Origins of Monty Python 101
jyuter writes "CNN posts the first chapter of the new Monty Python book, 'Monty Python Speaks!' It's a bit long, but an interesting read. " Well, the topic icon seems very applicable today. Read it-really good stuff.
Monty Python (Score:1)
"Blue.. no yellow!"
Ark
We all love Python (Score:1)
No it's not, it's just resting...
Well, I didn't expect that (Score:2)
Re:Well, I didn't expect that (Score:1)
Re:We all love Python (Score:1)
Homer Simpson has a heck of a lot funnier base than python.
Hard to define (Score:4)
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..."
We owe so much to them... (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.
Re:Well, I didn't expect that (Score:1)
Swalloy (Score:1)
Re:classic comedy (Score:1)
"We want you to bring us, a SHRUBBERY!!"
Re:We all love Python (Score:1)
Down the hall and to the left... (Score:1)
Re:Well, I didn't expect that (Score:1)
But I don't like Spam! (Score:1)
while we're on this topic.... (Score:4)
Did you expect that? Huh? HUH!?
Python + Simpsons (Score:1)
Ni!
I agree (Score:2)
Seek out and enjoy The Goon Show. (Score:3)
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 [goon.org] (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!
South Park is going down. (Score:1)
But The Simpsons just keeps on going. By the way, Metallica will be the next Led Zeppelin, mark my words.
Re:classic comedy (Score:1)
I'm lame (Score:2)
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.
Sentiment of the day. (Score:1)
Spam! (Score:1)
I *wish* our cafeteria had served something as edible as SPAM
Oh, and baked beans.
I'm from Microsoft (Score:5)
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 [min.net] presentation :P
He is an EX-Chapman! (Score:1)
It's...! (Score:2)
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:Python + Simpsons (Score:1)
Ahh...Python (Score:1)
Re:It's...! (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
It's...On DVD! (Score:1)
"And after the spanking there's the oral sex"
"-- well I could stay a bit longer..."
OHHhhhhh... the cat's eaten it. (Score:1)
Funny thing...
Some humor works based on premise, and you can describe the general idea to someone, and they'll snicker or not, depending on how well you told it. Python has great comic ideas, sure, but it has that quotability thing going on. People tend to remember the exact words used in a particular sketch/movie. That doesn't happen very often in comedy. Lessee: Far Side (Bummer of a birthmark, Hal...), Raising Arizona (Son, you got a panty on yore hed.) There are more, I know, but I'm lazy today.
In the Live at the Hollywood Bowl movie, the Pythons were rightly stunned at hearing their jokes recited along with the routine, like singing along at a rock concert. Even better, after the line was recited, everybody would crack up as though hearing it for the first time.
Weird and interesting stuff. Wish I could bottle it for use in my writing...
Re:ahhh... python! (Score:2)
...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:Ahh...Python (Score:1)
. (Score:1)
---
"'Is not a quine' is not a quine" is a quine.
Re:I'm from Microsoft (Score:1)
Re:Well, I didn't expect that (Score:2)
Re:I'm from Microsoft (Score:2)
Re:Seek out and enjoy The Goon Show. (Score:1)
There was a good article on the Goons in last Thursday's Toronto Star's technology section. The author says in a followup this week that he's never had so much response to any of his articles.
The Goon Show is broadcast on CJRT on Tuesday evenings in Toronto.
If you're interested, visit my Goon Show Scripts website at http://www.residents.com/Goons/
Re:Spam! (Score:2)
"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?
uh, you said "butt" uh huh huh... (Score:1)
South Park (particularly the movie), on the other hand, has a little bit of reality in it. It exposes and makes fun of all the inconsistancies in our society (i.e. it's ok to let your kids see tons of senseless violence and killing, but the minute someone says a 'naughty' word (isn't the whole idea of swearing a dumb concept anyway?) or takes their shirt off, then that media has warped their fragile little minds ;)
I do have to agree with you though...the Simpsons are the best :)
Re:We owe so much to them... (Score:1)
Re:Well, I didn't expect that (Score:1)
John Cleese at Cornell (Score:3)
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
He's actually a very interesting, thoughtful and (when he wants to be) serious speaker.
