pagewanted=all

You see, this is why *I* am watching less comedy...

Is it NY Times house style to call everyone "Mr."?

Very much so. Especially if you are female.

I remember when their Iggy reviews called him "Mr. Osterberg."

I'm told they used to add "Mr." and such even to one-name celebrities, thus Mr. Meatloaf, Ms. Cher, etc, but I'm not sure I believe this.

Mr Cent.

Mr Mr Mr, the famous band

“As you get older you laugh less,”

Soon we die.

Hahaha and I know exactly the tone of voice in which you say that...

I know you do, and you know why i agonized over "we" vs. "you," and now fear I may have chosen the wrong word.

You should really just relax.

Death relaxes you like nothing else can. Your bladder and bowels, too.