Forty-four years ago today, October 5, 1969, the first episode of “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” was broadcast on the BBC. Happy birthday, boys!

An evening with John Cleese is like sitting down with an old friend and a cold vodka and tonic. You know you’re going to have an enjoyable evening–the only question is, how enjoyable?

Most of the audience for John Cleese: Last Time to See Me Before I Die will be familiar with at least some of his work, usually Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, or A Fish Called Wanda. And they will unquestionably get their moneys’ worth with stories and film clips featuring the best-loved bits and co-stars. But just as enjoyable are the stories and clips of lesser-known but just as hilarious shows and friends. Who knew that his mother Muriel would be discussed as much as Monty Python? And get just as many laughs?

John settles into a comfy chair as he discusses both his parents, growing up in Weston-super-Mare, which was inexplicably bombed during World War II, how he got into show business, touring New Zealand, beginning work at the BBC, and early friends and idols like Marty Feldman, David Frost, and Peter Sellers. He hits on all of the successes that one would expect, but also explains his love of black comedy (one of the few things he had in common with his mother). He gleefully relates several practical jokes played on Michael Palin (including one that backfires deliciously), and tries to explain the late Graham Chapman, his friend and writing partner. The show moves along at a rapid pace, and he packs in plenty of stories, seasoning it with just the right amount of photos and film clips.

I suppose a disclaimer is due here: I’ve known and been friends with John since the ’70s, so I am a bit prejudiced. However, after seeing it several times, I was delighted to see the virtually universal enthusiastic audience reaction.

At risk of being labelled a sycophantic fanboy (which, when dealing with John and the Pythons, is a badge I wear with honor), he deserves the adulation; he works hard to ensure that his performance is word-perfect, going into the theatre early to hone phrases and check photos and cues. The result speaks for itself.

After wrapping up the Canadian Tour, John Cleese: Last Time to See Me Before I Die will be touring Australia early in 2014. I’ll post more about it when it gets closer to the time.

Oh, and how enjoyable? Very enjoyable indeed.

A Good Month for Canadian Cleese fans

When I was working for John Cleese, I often urged him to put together a one-man show. He agreed it was a good idea, but never seemed to have the time to organize it. Eventually, faced with the need to pay out an atrocious amount of alimony for too many years, he found the time, and his fans and his ex-wife are the better for it. He’s performed it in various places, trying it out in New Zealand (where, as he put it, if it was a disaster, no one would likely ever hear about it)–and playing it in Scandinavia, Australia, even a few California dates. Now it’s Canada’s turn, where the Halifaxians and Torontons have seen it, and he’s working his way west even as I write this. The bad news: most shows are already sold out, so if you’re in that Great Northern neck of the woods and want to see it, you’d better move fast. But if you’re in Edmonton with nothing to do, try this, but do it quickly. And if you have a great deal to do, but can still get to Edmonton next week, cancel your plans and go see the show anyway. As of this writing, it looks like there are a few tickets remaining for one of the October 5th shows, which would be a great way to celebrate Monty Python’s 44th anniversary.

Why am I writing about it now? Because I finally, at long last, had a chance to see the show. It exceeded my expectations, which were pretty high to begin with. I’ll write a short, completely biased review soon, along with a backstage look at the show.

Paul McCartney, Godzilla, and Me

When I had to pick a new user name for this blog, I’m sure you will not be surprised to hear that I had to incorporate numbers, which is why I became howardjohnson1985. I usually try to come up with something that I can remember (which is becoming increasingly difficult), and thought about using the year I was born. But frankly, I don’t care to be reminded of how old I am that often, and decided to choose another year. For some reason, 1985 popped into my brain, and so I thought I’d grab hold of it for my own purposes.

Then, I tried to figure out what it was about 1985 that appealed to me. It wasn’t as though it was a spectacular year for me personally–it wasn’t terrible, it wasn’t great–in fact, I don’t really recall any great triumphs or tragedies occurring in that year. It was the year after 1984, when a lot of people seemed to be a bit disturbed due to the George Orwell book. But I don’t think there was anything significant in getting past the dreaded 1984.

Looking back on it from this millennium, I can only recall two popular culture usages of 1985. The first was the song 1985 from Band on the Run, which is arguably the best post-Beatles work from Paul McCartney. It certainly isn’t my favorite McCartney song, although it also isn’t my least favorite. But if you think “1985” for very long, and you are of a certain age, it may very well pop into your head. Go ahead, try it. See?

The second was the movie Godzilla 1985, which was a re-boot of the Godzilla series from, I believe, Toho Studios, which gave us Godzilla in the first place. It was not the greatest of the Godzilla movies (that title would belong to either the original Godzilla, King of the Monsters, or possibly Godzilla vs The Thing, also known as Godzilla vs. Mothra), but it was certainly better than much of the drek that had been released during the previous decade. Again, not my favorite Godzilla movie, but certainly not my least favorite. (Not to mention that the following year, I would be on stage in a Chicago improv theatre each night describing the history of post-World War II relations as seen through the films of Godzilla. Long story, which I’ll get to eventually.)

It all seemed pretty arbitrary. But I learned, largely through my improvisation training with Del Close (again, more to come), to look for connections. And what connections are there between Paul McCartney, Godzilla, and me? The answer became obvious. McCartney and Godzilla are known for comebacks and re-inventing themselves, and that’s what I’m doing with this blog. I’m starting again, just like the Cute One and the Big Green One, only I’m starting over as a fiction writer and delving into the cyber world.

I don’t know where it’ll go, but I think it’s going to be a fun ride. Hope you’ll come along with me.