For John Cleese fans (Hollywood, comedy, family, history)
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I really like John Cleese generally, and I usually like the Vanity Fair closing Proust Questionnaire. John Cleese did one recently, and I thought it was even funnier than usual.
I am reading his book, "So, anyway", and find it funny and interesting. For example, his family name was originally 'Cheese'. As Cleese says, his father (or grandfather, I forget which) disliking the name "Cheese" cunningly changed it to "Cleese", which John says did not really help him at school, for the other children, unknowingly, kept calling him by his true last name, "Cheese". All in a bit of fun.
As I was reading his explanation, it did occur to me that it may, in part, explain that wonderful Python skit about a man (Cleese) attempting to buy cheese from a cheesemonger who in fact had no cheese ("I'm sorry. I'm afraid I'll have to shoot you"; "Fair enough" replies the cheesemonger).
Hehe I like that one on the cheesemonger.
Speaking of Python I recall Cleese noting how he and the guys tried to push the boundaries of say 'educated' humor in their early skits where they referenced things from many areas which included stuff from say lit and history. I've always thought the Pythonspaved the way for the tremendous success of the 'nerdy' Big Bang Theory!
Hehe I like that one on the cheesemonger.
Speaking of Python I recall Cleese noting how he and the guys tried to push the boundaries of say 'educated' humor in their early skits where they referenced things from many areas which included stuff from say lit and history. I've always thought the Pythonspaved the way for the tremendous success of the 'nerdy' Big Bang Theory!
One thing that has intrigued me is that Brits of that period have a history of funnymen coming out of Oxbridge (Cleese, Michael Palin, Dudley Moore, Peter Cook), whereas American funnymen have a history of being dropouts (Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, Richard Pryor).
You know when I first saw Fawlty Towers I was so struck by how Cleese constructed the comedy. It had mayhem, a bit of slapstick, a dashing of conventions and mores but the writing as it came out of the mouths of the comedy troupe was its hallmark for me. Just coming out so witty and in beautiful English. They showed you could be 'smart' and funny at the same time!! Never forgot Sybil ranting on Basil's choice of builder when she saw more intelligent things in the bottom of ponds than .........O'Reilly!!!!!. I'm sure everyone has their best!....;-)....
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