Category Archives: Monty Python

Mother’s Day

What could be more appropriate on this Mother’s Day that a young woman becoming a mother? This was written by John Cleese and Graham Chapman, the latter bringing his experience as a qualified medical doctor to the writing room.
I wasn’t around for much of the filming of MEANING OF LIFE, but I was here for most of this. I think Graham was particularly proud of this scene, having seen this attitude all too often by medical professionals and hospital administrators, and was very pleased to take them down a notch. Happy Mother’s Day!

Lousy Python Song

And this seems to be a good time to post the brand new old Python song and video, originally written for “Contractual Obligation Album,” thanks to Eric Idle and Graham Chapman!

Python Singing Again

In early December of 1989, I was in London for the 20th anniversary party for Monty Python. Graham Chapman had died two months earlier, on October 4, so I was prepared for a bittersweet evening.

Graham’s memorial service had been held that afternoon (the day John Cleese gave his famous and touching “Good riddance, the freeloading bastard” speech), so Graham’s presence was very much in the air. I had the chance to spend time with Graham’s foster son, John Tomiczek, the last time I would ever have a chance to see him. So, it had the potential for a very emotional evening.

Fortunately, it turned out to be emotional in a very good way, the way one would hope a Python event would be. It was held in the hall where, a few years earlier, the Mr. Creosote scene was filmed for Meaning of Life, which gave it the proper credibility. I spent the evening catching up with Pythons, crew members, and family members, several of which I hadn’t seen since Life of Brian ten years earlier. The hours flew by.

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At the end of the night, gifts were handed out. There were three or four things to choose from, but I immediately honed in on something I’d never seen before–a brand new Python record album titled Monty Python Sings! It featured most of the great Python music from TV and films, collected on one piece of vinyl, under a beautiful Terry Gilliam cover. I had long been pestering the Python office to put out such an album, and here it was!

Despite knowing what a pain it would be to carry it back in my luggage, I brought it back to the States, and still remember the first time I heard it. In addition to all of the old favorites, there was one special treat. Graham had written and sang Medical Love Song for the Contractual Obligation Album (with Eric Idle) a few years earlier. But Monty Python Sings featured a new version, with additional lyrics, sung by Graham. His voice was noticibly weakened, but it was the last thing he did for Python before he died. I later found out that Eric had walked Graham through it all so that he would have one more piece of work for Python. And Eric immediately shot up to the top of the “Nicest Python List.”

Why do I bring all of this up now?

Because Monty Python Sings (Again) is being re-released on June 9, with new bonus recordings, a few long-lost gems from the Python archives, remixed Terry Gilliam cover artwork, and a special bonus disc of their very first record album, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, recorded live at Camden Town Hall in May 1970. Whether you’re going to the shows in July at the O2 Arena, or watching the final show in theatres, it’s a great way to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Python. It’ll be available on iTunes, or you can order a copy just by clicking here. Sounds like a great deal to me. Knowwhatimean?

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Cinco de Palin

And a happy birthday to my globe-trotting friend Michael Palin.

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Born May 5, 1943, Michael is still the youngest Python, though that doesn’t really mean as much as it used to. Hope he’s resting up for 10 performances–two months from the moment that I’m writing this, he’ll be on stage with the others at the O2 Arena. making John Cleese laugh during the Dead Parrot Sketch. Happy 71st Michael!

Bob Hoskins R.I.P….

Like many others, I was very sad to hear about the passing of Bob Hoskins, who will forever be known for his work in Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

But he was so excellent in so many other films, from great British movies like The Long Good Friday and Mona Lisa (for which he was nominated for an Oscar) to Hollywood roles in Mermaids, Hook, and Nixon.

I don’t have any stories about him. I only met him once. I was visiting Terry Jones, who was supervising the recording of the audiobook version of his FAIRY TALES book many years ago. Terry had recruited Bob Hoskins to read one of them. At the time, he had recently finished The Long Good Friday, but he hadn’t achieved the level of fame that he later would. It was a pleasure to listen to that familiar Hoskins voice in the recording studio, and it was an even greater pleasure to meet him afterward and realize what a genuinely nice guy he was.

Terry Gilliam was smart enough to recruit Bob Hoskins for this memorable role in his memorable Brazil. Enjoy. And rest in peace, Bob Hoskins.

The Last of Python Goes Global!

If you’ve been fretting because Monty Python Live (mostly) won’t be coming to your corner of the world (which would be just about anywhere except for the O2 Arena in London), fret no more.

Python live painting

It’s true, the Pythons won’t be touring the U.S. (or anywhere else for that matter). Once the O2 show is done, so are the Pythons. But there is some good news. The Last Night of Monty Python will be shown live from the O2 Arena on the final night of live shows on Sunday, July 20th, broadcast live to 1500 movie theatres around the world. If you can’t be there in person, this is the next best thing. Actually, it’s the only thing. But it’s cheaper than a ticket to London.

