december 1, 1977 page 6 ad lib thursday, British shatters conventions and that is By Marc Mushkin show has a free structure, part British humor has a way of crossing the of its attraction. of the show hardly does Atlantic through television. Two of Quoting parts visual-verb- al na- America's most television justice to the complete popular when comedies, All in the Family and Sanford ture of their comedy, but writing it's irresistable: and Son, are directly modeled on the about Monty Python BBC's Till Death Do Us Part and , in And Now For Something Steptoe the Lumber- and Son, respectively. In the last two and a Completely Different, sings half years another British television import jack song: a and I'm has had an immense impact on American ". . .I'm lumberjack okay, culture. I sleep all night and I work all day. I six-ma- I lunch. The n comedy team, Monty chop down trees.' eat my Python, through its television series, I like to press wild flowers. Monty Python 's Flying Circus, has shatter- I put on women's clothing, ed a number of conventions about the And hang around in bars." limits of satire and the medium of tele- But the show really must be seen to be vision itself. enjoyed. The sight of Cleese doing his "stlly walks," or Gilliam's finventive anima- tions is crucial to the group's success. Holy Grail success That success was greatly heightened I their film, Monty Python and the Holy profile Grail. The more narrative structure of the film provided plenty of material for the wide range of characterizations that each group member performed. Monty Python's high energy comedy With the release of Holy Grail, Monty transferred to the movies with And Now Python fever virtually exploded across the For Something Completely Different, a United States. An almost cultish following collection of TV skits, and Monty Python for the group developed with devotees of- and the Holy Grail, and original full-lengt- h ten claiming to have watched the film half feature, in 1975. a dozen times or more. Youth seemed par-

Soon Circus was a; after Flying carried by ticularly susceptible to Python-mani- American public in the late 1974, it be- around UNL Holy Grail showings still draw PBS came the most popular series on across packed houses. the country. Photo courtesy of Cineasta Symptoms of the fever include spon- The members of the group and some of magazine Left to righ: , , Michael Cleese taneous recitals of the dialogue from entire their characters are: Graham Chapman, Palin, , John and kneeling, scenes by groups of the infected. And even King Arthur in Holy Grail and often seen now it is not uncommon to have one's as a scatter-braine- d housewife or a humor- lynch interrupted by outbursts of "Nil" less officer that-th- at's army (Stop silly!) different entertainers including David Frost. tion and Gilliam's animation. The skits (the potent weapon of the Knights of Ni in Minister on Flying Circus; , the When offered his own show he didn't merge with each other by coming to logical Holy Grail) frorrvan adjacent table. of Sijly Walks, or the French Knight in want to take on all the writing himself, so conclusions, or making unexpected jumps, But Python fans must settle for what Eric a David Frost he asked Holy Grail; Idle, usually Jones, Idle, Palin, and Gilliam or simply by being abandoned by the ac- the team already achieved because last year Jones, the house- were type interviewer; Terry (who writing for a children's show, tors because it's getting "too silly." after an immensely live perfor- wife with a "new brain" or Prince Herbert popular Do Not Adjust Your Set) to join him. So in Fluid structure mance in New York City, the of group split Mudswamp Castle; Terry Gilliam, the late 1968 their show. Flying Circus, was This fluid structure lends itself perfect- up. animator and the American in the only born. ly to the way Python sketches often reap- Cleese is now performing in his own and Michael Palin, the transvetite group; The Python humor has its roots in a pear later in a program. Perhaps the best show, (9:30 p.m., Satur- lumberjack. 1950's BBC series, The Goon Show, star- example of this is the hilarious "Spanish days, NETV) Gilliam and Palin made a combination red-cape- d Unlikely ring Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers, Harry Inquisition" episode where Palin disappointing Pythonesque film. Jabber-wock- y, are an combination- -a They unlikely Secombe, and Michael Bentine. The Goons keeps bursting into different scenes de- with a cameo by Jones, and Idle a an a candle- lawyer, doctor, historian, were the first to develop a "manic flow" manding confessions. "No one expects the made some short films for George Harrison stick maker, and an artist. Most are Oxford type of comedy. This abandoned the con- Spanish Inquisition!' he proclaims. And a and has appeared on Saturday Night. and but for set-u- p e Cambridge educated, (except ventional to punch-lin- structure in character from a previous skit will occa- Their years together provided some of GUIiam) all come from they stirctly favor of continuous skits based on comic sionally show up in another sketch grumb- the freshest, wildest, most unpredictable middle-clas- s families. working concepts instead of jokes. ling about how he didn't get very funny humor ever seen on TV. And Cleese became interested in at considering comedy Monty Python's distinction was in the lines. what else television has to offer, it's a Cambridge where he started writing for a clever use of the advances in electronic Sometimes, however, an entire program pleasure to be able to watch Monty Py- campus revue. Some radio personalities saw television technique that allow the will be devoted to a single sketch, such as thon's Flying Circus Saturday nights at him and soon he was non-sto- p perform, writing for flow of images between live ac the "Dennis Dumb" tale. In effect, the 10 p.m. on NETV.

