PBS To Air Six New Monty Python Specials
Freshly Exhumed wrote to mention a PBS release with good news for BritCom Fans. The Public Broadcasting Service is planning to air six new Monty Python specials. From the article: "Each of the exclusive-to-PBS six one-hour programs will focus on one member of the original Monty Python troupe - Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin and Terry Jones - and showcase favorite clips from the group's television series and movies, mixed with new footage. The five living Pythons - Cleese, Idle, Gilliam, Palin and Jones - will each produce and write their own episode, with the five collaborating on a sixth special to honor deceased member Chapman."
Frist NI pr0st for the Knights who say "Ni"!
Ni!
Ni!
Ni!
Trolling is a art,
With our powers of surprise, fear and...what was that other one?
That's our life, the big wheel of shit. - The Fat Man, Blue Tango Salvage
"new material".
...
Any chance to see former Monty Ptyhon members with their favourite bits hanging out, with new material added, is a good thing.
Well, except for that dead guy - hope they don't trot out his moldy corpse, wire its jaw to a computer, and make him some kind of animatronic "I'm feeling better" kind of bit.
That would bring me down just a tad.
Care for a cup of tea? I hear Sartre's going to pop in today
-- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
Nothing like a little fresh how's your father from the Ministry of Silly Walks.
Your email has been returned due to insufficent voltage.
w00t!
Unpleasantries.
Oh yeah, I'm there. The marketing people have found yet another way to grab my money by repackaging the stuff I already have. Sort of. More or less. I'll still buy it. And now - for something completely different.
Enjoy your Karma, after all you earned it. Feel your Karma Joe, feel it burn.
"I don't think there's a punch-line scheduled, is there?"
Maybe PBS approached them?
My 3D Texturing Skinning work (under construction)
This Chapman is no more.
No no no. He's just asleep.
no, no, no - you've got it all wrong.
It's "Noone expects the Canadian Inquisition. Our chief weapons are Attractive Women, Excessive Politeness, and a smashing good Sense of Humor."
-- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
Their humor is not dead. It's just pining for the fjords.
*sings* SPAM! Spam, spam, spam, lovely spam, wonderful spam! Spaaaaaaaam! *cough* Well, at least I didn't claim I wanted to be a lumberjack... '-)
Dream as if you'll live forever.
Live as if you'll die tomorrow.
~Anonymous~
...It is still amazing how well these shows have held up over 30+ years. Perhaps it is just sentimentality, but Monty Python is still one of the best comedy troupes, if not THE best, I have seen in my life.
Are we getting less funny? Or is familiarity part of the enjoyment? Or are they really just uniquely brilliant?
-- Knights who say Ni
Funny
ROFL
Ni
Do While (Funny)
If (Ni)
Then
Say "Ikki Panga Poota!"
Else
Say "Ni!"
End If
If ! StillLaughing
Then
Funny = 0 -- false
ROFL = 0 -- false
End If
End Do
-- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
run away ! run away !
My name is coaxeus, and I approve this message. In fact, I think it is awesome.
It will be available on iTunes? Or do we have to put up with all the "please support your local PBS" spamalot?
I DON'T LIKE SPAM!!
I've heard its funny. Has anyoen seen it?
I think I've already seen a set of Python DVDs by artist. How will this be different? Erudite commentary?
Hopefully my fellow USians will be chipping in to help out PBS for providing such fine programming. Heck, even Adult Swim (owned by media conglomerate Time Warner) reminds us now and then to donate to your local PBS station.
Bill Clinton: Pimp we can believe in. - The Shirt!!!
* * * * * * *
Most people are afraid of heights. I'm afraid of widths.
--Stephen Wright
... which I hate do do, since I so much adore the Monty Python gang. Televised events of this nature seldom do well, and seldom excite me. An attempt to drudge up the past will only prove how far the mighty have fallen. We just might see ol' Graham "Wormy" Chapman on screen. Recently, I saw The Meaning of Life for the first time, and although parts were delightfully pleasing, I could tell that the quality of story was stepping aside for mere shock value, which is the dead end where all comic genius eventually comes to die. Part of what made the troupe so funny was that it was funny during their time. We see success from modern-day comedy troupes, such as Saturday Night Live, because they do their best to stay with the times. Context of creation period has a lot to do with the quality of the performance. (e.g., there's only so many Bill Clinton jokes that will fly nowadays). Trying to make Monty Python work for a modern era would be like trying to install vacuum tubes into a 939-pin socket... you'd have to have one hell of an adapter kit. That said, TiVo is armed and ready!
