Anyone who is a John Cleese fan has to watch Fawlty Towers. Also the four Yorkshiremen sketch which was originaly with Marty Feldman before Python came along. John is just brilliant at going to extremes. The Python who played Brian was Graham Chapman another comic genius and often forgotten now.
This was a brilliant parody of the discussion that went on when The Life of Brian was released - there was calls for the film to be banned and in certain places in the UK it was. In fact, Sue Jones-Davies (played Judith), after the film became Mayor of Aberystwyth where the film had been banned - her first job once in office - lift the ban. You should do a reaction to the film - JPS just did the whole film and watching him was brilliant
Well that was fun! The look of bewilderment on Ethan’s face was priceless. Good to see that “Wifey” is such a fan of Monty Python. You guys always brighten up my day.
"Not The Nine O'clock News" was so huge in the UK from 1979 to 1982. I remember everybody buying the audio cassettes, and one bar/disco I went to used to play sketches on TV screens all night. The ending with the Spanish waiters was mocking John Cleese series Fawlty Towers. Thought by many to be the greatest comedy series ever.
This is mocking an interview that took place on UK TV with John Cleese & Michael Palin having to defend The Life Of Brian against a bishop and a religious guy who didn't watch the entire film and jumped to conclusions about it. Rowan Atkinson (as a priest here) is basically acting how John Cleese did in that interview and the guy in the suit is acting how the bishop did in the real interview.
It’s a fascinating interview and the Monty python boys do well to stay calm given the pomposity of the bishop and other guy who are basically calling them liars.
Members of Monty Python appeared on an actual serious similar show, having to defend their film The Life of Brian, against religious opposition claiming it was mocking Christianity.
I was about to say the same. John Cleese and Michael Palin, rather unwisely, debated with Malcolm Muggeridge and the Bishop of Southwark. Unwisely because nobody came across well. It was the most cringe-worthy bit of TV. But a lot of lessons learned. Something like Life of Brian is gentle mockery, there is no deep meaning in it, and that was never the intention. It was just funny. They didn't need to defend it - it was highly successful already. Comedians have avoided similar defences since!
@@Cchogan actually Michael Palin wiped the floor with Malcom Muggeridge, a famous academic of the day and a staunch Catholic. Muggeridge’s partner in the debate was a bishop who - quite wisely IMHO - just sought to disparage it as schoolboy humour. Muggers, on the other hand, tried to claim it was ‘against God’s will’. Too long to explain here but the young Pailin absolutely demolished him.
Gerald the Gorilla and Constable Savage are infamous sketches from Not the Nine O'Clock News, featuring more Rowan Atkinson, very much worth a watch you will not regret it. 🤣
It definitely helps if you’re familiar with the interview/debate the Pythons did about Life of Brian on the show Friday Night, Saturday Morning - it’s a direct parody of it
Cleese and Palin went onto a talk show to defend the film from some exceptionally blinkered people - this skit is aping that. The show can be found here - th-cam.com/video/ZYMpObbt2rs/w-d-xo.html
Not the nine oclock news was a late 70s/early 80s sketch show (it got its name because it was broadcast on BBC2 at 9pm, the same time as the main BBC news programme aired on BBC1), which launched the careers of it's stars - Rowan Atkinson, Pamela Stevenson, Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones, all of whom went on to greater stardom. It was quite irreverent and often a bit rude so became very popular with school children and students. If you can find it, one of the funniest sketches is a song they did about lorry drivers called I Like Trucking.
Love the satire in British comedy! What is even more amazing is this sketch and the actual 'Not the Nine O'clock news' programme is more than 40yrs old, and it is still good relevant humour! Your reaction, which I thin is priceless is proof of this!
The mention of "The Good Bok" which you may have missed, was a reference to the 2nd book that the Monty Python team put out in 1973 called "The Brand New Monty Python Bok" with the deliberate misspelling. It contained a lot of new material, whereas their first book, "Monty Python's Big Red Book" which came out in 1971, was mostly material from their first 2 TV series. The LIfe Of Brian movie came out in 1979.
@@betterhalf6868 sadly, I only have a copy of the The Brand New Monty Python Papperbok :( Mind you, they also released a vinyl LP which had 3 sides; side 2 had around a 1 in 4 chance of playing an alternate 2nd side but was not mentioned anywhere on the packaging. Definitely something completely different!
Also, "Bert Fegs nasty book", "Dr. Fegg's Encyclopedia of All World Knowledge" an updated version and the "Ripping Yarns" books. All by Jones and Palin. I'm sure the others had books issued too but I only have these and the "Big Red Book".
@@DenisNorden I'd forgotten that? I'll have to dig it out, if I can get my "Gramophone" to play? "Matching Tie and Handkerchief" I think? Didn't one of the others feed back on itself at the end? Can't remember the album but the sketch was "Doug and Dinsdale Piranha".
@@johnp8131 I think you're referring to the end of Side One of "Another Monty Python Record". The sketch has a lock groove (that repeating end section you referred to as feed back) at the end of the side. But yeah, the three-sided record is "Matching Tie and Handkerchief" :)
The thing about this sketch is that it parodies an actual TV show that had members of the clergy (who by the way didn’t watch The Life Of Brian.) attack john and Micheal of Monty Python who were also on the show. I think it’s on youtube somewhere.
NTNN was a brilliant show full of satire....Check out their gorilla sketch...The lady playing the interviewer (Pamela Stephenson) is famously married to our beloved Billy Connelly, another highly recommended comic and is now a well respected psychologist, Mel Smith, the other guy (RIP) was half of a comedy duo called Alas Smith and Jones with Gryff Rhys Jones, another British treasure who is now more widely known for documentaries....
