40 years of Monty Python
By CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan
Take-Off
Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Lovely Spam Spam
Terry Jones said the reasons why Python humor was so unique could not be analyzed: "The only reason for Python is to be funny."
Get Animated
The BBC Scissors
North America, Watch Out
We Eat Ham and Jam and Spam a lot
American Scissors
He's Not the Messiah, He's a Very Naughty Boy
And Finally, Monsieur, a Wafer-Thin Mint
Graham Chapman
Graham Chapman (who died of cancer in 1989) was the
rock-steady center in "Grail" and "Brian," but his writing contributions
and outre behavior were more bizarre.
"Graham was just on another planet at times," Gilliam said. "Suddenly he'd say 'Splunge!' What, splunge? After that you had to then deal with it. It became part of the comedy equation: E=mc2splunge!"
John Cleese
"He epitomized the ruling establishment of Britain: he looked like the bishop or bank manager, a man of authority," said Palin. "To be able to undermine it as successfully as he did ... was really wonderful." Cleese later undermined hotel management in "Fawlty Towers."
Terry Gilliam
"Terry G. was a great fighter," said Terry Jones. "He really loved the challenge and he always does; he survives on a fight, really."
Eric Idle
Also strong are his songwriting and musical abilities, as evident from his 1978 take-off on the Beatles ("The Rutles"), and more recently by his live stage show based on "Holy Grail." "Monty Python's Spamalot," directed by Mike Nichols, won three Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
Terry Jones
"He's got the widest spread of all of us," said Cleese.
Michael Palin
"I loved performing with him because I thought he had the biggest range," said Cleese, who nonetheless chided Palin for being too affable. That likeability certainly helped Palin while hosting a series of travel programs filmed from one end of the Earth to the other.
Ashes to Ashes
Not Dead Yet
By CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan (author, "Monty Python Speaks")