Polecats??? (Score:1)
Ohhhh, I hav'nt *cough*cough* in Weeks, *huchhh*
Re:Seek out and enjoy The Goon Show. (Score:2)
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...)
He's just resting. (Score:1)
I'll bet he's laughing his wings off too.
Re:I'm from Microsoft (Score:1)
http://douglas.min.net/~drw/mirrors/altern.org/
Re:Monty Python (Score:1)
is it because I'm hopelessly lame or because Monty Python is the funniest group of people on earth and I'm a bit impressionable yet?
Ahh... Mr. Pickle has managed to run himself over! (Score:1)
How about this one? I'd lauke to repowt a bur-gul-laa-rey.
Or this one? Mr. Johnson has learned the first rule of not being seen. However, he has chosen a very obvious piece of covah! Kablooey!
Monty Python humor is truly an art form.
What's the airspeed of an unladen swallow? (Score:1)
Look! It's the old man from scene 37!
What's the capitol of Assyria?
It's only a flesh wound! Oh! I see! Runnin' away ayy? Come back and fight like a man! I'll bite ya legs off!
And now for something completely different...hehe.
Pyton, alive and well. (Score:1)
But enough of that. What I wanted to say what that it's great to see something like Python so alive and well today. It is THE classic. Heck, a few months ago, a local radio station did a Monty Pyton special. Great it was too, a lot of skits in vocal form, spliced to all hell.
It was great to hear them, and I must say, that the entire 'Cat License' skit, including the song 'Eric the Half a Bee' was just as great on the radio as on the tube. I'd go into a tirade of quotations, but that's not really necessary right now =) Everyone else already have.
Bet you expected me to though. Nobody expects the silence of a deranged Python fan! And I must say that that was nearly obscure enough to still render my comment quote-free.
Re:I agree (Score:2)
The Goonshow Mp3 Site (Score:2)
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
Re:John Cleese at Cornell (Score:1)
My favorite part about Monty Python, other than their tendency to skewer anybody and anything, is that they didn't "dumb down" a lot of the material, or assuming their audience were a bunch of idiots. There are a lot of references to history, art, and philosophy that you just don't see in comedy from anyone else...
"I want a Last Supper with no trampoline acts, no mariachi bands, no jugglers, only 12 disciples, and one Christ."
"ONE?!?!"
"Yes. What in God's name possessed you to make this painting with THREE Christs in it?"
"It WORKS, mate. The fat one balances out the two skinny ones..."
Re:The Goonshow Mp3 Site---correction part first (Score:2)
wsmf.org/otr/guide.php3
Re:I agree (Score:1)
VERY FUNNY (Score:1)
Re:Hard to define (Score:2)
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)
The Real Geek Test (Score:1)
Being a geek is not determined by whether you prefer 'The Matrix' or 'SW:TPM'. It is simply a matter of how much of 'MP and the Holy Grail' you can recite from memory.
(Extra Credit for 'Life of Brian')
I think the responses to this thread already are more than enough proof for this hypothesis.
Re:South Park is going down. (Score:2)
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.
Re:The Real Geek Test (Score:1)
Haven't seen The Matrix or the fourth SW movie (or the second or third- saw the first one in 1977)
Monty Python's birth? (Score:1)
Monty Reguritated (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?)
Ying Tong Iddlepoo (Score:1)
My fave ggonshow at the moment is Foiled By President Fred.
But My fave changes every week.
To listen to the goonshows head over to
memebers.xoom.com/goonshows
I post 4 to 5 shows every week, in mp3 format. There are also lists and links to follow to learn abou the goons.