Talk shows often have a few indoor plants scattered around. The "jungle" theme was probably an exaggeration of these plants. Now you have to follow up not just "Life of Brian", the Parrot Sketch (it has ceased to be), the Spanish Inquisition, but also Atkinson's routine "The Devil".
Not the Nine O'Clock News (NTNON) was a sketch show that is well worth delving into. The show was very big in the UK at the time (late seventies - early eighties) and it poked fun / highlighted some of the oddities of those times. Some brilliant sketches (and songs), including this one. I see others have posted links to the TV interview they were mocking with this sketch - that's also worth watching for a view of those times in the UK (including self-appointed guardians of good/proper behaviour.) Other sketches off the top of my head include: * Gerald the gorilla * The Swedish chemist shop * Constable Savage (police sketch) * Reagan press conference * '(I like) Trucking' song * Ayatollah song * Cut off their goolies * Grammophone * the many miscellaneous small sketches There's many others
Nathan, I think you should watch your wife’s reaction to this type of British comedy, she is really funny. Thumbs up too both off you. Chris from Leicester UK
John Cleese was the unofficial leader of MP. He also made a hilarious comic 'thriller' called A Fish Called Wanda with Kevin Kline and Jamie Lee Curtis.
This is the best of British satire. The religious establishment at the time went ballistic when "The Life of Brian" was released. This sketch satirised that by flipping the entire narrative (including using the almost exact same backdrop). You can find the "original" here: th-cam.com/video/ZYMpObbt2rs/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=ScottRollans
the was Rowan Atkinson plays with his viewfinder is a brilliant lampoon of the way that stupid bishop toys with his crucifix, i cannot beleive that the bishop doesn't realise how foolish he makes himself look, and how petty he is acting, they could have just let him ramble by himself and the pythons would have still come out of it smelling of roses
Love it - I can barely remember this - Rowan's impersonation of the pretentious religious git who actually did appear in a "debate" about the Life Of Brian, was pretty accurate.
there was actually a discussion on a "serious" show that went along those lines when Life of Brian was released. There were members of the church arguing with John Cleese (JC) using the very same arguments that were being used it that sketch.
Pamela Stevenson is the wife of Billy Connolly, Pamela Helen Stephenson, Lady Connolly (born 4 December 1949) is a New Zealand-born psychologist, writer, and performer who is now a resident in both the United Kingdom and the United States. She is best known for her work as an actress and comedienne during the 1980s, particularly in Not the Nine O'Clock News; History of the World, Part I; and Superman III. She has written several books, which include a biography of her husband Sir Billy Connolly, and presented a psychology-based interview show called Shrink Rap on British and Australian television.
Not the Nine O'Clock News specialized in parody sketches "Constable Savage" for something that is just as relevant now as it was then (in some parts of the world), "Gerald the Gorilla" for a parody of serious discussion programs, "Darts" for a parody of sports and one that I remember well "Hand Built By Roberts" for a parody of an advert for, I think, Fiat which had the tag line "Hand Built by Robots", there are plenty of others but these are the ones that stuck in my mind, from watching the series when it came out.
That was one of my favourite NTNON sketches, the other being Gerald the Gorilla. I loved that you got it & laughed all the way, you have a lovely laugh. Remember Angela, 'it is an ex parrot..........
After this comedy show ended Mel Smith, who played Alexander Walker on this clip, along with Griff Rhys Jones (who is also on this show) paired up to do 'Alas Smith and Jones' (they drop the word 'alas' after four series to just Smith and Jones). Apparently the title was a pun on the American television series 'Alias Smith and Jones' which was popular in the UK. I've never heard of it though.
The last part about a hotel in Torquay is a reference to Fawlty Towers. Not the Nine o Clock News was way ahead of its time, they did so many great sketches like Clive the gorilla, Creed, Constable Savage & University Challenge to name a few.
That lady at the start is Pamela Stevenson is billy Connolly's (the comedian)wife, and the guy in the tie (mel smith) was the director of the first mr bean movie.
One of the best, most memorable NTNON sketches was actually a song, performed by Rowan, called I think, “ I Believe”. Killer tagline; with a slight change to the words relevant today( well 2016 anyway). Keep up the good work.
The Life of Brian film, by Monty Python, was banned from lots of cinemas across the country when it came out-- as others have pointed out :). There were debates etc on TV shows specifically about blaspheme of/in the film. The clergy etc attacking python. Not the 9 o'clock news did a not News sketch flipping the roles. The controversy has ceased to be.... it is an ex controversy.
The jungle setting's a reference to the original debate that's being parodied here. The studio had a couple of massive plants that looked really out of place, so they just turned it up to 11 in this sketch.
Like I've said before, I'm just catching up on all your videos, but WOW! you have a very intelligent Wife there, Mate, as you obviously already know, hehe, she's definitely a keeper. So best wishes to you and yours from me and mine.
During the 70s/80s, talk shows often had ferns and plants dotted about the studio, which is presumably why Zach Gallifranakis used them in homage on his show, 'Between Two Ferns'.
There is a 12 episode BBC TV comedy series called 'Fawlty Towers' written by John Cleese and his wife (and then ex wife) Connie Booth in which they both star and which is about an hotel in Torquey, England
Nathan, I've watched your channel for quite a while now and have to say the best thing you ever did was to include/coerce your wife onto the channel. She adds a dimension to the channel that makes it infinitely better!
Hi guys! Rowen Atkinson is superb in everything he's done. He recorded some character based monologues/soliliquies on stage,live,years ago,if you can dig these up they are hilarious,he is so good. Loved this episode by the way.
