Come see the violence inherent in the system!
Keith O had some of the Monty Python crew on his show to promote their documentary on the IFC celebrating the their 40th anniversary. (how time flys).
Today at work, some of us were talking fondly of our childhood experience with Where the Wild Things Are. I made the comment that it probably no small influence on why I am the diehard liberal that I am today.
And seeing Cleese, Gilliman and Jones reminded me of my teen encounters with Python and how it shaped my view of adults and their world of politics. I mean where else would I encounter something that would make me ponder ust what an anarcho-syndicalist commune was?
And it was the first election night special that I watched. (Maybe the Silly Party could get us real health care reform.)
And speaking of silly, it made me think for the first time that there might be a place in goverment for me.
On the economic front, moreover, they were the first to truly show what twits the rich elite really are (and why the recent meltdown should come as no surprise).
They showed me that I should have the right to have babies even though I can actually have babies. And that there was a difference between the People's Front of Judea and the Judea's People's Front.
And they showed me the historical connection between the Catholic Church and the rise of Gitmo.
In the end they showed me that we all should just look on the bright side of life. And when we can't do that, to just remember how amazingly unlikely your birth in this amazing universe.
And if all else fails, just hit 'em with a bigger fish.
Here's a big thanks of OY! to all the guys of Monty.
You've hit many of my favorites But one of my favorites was people aren't wearing enough hats
October 15, 2009 12:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Great pick! I love it! "Regarding your second point, about... distracted. Has anyone noticed that building there before?" That is just profoundly wicked!
Now, where were we. You said something about hats?
Thanks, camus, for the tour through python. I was actually looking at a number of these on youTube earlier today, and learned only later that we were celebrating 40 years of it.
October 15, 2009 1:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
My pleasure Sleepin. I had to really work at limiting the number of links. Their stuff just never gets old.
October 15, 2009 1:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
that's a great one...one needs no more to understand how this country got to be where it is today.
October 15, 2009 1:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
OR, if we want to see the prescient precursor of TPM, today:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQFKtI6gn9Y&feature=related
October 15, 2009 1:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
These still exist today, training our country's future trolls.
October 15, 2009 2:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyQvjKqXA0Y&feature=related
42 seconds and it always takes me four minutes to find the bloody things.
I think everybody has to post one scene in their comments here. hahaha
I saw Keith O too. How can anybody NOT like these guys. Besides their movies and such they all have appearances in many movies like Cleese, or great history documentaries or they produce epic films...
Yeah, I was in my teens, the end of them anyway. They would play the skits late at night. I HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE IN MY LIFE I would say out loud to no one since I was alone.
It was far more than dadaism. More than just chaos. It was telling me and evidently a lot of younger people that our parents had straight out lied to us, that everything was not going to be okay, that our elected leaders were in it for themselves and their friends, that there wwere more complications than freedom vs. karl marx...
They were really not aware of the philosophical implications at all from what they said. They made no big money or anything. But neither the studio or BBC or anyone else really cared what they did as long as they did not show naughty bits or use anglo-saxon terminology as it were. ha
Fun post. We got to get everybody in here.
October 15, 2009 1:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
throatwabler mangrove - now there's a username
and yes indeed it was more than a chaotic dadaism - it was a wicked crazy subversive string of skits that told us it wasn't us that were crazy, it was them. All from a bunch of guys just trying to make each other laugh.
It is the best medicine.
October 15, 2009 1:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
I saw them tonight on Olbermann. It's always good to see and hear these brilliant fellows.
A few favorite Python lines of mine:
"I like banging two bricks together!"
"My hovercraft is full of eels. I want to squeeze your thighs bouncy bouncy!"
"Of course it's a good idea!"
"Look at the bones!"
"No, he's not dead. He just pining away for the fjords. Beautiful plummage... the Norwegian Blue."
"Just remember life's a show, keep em laughing as ya go. Just remember that the last laugh is on you!"
1st man: "I came here for an argument but you're just contradicting me.
2nd man: "No I'm not."
October 15, 2009 1:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
These just crack me up.
The first one that comes to mind:
Brian: You're all different!
Crowd in unison: We're all different!
Man: I'm not.
Second Man: Shhhh.
October 15, 2009 1:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Of course I have to add this (from the first link):
Denis: Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
Arthur: Be quiet!
Denis: You can’t expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you.
Arthur: Shut up!
Denis: I mean, if I went around saying I was an emperor just because some moistened bink threw a scimitar at me, they’d put me away.