EVENING don their acting careers to O O ABC'S MONDAY NIGHT become daring circus performers FOOTBALL Baltimore Colts vs on the flying trapeze, the Miami Dolphins 00 O WOK VAN DYKE SHOW highwlre, and In cages with wild C5 GRAND GENERATION tlOOOGDNEWS animals. (2 hra.) tH MOVIE "For Those Who Think EMERGENCY fl ONE MCNAMARA'8 BAND Johnny Young" 1964 James Darren, 0 one-thir- JAPAN: THE LIVING TRADI- d m McNamara and his "dirty Pamela Tltfen. Wealthy young TION of a dozen, recruited as secret playboy falls in love with a pen- live on the town fc eOOOOCOUPLE agents during WW II, go to niless girl, night TO TELL THE TRUTH O Yugoslavia to rescue a scientist SO & ELIZABETH R "Shadow In The O CONCENTRATION being held by the Nazis. Stars: Sun" Elizabeth Is offered YOUR PLEASE the hand O QUESTION, John Byner. (60 mln.) of the Due d'Aiencon, younger CD MUPPET SHOW Quest: te NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 3 brother of the French king. (90 Peters 'Yukon Passage" Four young men Sheldon Memorial Art MACNEIL LEHRER REPORT mln.) Gallery C5 retrace the trail of the Klondike 1:00 SWITCH David CD ANDY GRIFFITH 8HOW Q Wayne guest The Modern Chair pitting their stars as an old vaudeville 7:00 SERQEANT BiLKO per- O courage and endurance against former new-foun- d LITTLE HOUSE ON THE whose fJ O the rugged Alaskan wilderness in is a of Art Shop PRAIRIE Nellie Oleson Luke popularity marred by series and a spectacular outdoor adventure. on life. Slmms fall In love and attempts his (60 min.) Christmas Fair meet, elope (60 mln.) CD LOU GRANT Lou Charlie frantic for and and, during the search CO JOKER'S WILD face a difficult how to tell the the wldowered 7:30 ADAM 12 problem: pair, boy's fJ their that the new man lather and Miss Beadle CO HOLLYWOOD CONNECTION publisher Sheldon Film Theatre 0 spinster In her life may be more Interested decide to tie the matrimonial knot 100 MOVIE In 1830 Selections fj 'Babes Arms" In her paper than In romance. from the Second International Festival of themselves. (60 mln.) Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney. W:00 NEWS LUND3TROM8 CHRISTMAS flfltlOCD Women's Films; Aloise Liliane O NBC MONDAY NKJHT MOVIE CAVETT by de Kermadec, SPECIAL fl m UCK SHOW Guests: today The Storyteller" Stars: Martin Gwen Verdon American 7 and 9 CD CIRCUS OP THE STARS and the through Saturday, p.m. Friday and Q Balsam, Patty Duke Astln. A pro- Dance Machine. Part I. Saturday Lucille Ball, Savalas, matinee, 3 Telly Cindy lific scriptwriter's television movie CD STAR TREK "A Private Little p.m. Williams, Robert Conrad, among Is accused of triggering a 12 year-ol- d War" (60 min.) many others, aban temporarily viewer to commit arson. (2 10:30 O MOVIE "Home From The