I am impressed with your knowledge of British Comedy. :) That late reference to The Hotel in Torquay in The West Country in England where John Cleese played the Manager and Owner in "Fawlty Towers" one of the greatest British comedies of the last 50 years...
this was great to see - you need to show Ethen a few sketches - search for the Dead Parrot sketch, and the Spanish Inquistion sketch (both Monty Python) and also have a look at a couple of episodes of Fawlty Towers (to understand the references to Spanish waiters)
I think the point is that John Cleese was the 'Christ like figure in Monty Python. This was a new crowd mocking (but in this case also paying respect to) Monty Python's Flying Circus. Old guard move over type thing it was the 80s after all.
"Not The 9 O'clock News" was a show that was put out by BBC2 at the same moment that "The 9 O'clock News" was put out by BBC1. It was a parody of the actual news of the day. It was also the first time anyone had seen Rowan Atkinson. Brilliant!!!
Monty Pythons life of Brian was banned for many years in Ireland as being Blasphemous, it couldn't be shown in cinemas or on TV even though most people could get British tv and a lot of people brought it back on video so almost everyone had seen it by the time the banning order was rescinded.
Not the Nine O'clock News was excellent - the usual team was Mel Smith, Rowan Atkinson, Pamela Stephenson (married to Billy Connolly) and Griff Rhys Jones (who wasn't in this sketch)
I think that the best way to understand this sketch is to first watch Life of Brian and then the actual debate between John Cleese and Michael Palin against an Anglican bishop and a British apologist. Thus sjetch is a basically a parody of that debate.
The sketch is a spoof of the interview / debate John cleese& Michael Palin vs Malcolm muggeridge and the bishop of Durham , hosted by Tim rice ;yes him, on the talk show " Friday night Saturday morning ".
I’m female and I know monty python, faulty towers, etc I’ve watched loads of times, my sisters loved it too, can’t say it’s surprising a female would know it more than a male. It’s all round funny
The Life of Brian irritated exactly the right sort of person at the time but was well received in theatres, it was banned from terrestrial tv for several decades in case it offended Christians only being aired on UK's Channel 4 as recently as 2007.
Sorry but I believe you are mistaken on that date. I had definitely seen LoB on UK TV before the mid 1990s, possibly even in the 80s. There was a made-for-TV documentary about the making of LoB in 2007 however.
Yeah, this is a parody of the Friday Night, Saturday morning interview with John Cleese, Michael Palin, the Bishop of Southwalk and Malcom Muggeridge with the roles and indignation flipped! Classic!!
this was so good,there were serious debates like this about the life of brian when it was released,and was banned in many places, you got to check out fawlty towers its been rated as the best british comedy show of all time. great reaction
Literally had me drooling with laughter over Ethan's complete bewildermint combined with Wifey's love of the humor was next level. It was worthy of a Python sketch in itself. ;)
You need to check out Fawtley Towers ( the hotel in Torquay and spanish waiter references) was written by and starred John Cleese - only ever 6 episodes but each is beautifully crafted and extremely funny
Hi I really enjoyed Not the Nine O'clock News at the time. But do remember that it was a topical comedy show made in the late 70s early 80s I was there and in the same country but I wouldn't be surprised if I failed to get half of it if I watched it again.
Footnote: This sketch is itself a parody of BBC2 late night art shows (e.g. Late Night Line-up), particularly of the 1970's. 'Alexander Walker' as played by Mel Smith was a prominent film critic for the London Evening Standard, known for strong opinions.
Hi, fun fact that you may not have known, the lady in that sketch interviewing, is Pamela Stephenson who is the wife of Comedian Billy Connolly. since 1989.
Hi guys! As a few others have already said this was parodying an actual discussion on British TV between John Cleese and Michael Palin, and Malcolm Muggaridge and the Bishop of Southwark on the other side of the debate. Cleese and Palin have since claimed that when the interview was over Muggaridge and Bish of Southwark admitted to have not even seen the film!!! Also The General Synod is the 'governing body' of The Church of England.
Some of their sketches actually had wider effects: 'Darts' killed the popularity of a sport and 'Gerald the Gorilla' changed the language. The songs both parody and simply silly (like 'I Like Trucking') were some of the best parts of the series.
Trivia: The interviewer is Pamela Stephenson, who married Billy Connolly. They met on the set when she was 'interviewing' him in a sketch parody as Janet Street Porter. th-cam.com/video/DlUb8jt0WP0/w-d-xo.html Billy thought she was the funniest person he had ever met.
This sketch is modelled after a real televised discussion between church officials and Monty Python members after The Life of Brian came out and didn't go over well with the Church of England. Anyway, Not the Nine o'clock News is a great show with some real comedic gems.
A man walks into a tavern in Spain and is surprised by being asked by a chicken, "What would you like to drink?"... No one expects the Spanish Inn Quiz Hen!!!
th-cam.com/video/CeKWVuye1YE/w-d-xo.html Edit: The discussion is about 45mins long and gives context for what is being parodied, if anyone is interested 😁
Hi guys love the channel, this sketch is a Micky take on a late night topical talk show debate between people from the church and the main cast from monty python that happened on BBC2 just after the “”Life of Brian” was first released. It turned into a very heated conversation with the church people taking it far to seriously and eventually everyone losing the plot. For this reason it became a well known program and that’s why “not the nine o’clock new” did this sketch.
The reference to the waiter getting clipped around the ear is pointing to "Fawlty Towers" another classic Brit comedy starring John Cleese, one you may want to check out, I think you may enjoy it. Great channel and reaction video's guys, I'm looking forward for the next. "Red Dwarf" may also be worth looking at.
The debate around Life of Brian was quite infected and many christian leaders wanted to ban the movie. It was banned in Norway for many years. This stint was a parody of that debate.
I think you should react to Fawlty Towers, which is a classic comedy series co-written and starring John Cleese. It's still considered by many to be the funniest British sitcom ever written.
