sowny.net | The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum


You are not logged in. Would you like to login or register?

December 1, 2024 10:37 am  #1


Pre-Monty Python Comedy Series Believed Lost Resurfaces

It's not the Pythons, but if you squint right, it seems you could see them from there. A U.K. TV show called "The Complete and Utter History of Britain with Terry Jones" has been unearthed in the archives of ITV, even though the six part series was thought lost for good. 

But not only did a search find it, it's apparently in remarkably good condition. The show, which precedes Python, was made in 1969 and featured a very young Michael Palin. Although he cautions not to expect too much. 


"Palin has previously said: ‘It was rather bad. It looked like Stonehenge was made of polystyrene. And things like the wrong sound effects can really ruin a sketch.'

 But he added: ‘There are some quite good ideas in there. I can see all sorts of Python in it. It’s funnier than I remember. Parts of it are silly and schoolboyish, but also rather satisfying.’"

The series, which was not a big hit, got the attention of John Cleese, who called Palin and suggested they do something together. The world has since come to know what that "something" was.

For now, the forgotten series is only available on the streaming service BritBox in the U.K., but its historical value will hopefully one day make it available to more of the general public, including here in Canada, where Python is still revered. 

Pre-Monty Python Comedy Series Thought Lost Resurfaces

 

December 3, 2024 2:42 pm  #2


Re: Pre-Monty Python Comedy Series Believed Lost Resurfaces

And just before that was “Do Not Adjust Your Set”, an ostensibly children’s TV show that included anarchistic or chaotic sketches often without ends. Featuring Pythons Idle, Jones and Palin, it also had future big actor such as David Jason and Denise Coffee (Shaw Festival Director under Christopher Newton’s management). Music was from the Bonzo Dog Band which included Neil Innes who later helped form Grimms which included Mike McCartney (the other McCartney brother)
 

 

December 3, 2024 3:48 pm  #3


Re: Pre-Monty Python Comedy Series Believed Lost Resurfaces

Ian wrote:

And just before that was “Do Not Adjust Your Set”, an ostensibly children’s TV show that included anarchistic or chaotic sketches often without ends. Featuring Pythons Idle, Jones and Palin, it also had future big actor such as David Jason and Denise Coffee (Shaw Festival Director under Christopher Newton’s management). Music was from the Bonzo Dog Band which included Neil Innes who later helped form Grimms which included Mike McCartney (the other McCartney brother) 

Is there nothing that's not on YouTube?

     Thread Starter