These things are priceless. Collect em all and construct the new MEgaEccles.."hows yer old dad"
Re:Monty Reguritated (Score:1)
"Let us.. Let us pray"
Drop Dead Gorgeous (Score:1)
I've never laughed so hard in a movie theatre.
Like Python, it's not for everyone. Out of the 20 people there, my wife, myself, and two other people were laughing our heads off. The rest of the audience jut didn't get it.
For the obscure Python line, check the sig. It hasn't changed for months.
Re:classic comedy (Score:1)
Re:Well, I didn't expect that (Score:1)
Ever see The Young Ones? (Score:1)
Screen Capture (Score:1)
Hang on...
Just gotta get back into my chair...
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!! (THUD! again)
I'm O-kay... God, that was SO fscking funny! The look on that's poor guy's face... HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
And he's using a QuickCam...
And he's just realized that the guy that BO'd him probably captured the hanky-panky that went on last night...
For those of you too damn lazy to cut-n-paste, here's a clickable link: HOLY SH!T [min.net]
God, this one's a classic! That's it, this one's WALLPAPER!!
Who says cracking isn't worthwhile? This was sure worth it!!
JCPenney uses MP for training videos (Score:1)
Chris
mtnbkr@mindspring.com
Re:Monty Reguritated (Score:1)
Here is a recording of a fifty pound note.
Re:We all love Python (Score:1)
Actually, I prefer Perl.
--
QDMerge [rmci.net] -- data + templates = documents.
BORING!!!! (Score:1)
But nothing is more boring than a bunch of old farts sitting around talking about thier "glory days" 30 years ago.
Hopefully this book gets better and talks about some actual episodes and how they came about. I care less about how these guys met and what goofy college theater stuff they did back in 1963.
-geekd
Re:Pyton, alive and well. (Score:1)
I have to agree about he misquotes. In fact I want to complain abou-
YOU want to complain!? I've only 'ad these shoes three weeks and the 'eels 'ave worn through!
Re:Pyton, alive and well. (Score:1)
It's like spelling - the spirit is more important then that technical specifics. Even Monty Python don't do the same skit with the same words every time. Compare a skit from the flying circus show, to its retelling on the stage, to its retelling on the stage, to its retelling on their various albums. There are lines changed, names changed, whole jokes dropped and new ones added in. As long as it's funny it isn't worth getting stressed about the words. Now - the inflection, that's other story entirely....
AdamT
Re:Comedy? (Score:1)
Albatross! (Score:1)
"Course you don't get fuckin' wafers with it!!!"
People Who Diss Python... (Score:1)
Zontar The Mindless,
Re:I'm from Microsoft (Score:1)
Re:The Real Geek Test (Score:1)
When I was in university, for an advanced level history course on the Roman Empire, our final paper was to write an essay discussing and analyzing a 'modern' piece of media which involved the Roman Empire. Guess which one I picked...
SPLITTER!
Re:Ever see The Young Ones? (Score:1)
Re:dumbing down.... (Score:1)
A LOT of Python fans here! (^_^) (Score:1)
Yes, the troupe was heavily influenced by the The Goon Show and Ernie Kovacs (plus a number of shows I don't remember offhand), but what did result is (IMHO) the most effective display of comedy on television I've EVER seen. I really think that that the Python troupe had to be extremely intelligent in order to parody everything British, just like the fact the more you think about it, the more you know that the original contributors to MAD magazine had to be quite intelligent to effectively parody everything American from the middle 1950's on.
The Python genius showed right from the start with one of the earliest "sketches," the famous "Killer Joke." The version we saw on TV was unbelievably funny and SO much more intelligently-developed than any American comedy of its day--let alone today! The first time I saw it in 1975, I nearly fell off my chair laughing out very loud! (^_^)
is it anywhere else? (Score:1)
Re:Ahh...Python (Score:1)
I'm trying to decide whether I'm proud of knowing that.
--
Re:What's the airspeed of an unladen swallow? (Score:1)
Sorry, but that's the old man from scene 24.