Hill" Strongman Ferdinand by Alexander Kluge (UPC 1860 Robert Mltchum, Eleanor Foreign Films) 7 and 9 Parker. An Illegitimate son saves Sunday, p.m. his father's life, but comes face-to-fa- ce MONDAY NIGHT with the legitimate son. Union Program Council O Q THE TONIGHT SHOW Take One Point Blank with Lee Guest host: David Marvin, today. Brenner. Union Centennial 7 FOOTBALL Guests: John Travolta, Suzanne Room, and 9 p.m. Somers, Frankle Vaill, Helen Gurley Brown. (80 min.) Efst,"ion Pr9ram Bowling Tournament, East Union OM BIG SCHEEW TV fl FOREVER FERNWOOO North CD CBS LATE MOVIE "McMillan 40, in the evening. The Monday night match-u- p between the Baltimore Colts and Wife: Wives and and the Miami in Miami should be close. The Husbands, Dolphins Killers During a costume ball, a UPC and EUPC interviews for 1978 councils. Dolphins trail the Co Its by one game in the AFC East close friend of the McMillans Is Applica- - tions and further information with three to go, In their last outings the Colts got drubbed mufdrd (R- 90 rrHn ) available in Program Office, by Denver, whila Miami brutalized St. Louis behind the IS FORSYTE SAGA "A Family Nebraska Union and Administrative Scandal" The of the offices, East Union. passing of Bob Griese. Griese won't brutalize Baltimore premiere series Introducing the forsyte per- Christmas but look for the Dolphins by three. sonalities. (60 mln. Union,t8Cparr,PUS tree Vl'htin9 of East 11:00 CIO NEWS U C8S LATE MOVIE "McMillan Oraodmotbor Frodicts; and Wife: No Hearts. No Flowers When Sally McMillan's purse Is Studio Theatre stolen, a psychopathic suitor murders the petty thief. J,y!L chj,dren' P'ay) by Arthur Fauquez. 11:39 CT NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL throught0,'Sunday, 8 p.m. , l liONSioc O ABC CAPTIONED NEWS Kimball HaSfiiiriGre SO 12.00 TOMOHHOW Host: Tom Recital Hall lounge fj Q Guest: Rev. Lab Come out and watch the same tonight on my big screen fWtyder. Klrby J. Bands, today, 8 p.m. TV Hensiey.ieomtn.) Band 201 GunvoIIoy (25 square feet) white enjoying your favorite drinks O tCHG&ANT BtLKO Marching Concert, Friday, and 12:10 CD NCWS 8pm sandwiches . ... 25 cents off all pitcher beer tJ University Singers, Sunday, 4 for my fellow football fans. tt.40 If DRAGNET p jn. Boulevard tonight 1 00 fj MCVSS "For Those Who Think Young" 1064 James Osrren, R &!Dh MtiellAr Pl.r.. Liuo Entertainment This Pamela Tiffen. (SO min.) Legacy. OPEN 1:11 fl FOCUS Saturday, 2:45 p.m., Sundays 2:30 and 3:45 Weekend Cmcn - On 1:40 flNEWS p.m TIL 1 a.m. tM fa LOVE AMERICAN STYLE LOWENBRAU, COORS, BUD & PABSTON TAP t(B fl DICK VAN DYKE SHOW NtOHT GALLERY l 13 Music tfzruin-tn- ni shots m 4O0CJTHUin mn mi ti eiihes mm 100 ( J ANDY arsFCTH SHOW ISO (JGOMERPYLE