The group includes Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle (the trio from Cambridge, who are all taller than all the other members of the group, and known as the more "aggressive" half of the group), Terry Jones (from Wales), Michael Palin (from Oxford) and Terry Gilliam (Minnesota in the United States). Chapman wrote the sketches with Cleese, Jones wrote with Palin, Idle wrote alone and Gilliam did the animations. Neil Innes and Carol Cleveland have both on occasion been mentioned as the "7th Python".
Graham Chapman, widely known as "The Dead One", died of cancer on October 4, 1989, the day before Python's 20th anniversary (thus being called "the greatest party pooper of all time" by Terry Jones), is tagged as the greatest actor among the group by his fellow Pythons. He had problems with alcohol and was a dedicated smoker of the pipe (he appears with a pipe in his hand in most of the Python sketches). He was known for his outstanding and abstract sense of humour; Cleese states that during their sketch-writing partnership Chapman did not say much, but when he said something it was often brilliant. The term "pepperpot" which is used to describe middle-aged ladies was found by Chapman.
John Cleese, probably the most famous Python on the other side of the Atlantic, is most widely known for his silly walk - the famous walk that he invented for Monty Python's Flying Circus, and repeated in one episode of Fawlty Towers, where he tries very hard not to remind his German visitors of the World War II by doing impersonations of Hitler. He lives in the USA. He played the lead as Basil Fawlty in "Fawlty Towers". He has been reported to be the first man to say "shit" on British TV and the first man to say "fuck" at a British memorial service.
Eric Idle is the composer of most Python songs (along with Neil Innes) such as the Python anthem "Always Look on the Bright Side Of Life" (which is also played after Iron Maiden's shows). His outstanding linguistic abilities have earned him the name "Master of the One-Liner". He created the Beatles parody "The Rutles" along with Neil Innes, and recently adapted the Python movie "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" as a Broadway musical called "Monty Python's Spamalot". His most famous Python role is the character he plays in the "Nudge Nudge" sketch. He is the self-acclaimed third tallest and sixth nicest Python.
Terry Gilliam was the only American in the group and has one of the most successful post-Python careers among the six, as he is the director of hugely popular movies like Brazil, 12 Monkeys, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and The Fisher King. His part was instrumental in helping Python gain their reputation as a unique comedy group, his animations helping them link sketches (which, of course, don't have punch lines) in an unprecedented manner. He has become a British citizen in early 2006 and renounced his American citizenship shortly afterwards. He acknowledges The Goon Show, a radio show aired in the 1950s on BBC radio, written by Spike Milligan and performed by Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe and Peter Sellers, as the main reason he chose Britain as his homeland.
Terry Jones is the most successful actor of the woman role (as demonstrated in the Spam sketch, which is only one of numerous occasions in which he has voiced the trademark of a high-pitched female impersonation). He is the director (or co-director) of all Python movies. He has also written, directed and appeared in a few more movies which featured some of his Python mates; despite the fact that these movies aren't quite a match for his work in the Flying Circus, they include some hilarious scenes, such as the singing scene in Erik the Viking. He is the writer of such excellent songs as "I'm So Worried" and "Traffic Lights". He has done a few historical documentaries, and in one of them he briefly acts the part of King Richard III (called "Ring Kichard the Thrid" by the Eric Idle character "the man who speaks entirely in anagrams", which prompts Michael Palin the interviewer to suggest that "Ring Kichard is surely a spoonerism and not an anagram", which results in Eric Idle's character leaving the studio, saying "If you are going to split hairs, I'm going to piss off" (which can serve as a pointer to the Eric Idle-John Cleese movie "Splitting Heirs")).
Michael Palin, known as the nicest python, and the favorite Python to work with for John Cleese, has done numerous travel documentaries during his post-Python career. His amazing sense of humour has inevitably permeated into what would otherwise be just ordinary documentaries (occasions like the Polushka Pole incident and thanking the goddess for her "nice mountain", to name a couple). This nice man, who finds it very difficult to say "no", is the only one who said "no" to a reunion in their 30th year. He is the inventor of the threat "If you don't cooperate, I will get nasty and start using some Dutch words".
As admitted on several occasions, the group likes to dress up as women.
Having said all that, Terry Jones is actually Welsh.
Australian Table Wines
Monty Python Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A lot of people in this country pooh-pooh Australian table wines. This is a pity, as many fine Australian wines appeal not only to the Australian palette, but also to the cognoscenti of Great Britain.
"Black Stump Bordeaux" is rightly praised as a peppermint flavoured Burgundy, whilst a good "Sydney Syrup" can rank with any of the world's best sugary wines.
"Chateau Bleu", too, has won many prizes; not least for its taste, and its lingering afterburn.
Of the sparkling wines, the most famous is "Perth Pink". This is a bottle with a message in, and the message is BEWARE!. This is not a wine for drinking -- this is a wine for laying down and avoiding.
Another good fighting wine is "Melbourne Old-and-Yellow", which is particularly heavy, and should be used only for hand-to-hand combat.
Quite the reverse is true of "Chateau Chunder", which is an Appelachian controle, specially grown for those keen on regurgitation -- a fine wine which really opens up the sluices at both ends.
