[Humour] Who was your favourite Python ?

[Brovion]

Palin. Jones was nice too. And Gilliam. Idle, too. and Chapman. I was also a fan of DNAYS, with Denise Coffey and, yes, David Jason.

Cleese however, despite the genius of his comedy, now sounds like a pompous old tit, and100% grizzling gammon, and I can't warm to him at all. He's the Paul McCartney of the Pythons; only a matter of time before he wants the writing credits changed to Cleese et al.

Apologies if that's a bit harsh.

No, 100% agree. Cleese was my favourite Python at the time, followed by Idle. As you say he's just become an embarrassment now, almost a parody. Watching in retrospect I find that I much prefer the Palin and Jones stuff - inasmuch as I still find any of it funny. Of the spin-offs it's Rutland Weekend Television, Fawlty Towers and Ripping Yarns in that order.

And a GREAT shout for Do Not Adjust Your Set, possibly my favourite TV show of all time. I was about 10/11 when it was broadcast and I thought it was beyond brilliant. Those adventures with the evil Mrs Black were incredible.


EDIT: And I loved an interview I read with David Jason about that DNAYS team. Obviously a lot of them (including Neil Innes from the Bonzos) went on to do something with Python - but not Jason.. He said "It was like being in the Beatles. And I was Pete Best."

 

[fleet]

Palin for me - have met him and he seems to be a really nice guy

 

[PFJ]

Palin all the way .........He is/was the most silly, but with a quintessential Englishness about it all.............and I thought rose above the others at the O2 shows.

 

[marlowe]

Cleese however, despite the genius of his comedy, now sounds like a pompous old tit, and100% grizzling gammon, and I can't warm to him at all. He's the Paul McCartney of the Pythons....

And I loved an interview I read with David Jason about that DNAYS team. Obviously a lot of them (including Neil Innes from the Bonzos) went on to do something with Python - but not Jason.. He said "It was like being in the Beatles. And I was Pete Best."

So who does that leave as Ringo? Palin or Idle?

This video shows that Idle also does a more than passable impression of McCartney and like Cleese has also earned something of a reputation as being "difficult", particularly in the two royalties disputes, first with Holy Grail producer Mark Forstater and then with Neil Innes over Spamalot.

Incidentally The Rutles' drummer John Halsey was the drummer on Lou Reed's album "Transformer"

https://youtu.be/amiBTezWKqQ

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

No, 100% agree. Cleese was my favourite Python at the time, followed by Idle. As you say he's just become an embarrassment now, almost a parody. Watching in retrospect I find that I much prefer the Palin and Jones stuff - inasmuch as I still find any of it funny. Of the spin-offs it's Rutland Weekend Television, Fawlty Towers and Ripping Yarns in that order.

And a GREAT shout for Do Not Adjust Your Set, possibly my favourite TV show of all time. I was about 10/11 when it was broadcast and I thought it was beyond brilliant. Those adventures with the evil Mrs Black were incredible.


EDIT: And I loved an interview I read with David Jason about that DNAYS team. Obviously a lot of them (including Neil Innes from the Bonzos) went on to do something with Python - but not Jason.. He said "It was like being in the Beatles. And I was Pete Best."

And of course we had the actual Bonzos on DNAYS. Yes, my favourite kids programme at the time too (although Dr Who, Lost in Space, The Avengers, Land of the Giants and Tales from Europe (Singing Ringing Tree, anyone) were also great 60s faves).

Nostalgia, however, isn't what it used to be. Fact.