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Post by John Green on Aug 27, 2021 19:49:24 GMT
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Post by mattg on Aug 27, 2021 22:02:17 GMT
Despite being a huge fan of Monty Python (and M&W) I have to concede that Eric and Ernie’s less than effusive praise of the former is perhaps not entirely without merit all things considered!
Whether one agrees with them or not though their criticism at least seems honest and genuine rather than simply derived from professional jealously or rivalry et al.
Regardless, a great and insightful little find. Hopefully the rest of the material that clip was found amongst is too…
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Post by garygraham on Aug 28, 2021 2:12:14 GMT
I think it was a generational thing. I believe Arthur Askey blanked Alexei Sayle at one of Bill Cotton's cocktail parties? And Ronnie Barker was said to be unhappy about Not the Nine O'Clock News when they did their "Two Ninnies" spoof.
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Post by petercheck on Aug 28, 2021 6:07:59 GMT
I agree 100% with M&W's assessment. 'Monty Python' was just a cult thing at the time - far more popular (and far more amusing imo) were the likes of Dick Emery, Benny Hill and Les Dawson, to name just three.
Oh, and it is certainly not a generational thing with me - I'm 58!
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Post by richardwoods on Aug 28, 2021 7:02:52 GMT
At the time The Goodies were far more popular. It’s interesting that my parents found Python too out there but liked little bits of it, as a youngster I found it hilarious.
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Post by petercheck on Aug 28, 2021 7:51:50 GMT
At the time The Goodies were far more popular. It’s interesting that my parents found Python too out there but liked little bits of it, as a youngster I found it hilarious. Don't get me wrong, I found (and still find) Monty Python very funny in parts, but also - like most sketch shows - thought it a bit hit and miss. Maybe if I'd have been a little older I'd have appreciated them more... Yes, The Goodies were very popular, and great fun.
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Post by Peter Stirling on Aug 28, 2021 8:47:12 GMT
At the time The Goodies were far more popular. It’s interesting that my parents found Python too out there but liked little bits of it, as a youngster I found it hilarious. Monty Python was a bit of a shock to the older generation wasn't it? having been use to formatted sitcoms and sturdy comedians with long apprenticeships. Whereas the kids had been nurtured on stuff like Do not Adjust Your Set. Now the Monty Python world is in fact reality LOL
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Post by Peter Stirling on Aug 28, 2021 8:51:56 GMT
I agree 100% with M&W's assessment. 'Monty Python' was just a cult thing at the time - far more popular (and far more amusing imo) were the likes of Dick Emery, Benny Hill and Les Dawson, to name just three. Oh, and it is certainly not a generational thing with me - I'm 58! Perhaps interesting is that M&W never traveled well, it was like a personal friendship with British public, whereas Benny Hill etc made friends with everybody.
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Post by Richard Marple on Aug 28, 2021 14:11:16 GMT
I've liked Monty Python for years, but certainly the Flying Circus could be hit & miss quality-wise, especially the later ones where they were struggling to come up with new material.
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Post by John Wall on Aug 28, 2021 14:44:02 GMT
TV is a hell of a treadmill. In the days of music hall an act only needed to be refreshed about once a year - maybe less - as it was continually being seen by a new audience. Look at Morecambe and Wise at the BBC and in their final few years they were only really doing a Christmas show. I recall the late Paul Daniels on TV - at the end he was dressing up tricks to make them last quite a long time.
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Post by Marie Griffiths on Aug 28, 2021 14:51:53 GMT
I was at UEA in 1990. They were showing old Dr Who episodes from the John Pertwee era at the time. Goodness knows what other gems they had. I worked on the Nexus radio spirt show occasionally having to broadcast when there was a no show. I was dreadful.
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Post by nathangeorge on Aug 28, 2021 17:10:54 GMT
I always thought Spike Milligan broke more ground than Python but being far less PC (putting it kindly) his humour, though similar in it's off-the-wall, punchline-less style has aged less well. My dad summed it up, "some weeks Pyhton was genuis, other weeks it was crap"
I gather Michael Palin was a little hurt by the M&W comments but conceded they were at least being honest. I just find it strange they were so candid. I'd like to know if the pair knew the interviewer well, if perhaps they felt a degree of trust toward them because it seems so odd, especially for the period, for any veteran professionals to be so critical of fellow artists.
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Post by petercheck on Aug 28, 2021 17:17:22 GMT
If there was old footage of Monty Python saying they disliked M&W it wouldn't even be news. Somehow Monty Python have become the comedy equivalent of The Beatles, where it is considered almost sacrilege to criticise them (and please don't take it personally folks, I love The Beatles and I largely like/respect Monty Python!).
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Post by richardwoods on Aug 28, 2021 18:36:21 GMT
I always thought Spike Milligan broke more ground than Python but being far less PC (putting it kindly) his humour, though similar in it's off-the-wall, punchline-less style has aged less well. My dad summed it up, "some weeks Pyhton was genuis, other weeks it was crap" I gather Michael Palin was a little hurt by the M&W comments but conceded they were at least being honest. I just find it strange they were so candid. I'd like to know if the pair knew the interviewer well, if perhaps they felt a degree of trust toward them because it seems so odd, especially for the period, for any veteran professionals to be so critical of fellow artists. Python was far from PC!!!! Why would they be? What about Mrs N.B for starters? Perhaps less in your face than Spike but still.
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Post by Pete Morris on Aug 28, 2021 21:15:08 GMT
They also had Blake's 7.
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