Origins of Monty Python

Well, I didn't expect that by DonkPunch · 1999-07-30 01:07 · Score: 2

But then NO ONE expects the Spanish Inquisition! :)

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Save the whales. Feed the hungry. Free the mallocs.

Re:Well, I didn't expect that by HoserHead · 1999-07-30 02:12 · Score: 2

I don't think it is generational. I discovered Monty Python when I was about 13, and a cable channel (Bravo) began airing Flying Circus episodes all the time shortly afterwards. Having seen Python, and the Simpsons and various other things, Python is undoubtedly the best, the greatest. Sure, the Simpsons is brilliant, but the Python crew knew how to make a sketch work like no one else. Saturday Night Live can only hope to be as good as Python. (When have you seen something like the Jockey sketch - with successful jockeys being interviewed, you only see their heads; the champion doesn't even show up on the screen =).. or the Parrot Sketch (everyone knows the parrot sketch)

Hard to define by dmorin · 1999-07-30 01:14 · Score: 4

Did everybody see the special on cable awhile back when they got some sort of award? They even brought Graham's ashes out with them on stage (and of course, knocked them over and had to vacuum him up).

I think it was Terry Jones who had this quote: "We were going for something that would be completely indescribable. Given that 'python-esque' is now in the OED, I think we pretty much failed miserably."

According to Michael Palin, John Cleese got up at Graham Chapman's funeral and said, "Graham Chapman, writer of the parrot sketch, is no more. He has ceased to be. He has gone to meet his maker..."

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www.HearMySoulSpeak.com

Re:Hard to define by Crankpin · 1999-07-30 03:52 · Score: 2

Actaully, Cleese did that at Graham's memorial, not at the funeral. It's most of the rant from the Parrot sketch (which they co-wrote) plus some other rather "interesting" bits.
The full text of it is in Kim Johnson's book, The First 280 years of Monty Python (excellent book - with tons of info about all the Pythons, before, during & after the series and all of the various film projects - well worth the US$22.00)

We owe so much to them... by pb · 1999-07-30 01:17 · Score: 2

Linux: "There's a penguin on the television set"... Of course, everyone loves penguins.

The US and Cryptography: "Help, help, I'm being opressed!"

Cafeteria food: "Spam, spam, spam, spam..."

...and they set such high standards in humor and animation, that now we have South Park. :)

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pb Reply or e-mail; don't vaguely moderate.

while we're on this topic.... by jammer · 1999-07-30 01:33 · Score: 4

Nobody expects the Linux Inquisition!

Did you expect that? Huh? HUH!?

I agree by webslacker · 1999-07-30 01:34 · Score: 2

Monty Python was pretty funny, esp the Holy Grail, but I always felt that they were overrated. I thought American shows like SNL and In Living Color were a lot funnier, but maybe that's just a taste issue.

Re:I agree by Jonas+�berg · 1999-07-30 03:14 · Score: 2

Well, I always prefer english comedy to american. If thats because I'm from europe or not might perhaps be best left unsaid. Perhaps it's just something in the water? :-)

Seek out and enjoy The Goon Show. by Wohali · 1999-07-30 01:35 · Score: 3

This article once again shows how Monty Python was directly influenced by The Goon Show. You should definitely seek out and purchase these fine radio programs. Prepare for 30 minutes of absolute and complete confusion to warp your fragile little mind. Peter Sellers went on record before his death and said his 9 years with the Goon Show were the best years of his life. Hey, who am I to argue?

Be forewarned -- the first one you listen to will be so confusing that you might be tempted to stop listening. DON'T. Once you understand the basic characters (Major Dennis Bloodnok, Bluebottle, Neddie Seagoon, Eccles, and Hercules Grytpype-Thynne) and what the heck they're doing, you'll split your sides laughing.

What's your favorite episode? Mine must be Six Charlies In Search Of An Author. Pirandello, eat your heart out!

He's fallen in the water! Needle Nardle Noo!

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"But always she's the spectre of uncertainty I first endured, then faded, then embraced..."

Re:Seek out and enjoy The Goon Show. by Eccles · 1999-07-30 02:37 · Score: 2

Seagoon: Another two days to the fort. I can just see the look on Major Ffolkes's face now.

Bloodnok: My, you've got damned good eyesight!

Seagoon: Are we all here then?

Eccles: I'm not all here...

(Thus my nom-de-plume...)

--
Ooh, a sarcasm detector. Oh, that's a real useful invention.

I'm lame by DonkPunch · 1999-07-30 01:41 · Score: 2

Ok, I'm lame for posting a reply on my own post. After seeing a mix of "big deal" and "Python rules" posts, though, I thought I would chime in again.

I think you're right about Python being generational. I'm not quite 30 and I caught the Python reruns on PBS starting in my early teens. It was very fresh to me.

I also eventually saw the Python films. At the time, only "geeks" (bad thing to be at my school) were into that stuff. I kept quiet about it, except when I was around my friends who were part of the Drama club. There, it was an inside joke to us.

I think the appeal is their creativity and their willingness to take a simple premise and push it to the farthest extremes. Sometimes, the original premise might not be hysterical, but they would push it until it was (remember the "organ collectors" in "The Meaning of Life"?)

Python didn't make me roll on the floor often, but I DID smile a lot. It was witty, creative, and fun to watch. Certainly, part of my affection is nostalgia now. The fact that I can openly drop a Python reference around people today and have them "get it" is also cool.

Anyway, that's about enough of my "What Monty Python Means to Me" essay. :)

--

Save the whales. Feed the hungry. Free the mallocs.