The sketch closely references a debate that took place after the film was released with a couple of the python team in debate with representatives of the Church of England. The sketch turns everything on its head but quite closely mimics the way that the people arguing against the film resorted to randomly throwing comments about the film being second rate over the top of Michael Palin while he was talking.
This skit is also a parody of an actual interview in 1979 where the church had the same view about Life of Brian. The last part about the hotel was referencing Fawlty Towers where they were slapping Spanish waiters up the side of the head. Original interview is here. th-cam.com/video/ZYMpObbt2rs/w-d-xo.html
For note the woman is Pamela Stephenson who has been a Psychologist in the US for many years now. Her husband is comedian Billy Connolly who I can't recall if you have reacted to . If not you definitely need to look him up.
Funny moment from Fawlty Towers. (the Spanish waiter / hotel) reference. th-cam.com/video/izAqFoLtzKM/w-d-xo.html NTNON was its own show on BBC2 at the same time as the Nine o'Clock News was on BBC1.
Not the Nine O'clock News is a comedy sketch show like Monty python you should defiantly do some more like the Gorilla sketch or The McEnroe Home sketch.
Not the Nine O' Clock News was a satirical half hour long sketch show on BBC 2 running from the very late 70's to the early 80's. At that time in the UK we only had three TV Channels BBC 1, BBC 2 and ITV. At the time nine o'clock was the time BBC 1 aired its night time news show, hence the name of the comedy show, I would encourage you to checkout more episodes bearing in mind how dated they are.. Pamela Stephenson (the Interviewer) left comedy and acting to become a psychologist or psychiatrist and married the great Scottish comedian and actor? Billy Connelly. Mel Smith and Griff Rees-Jones had a comedy sketch show for a few years after the end of "not the 9 O'clock", Mel died about 10 years ago. Griff has and is doing documentaries / journey shows. Rowan Atkinson went on to achieve the heights he has.. some of the characters being developed from not the 9 o' clock roles.
I get how this is difficult. They are referencing the film Life of Brian, Fawlty Towers, a few different Monty Python's flying circus skits, and not least the criticism and debates about the film itself (it was banned as blasphemous for a short time here in Norway). The jokes are brilliant, but impossible to get unless you have the background. I'd recommend you check out more of the stuff that came out of that Cambridge Footlights (students theatre group). Some spectacular talent came through there, Pythons, Rowan Atkinson, Mel Smith, Griff Rhys Jones, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, and the list goes on. Treasure trove. All very british, all very smart and "journalistic" in a way. The closest in spirit from the US, I'd say is South Park.
Hello Ethan and Angela. JC was lead in Fawlty Towers and some colleagues went and did Ripping Yarns that I keep suggesting. I have seen the programme this was based on from a TH-cam video. Poor innocent Ethan needs to see some of this stuff, before people start saying he is a very naughty boy. In the mean time, always look on the bright side of life and don't worry about what the Romans ever did for us. Two of the NTNOCN team went on to do Alas Smith and Jones. This was after Alias Smith and Jones. I thought if they kept going naming like this someone might eventually get my name right, then they did in a film! And a Python too.
The last reference was not to Monty Python, but to another series John Cleese did called Fawlty Towers, which you also must check out.
Anyone who is a John Cleese fan has to watch Fawlty Towers. Also the four Yorkshiremen sketch which was originaly with Marty Feldman before Python came along. John is just brilliant at going to extremes.
The Python who played Brian was Graham Chapman another comic genius and often forgotten now.
This was a brilliant parody of the discussion that went on when The Life of Brian was released - there was calls for the film to be banned and in certain places in the UK it was. In fact, Sue Jones-Davies (played Judith), after the film became Mayor of Aberystwyth where the film had been banned - her first job once in office - lift the ban. You should do a reaction to the film - JPS just did the whole film and watching him was brilliant
Oh nice!
I read that in places where it was banned, people got together to hire buses to take them to a town where it wasn't banned.
Well that was fun!
The look of bewilderment on Ethan’s face was priceless. Good to see that “Wifey” is such a fan of Monty Python. You guys always brighten up my day.
"Not The Nine O'clock News" was so huge in the UK from 1979 to 1982. I remember everybody buying the audio cassettes, and one bar/disco I went to used to play sketches on TV screens all night. The ending with the Spanish waiters was mocking John Cleese series Fawlty Towers. Thought by many to be the greatest comedy series ever.
This is mocking an interview that took place on UK TV with John Cleese & Michael Palin having to defend The Life Of Brian against a bishop and a religious guy who didn't watch the entire film and jumped to conclusions about it. Rowan Atkinson (as a priest here) is basically acting how John Cleese did in that interview and the guy in the suit is acting how the bishop did in the real interview.
It’s a fascinating interview and the Monty python boys do well to stay calm given the pomposity of the bishop and other guy who are basically calling them liars.
@@GOGS-zg7rd it was Malcolm Muggeridge the absolute personification of Pompous.
@@dogstaraycliffe That's the one. I could not remember his name. Thank you.
@@dogstaraycliffe Indeed, Muggeridge confirmed during the interview that he was denouncing a film he hadn't seen and knew almost nothing about.
@@michaelmclachlan1650 absolutely spot on
Members of Monty Python appeared on an actual serious similar show, having to defend their film The Life of Brian, against religious opposition claiming it was mocking Christianity.
I was about to say the same. John Cleese and Michael Palin, rather unwisely, debated with Malcolm Muggeridge and the Bishop of Southwark. Unwisely because nobody came across well. It was the most cringe-worthy bit of TV. But a lot of lessons learned. Something like Life of Brian is gentle mockery, there is no deep meaning in it, and that was never the intention. It was just funny. They didn't need to defend it - it was highly successful already. Comedians have avoided similar defences since!
I would like to see that!
