A Conversation with John Cleese - Cornell University 9/11/17

Sit in on the latest talk with Cornell Professor John Cleese as he discusses a wide range of topics with Cornell University Press Director Dean Smith. This talk is one of many Cornell lectures featured in John Cleese's new book, Professor at Large: www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/...
John Cleese is a comedian, actor, producer, and director, as well as the Provost’s Visiting Professor at Cornell University. Cleese is best known for his work on Monty Python’s Flying Circus and Fawlty Towers, as well as numerous other on-screen performances, including as Q in the James Bond franchise and Nearly Headless Nick in the Harry Potter movies. Cleese holds an M.A. in law from Cambridge University, and an honorary LL.D. from St. Andrews University, where he was rector for several years.
Follow him on Twitter at @JohnCleese

[@stevesandford1437]

Marvelous man. We can only hope that he lives as long as his mother, which gives the rest of us a few decades more of his unique presence on Earth. One of the best on-line interviews featuring John Cleese, he seems so relaxed and comfortable at Cornell. xx SF

[@jayjames7055]

A John Cleese interviewer who knows how to let the man talk! Well done that man.

[@BenjiOrthopedic]

John Cleese - there will never, ever be another one like you. Thank God. And Thank God for YOU! You have made our lives so much brighter. You have that healing power that all the greatest comedians have. But above all, you are intelligent and enthrall us, your audience, with your charming wit and infinite wisdom. Please read John's autobiography, "So Anyway..."

[@HollyLFord]

When i was in high school in the late 70s, you could only see Monty Python on UHF, which had a noisy signal without a special antenna. I spent a lot of time at a friend's house watching it. Then the movies started coming out, have seen every one. Was thrilled with these special reunions and interviews.

[@sub-jec-tiv]

It’s true that Python really touched Americans. I grew up watching it on Public TV and it completely changed my sense of the world. Humor, but also the fact that silliness, which i was always fond of as a young person, was a legitimate state of being. 😂

[@barbaraburbello9236]

What a joy that John Cleese in our lives. He should live forever🎶❤️🤡👍🌈

[@terrybruno7404]

For sure!! 🔥🔥♥️💥🥂. There’s The after life, so we can have Further talks as well 🍷

[@simongore]

I doubt he would want to live for ever as giving the same advice over and over again , generation after generation could be deeply frustrating... you see there's still no hope !

[@lpsp442]

I could listen to John Cleese discourse on these topics all day. His wisdom is profound. He knows way more than most celebrities who talk about what he does - because he knows just how little anyone knows at all!

[@shanewilliams503]

A national treasure.

[@Dragana949]

Universal treasure !

[@callithowiseeit5806]

He is Now go bury him somewhere

[@thelyrebird1310]

A universal wonder

[@thanatos1387]

Not national. International!

[@MrDaddynomates]

John is doing a talk at the university in my home town here in England soon. I got a ticket. Really looking forward to it. He's a comedy legend.

[@cunning-stunt]

I still don't understand why he moved to the USA? Could he not have stayed and help change things instead of fleeing the ship?

[@Azoria4]

@@cunning-stunt he’d have no meaningful impact, may as well get away if you have the money

[@TheBartok44]

Amazing how creatively John turns the terrible questions asked into something with content and humor!

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

"My psychiatrist, who KNEW Freud ..."

[@yvonnefarrell1029]

At 1:26 he talks about creativity and the conditions that can produce it, and his observations are in line with the Scientific American Frontiers series Alan Alda did about the brain, also with what some writers have said that they come up with their best ideas when they are thinking about nothing in particular. This interview is interesting also because it took place prepandemic and yet is still relevant, and thank God not timid. What a great gift in both comedy and serious thought is John Cleese and thank God for him.

[@tobyjack9608]

Throughout the universe there are pets who have heard their human friends laugh out loud for the first time thanks to these posts.

[@MsBroadway209]

Ugh what an honor it must have been to sit through this. Those students are so lucky.

[@jc6594]

Happy 80th Birthday John Cleese

[@bluecollarguy67]

The only thing that would've made this even better was if John talked and took questions directly from the audience. This press director needs lessons how to be a press director.

[@toneottesen4764]

John Cleese, you living legend! ❤ I loved every word you said in this conversation! ❤❤ 😂😮😢😂

[@MrBricameron]

That was marvellous. I enjoyed every second.

[@Jack-yq6ui]

You would be surprised to know just how much there is to understand from learning how little you understand from what you have learned, let alone remember what you think you know.

[@johnyo5033]

What a beautiful mind.

[@tomquigley3315]

In my capacity as a proctor I find this man to be quit the model . Thanks to a good man.

[@philipbunney9445]

I think this is the best John Cleese interview.

[@robf6105]

If you haven't seen it, check out his interview with John Hodgman. That's my personal favorite.

[@leif1075]

Why does he say he shouldn't mention Miami at around 26:05? What did Florida do this time?

[@leif1075]

Does anyone know the names of the peofessor friends he mentions at around 1:19:45? Thanks.

[@SkyeMpuremagic]

All these lovely comments and I just ramble... Ha!!! 😋 Loved this talk 💞 Darling man. Beautiful soul. Brilliant mind... and how sweet it was when he commented that he loved someone's laughter out in the audience... If he had said that to me I would have died/fainted 😂... Wonderful how he interacts with those listening. He truly appreciates people and notices them... even pokes fun at someone who yawned. He's more real than most and authentically charming. Highlights: Most people don't know what they're doing (in any given profession) Have modest aims ((they're actually achievable and believe it or not you'll be happier)) Avoid children, invest in cats instead ((Children cost a fortune, worry you sick... and "turn out like their mothers"... Hey! Wait a minute here!! 😤😤😤 I'd be a "mother" IF I had kids! Lol... Hmmm 🤔 on second thought, I get what he's saying... 😂🤣🤣🤣))

[@0623kaboom]

they had a choice Trump or lose the constitution ... they chose to keep the constitution

[@juliadesigns4us]

Come on Dean, provide a bit more pleasing reaction before issuing your next question.