I'm from Microsoft by drwiii · 1999-07-30 01:46 · Score: 5

I'm from Microsoft and I'm OK
I sleep all night and I sleep all day

He's from Microsoft and he's OK
He sleeps all night and he sleeps all day

I code VB, I eat my lunch, I go to the lavat'ry
On Wednesdays I do nothing
But collect pay from Bill G.

He codes VB, he eats his lunch, he goes to the lavat-ry
On Wednesdays he does nothing
But collect pay from Bill G.
He's from Microsoft and he's OK
He sleeps all night and he sleeps all day.

I code VB, whilst taking a dump
Ten lines done in two hours
I wish I had GNU/Linux
I just crashed my Windows taskbar

He codes VB, whilst taking a dump
Ten lines done in two hours
He wishes he had GNU/Linux
He just crashed his Windows taskbar .. ??
He's from Microsoft and he's OK
He sleeps all night and he sleeps all day.

I code VB, and MFC
NT is such a crock
I wish I'd learned BSD
Just like my dear papa!

He codes VB, and MFC
NT is such a crock .. ?!?

He's from Microsoft and he's OK
He sleeps all night and he sleeps all day!

Yet another twisted drwiii presentation :P

Re:I'm from Microsoft by drwiii · 1999-07-30 02:12 · Score: 2

The text formatting was a bitch.

It's...! by Anonymous Coward · 1999-07-30 01:55 · Score: 2

Instead of posting more great quotes from easily the funniest television show of all time, I'd like to point out that Monty Python's Flying Circus is in syndication on A&E Saturday evenings. Check your local listings for exact times, but it's great since they play the episodes in order, and fill up an entire hour with classic sketches.

It's unbelievable that it's been over 30 years and they've yet to be topped in insanity. I mean, there's not a single television show or film that is more lunatic and psychotic than these brilliantly creative skits (and of course, animation). Say...no...more!

Re:It's...! by awrc · 1999-07-30 02:02 · Score: 3

While we're talking about Monty Python's Flying Circus and A&E, I see A&E will be releasing all the TV shows on DVD starting in September. So far they've announced four 2-disc sets, with each disc containing roughly four hours worth of stuff (difficult to say how much of it's original shows though, since they're adding all the usual DVD goodies).

Oh, and for that matter, the pseudo-movie "And Now For Something Completely Different" is due out on DVD on Monday.

Al

Re:ahhh... python! by Jburkholder · 1999-07-30 02:08 · Score: 2

this is an EX-parrot!

...have you got any cheddar? Not much call for it in these parts, sir.

...I'd like a license for my pet fish named abdul. This is a dog license with the word dog scratched out and the word hamster written in.

...that was *never* five minutes just now! I could be just arguing on my own time.

Cleese and Palin were my favorite combo, they had a magic all their own.

Re:Spam! by Eccles · 1999-07-30 02:29 · Score: 2

>Oh, and baked beans.

"Baked beans are off!"

Well, can I have 'er spam instead of the baked beans, then?"

"You mean spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam and spam? Euugh!"

Relevant? Where do you think Python got its name from?

--
Ooh, a sarcasm detector. Oh, that's a real useful invention.

John Cleese at Cornell by Anonymous Coward · 1999-07-30 02:35 · Score: 3

John Cleese came to speak at Cornell earlier this year. He's actually a professor at large here, believe it or not.
First we watched 'A Fish called Wanda'. Then he took questions, where he demanded that everyone address him as 'Professor Cleese' before answering any questions ... absolutely hilarious.
He's actually a very interesting, thoughtful and (when he wants to be) serious speaker.

The Goonshow Mp3 Site by tomwhore · 1999-07-30 03:37 · Score: 2

Ying Ti Iddleipoo

I run a goon show site over at

members.xoom.com/goonshow

I put up 4 to 5 goon shows a week for public resumption. There are also links to scripts, fan sites, and even a connection to the bigest Charlie of them all.

Come listen to where the Pythons got the inspiration.

You can also get more info on more Old Time Radio Shows at

wsmg.org/otr/guide.php3

--
Poor little clams! Snap! Snap! Snap! Poor little clams! Snap! Snap! Snap! Poor little clams! Snap! Snap! Snap!

Re:The Goonshow Mp3 Site---correction part first by tomwhore · 1999-07-30 03:38 · Score: 2

The last url should be

wsmf.org/otr/guide.php3

--
Poor little clams! Snap! Snap! Snap! Poor little clams! Snap! Snap! Snap! Poor little clams! Snap! Snap! Snap!

Re:South Park is going down. by Trepidity · 1999-07-30 04:16 · Score: 2

I'd have to disagree with that. Beavis and Butthead are funny for a while, but the show really has no point. Southpark, on the other hand, has a ton of satire thrown into nearly every show (and especially the movie). Satire of religion, censorship, the MPAA, presidents, police, etc.

The Simpsons are pretty good too, but I've been finding the new (last two seasons or so) episodes to be distinctly less funny than the old ones. Perhaps it's just me, but very few of the new espisodes seem to have any sort of a point to them.

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10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10

Monty Reguritated by tomwhore · 1999-07-30 04:36 · Score: 2

I love python, the goons and tons of the stuff i think is creative and original humor. they sought to bring a little creative light in a world of blandness and sameoldcrap.

What is bizzare is that some of the strongest fans of these creative lights seek only to parrot (not dead) the lines heard rather than take up the call to creative whackiness.

Which do you think would honor more the spirit of thier humor, repititon or creation?

( and for extra points...Which Goon show meber made an apperance in Life of Brian?)

--
Poor little clams! Snap! Snap! Snap! Poor little clams! Snap! Snap! Snap! Poor little clams! Snap! Snap! Snap!

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