The surviving members of Python wrapped up their sold out farewell show, Monty Python Live (Mostly), at the 02 Arena early this week before thousands of adoring fans from around the world and the current A-List of British comedy. Everyone from Stephen Fry and Steve Coogan to Martin Freeman and Eddie Izzard were in hand to ay their respects and enjoy what looks to be the final time John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam will perform together.
I was lucky enough to be in London for this farewell show. Not only did it consume the south of the river region of the city with Python mania, a live (if edited) simulcast of the show found its way onto national television via thew BBC Gold channel. The Pythons were never a team in factor of censorship or PC language, so the fact that the show aired mostly during “watershed” or primetime hours meant it had to be edited for @#$%&!
They were The Beatles of comedy and took the British take on the ridiculous global. Without Python, we have no SNL, no SCTV, no In Living Color, no Austin Powers, no Simpsons (without a Tracy Ullman), no Adult Swim, etc. Without Python, I wouldn’t have been in a college sketch comedy group called “Sean’s Unmanageable Hair” that you never heard of and shouldn’t look for under any circumstances.
Python did it first, did it best and opened the door for comedy generated exclusively by the talented people who performed it without caring what executives or anyone else thought. These final shows at the 02 were a trip down memory lane, a final celebration and a thank you.
During the show, there was plenty of laughter and singing — with fans joining in on “Every Sperm Is Sacred,” “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,” “The Lumberjack Song” and “Spam (Spam, Spam, Spam).” But, when it was over, there were tears and the realization of “that was it, folks.” Yes, their TV episodes, movies, albums and other appearances will live on via recordings and online. But, a farewell show says more than “…we won’t be performing together again…” It means “…we won’t be living forever, so…”
I don’t suspect any of us will be, so it was important for fans to say goodbye this one last time. That might’ve been the best way to sum up Python’s attitude to life, their comedy and this final appearance. “The game is rigged. It’s all silly anyway. So, let’s have a few laughs before we go.”
There’s a nationally syndicated encore of the theater showing tonight in theaters across the U.S., and a Blu-ray and DVD of the final show in pre-order mode as we speak.