I must disagree, dear chappy! I didn't really find out about Monty Python until I was about 14/15 (3 years ago,) and I've loved it since. My cousins, aged between 6 and 10 at the time, also loved it. I doubt that Monty Python's sense of humour will be "outdated" very soon.
Great choice of topic and its associated logo :) I dont reckon you can get more appropriate!
Sparks:Gadget:Beer Maker
This is a terrific idea really. It's too bad Graham Chapman can't be a part of it though. Quite a tragedy when he died. No doubt he thought it was only a flesh wound at the time.
PBS: "We were in the nick of time. You were in great peril."
Pythons: "We don't think we were."
PBS: "Yes, you were. You were in terrible peril."
Pythons: "Look, let us go back in there and face the peril."
PBS: "No, it's too perilous."
Pythons: "Look, it's our duty as comedians to sample as much peril as we can."
PBS: "No, we've got to find great ratings. Come on!"
Pythons: "Oh, let us have just a little bit of peril?"
PBS: "No. It's unhealthy."
Pythons: "We bet you're gay."
PBS: "Your point?"
in the past they had an urn on a chair which they claimed were his ashes. I don't recall if they had an animatronic lid or not.
Nowadays we use CGI.
Still, would be funnier with wires moving the jaw and all that.
-- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
The press release is dated July 13th 2005...
This is a sig. There are many others like it, but this one is mine.
Customer: I wish to lodge a complaint about this Chapman parody!
Clerk: Yes, what's wrong with it?
Customer: It's dead, that's what's wrong with it.
Eternity: will that be smoking, or non-smoking? I Corinthians 6:9-10
It's 2006! Being dead should not prevent Graham Chapman from being in the new shows. Someone get the makers of Forest Gump on the line and either use bits of old footage or create a CG Graham Chapman and insert him into sketches! Or better yet, George Lucas!
Hell, as long as Lucas is at the helm, put in Jar-Jar--"Meesa think thissa dead parrot!" OMGLOLZ!!!!!11one
Dear Slashdot: next time you want to mess with the site, add a rich-text editor for comments.
"I'm not dead yet!"
Doesn't stand the test of time? There are a few sketches that refer to events of the period, and some of it is very particularly English, but nobody can tell me that The Twin Peaks of Kilimanjaro, the Spanish Inquisition, the Argument Room, the Piranha Brothers, Upperclass Twit of the Year, Bicycle Repairman, the brilliant Monty Python's Contractual Obligation, the entirety of The Holy Grail, etcetera and so on are dated. Flying Circus is probably television's finest moment, a bit of the sublime and absurd by six guys who threw out every single sketch comedy rule and made little half hours of perfect comedy.
The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
The series' 45 episodes ran until December 1974. ... Beginning in Spring 2006, PBS stations will be able to introduce a whole new generation to the series when all 47 episodes will be available for broadcast.
Methinks the PBS public relations team should spend more time watching Sesame Street and practicing numbers. =p
It doesn't hurt to be nice.
I work with a Brit and she hates Monty Python. She thinks they are the most unfunny "comedy" troupe around. Of course, she also says I have an accent. That said, I'll be watching. By the way, I now have can of Spamalot and a few bottles of Monty Python's Holy Ail. I'm all set for a night of taunting.
But why is the rum gone?
14/15?? What kind of age is that? Why don't you just say you're one whole year old?
'Python' was named after the Monty Python show because it's supposed to be fun. And it is fun... much fun indeed... practical and productive too... who would of thought one could have fun programming _and_ get stuff done too :)
When I was younger, I had to wake up at ten o'clock at night, half an hour before I went to bed, eat a dry lump of poison, work 29 hours down mill, and pay mill owner for permission to come to work. And when we got home, our Dad would kill us and dance about on our graves singing 'halleluyah'.
But you try and tell the young people today that... and they won't... laugh?
I don't think I can survive another viewing of the Fish Slapping Dance...
n ce
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fish-Slapping_Da
Well, Terry Gilliam was born in Minnesota (the only member born outside the UK). I'm also from Minnesota and I haven't forgotten about his origins.
Even though Python is known for being British Comedy, their films and shows are still purchased everywhere in the United States--they possibly have more sales in the United States than Britain just because of the population sizes. Perhaps they want to maximize exposure?
I caught the Kids in the Hall on tour in Minneapolis once and it was packed, I was deafened by laughter. Whether you believe it or not, foreign comedy like Monty Python or The Kids in the Hall are greatly appreciated by Minnesotans. I assume it's similar in other places around the United States.
My work here is dung.
Anyone know?