@@bechmam4750 th-cam.com/video/ZYMpObbt2rs/w-d-xo.html
@@Cchogan There was definitely some meaning to Life of Brian - it wasn't parodying Jesus, but it _was_ parodying religion.
@@Cchogan actually Michael Palin wiped the floor with Malcom Muggeridge, a famous academic of the day and a staunch Catholic. Muggeridge’s partner in the debate was a bishop who - quite wisely IMHO - just sought to disparage it as schoolboy humour.
Muggers, on the other hand, tried to claim it was ‘against God’s will’. Too long to explain here but the young Pailin absolutely demolished him.
Gerald the Gorilla and Constable Savage are infamous sketches from Not the Nine O'Clock News, featuring more Rowan Atkinson, very much worth a watch you will not regret it. 🤣
You definitely have to see are Gerald the gorilla and Constable Savage they are comedy classics.
Yep, I was going to suggest Gerald the Gorilla too. "All I ever hear is David bloody Attenborough."
@@zingystardust4082 “is it true that when you captured Gerard he was wild?”
Gerard: “wild? I was bloody furious!”
Absolutely! I mean, as Aristotle once said, "η ζωή είναι ένα αγγούρι, η γυναίκα είναι το ποδήλατο".
Yes, Yes, Yes, please react to this 😂👍🇬🇧
It definitely helps if you’re familiar with the interview/debate the Pythons did about Life of Brian on the show Friday Night, Saturday Morning - it’s a direct parody of it
Yeah, that interview was great, John and Michael destroyed the other 2 guys.
Cleese and Palin went onto a talk show to defend the film from some exceptionally blinkered people - this skit is aping that. The show can be found here - th-cam.com/video/ZYMpObbt2rs/w-d-xo.html
This is such a clever sketch. It was an amazing comedy show.
Not the nine oclock news was a late 70s/early 80s sketch show (it got its name because it was broadcast on BBC2 at 9pm, the same time as the main BBC news programme aired on BBC1), which launched the careers of it's stars - Rowan Atkinson, Pamela Stevenson, Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones, all of whom went on to greater stardom. It was quite irreverent and often a bit rude so became very popular with school children and students. If you can find it, one of the funniest sketches is a song they did about lorry drivers called I Like
Trucking.
It was probably the first time I realsed all politicians/media-outlets are taking the piss lol :D
Love the satire in British comedy! What is even more amazing is this sketch and the actual 'Not the Nine O'clock news' programme is more than 40yrs old, and it is still good relevant humour! Your reaction, which I thin is priceless is proof of this!
The mention of "The Good Bok" which you may have missed, was a reference to the 2nd book that the Monty Python team put out in 1973 called "The Brand New Monty Python Bok" with the deliberate misspelling. It contained a lot of new material, whereas their first book, "Monty Python's Big Red Book" which came out in 1971, was mostly material from their first 2 TV series. The LIfe Of Brian movie came out in 1979.
Huh yea I had no idea they wrote a book. That makes more since now thanks👍
@@betterhalf6868 sadly, I only have a copy of the The Brand New Monty Python Papperbok :(
Mind you, they also released a vinyl LP which had 3 sides; side 2 had around a 1 in 4 chance of playing an alternate 2nd side but was not mentioned anywhere on the packaging. Definitely something completely different!
Also, "Bert Fegs nasty book", "Dr. Fegg's Encyclopedia of All World Knowledge" an updated version and the "Ripping Yarns" books. All by Jones and Palin. I'm sure the others had books issued too but I only have these and the "Big Red Book".
@@DenisNorden I'd forgotten that? I'll have to dig it out, if I can get my "Gramophone" to play? "Matching Tie and Handkerchief" I think? Didn't one of the others feed back on itself at the end? Can't remember the album but the sketch was "Doug and Dinsdale Piranha".
@@johnp8131 I think you're referring to the end of Side One of "Another Monty Python Record". The sketch has a lock groove (that repeating end section you referred to as feed back) at the end of the side.
But yeah, the three-sided record is "Matching Tie and Handkerchief" :)
Loved the look of total bafflement on hubbys face 😁
The thing about this sketch is that it parodies an actual TV show that had members of the clergy (who by the way didn’t watch The Life Of Brian.) attack john and Micheal of Monty Python who were also on the show. I think it’s on youtube somewhere.
th-cam.com/video/ZYMpObbt2rs/w-d-xo.html
Love how you ‘got’ the humour. Impressed with your Python knowledge. A part of my youth. Brilliant. Great channel.
I think you should watch some of the Python sketches mentioned, and of course some clips from Faulty Towers, I look forward to it.
Ohh definitely Faulty towers, should be enjoyed by all.
The missus gets it completely.
NTNN was a brilliant show full of satire....Check out their gorilla sketch...The lady playing the interviewer (Pamela Stephenson) is famously married to our beloved Billy Connelly, another highly recommended comic and is now a well respected psychologist, Mel Smith, the other guy (RIP) was half of a comedy duo called Alas Smith and Jones with Gryff Rhys Jones, another British treasure who is now more widely known for documentaries....
And the Gerald sketch actually altered real science.
@@kevinshort3943 lol...oh forgot about that :)
Talk shows often have a few indoor plants scattered around. The "jungle" theme was probably an exaggeration of these plants.
Now you have to follow up not just "Life of Brian", the Parrot Sketch (it has ceased to be), the Spanish Inquisition, but also Atkinson's routine "The Devil".
Not the Nine O'Clock News (NTNON) was a sketch show that is well worth delving into.
The show was very big in the UK at the time (late seventies - early eighties) and it poked fun / highlighted some of the oddities of those times. Some brilliant sketches (and songs), including this one.
I see others have posted links to the TV interview they were mocking with this sketch - that's also worth watching for a view of those times in the UK (including self-appointed guardians of good/proper behaviour.)
