Happy Birthday, Eric Idle

[filkertom]

A man to whom we owe a lot of laughs. (More info at Wikipedia, and boy is there a lot here.)

What's your favorite Idle comedy? I could just go on and on -- dude's got a special place in Heaven for "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" -- but I think for me it's a toss-up between The "Bruce's Philosophers Song", especially the version from Live at the Hollywood Bowl, and the whole sketch which includes "The Money Song".

Comments

[sdelmonte]

"Nudge, nudge, wink, wink."

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Say no more.

[katyhh.livejournal.com]

Now that is cool ... didn't know that :) What a grand person to share a birthday with ... Of course, sharing one with ohiblather is already a cool thing ;-)

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

And a happy birthday to you!

[selenesue.livejournal.com]

My whole birthday list for today:

Jennifer Capriati [1976], Bud Cort [1950], Walt Frazier [1945], Eric Idle [1943], Christopher Lambert [1957], Lucy Lawless [1968], Elle MacPherson [1964], Marina Sirtis [1959], Vangelis [1943]. [First batch of Coca-Cola brewed, 1886.]

[indyellen.livejournal.com]

"She's a good sheila, and not a bit stuck up."

When my daughter was a baby, I used to sing her the "Philosopher's Drinking Song" to keep her occupied while I was changing her diaper. It was just about long enough to distract *both* of us from that ever charming & necessary task.

*looks around innocently*

Warp my child? Me? Never. :D

[annearchy.livejournal.com]

Oh I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay...

[suecochran.livejournal.com]

Its funny that you're talking about Monty Python. Matthew and Gerry and I just watched "Holy Grail" last Friday, which was the first time in a long time that I'd seen it, and the first time ever for Matthew (who's now 10). We all had a very good time. We replayed several scenes, including the ones with the rabbit and the earlier ones with "Tim" the Enchanter. This stuff really holds up, and GOD they all look so damned young! Over the weekend we watched "And Now For Something Completely Different", which Matthew also really enjoyed, especially the "How Not to be Seen" since he loves the concept of blowing things up. He watched it by himself a time or two afterwards, but I noticed that he fast-forwarded through the sex scenes :) A few more years...

How Not To Be Seen

[gridlore.livejournal.com]

Picture a room full of Army snipers watching that bit.

[janet-coburn.livejournal.com]

I figured you'd have a soft place in your heart for the FCC song. I know I do.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Oh, I do. As I said, I could go on all day about Idle. The FCC Song, the Upper-Class Twit of the Year competition, the Galaxy Song, the man who can't say the letter "C", Sir Robin of Camelot....

Twit

[nezmaster.livejournal.com]

Twit of the year is the first python I ever saw, and consequently one of my favorites. However, I'm not quite python-geek enough to know who wrote what. Presuming he wrote most of the songs, Song on hte radio is one of my favorites, but I've been known to chant Traffic Lights and of course the Universe song.

[scifantasy.livejournal.com]

Probably the Bruces' Philosopher's Song is my favorite, and let's not forget that he was the primary impetus behind Spamalot!

[youngcurmudgeon.livejournal.com]

If he weren't already my favorite Python, Spamalot would have done it. Saw it in previews in Chicago -- still a little shaky in some parts, songs they ended up cutting -- but oh my God. The Song That Goes Like This. The Song That Goes Like This, I tell you. (As if you didn't already know.)

[darrenzieger.livejournal.com]

The Travel Agency sketch, "Watney's Red Barrel."

Idle plays Mr. Smoketoomuch, booking a holiday, and compains to the travel agent, in excruciating, endless detail about the shortcomings of typical travel package experiences.

It's a hilarious rant that, in the Hollywood Bowl concert version, goes on for about 5 minutes, long after the travel agent has thrown him out of the shop (it contines as he walks offsatge, down the aisles).

There's a transcript of TV show version of the sketch (and, in fact the entire episode, "The All-England Summarize Proust Competition," at http://www.ibras.dk/montypython/episode31.htm#8, and a transcript of the Hollywood Bowl version at http://bau2.uibk.ac.at/sg/python/Scripts/HollywoodBowl/hollywood.html -- on that page it's called "the Travel Agency" and appears a little more than halfway down the page.

Enjoy.

[gridlore.livejournal.com]

The Galaxy Song (http://www.lyricsdepot.com/monty-python/galaxy-song.html).

I think my favorite sketch of his was Children's Storytime (http://www.ibras.dk/montypython/episode03.htm#4)

[selenesue.livejournal.com]

Icon Love! May I borrow this one? I really need a userpic for snerking at Stupidity In The Name Of Religion. [pleasepleaseplease!] [I'm averting my eyes!]

[gridlore.livejournal.com]

Feel free! You might want this one as well.

[lukeski.livejournal.com]

Seeing "Spamalot" was an amazing experience I will never forget.

I once saw a show put on by some ComedySportz people in Milwaukee of classic Python sketches. In it they did a doo-wop version of "Bruce's Philosopher's Song". Very awesome.

I got to see the Greedy Bastard Tour and got Eric's autograph, and showed him my pictures of me dressed as a 'Gumby' on Halloween. MY BRAIN HURTS!!!

[breakmanz.livejournal.com]

I definately gotta agree with you, Tom, that "The Money Programme" sketch is right up there in my favorite Eric Idle sketches. Of course, there's so many that it's hard to choose at times.

[palenoue.livejournal.com]

I just saw his episode of "Personal Best" and laughed! Good to see he's still got it.

[ladyotterfae.livejournal.com]

In the 'not his material, but that was really awesome' department, he made a delightful KoKo in G&S's Mikado a while back.

[naja-pallida.livejournal.com]

You scared me for half a second there, the colors I use(d) for my friends page made your heading black, and I'm used to you announcing more obits than birthdays...

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

That's why I'm very carefully putting "Happy Birthday" as the first words in the subject.... :)

[unclelumpy.livejournal.com]

Whenever life gets you down, Ms. Brown
And things seem hard or tough
And people are stupid, obnoxious or daft
And you feel that you've had quite enough...

[druidsfire.livejournal.com]

I like the FCC song very very much, for the obvious reasons. The Galaxy Song is amusing in that they have it sorta enshrined in the National Air and Space Museum in DC, playing in their galaxy-related room as the background music for a video of Scott Hamilton skating through artists' renditions of galaxies and stellar stuff. And, of course, Spamalot is the shiznit. :)

[romlc475.livejournal.com]

Definitely "The Galaxy Song", but reading the list, I was reminded of "I Bet You They Won't Play This Song On The Radio"--A precursor to "The FCC Song".

[pixelene.livejournal.com]

I'm real keen on the Rutles!