Theatre details aren’t available yet, but keep your eyes peeled–this is liable to sell out quickly. Here’s the official press release:

The Last Night of Monty Python is coming to a cinema near you

“Thanks to the wonderful invention of moving pictures, The Last Night of Monty Python is coming to a cinema near you. Get your knotted handkerchiefs out and warm your brains one last time at any one of 450 cinemas across the UK, and 1500 across the world. Join the crowd live from London’s O2 in a final weepy, hilarious, uproarious, outrageous, farewell to the five remaining Pythons as they head for The Old Jokes Home …. On the big screen, in HD.” The Pythons

Picturehouse Entertainment will be broadcasting the upcoming Monty Python Live (mostly) show on July 20 2014, the historic Last Night of the Pythons live from London’s O2, to cinemas around the world.

UK cinema tickets will go on sale from April 25, with further information available on www.montypythonlive.com.

Monty Python rightfully hold a place amongst the world’s finest ever comedians, influencing a generation and revolutionising comedy on their way to greatness. There was huge demand for tickets at the O2, which will be the first live performances on stage by the stars of Monty Python since performing at the Hollywood Bowl on 26-29 September 1980. It will also mark 40 years after they last appeared on stage in the UK at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. At a combined age of nearly 361, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin will once again take to the stage and perform some of Monty Python’s greatest hits with modern, topical, Pythonesque twists.

 

More Killing Jokes…

Since I made mention of the “Killer Joke”/”Joke Warfare”/”Deadliest Joke in the World” Monty Python sketch the other day, it struck me that since most of the people reading this weren’t in my iO classroom last weekend, I should probably elaborate on the two versions of the sketch.

The original version of “Killer Joke” is in the very first “Flying Circus” show aired (which is actually the second one recorded), and runs about nine minutes. When I was interviewing Terry Jones a little while back, he mentioned that when the Pythons released their “Personal Best” DVDs, he had actually re-edited it, shortening it by over three minutes. He was proudest of the the fact that, with nearly one third of it removed, he still hadn’t lost a single laugh.

That seemed like a lot to edit, so I viewed both versions afterward. And, not surprisingly, he’s absolutely right! The original version, which is the one I’ve embedded here, is very funny, but there are still a number of slow spots that can be edited out without damaging the sketch whatsoever. The most glaringly obvious is probably the pan from the British lines to the German lines, which seems to take forever. Terry took the whole thing and tightened it up, and when you view it on “Terry Jones’ Personal Best,” it zips right along and you don’t lose a single laugh.

I use it in my classes to teach students the value of editing, and it works wonderfully. Anytime the audience isn’t laughing is a good time to examine the sketch to see if anything should be cut.

Actually, there is a third version in “And Now For Something Completely Different,” the first Python movie. It’s also shorter than the original version, but as I’m too busy to get it out and time it, you can check it out for yourself if interested. In the meantime, here’s the original.

The Killing Joke…

Had a great weekend subbing for the Writing Program classes at the iO Chicago while the regular teacher went skipping off to Malaysia (Hi Michael!).

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Here, my Spec Script students watch two different versions of Monty Python’s “Killer Joke” on three different screens to learn how Terry Jones cut three minutes out of a nine minute sketch, without losing a single joke. Great job, classes, and I’ll see you again soon!

Help Terry Gilliam help you…

For some reason, Sony pictures has decided that The Zero Theorem, Terry Gilliam’s amazing new film, is not going to be distributed in Scandinavia or Spain. Why, I don’t quite understand. And, I also don’t know how many followers I have in Scandinavia or Spain, but no matter where you live, it can’t hurt to sign this on-line petition so that the film-lovers in those places have the opportunity to check out Terry’s new movie, which stars Christoph Waltz, David Thewlis, and Matt Damon.

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The Zero Theorem is scheduled for a late summer 2014 release by Sony in the U.S., but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t spread it around to the rest of the planet, does it?

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Python Live Linking

The  Monty Python Live Facebook page just went live last week, and it looks like it might be a very good place to check in for occasional updates. Of course, this will, I hope, continue to be another very good place to check in for occasional updates. Why not keep using us both?

BTW, a couple of people have asked me if Terry Gilliam will be taking over Graham Chapman’s roles in this show. As I understand it…not quite. First of all, Terry and Graham are rather different types. Other Pythons may fill in for Graham in some circumstances, but there will also be clips and recordings of Graham filling in for Graham.

I should point out that while the show will include lots of favorite old sketches, there’s going to be new material, and new twists on old material. If you’ve seen or heard Monty Python Live at City Center or Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl, you haven’t seen Monty Python Live (mostly). Tickets are still blah, blah, blah…