always look on the bright side of life by eric idle

The Pythons hit stardom at a time when they shared hotels on Sunset Strip with the biggest and rowdiest stars. Made up of Eric and John with Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, Graham Chapman and Terry Jones, it quickly won fans around the world – including Australia – where the Pythons had more than a few laughs at our expense. Monty Python grew from a cult following into a BBC TV hit that ran for five years. “We had this fabulous life, and then I learned from all these other people how to do comedy you watch them doing it.” While there, Eric met fellow Python John Cleese, who invited him to join the Footlights Dramatic Club. It was while Eric was at the prestigious Cambridge University – a breeding ground for generations of brilliant comics – that he learned the art of humour.

I know you wrote with Cleese on the most recent tour the two of you did. You were often writing by yourself in Python.ĭeliberately so because I can’t stand talking to people before lunch. They were saying when they were beating you, “This is for your own good.” Really? Why don’t I hit you then?

In those grim times, when your father died and during boarding school, were you an optimist? All the Pythons had met by about 1965, one way or another, even though it would be another four years before we did Python. I met them all within about two years of getting up to Cambridge. And then suddenly, I got to Cambridge and everything changed. It was pretty grim and not very much fun. When you say a pessimistic background, what do you mean? I am an optimist basically coming from a pessimistic background.

I think I am an optimist by day and a pessimist by nighttime. Allen’s comments and what he thought of Hannah Gadsby’s show.Īre you a person who always looks at the bright side? Idle gave an update on “Spamalot,” his reaction to Mr. In a wide-ranging conversation - condensed and edited for clarity and length - Mr. Gilliam responded vehemently, saying “I no longer want to be a white male, I don’t want to be blamed for everything wrong in the world.” Mr. “It’s going to be a diverse range of people who reflect the modern world.” This didn’t escape the notice of the BBC’s comedy commissioner, Shane Allen, who raised the ire of multiple Pythons when he said recently, “If you’re going to assemble a team now, it’s not going to be six Oxbridge white blokes,” referring to Monty Python. Now, the comedy world is larger and more diverse. Countless comedians over the years have counted the troupe as a seminal influence. Idle united in the 1960s, in part because of Monty Python. The comedy ground has shifted since Terry Gilliam, John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Mr. I’m interested in my life, whatever is left of it.” Idle responded: “I think I’ve done my bit.

Always look on the bright side of life by eric idle