Other sketches off the top of my head include:
* Gerald the gorilla
* The Swedish chemist shop
* Constable Savage (police sketch)
* Reagan press conference
* '(I like) Trucking' song
* Ayatollah song
* Cut off their goolies
* Grammophone
* the many miscellaneous small sketches
There's many others
I liked Mel Smith buying the souvenir, and the Hi-Fi shop sketch
Nathan, I think you should watch your wife’s reaction to this type of British comedy, she is really funny. Thumbs up too both off you.
Chris from Leicester UK
John Cleese was the unofficial leader of MP. He also made a hilarious comic 'thriller' called A Fish Called Wanda with Kevin Kline and Jamie Lee Curtis.
This is the best of British satire. The religious establishment at the time went ballistic when "The Life of Brian" was released. This sketch satirised that by flipping the entire narrative (including using the almost exact same backdrop). You can find the "original" here: th-cam.com/video/ZYMpObbt2rs/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=ScottRollans
the was Rowan Atkinson plays with his viewfinder is a brilliant lampoon of the way that stupid bishop toys with his crucifix, i cannot beleive that the bishop doesn't realise how foolish he makes himself look, and how petty he is acting, they could have just let him ramble by himself and the pythons would have still come out of it smelling of roses
Love it - I can barely remember this - Rowan's impersonation of the pretentious religious git who actually did appear in a "debate" about the Life Of Brian, was pretty accurate.
The female 'interviewer' is Billy Connolly's wife, Pamela Stephenson, who is now a real life psychologist in the USA/UK.
there was actually a discussion on a "serious" show that went along those lines when Life of Brian was released. There were members of the church arguing with John Cleese (JC) using the very same arguments that were being used it that sketch.
Gerald the Gorilla is a must see sketch from Not the Nine O'clock News
Pamela Stevenson is the wife of Billy Connolly, Pamela Helen Stephenson, Lady Connolly (born 4 December 1949) is a New Zealand-born psychologist, writer, and performer who is now a resident in both the United Kingdom and the United States. She is best known for her work as an actress and comedienne during the 1980s, particularly in Not the Nine O'Clock News; History of the World, Part I; and Superman III. She has written several books, which include a biography of her husband Sir Billy Connolly, and presented a psychology-based interview show called Shrink Rap on British and Australian television.
Not the Nine O'Clock News specialized in parody sketches "Constable Savage" for something that is just as relevant now as it was then (in some parts of the world), "Gerald the Gorilla" for a parody of serious discussion programs, "Darts" for a parody of sports and one that I remember well "Hand Built By Roberts" for a parody of an advert for, I think, Fiat which had the tag line "Hand Built by Robots", there are plenty of others but these are the ones that stuck in my mind, from watching the series when it came out.
That was one of my favourite NTNON sketches, the other being Gerald the Gorilla. I loved that you got it & laughed all the way, you have a lovely laugh.
Remember Angela, 'it is an ex parrot..........
After this comedy show ended Mel Smith, who played Alexander Walker on this clip, along with Griff Rhys Jones (who is also on this show) paired up to do 'Alas Smith and Jones' (they drop the word 'alas' after four series to just Smith and Jones).
Apparently the title was a pun on the American television series 'Alias Smith and Jones' which was popular in the UK. I've never heard of it though.
Ethan your wife Angela is an absolute star, so funny. Your both doing a great job, keep up the good work.
The interviewer - Pamela Stevenson - became Billy Connolly's Wife. They met on this programme.
The last part about a hotel in Torquay is a reference to Fawlty Towers.
Not the Nine o Clock News was way ahead of its time, they did so many great sketches like Clive the gorilla, Creed, Constable Savage & University Challenge to name a few.
That lady at the start is Pamela Stevenson is billy Connolly's (the comedian)wife, and the guy in the tie (mel smith) was the director of the first mr bean movie.
That was hilarious I’m so glad one of you got our humour love from Denise in Yorkshire England 🏴👍👍👍👍👍🤣😂😘
One of the best, most memorable NTNON sketches was actually a song, performed by Rowan, called I think, “ I Believe”. Killer tagline; with a slight change to the words relevant today( well 2016 anyway). Keep up the good work.
The Life of Brian film, by Monty Python, was banned from lots of cinemas across the country when it came out-- as others have pointed out :). There were debates etc on TV shows specifically about blaspheme of/in the film. The clergy etc attacking python.
Not the 9 o'clock news did a not News sketch flipping the roles. The controversy has ceased to be.... it is an ex controversy.
@Stephen McIntosh The 12 other commenters explained it better. :)
The jungle setting's a reference to the original debate that's being parodied here. The studio had a couple of massive plants that looked really out of place, so they just turned it up to 11 in this sketch.
The comment about a Hotel in Torquay where he kicks a spanish waiter repeatedly up the bottom was John Cleese in Fawlty Towers
Life of Brian was a really controversial film (amongst a conservative "middle England") in the late 1970s. I'd forgotten about this sketch. Brilliant
They were talking about "Faulty Towers" near the end of the vid which is well worth a look when you have time.
Like I've said before, I'm just catching up on all your videos, but WOW! you have a very intelligent Wife there, Mate, as you obviously already know, hehe, she's definitely a keeper.
So best wishes to you and yours from me and mine.
During the 70s/80s, talk shows often had ferns and plants dotted about the studio, which is presumably why Zach Gallifranakis used them in homage on his show, 'Between Two Ferns'.
In Britain, we pronounce the H in Homage, whether we use the French or English pronunciation (homaaj/hommidge).
There was so much nonsense around the life of Brian . This was perfect.
