Wise words
Back in 1973, British comedy duo Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise gave a forthright interview, which has recently come to light. In it, they offered their thoughts on the university comedy
of their BBC stablemates, Monty Python.
Morecambe and Wise say they are "bored stiff" by cult comics Monty Python in a newly discovered TV interview.
Zoe Applegate & Paul Hayes, BBC Norfolk
Or did they?
During the interview, Morecambe said he "doesn't understand" much Python material. He went on to joke he liked "parts" of it, particularly "the opening and the finish". "It's the little bit in the middle I don't like."
Zoe Applegate & Paul Hayes, BBC Norfolk
His partner was a little more conciliatory.
Ernie Wise revealed he did "like Monty Python", but felt their shows often contained "five or six minutes of utter boredom". "And then there's three minutes of very funny and then another eight minutes of boredom," he added.
Zoe Applegate & Paul Hayes, BBC Norfolk
I remember occasionally watching Monty Python on TV at that time. I really only bothered because friends at school watched it and I thought I must be missing something. I didn't understand the excitement. Most of it wasn't very funny.
Later, the Python team moved to big screen feature films, with actual plots. Starting with Monty Python and the Holy Grail, things began to look up. Apart from Grail's we-couldn't-be-arsed-with-a-proper-ending ending, that is.
Obviously, my sense of humour had matured. Like a fine wine.
Then along came YouTube, and the backlog of Python TV shows are there for us all to enjoy once more. Or not. Because, looking at them now, I realise that they aren't that funny, or at least not consistently funny. And it occurred to me that the Python's simply worked on the premise that, if you throw enough shit at the wall, some of it will stick.
So, Ernie Wise was right, after all.
Soundbite journalism strikes again?
Selective reporting? From the world's most trusted international news broadcaster
™? Surely not!
The audio quality of the clip shown on the BBC News' article is pretty muddy. But, when Morecambe says he didn't like the little bit in the middle, he then laughs, and adds No, I like it
.
He goes on to say: But what does make me laugh, really makes me laugh. And what doesn't make me laugh, bores me stiff.
It sounds like an extension to his stated opinion of Monty Python, echoing those of his partner, rather than comedy in general.
Okay, it's hardly a ringing endorsement. But my overall impression is that his views weren't quite as damning as Applegate and Hayes, intrepidly reporting from England's backwaters, would have us believe. At least not from the clip shown, which admittedly doesn't include the full interview. As is the case for Ernie Wise and myself, it seems that Eric Morecambe considered Monty Python to be like the curate's egg: very good in parts.