Parrot Sketch Not Included – 20 Years of Monty Python

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Parrot Sketch Not Included – 20 Years of Monty Python
BBC1
Release18 November 1989 (1989-11-18)
Related

Parrot Sketch Not Included – 20 Years of Monty Python is a British television special dedicated to

Tiger Aspect Productions for the BBC, it was compiled by renowned British comedy producer John Lloyd and aired on BBC1 on 18 November 1989.[1]

Introduced by actor and Monty Python fan Steve Martin, the special showcases various sketches from Monty Python's Flying Circus, along with some sketches from the two German specials, Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus. As indicated by its title, the "Dead Parrot sketch" is intentionally[citation needed] omitted. It concluded with the final appearance of all six Python members together, before Graham Chapman's death in October 1989.[2]

The special was broadcast in the US on the

A&E in 2001, as part of their Monty Python Live
box set.

Sketches included

Deleted sequence

Originally, a brand new sketch featuring the Monty Python members and Steve Martin was to be included in the special. Filmed at

Twickenham Studios on 3 September 1989,[4] the sequence featured the Monty Python members dressed as school boys, asking Martin questions and taking notes. Although present at the recording, Graham Chapman did not perform in the sketch. The sequence was removed at the Pythons' request, as Terry Jones explained: "There was this new sketch which featured us and Steve Martin. Somebody had cobbled this thing together and was passing it off, saying it was written by John or whatever. When I read it I thought, 'This is just terrible, we can't do this'. So we arrived and Steve Martin was there at the film studios. We had to turn up to do it and I'm very glad that they cut it".[5] Footage of the Pythons meeting up to record the sketch was aired in the US version of the Life of Python
documentary.

The Pythons gave an alternate version of their appearance, which is featured in the special, in which Steve Martin briefly reveals that they are all in a cupboard. Chapman appears very pale and sallow; at the time the throat cancer that would kill him was advancing rapidly. This would be his last filmed appearance before his death on 4 October 1989, which coincidentally was the day before the 20th anniversary of the broadcast of the first episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus.

Cast

Credits

References

  1. ^ "Parrot Sketch Not Included". BBC. Retrieved 25 August 09
  2. ^ "Monty Python: 30 years of near reunions from the comedy troupe". Digital Spy. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  3. ISBN 9780786478118
    .
  4. ^ Palin, Michael: Travelling to Work - Diaries 1988-98, 2014, p.70, Weidenfeld & Nicolson
  5. ^ The Pythons Autobiography by The Pythons, p339, 2003, Orion

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