Brilliant ..this lady is a Gem .. I love that you outpythoned him
There is a 12 episode BBC TV comedy series called 'Fawlty Towers' written by John Cleese and his wife (and then ex wife) Connie Booth in which they both star and which is about an hotel in Torquey, England
Nathan, I've watched your channel for quite a while now and have to say the best thing you ever did was to include/coerce your wife onto the channel. She adds a dimension to the channel that makes it infinitely better!
Pamela Stephenson was part of the cast of Not the 9 0'clockNnews in the late 70's and early 80's. On an aside she is also Billy Connolly's wife.
Hi guys! Rowen Atkinson is superb in everything he's done. He recorded some character based monologues/soliliquies on stage,live,years ago,if you can dig these up they are hilarious,he is so good. Loved this episode by the way.
Not to mention his duet with Kate Bush.
th-cam.com/video/LswKizinfJY/w-d-xo.html
Haha yes i had almost forgotten about that! :D
"Worshippers"
Good to see how clued up 'the wife' was with the references.
I am impressed with your knowledge of British Comedy. :)
That late reference to The Hotel in Torquay in The West Country in England where John Cleese played the Manager and Owner in "Fawlty Towers" one of the greatest British comedies of the last 50 years...
this was great to see - you need to show Ethen a few sketches - search for the Dead Parrot sketch, and the Spanish Inquistion sketch (both Monty Python) and also have a look at a couple of episodes of Fawlty Towers (to understand the references to Spanish waiters)
I think the point is that John Cleese was the 'Christ like figure in Monty Python. This was a new crowd mocking (but in this case also paying respect to) Monty Python's Flying Circus. Old guard move over type thing it was the 80s after all.
"Not The 9 O'clock News" was a show that was put out by BBC2 at the same moment that "The 9 O'clock News" was put out by BBC1. It was a parody of the actual news of the day. It was also the first time anyone had seen Rowan Atkinson. Brilliant!!!
Monty Pythons life of Brian was banned for many years in Ireland as being Blasphemous, it couldn't be shown in cinemas or on TV even though most people could get British tv and a lot of people brought it back on video so almost everyone had seen it by the time the banning order was rescinded.
Not the Nine O'clock News was excellent - the usual team was Mel Smith, Rowan Atkinson, Pamela Stephenson (married to Billy Connolly) and Griff Rhys Jones (who wasn't in this sketch)
the bit about Torquey is referring to Fawlty Towers, one of the greatest sitcoms ever made
I think that the best way to understand this sketch is to first watch Life of Brian and then the actual debate between John Cleese and Michael Palin against an Anglican bishop and a British apologist. Thus sjetch is a basically a parody of that debate.
Check out Fawlty Towers. That’s the Torbay reference… absolutely wonderful.
This sketch is actually a parody of a specific interview that took place on British TV when TLOB was released
The sketch is a spoof of the interview / debate John cleese& Michael Palin vs Malcolm muggeridge and the bishop of Durham , hosted by Tim rice ;yes him, on the talk show " Friday night Saturday morning ".
th-cam.com/video/ZYMpObbt2rs/w-d-xo.html
Wow,that has to be rare,when a couple are discussing Python and it is the female that is the "expert" LOL You really have to get tha lad on board
I’m female and I know monty python, faulty towers, etc I’ve watched loads of times, my sisters loved it too, can’t say it’s surprising a female would know it more than a male. It’s all round funny
The Life of Brian irritated exactly the right sort of person at the time but was well received in theatres, it was banned from terrestrial tv for several decades in case it offended Christians only being aired on UK's Channel 4 as recently as 2007.
Sorry but I believe you are mistaken on that date. I had definitely seen LoB on UK TV before the mid 1990s, possibly even in the 80s. There was a made-for-TV documentary about the making of LoB in 2007 however.
Yeah, this is a parody of the Friday Night, Saturday morning interview with John Cleese, Michael Palin, the Bishop of Southwalk and Malcom Muggeridge with the roles and indignation flipped! Classic!!
this was so good,there were serious debates like this about the life of brian when it was released,and was banned in many places, you got to check out fawlty towers its been rated as the best british comedy show of all time. great reaction
Literally had me drooling with laughter over Ethan's complete bewildermint combined with Wifey's love of the humor was next level. It was worthy of a Python sketch in itself. ;)
I was right there with you, Midwest Wife - this was hilarious!
You need to check out Fawtley Towers ( the hotel in Torquay and spanish waiter references) was written by and starred John Cleese - only ever 6 episodes but each is beautifully crafted and extremely funny
Hi I really enjoyed Not the Nine O'clock News at the time. But do remember that it was a topical comedy show made in the late 70s early 80s I was there and in the same country but I wouldn't be surprised if I failed to get half of it if I watched it again.
Footnote: This sketch is itself a parody of BBC2 late night art shows (e.g. Late Night Line-up), particularly of the 1970's. 'Alexander Walker' as played by Mel Smith was a prominent film critic for the London Evening Standard, known for strong opinions.
The girl in the sketch is Pamela an Australian actress who married the famous Scottish comedian Billy Connelly
You might not know but the woman in the sketch is Billy Connolly's wife.
Hi, fun fact that you may not have known, the lady in that sketch interviewing, is Pamela Stephenson who is the wife of Comedian Billy Connolly. since 1989.
Has anyone else noticed that the Bishop has round his neck on a chain, instead of a Crucifix, a lens like a Director would use?
Hi guys! As a few others have already said this was parodying an actual discussion on British TV between John Cleese and Michael Palin, and Malcolm Muggaridge and the Bishop of Southwark on the other side of the debate. Cleese and Palin have since claimed that when the interview was over Muggaridge and Bish of Southwark admitted to have not even seen the film!!! Also The General Synod is the 'governing body' of The Church of England.
I'd love you to react to the ''Constable Savage'' sketch from Not the Nine O'clock News. Brilliant stuff.