You'll have to check your local listings for the exact time. For all you MythTV users in Chicago it will be Channel 11 WTTW at 9pm CST.
Since the article didn't mention it, it might be good to point out that the first in the series starts tommorrow.
The (unofficial) member of team, that I remember most fondly at a young impressionable age, was Carol Cleveland. I hope we see plenty of her appearances!
Carol Cleveland [Wiki]
FUD. F-U-D. Better luck next time.
Proof by very large bribes. QED.
You'd think that one would be the easiest to remember for fanatically devoted Monty Python enthusiasts.
Amongst our weaponry are such diverse elements as... fear, surprise, fanatical devotion...
2*3*3*3*3*11*251
Looks like these specials are already out on DVD...
Eric Idle's Personal Best
John Cleese's Personal Best(coming soon)
Graham Chapman's Personal Best(coming soon)
Terry Jones' Personal Best(coming soon)
Terry Gilliam's Personal Best(coming soon)
Michael Palin's Personal Best
The two that are released are already available on Netflix (with four to be available 28-Feb).
Rather than the 7-month-old press release referenced by the slashdot story, try the current PBS Monty Python page. The first special is scheduled to air tomorrow (February 22), and the series reruns start in April.
Have you read my blog lately?
I am glad to see Monty Python get together to do something. Too bad it is not on a higher profile station. I think their comedy is timeless and I like seeing it brought back for the younger generation so they can see a comedic style that still has not been duplicated.
and I would like to conclude by putting my finger up my nose . . .
I watched Monty Python in my formative impressionable years. All I can say is you lousy rotten b...
...astards! You cocks...
...uckers! You ruined my li..
The original poster has been sacked.
As I was saying Monty Python was the best most wond..
The original poster has been really been sacked
I cannot say enough good things about Monty Python. In fa...
The original poster has been really REALLY been sacked. *BANG*
My llama can sing and it has a huge d...
*BANG*
This posting has been terminated because it was determined to be no longer funny.
"You'll get nothing, and you'll like it!"
I am so facking sick of my local (Orlando, FL, WMFE) public television station playing so much facking British programming. I can't hardly ever find a good documentary or news show! Nova, Frontline, and BBC documentaries are on maybe once a week each! But God forbid a day goes by without 4 facking hours of Gol-DAM British facking 3rd-rate "comedies" and "soap operas." I am so freaking angry.
That being said, Monty Python is definitely the peak of British humor. THAT being said, being the peak of British humor is not exactly grounds for bragging rights.
I'm sorry, but I must put an end to this discussion, as it has become much too silly.
"Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony!"
Humph... when we were doing comedy, we didn't have any o' this namby-pamby television and camera and writer malarkey. We had to go up on a stage (well, it was more of a pit, really), no costumes, no lights, no dialog, make at least a dozen people die from laughing their guts up with jokes that we had just thought up that second in sign-language, and get violated by the club manager, IF we were lucky!
But, the young comedians today, they just won't believe you....
(If having it tougher than your kids isn't a timeless joke, I don't know what is, and they did it great)
He's merely resting.
Pining for the fjords, he is.
At least you dont have to worry about it being controversial(then again, the context it's put in, both are...), because the words arent awfully strong. But you can say spam on the radio.
Twitter supports and protects racists - by smearing their critics with the "Hate Speech" label.
All you got to do is repeat a Python sketch and get modderated +5 Insightful?!?
I can't wait I want to see them now. Hell I will even buy them on DVD and I never buy dvds, I'm a pirate what can I say. Anyway this is great and will hopefully tech a new generation what funny is. My only complaint is they aren't doing more than 6.
WTF?
I am both sickened and disgusted that these are being aired first by an American station. Die fuckers die.
You feel sleepy. Close your eyes. The opinions stated above are yours. You cannot imagine why you ever felt otherwise.
Anybody want a peanut?
Can always come here to Slashdot for an argument.
Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
That said, TiVo is armed and ready!
But what about MythTV!!!!!
"Don't mention the war!" (Dang lameness filter)
Wasn't that Farty Towels?
It is sweep mode right now and Olympic games are in session. I was going to not watch anything this week, but now this came up. Nice timing. ;) Too bad it is not HDTV format.
Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
AC:
(exasperated) Oh, this is futile!!
(pause)
coaxeus:
I couldn't agree more
AC:
Agreement is an intellectual process. Affirmation is just the automatic declaration of anything the other person says as true.
coaxeus:
I couldn't agree more
Sit on my face, and tell me that you love me...
