MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO, THE: 2005 WILLIAM S. PALEY TELEVISION FESTIVAL: AN EVENING WITH MICHAEL PALIN {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented as part of The Museum of Television & Radio's William S. Paley Television Festival in Los Angeles. Held this year at the Directors Guild of America Theatre Complex, the festival celebrates the excellence and diversity of American television and is dedicated to television's creative community. This evening, moderated by actor/director Harry Shearer, honors former Monty Python member Michael Palin. Stuart N. Brotman, president of the Museum, opens the evening by welcoming everyone to the Paley Festival and introducing Shearer. Shearer discusses Palin's versatile career before introducing him.
Then, Palin talks about Monty Python's first trip to Los Angeles before introducing a package of his career television highlights, which includes clips from the following: "Do Not Adjust Your Set" (1968); "The Complete and Utter History of Britain" (1969), "Monty Python's Flying Circus" (selections from 1969, 1970, 1972 & 1974), including the famous "Fish Slapping Dance" and the "Lumberjack Song"; "Ripping Yarns" (1976), including "Tomkinson's Schoolday's," "The Testing of Eric Olthwaite," and "Murder at Moorstones Manor"; "G.B.H." (1991); "Around the World in 80 Days" (1989); "Full Circle" (1997); "Hemingway Adventure" (1999); "Himalaya" (2004); and "Pole to Pole" (1992).
Afterward, Shearer and Palin take the stage for a one-on-one interview. Palin answers questions on the following topics: who thought up the concept for his travelogues; filming travelogues in both the North and South poles; the BBC's treatment of Monty Python; how all the Pythons formed up; the direction of "Monty Python's Flying Circus"; Spike Milligan and the Goons as inspiration; words that the Pythons couldn't say on television; Palin as the "nice" Python; Eric Idle's new Broadway show "Spamalot"; and how the door has been forever closed on a Monty Python stage reunion.
Questions from the audience then lead to an examination of the following topics: deceased Python Graham Chapman; when the Pythons went to Germany; the Pythons' relation to "Saturday Night Live"; what entertains him; his novel "Hemingway's Chair" and future writing plans; his relationship to the Beatles, specifically George Harrison; comedy sketches during the "Concert for George (Harrison)"; where the name Monty Python came from; and Palin's favorite Python sketches.
Details
- NETWORK: Paley
- DATE: March 11, 2005 Friday 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 2:02:09
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:85729
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Stuart N. Brotman … Host
- Harry Shearer … Moderator
- Michael Palin … Panelist
- The Beatles
- Graham Chapman
- George Harrison
- Eric Idle
- Spike Milligan