It’s just a few hours before the Pythons take the stage at the O2 Arena. Here’s what’s been happening to make it happen…
Tag Archives: Monty Python
Secret Police
Thirty-five years ago this week, on June 27, 1979, the first Secret Policeman’s Ball was presented in London to benefit Amnesty International. It wasn’t the first Amnesty benefit, and it wouldn’t be the last, but it was certainly one of the best shows. In addition to John Cleese, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Neil Innes, it offered a whole slew of other British comedy greats. And they didn’t come much greater than Peter Cook. This is one of the highlights of the highlights–Peter Cook playing opposite John in “Interesting Facts.” I think you’ll really enjoy this one.
This week in Python…
It was 44 years ago this week, on June 26, 1970, that the Pythons started recording the second series of Monty Python’s Flying Circus.
The Pythons shot most of their film segments during the summer, so that when they went into the BBC studios to tape the programs before an audience, the outside segments could be shown to an audience and edited in afterward. And that is why, when John Cleese walks along the street, walking silly, he changes from film to tape when he walks onto the studio set.
Python Predictions
Every time I’ve seen Terry G perform “I’ve Got Two Legs” (City Center, Hollywood Bowl), he increases his altitude. But it looks like the O2 is going to top them all… BTW, any guesses what’s in the backpack (frontpack) around his waist? If he’s running true to form, it’ll be something disgusting.
What’s going to be in the show? What won’t be? Here are a few of my predictions…
Sketches to look for in the show:
I’ve Got Two Legs: This Terry Gilliam song has, I believe, been performed in the Drury Lane, City Center, and Hollywood Bowl shows, with Terry being hoisted up on a wire. See photo.
Spanish Inquisition: this is one of the classic sketches that I don’t think has been performed live in a Python show before. It’s complicated by the fact that Graham isn’t here to note that there’s trouble at the mill, but someone else could play this somewhat smaller role, or Graham could do it on video.
LLamas: This is a particularly silly thing that has been in virtually all the stage shows, for no particular reason. Why should this one be any different?
What sketches won’t be in the show:
The Most Awful Family in Britain/Church Police: this was one that they used to love to close the show with; it was a great ensemble piece, allowed them to mug in the extreme, and allowed Terry Gilliam to load up on “More beans.” I suspect the lack of Graham was a factor in choosing to leave this out.
Most of the cast scenes that involve Graham. Unless, of course, they can be displayed on video. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Colin “Bomber” Harris wrestling scene, as it’s a stand-alone.
What sketches will be performed very differently:
Silly Walks: It’s too iconic to leave out, but John won’t want to perform this with his bionic hip. So, look for a singing and dancing version.
Dead Parrot: Again, it’s too iconic to leave out, but well-worn territory. I suspect a production number here…
#montypythonlive.com
#pythonspamclub
Rehearsals…
It’s happening, Reg!
More Python Naming Rights
It took months for the Pythons to come up with a name for their show. Many were chosen and discarded, and some of those were recycled and used as the titles for individual episodes. Finally, the BBC announced that their time had run out, and they were simply going to have to make a selection, whether they liked it or not.
The BBC had been referring to the show as “The Circus” in their scheduling books, and that eventually transformed into “The Flying Circus.” For a brief time, the BBC was referring to it as “Baron von Took’s Flying Circus,” after Barry Took, Head of Comedy at that time and a champion of the show. And so, there was a period in which “Flying Circus” was established, but no one knew exactly whose flying circus it would be.
Of course, that led to more meetings about the name. But before Monty Python was selected they considered a number of other ones, including the following:
Megapode’s Flying Circus
Arthur Megapode’s Flying Circus
Admiral Megapode’s Flying Circus
Ow! It’s Megapode’s Flying Circus
Gwen Dibley’s Flying Circus
El Megapode’s Flying Circus
Noris Heaven’s Flying Circus
The Amazing Flying Circus
The 37 Foot Flying Circus
The Fly Circus
El Thompson’s Flying Circus
Arthur Buzzard’s Flying Circus
Myrtle Buzzard’s Flying Circus
Charles IInd’s Flying Circus
El Trotsky’s Flying Circus
Nigel’s Flying Circus
Brian’s Flying Circus
Brian Stalin’s Flying Circus
Limb’s Flying Circus
El Moist’s Flying Circus
Sydney Moist’s Flying Circus
Stephen Furry’s Flying Circus
Will Strangler’s Flying Circus
Cynthia Fellatio’s Flying Circus
El Turbot’s Flying Circus
Norman Python’s Flying Circus
Bob Python’s Flying Circus
and…
Monty Python’s Flying Circus (seems like the obvious choice now, doesn’t it?)