The reason the CBC exists at all is to fund stuff like KITH that the purely commercial channels in Canada would NEVER take a risk on. If it were up to Global, CTV and CHUM, all they would show would be US shows or Canadian variations thereof (eg: Canadian Idol). The CBC is the only organization in Canada that actually takes real risks with Canadian produced shows.
Yes, well, I never wanted to be a Slashdot troll. I always wanted to be...a lumberjack! Leaping from tree to tree as they float down the mighty rivers of British Columbia!
....
I think I'll break out into song now!
I'm a Lumberjack and I'm ok!
I work all night and I sleep all day!
I wear high heels, a doily, a dress and go paw paw!
And then go out for mai-tais or daiquiris for sure!
[knock knock, stage left]
[music winds down]
Lumber Jacques: Oui?
Silly men in official language police suits with Fluer de Lis lapel buttons:
Ah, monsieur, nous sommes les policiers officiels de la langue Francaise Quebecoise et nous objecterions a cette chanson, parce que c'est en Anglais avant que c'est en Francais.
Lumber Jacques: Well, that tears it! I'll have to go back to Manitoba and check myself into a loony bin now!
-- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
My hovercraft is full of eels!
And now for something completely different...
I, for one, am really looking forward to this. I'm a fan from the Flying Circus days...
One must always keep Python in perspective (the people, not the language or the reptile)... They're not the messiah... they're very naughty persons!
A Passionate Independent Musician
My father directed these reunion shows. He said it was a blast. I never thought my dad was cool, until he made /.
How many of your fathers made slashdot? Ptth
Well when *I* were a lad, we could tell t' difference between Monty Python and At Last the 1948 Show. Now I'll grant you, half of the performing/writing team that made The Four Yorkshiremen sketch went on to become members of Monty Python, but for goodness sake, the sketch was co-written by Tim Brooke Taylor and Marty Feldman, neither of whom were even involved in Python.
But you try telling that to young Monty Python fans, and they won't believe you. Maybe they'll believe Wikipedia?
PBS had this news weeks ago!
(or rather, I've seen two commercials for it, and I don't even watch tv very often)
Mony Python is one of my favorites. I recently saw "the Meaning of Life", and was pleasantly surprised that it was as clever as I remembered it.
"Is this just useless, or is it expensive as well?"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fawlty_Towers#Episod
Terry Gilliam's 1981 Time Bandits & 1985 Brazil were both lots of fun.
Well, Time Bandits was fun; <SPOILER>Brazil is something of a tragedy.</SPOILER>
And of course there was John Cleese's 1988 classic, A Fish Called Wanda.
More jokes for people to endlessly parrot until the stars are numbered!
I had my fill by the time I worked at the ren faire in 95. Yet here you all are, cranking em out.
Enough! Too Much.
We are no longer the Knights Who Say Ni, weeeeeeeeee are now the Knights Who say, Ickyickyickynerfanerlpmphfp
No need to argue kids, we'll call it a draw.
doesn't seem nearly as funny as seeing John Cleese go bananas and start shouting "DON'T MENTION THE WAR!"
That wasn't a Python (Monty) sketch: that was Python cast member John Cleese in another series called 'Fawlty Towers'. Cleese plays Basil Fawlty, a right awful (and funny) b*st*rd of a hotel owner manager.
German Guest: "Will you stop talking about the war??!?"
Basil Fawlty: "You started it!"
German guest: "We did not!"
Basil Fawlty: "Yes, you did - you invaded Poland!"
I want to drag this out as long as possible. Bring me my protractor.
Incidentally, in French it's Le Bûcheron Chanson . ^_^ Just goes to show that the French aren't entirely humorless.
This sig has absolutely no significance and serves only to take up screen space and waste the time of the reader.
Man1: An arguement is connective series of statements gathered together to form a proposition. It's not merely the gainsaying of everything I say.
Man2: Yes it is.
Man1: No it isn't!
Frenchmen work fewer hours for more pay, eat richer food and drink more alcohol and weigh less and live longer, and they all have mistresses that their wives know about. In general, the French have everything better than Americans, including better topless beaches and bars (unless you prefer silicone to reality).
So we hates them. Hate 'em hate 'em hate 'em. It's only natural!
...it's only a flesh wound!!!!
Having both a Fish Called Wanda and Dangerous Creatures on Laser Disk (DVD wasn't in existance when I was looking for better then VHS media), I think I find Dangerous Creatures a more entertaining story. Wanda was good, don't get me wrong, for some reason it just feels like the cast had more fun and was working together better on Dangerous Creatures.
Well I've wrestled with reality for thirty five years doctor, and I'm happy to say I finally won out over it.