Parrot Sketch Not Included - 20 Years of Monty Python
| Parrot Sketch Not Included – 20 Years of Monty Python | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Created by |
Graham Chapman John Cleese Terry Gilliam Eric Idle Terry Jones Michael Palin |
| Starring |
Steve Martin Graham Chapman John Cleese Terry Gilliam Eric Idle Terry Jones Michael Palin |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Production | |
| Running time | 72 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network |
BBC (UK) Showtime (US) |
| Original release | 18 November 1989 (UK) 17 March 1990 (US) |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Monty Python's The Meaning of Life |
| Followed by | Monty Python Live At Aspen |
Parrot Sketch Not Included – 20 Years of Monty Python was a tribute special to the Monty Python comedy group, produced to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the debut of the group's television series, Monty Python's Flying Circus. It was compiled by noted British comedy producer John Lloyd and broadcast on BBC 1 on 18 November 1989.
Introduced by actor and Monty Python fan Steve Martin, the special featured several sketches from Monty Python's Flying Circus, as well as some sketches from the two German specials Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus. True to its title, the popular Dead Parrot sketch was not included.
According to the autobiography The Pythons, a new piece of material written and featuring the Monty Python members and Steve Martin was to be included in the special. In the sequence, the Monty Python members, dressed as school boys, ask Martin questions and take notes. The sequence was removed at request by the Pythons because it was felt to be unfunny. However, some of the members today wish it had been included, as it had been the last time that Monty Python member Graham Chapman would perform with the group.
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 appearance on television before his death, which coincidentally was one night before the 20th anniversary of the broadcast of the first episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus.
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