I’ve been blogging a lot about Python lately, and I have a feeling it’ll continue that way for a while–at least through the end of July, when the Reunion shows end and I return from London. But I don’t mind if you don’t.
Time Out for Python
This is a nice piece on the Monty Python reunion in the new Time Out. My pal Mark Evanier noted here that although he is, like so many of us, a huge Python fan, he was bothered about a couple of things. I thought I’d take it upon myself to address them and possibly un-bother him, or at least bother him a little less.
Firstly, this is, almost certainly, the final Python show. I say “almost” because anything can happen, of course. But the most recent word that I have from reliable sources–VERY reliable sources–is that despite some talk about a U.S. tour, etc., none of that is happening, not is it likely to happen. Without giving away confidences, the simple fact is that the five surviving Pythons are all extremely busy men (Graham, of course, has nothing but time on his hands), and it’s very difficult for them to carve out the same chunk of time to so much as have lunch together. The fact that they’re doing ten reunion shows in July is almost miraculous. The fact is, one of the Pythons is committed up through next year (when a U.S. Tour had been discussed), and when that commitment ends, others will be equally busy. And so on.
Of course, after the end of the shows on July 20th, the guys could all sit down and decide that they had so much fun that they want to do it again. But the busyness of their schedules (and, as they constantly remind me, the advancing of their ages) make this extremely unlikely. As one of them told me, “By the time we’re all available again, I’ll be too old to be climbing up on the stage.”
Secondly, Mark seems a bit bothered by the way the Pythons seem to tease, insult, and basically poke fun at each other. I’ve long since gotten used to this, but it’s true, they do this on occasion, and there have even been times over the past several decades when someone has taken something the wrong way. But it’s something they’ve always done. And, particularly when they’re doing interviews, it’s not terribly entertaining, interesting, or funny for them to say “The other Pythons are warm, wonderful human being.” Of course, they sometimes do say this, or words to that effect, but if they say it 99 times for every one time they insult one of the others, guess which is going to turn up in print?
The Time Out piece is actually rather perceptive in this regard, and the writer refers to them as like family. I’ve always told the various Pythons, particularly when there may have been a (temporary) falling out, that they are more like brothers than friends. When friends argue and fight, they often go their separate ways for good. But the Pythons are like brothers, who can bicker and argue, but share a common bond that will always bring them together eventually.
Before I get too philosophical about all of this, I’ll just leave you with this takeaway: if you’ve ever wanted to see Monty Python Live, this is almost certainly your only chance. But you’ll have to come to them, as they won’t be coming to you. Trust me.
Naming Rights
It was 45 years ago this week, on June 16, 1969, that the Pythons held a meeting to try to decide on a name for their upcoming TV series. They were unsuccessful.
It would take a lot of meetings and a lot of suggestions before they came up with the winning selection. It was not a high priority for them at the time. They had numerous discussions in which they finally selected one, then met again the following day and decided they didn’t like it very much. And the process would start over.
As most fans know, they went through many, many names trying to select the perfect name for their show. By the way, it’s worth mentioning that they weren’t trying to pick a name for their comedy group, because at that time, they didn’t consider themselves a comedy group–just six writer-performers who were trying to figure out what to call their TV series. I’ll post a few of the runners-up this week.
The Unofficial World Cup Anthem
I meant to get this posted a few days ago, and I didn’t, and now England has already lost to Italy. Which only makes it more appropriate, I suppose.
The first time I ever heard this song was on the set of Life of Brian in Tunisia. Eric Idle had apparently recorded it in John Goldstone’s hotel room, and brought it down on the set for all of us to hear. Of course, it ended up as the closing number for Brian, and has gone on to become the unofficial anthem of losing football fans, comedy lovers, and funerals everywhere. This version includes a new verse to coincide with the World Cup and is, I should point out, available on itunes. It’s a great way to help you get over a World Cup loss. Just saying.
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