Real emetic fans will also go for a "Hobart Muddy", and a prize winning "Cuiver Reserve Chateau Bottled Nuit San Wogga Wogga", which has a bouquet like an aborigine armpit.
The song "Australian Table Wines" by Monty Python is a satirical take on the quality of Australian wines, which are often overlooked and dismissed as inferior by many people. The introduction of the song announces a 29-part adaptation of "King Solomon's Mines," but quickly corrects itself to "King Solomon's Wines."
The lyrics of the song describe various Australian wines and their supposed qualities, often in a humorous and ironic manner. For example, "Black Stump Bordeaux" is praised as a peppermint-flavored Burgundy, while "Sydney Syrup" is said to be on par with the world's best sugary wines. "Chateau Bleu" is also lauded for its taste and lingering afterburn.
However, the song also mocks some of the more bizarre names and supposed characteristics of Australian wines. "Perth Pink" is described as a bottle with a warning message and not for drinking, while "Melbourne Old-and-Yellow" is said to be so heavy that it should only be used for hand-to-hand combat. "Chateau Chunder" is an Appalachian control that supposedly induces vomiting, while "Hobart Muddy" has a name and bouquet that are less than appetizing.
Line by Line Meaning
Good evening! For the first time, on record, a 29 part adoptation of King Solomon's Mines -- Wines, sorry, wines -- King Solomon's Wines.
Introducing a record-breaking 29 part adaptation of King Solomon's Wines with a little correction in the title.
"Black Stump Bordeaux" is rightly praised as a peppermint flavoured Burgundy, whilst a good "Sydney Syrup" can rank with any of the world's best sugary wines.
Although many people disregard Australian table wines, "Black Stump Bordeaux" and "Sydney Syrup" are both exceptional wines that have been acknowledged globally for their unique and remarkable taste.
"Chateau Bleu", too, has won many prizes; not least for its taste, and its lingering afterburn.
Expanding upon the exceptional Australian table wines, "Chateau Bleu" has garnered recognition and appreciation for its refined flavor and robust aftertaste.
"Old Smokey, 1968" has been compared favorably to a Welsh claret, whilst the Australian wino society thoroughly recommends a 1970 "Coq du Rod Laver", which, believe me, has a kick on it like a mule: 8 bottles of this, and you're really finished -- at the opening of the Sydney Bridge Club, they were fishing them out of the main sewers every half an hour.
Continuing with the list of unique and potent Australian wines, "Old Smokey, 1968" has earned recognition as a Welsh claret substitute while the 1970 "Coq du Rod Laver" is known to be as potent as a mule's kick; drinking eight bottles means it's game over. At the opening of the Sydney Bridge Club, they were repeatedly found in the main sewers every half an hour.
Of the sparkling wines, the most famous is "Perth Pink". This is a bottle with a message in, and the message is BEWARE!. This is not a wine for drinking -- this is a wine for laying down and avoiding.
The famous sparkling wine, "Perth Pink" carries a message, and it is a warning! Drinking this bottle is not recommended, and it should be kept aside.
Another good fighting wine is "Melbourne Old-and-Yellow", which is particularly heavy, and should be used only for hand-to-hand combat.
Another interestingly named wine is "Melbourne Old-and-Yellow", which is quite potent and should only be used for physical altercations.
Quite the reverse is true of "Chateau Chunder", which is an Appelachian controle, specially grown for those keen on regurgitation -- a fine wine which really opens up the sluices at both ends.
In stark contrast to "Melbourne Old-and-Yellow", "Chateau Chunder" does not pack a punch. Instead, it causes vomiting due to its Appalachian control and is only suitable for those who enjoy regurgitation.
Real emetic fans will also go for a "Hobart Muddy", and a prize winning "Cuiver Reserve Chateau Bottled Nuit San Wogga Wogga", which has a bouquet like an aborigine armpit.
True fans of emetics consider "Hobart Muddy" and the award-winning "Cuiver Reserve Chateau Bottled Nuit San Wogga Wogga" with their unpleasant scent akin to the odor from an aborigine armpit, to be delightful.
Contributed by Elena G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nancyf7919
I enjoyed listening to this for the first time (very rare for Monty Pyton) whilst on the toilet. I don't think this has aged well, and yet it was the most genuine laugh I had all day.
@danieleyre8913
This is hilarious.
But also rather ironic given that about a decade after this was made Australian wine had gained a reputation for being generally rather good, which is more than can be said for British wines…
@jesoby
Still waiting to find a Welsh claret I can finish a glass of.
@ksrmk
... 8 bottles of this and you're really finished ...
@brianallen7572
Finnish'd ?
@quizmaster85
"...which has a bouquet like an Aborigine's armpit."
Monty Python doesn't often do punchlines.
But when they do, they REALLY hit the spot!
@WindTurbineSyndrome
Peppermint burgundy
@iankearns774
PC Police hard at it. Why would they cut that off?
@sdfkjgh
@Ian Kearns: Why assume it's anything to do with political correctness? It could just be a matter of squeamishness about the word "armpit".
@iankearns774
@sdfkjgh I doubt that very much mate.