October 15, 2009 2:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wot in bloody 'ell is a bink??
Oi, never mind...
October 15, 2009 4:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
And - pretty obviously - it's supposed to be moistened BINT.
October 15, 2009 1:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
well obviously the British have been mispelling and misprouncing this word for all these years.
October 15, 2009 2:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, much better than being called a "bunt," I can assure you.
October 15, 2009 2:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, I don't like being called a disease of cereal plants caused by smut fungi.
But this smut fungi, this intrigues me...
October 15, 2009 3:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually I looked "bink" up and it means a "bench." Have to remember that one for the next game of scrabble. And I would like it if judges started saying, "counsel, please approach the bink" or football players would say "i was upset when the coach binked me."
But in the end, if i went around saying I was an emperor because a wet bench threw a scimitar at me, they would still throw me away.
October 15, 2009 3:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
One of the best moments in Python history!
I have laughed and laughed and laughed till I nearly cried at that scene. Brilliant!
October 15, 2009 12:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ah, but the pressing need for health care reform will make you weep.
October 15, 2009 1:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
HEALTHCARE REFORM MAKES MY BRAIN HURT!
October 15, 2009 2:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
I won't be able to catch this for a few more hours. Thanks for the tip!
October 15, 2009 6:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
You're welcome.
And now for something completely different...
October 15, 2009 7:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'll not interrupt this sketch for two quid.
October 15, 2009 9:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think they should tax all people who reply to people who do not interupt sketches for two quid......oy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrVVQtU8Lug
October 15, 2009 9:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think she's dead.
October 15, 2009 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, no. She's just resting.
October 15, 2009 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Socialism gone bad. Dennis Moore and his Bloody Lupins.
And Part II.
October 15, 2009 12:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
As I say, here're the BLOODY FUCKING LUPINS.
And AGAIN, DAMN YOU.
October 15, 2009 12:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
"He steals from the poor to give to the rich! Stupid bitch!"
October 15, 2009 1:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wasn't that Bush?
October 15, 2009 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
This use to be a nice neighborhood until the Old Ladies showed up.
C
October 15, 2009 1:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
And our townhall meetings used to be so civil.
October 15, 2009 2:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stoned watching the "Ministry of Funny Walks". I won't hazard guesses as to why that one stands out so much for me.
October 15, 2009 1:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yet I would hazard that you weren't the only one that has partook in a buzz before watching some python.
October 15, 2009 2:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Every Saturday night I had an SNL and Python party at my apartment in the Seventies. Standing room only around the TV.
October 15, 2009 8:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Acamus, Thank you. I was feeling great, but now I feel better ... better get a bucket!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2Bs1ZZ-7b8&feature=fvw
October 15, 2009 2:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Nothing says America better than a day of gluttony.
October 15, 2009 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Double thanks for this, acamus. Needed a laugh today.
Hard to pick one, but here's one of my favorites:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiDmMBIyfsU
October 15, 2009 3:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Whether it is the cheesemakers or any manufacturers of dairy products that are blessed has caused a many of family fights over the holiday dinner table, let me tell you.
October 15, 2009 4:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
And (I have to admit) some not-so-well-timed giggles during mass on occasion.
October 15, 2009 5:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
the monty made me do it
October 15, 2009 5:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
And this skit got me through many hours of drill at Basic Training back at dear old Lackland AFB. Finally it can be told, this is why I was always snickering in formation, I mean who wouldn't?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol5Dfs7jqFI&NR=1
October 15, 2009 4:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wouldn't.
There have been numerous meeting in which someone does or says something that reminds me of a python skit, causing me to suddenly snicker at odd or inappropriate moments, doing what I can not to suddenly starting talking in a bad british accent.
October 15, 2009 4:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's not leave out how we learned about the importance of having our motor vehicles insured against accidents and nude ladies.
Great post acamus! But The Bright Side of Life can stop playing in my head any time now. I blame you. :-)
October 15, 2009 5:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not immune, i've got the eric idle signing the universe song on a loop in my head today.
October 15, 2009 5:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, we learned what it was going to be like trying to get our healthcare insurer to pay for a procedure.
October 15, 2009 5:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
So....is this the full Monty?
October 15, 2009 6:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
ROTFLMTO!
Leave it to LisB to sum up the situation so succinctly!
October 15, 2009 6:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
quite
October 15, 2009 7:13 PM | Reply | Permalink