I wonder if that was inspiration for this lovely little sketch:
https://videosift.com/video/Eric-Idles-Rutland-Weekend-Television

True (hence the Eric Idle tag), but Eric was alluding to John's speech.

Don't doubt my python knowledge or I shall be polite to you a second time. 🤓

Minor correction: Eric Idle voiced Rincewind, not John Cleese.

Your video, John Cleese and Eric Idle secrets to a successful marriage, has made it into the Top 15 New Videos listing. Congratulations on your achievement. For your contribution you have been awarded 1 Power Point.

This achievement has earned you your "Pop Star" Level 10 Badge!

RIP Henry Woolf, who I know best from several collaborations with Eric Idle including this, the first sketch from RWT, and one of my favourites.

Machine-wrapped with butter indeed. *promote

Thank you. Thank you.

I'd just like to thank the Academy and good friend Eric Idle...

BTW, in the past day or two Eric Idle released his 'Sortabiography' called 'Always Look On The Bright Side of Life'. I'm only two chapters in, but if you like Rutles-style wordplay, then you'll love those two chapters (and probably the rest of the book, but I can't vouch for that quite yet).

Part of the reason George did this was that he and Eric Idle were good friends; Eric speaks about him a lot. There's one story that I love that tells a lot about their relationship. There are a few versions out there, but very roughly...

George heard that Eric was flying to Australia after a bout in hospital, and asked if he was going to be flying over India. As 'the spirital Beetle' he had a strong affinity to the country. As it happens, the flight did cross India, so George gave Eric an envelope to open when they were in Indian air space.

The cabin crew let Eric know when this was the case, and he solemnly opened the envelope. It contained one piece of sage advice: "Shag a Shiela for me."


Bonus fact: George appears in Life of Brian as "the gentleman who's letting us have the mount on Sunday": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbZRNM-9RKo

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Your video, Eric Idle from Monty Python: "I like Chinese", has made it into the Top 15 New Videos listing. Congratulations on your achievement. For your contribution you have been awarded 1 Power Point.

The world today seems absolutely crackers,
With nuclear bombs to blow us all sky high.
There's fools and idiots sitting on the trigger.
It's depressing and it's senseless, and that's why...
I like Chinese.
I like Chinese.
They only come up to your knees,
Yet they're always friendly, and they're ready to please.

I like Chinese.
I like Chinese.
There's nine hundred million of them in the world today.
You'd better learn to like them; that's what I say.

I like Chinese.
I like Chinese.
They come from a long way overseas,
But they're cute and they're cuddly, and they're ready to please.

I like Chinese food.
The waiters never are rude.
Think of the many things they've done to impress.
There's Maoism, Taoism, I Ching, and Chess.

So I like Chinese.
I like Chinese.
I like their tiny little trees,
Their Zen, their ping-pong, their yin, and yang-ese.

I like Chinese thought,
The wisdom that Confucious taught.
If Darwin is anything to shout about,
The Chinese will survive us all without any doubt.

So, I like Chinese.
I like Chinese.
They only come up to your knees,
Yet they're wise and they're witty, and they're ready to please

-- Eric Idle, from Monty Python's Flying Circus
Youtube so you can experience it in all its glory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH2P_pVze6s

But... if I so much as glimpse a split second of Eric Idle's face I laugh. I'm sorry, it's still stupidly hilarious

Tags for this video have been changed from 'monty python, eric idle, not the messiah, life of briam' to 'monty python, eric idle, not the messiah, life of brian' - edited by bareboards2

Eric Idle rewrites Monty Python’s “Galaxy Song” to celebrate the wonders of biology
Lauren Davis

To market the BBC Two series Wonders of Life, hosted by Brian Cox, the BBC got none other than Eric Idle to write and sing new lyrics to "The Galaxy Song" from Monty Python's The Meaning of Life. But instead of singing about the massive scale of the universe and humanity's insignificance in it, this time Idle sings about the miracle—and weirdness—of life on Earth.

http://io9.com/5971938/eric-idle-rewrites-monty-pythons-galaxy-song-to-celebrate-the-wonders-of-biology

Tags for this video have been changed from 'wonders of life, song, brian cox, monty python, eric idle' to 'wonders of life, song, brian cox, monty python, eric idle, galaxy song' - edited by Grimm