Some of their sketches actually had wider effects: 'Darts' killed the popularity of a sport and 'Gerald the Gorilla' changed the language. The songs both parody and simply silly (like 'I Like Trucking') were some of the best parts of the series.
Trivia: The interviewer is Pamela Stephenson, who married Billy Connolly. They met on the set when she was 'interviewing' him in a sketch parody as Janet Street Porter. th-cam.com/video/DlUb8jt0WP0/w-d-xo.html
Billy thought she was the funniest person he had ever met.
This sketch is modelled after a real televised discussion between church officials and Monty Python members after The Life of Brian came out and didn't go over well with the Church of England. Anyway, Not the Nine o'clock News is a great show with some real comedic gems.
RIP Mel Smith who played Alexander Walker in that sketch. Not the nine o’clock news was hilarious and you should check out the film
OK your Missus will be fine in the UK. Knowing Monty Python quotes will make her a lot of friends when you get a chance to visit.
A man walks into a tavern in Spain and is surprised by being asked by a chicken, "What would you like to drink?"...
No one expects the Spanish Inn Quiz Hen!!!
Gerald the gorillas 50 years later is the funniest sketch I have ever seen.
th-cam.com/video/CeKWVuye1YE/w-d-xo.html Edit: The discussion is about 45mins long and gives context for what is being parodied, if anyone is interested 😁
Hi guys love the channel, this sketch is a Micky take on a late night topical talk show debate between people from the church and the main cast from monty python that happened on BBC2 just after the “”Life of Brian” was first released. It turned into a very heated conversation with the church people taking it far to seriously and eventually everyone losing the plot. For this reason it became a well known program and that’s why “not the nine o’clock new” did this sketch.
The reference to the waiter getting clipped around the ear is pointing to "Fawlty Towers" another classic Brit comedy starring John Cleese, one you may want to check out, I think you may enjoy it. Great channel and reaction video's guys, I'm looking forward for the next. "Red Dwarf" may also be worth looking at.
The debate around Life of Brian was quite infected and many christian leaders wanted to ban the movie.
It was banned in Norway for many years.
This stint was a parody of that debate.
Swedish cinemas famously promoted it as "So funny it was banned in Norway" and coach loads of Norweigians crossed the border to watch it.
I think you should react to Fawlty Towers, which is a classic comedy series co-written and starring John Cleese. It's still considered by many to be the funniest British sitcom ever written.
My R.E teacher at high school actually chained himself to the local cinema gates in protest of the ‘life of Brian’ as he said it was blastphomous.
There's so much more to this sketch if you search below. I think Angela wil appreciate it even more. Ethan, get with the program mate :)
The sketch closely references a debate that took place after the film was released with a couple of the python team in debate with representatives of the Church of England. The sketch turns everything on its head but quite closely mimics the way that the people arguing against the film resorted to randomly throwing comments about the film being second rate over the top of Michael Palin while he was talking.
This skit is also a parody of an actual interview in 1979 where the church had the same view about Life of Brian. The last part about the hotel was referencing Fawlty Towers where they were slapping Spanish waiters up the side of the head. Original interview is here.
th-cam.com/video/ZYMpObbt2rs/w-d-xo.html
For note the woman is Pamela Stephenson who has been a Psychologist in the US for many years now. Her husband is comedian Billy Connolly who I can't recall if you have reacted to . If not you definitely need to look him up.
Funny moment from Fawlty Towers. (the Spanish waiter / hotel) reference. th-cam.com/video/izAqFoLtzKM/w-d-xo.html
NTNON was its own show on BBC2 at the same time as the Nine o'Clock News was on BBC1.
Not the Nine O'clock News is a comedy sketch show like Monty python you should defiantly do some more like the Gorilla sketch or The McEnroe Home sketch.
Not the Nine O' Clock News was a satirical half hour long sketch show on BBC 2 running from the very late 70's to the early 80's. At that time in the UK we only had three TV Channels BBC 1, BBC 2 and ITV. At the time nine o'clock was the time BBC 1 aired its night time news show, hence the name of the comedy show, I would encourage you to checkout more episodes bearing in mind how dated they are..
Pamela Stephenson (the Interviewer) left comedy and acting to become a psychologist or psychiatrist and married the great Scottish comedian and actor? Billy Connelly.
Mel Smith and Griff Rees-Jones had a comedy sketch show for a few years after the end of "not the 9 O'clock", Mel died about 10 years ago. Griff has and is doing documentaries / journey shows.
Rowan Atkinson went on to achieve the heights he has.. some of the characters being developed from not the 9 o' clock roles.
I get how this is difficult. They are referencing the film Life of Brian, Fawlty Towers, a few different Monty Python's flying circus skits, and not least the criticism and debates about the film itself (it was banned as blasphemous for a short time here in Norway). The jokes are brilliant, but impossible to get unless you have the background.
I'd recommend you check out more of the stuff that came out of that Cambridge Footlights (students theatre group). Some spectacular talent came through there, Pythons, Rowan Atkinson, Mel Smith, Griff Rhys Jones, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, and the list goes on. Treasure trove. All very british, all very smart and "journalistic" in a way. The closest in spirit from the US, I'd say is South Park.
Hello Ethan and Angela. JC was lead in Fawlty Towers and some colleagues went and did Ripping Yarns that I keep suggesting. I have seen the programme this was based on from a TH-cam video. Poor innocent Ethan needs to see some of this stuff, before people start saying he is a very naughty boy. In the mean time, always look on the bright side of life and don't worry about what the Romans ever did for us. Two of the NTNOCN team went on to do Alas Smith and Jones. This was after Alias Smith and Jones. I thought if they kept going naming like this someone might eventually get my name right, then they did in a film! And a Python too.