[@LiJianofficial]

Thanks for compliment 😊

[@donnarouse5366]

Sometime in the late 70's I watched a montython! Which was played on channel 15 knxv in phoenix Arizona! It was so enjoyable! My favorite part of the hol grail was the bring out the dead sketch. Really love John cleese!

[@46kolma]

It is extremely difficult for me to watch how Dean is so absent, always looking away from John... It is so unpolite.

[@timc7035]

Yeah, it's pretty awkward.

[@timc7035]

I didn't realize the Monty Python members were so well educated. Cambridge and Oxford.

[@Azoria4]

A lot of comedians are, such as (Mr Bean) Roman Atkinson or Sacha Baron Cohen

[@ownpetard8379]

@@Azoria4 I think the best of them, even if not well educated, are very smart. And many of the elite are musical - Jack Benny, Groucho Marx, Sid Caesar, Mel Brooks, Eric Idle, many others. John cannot carry a tune in a bucket, so he is an exception.

[@brianlarocca4390]

My favorite show of all time was Faulty Towers.

[@theendarkenedilluminatus4342]

I love how rebellious he is, and there's nothing anyone can or will do to stop him from dropping hard truths on this audience. Some of them will go on to accomplish great things, some may change the world, and when asked why they'll respond that years ago John Cleese told them that everyone should just do what they want, and speak up or take action to abandon broken systems, and the rest is history.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

The interviewer, you mean?

[@christineyetman640]

I have to say I prefer The Life of Brian over The Holy Grail...but I have been a fan of these guys for many years..too funny

[@paulferranti8536]

Wonderful!

[@ovaisnaqvi1965]

American audiences can’t listen to anyone successful or famous or rich without bursting into laughter at their every word, even at the serious points. He’s very funny in places, but it becomes impossible to watch this after a while since all he has to do is move in his seat for the audience to howl. It’s also why Cleese spends so much time there: no English audiences would hang onto his every word: as smart, irreverent and funny as he is.

[@webbess1]

Jimmy Saville. Roman Polanski. Silvio Berlusconi. Jimmy Page. The Catholic Church.

[@seojinsbookofstories]

John Cleese said before that he was actually delighted and found it hilarious when, during early days of Python, he and other Pythons did not get a laugh from the audience. People didn't know what to react to their insane, bizarre comedy. Most of them were confused. You can see that the laughter got louder as Flying Circus went on to series 2. And Pythons closely worked together every day with their writing partners who were strict when it came to what was funny and what was not. I don't think Pythons, especially John, were afraid of not getting laughs. So it's not the people-pleasing audience that got him and Eric Idle to prefer American audience. I think it's more to do with politics or show business (Hollywood). Plus both of them have family there. John's comedian daughter has American accent. See 21:53.

[@cultivatingcivicconversations]

Wonderful

[@no288]

- _"How can there be any hope in a society where people have less good attention span than a goldfish"_ LOL ; )

[@amymiller3313]

Wounderfull relaxed interview Thank you for the upload CUP

[@bluered2544]

Wounderfull relaxed interview Thank you for the upload CUP

[@russelldobson1133]

How to spot different trees from quite a long way away

[@MrBricameron]

Masterclass and I didn’t even have to pay for it.

[@DrumsTheWord]

Love. Love. Love.

[@DrumsTheWord]

Shame the interviewer was so nervous?

[@SFCB1954]

John Cleese = Genius. Host = Cornell could have definitely done better than that

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

He looks like Robin Williams' uncomfortable younger brother

[@lpsp442]

HE REFERENCED TALEB. If Cleese wasn't the god-philosopher the world has culminated, he is now. Divine man.

[@petervansoestdevrolijkeboe3320]

The man is a genius

[@h.m.7218]

I would like him to have a talk with Jordan Peterson. Just curious to hear what would come out of it since JC thinks "the world doesn't work" whereas JP is used to say quite exactly the contrary.

[@SpiralScratches]

man that is a great idea those two yakkin for an hr or two id pay to see/hear that, the opposing view thing u mentioned could make for some really good comedy [as long as JP got on board and was up for it]

[@5tran9eMCMLXXII]

@@SpiralScratches JC would be wasted on that stiff, the dude has never laughed in his life.

[@decentmendreams]

Who is he?

[@h.m.7218]

@@decentmendreams Peterson is the most important occidental thinker of the last 20 years, as far as I'm concerned.

[@timc7035]

@@h.m.7218 Nah, he's pretty nutty and wrapped up in theories and overanalysis like a highschool English teacher overanalyzing a book.

[@donnarouse5366]

When they mention his many beautiful theatricals, they forget timebandits!

[@paulferranti8536]

Once in a while the universe ( or God if you like) gives us a Monty Python, and John Cleese.

[@debbieramsey-hanks3757]

Razor sharp wit Thank yoiu

[@showmoke]

Has anyone counted how many times that JC said 'do you know what I mean'?

[@magdalenahoppe8899]

I think you got lost on the Internet. You watched a conversation that was too difficult for you.

[@showmoke]

Magdalena Hoppe - well all I can suggest is that you’re deaf. Try listening to all his interviews here on KZbin.

[@magdalenahoppe8899]

@@showmoke There are two types of deafness - one, when you cannot hear sounds, the other when you cannot hear (understand) the content (meaning). It turns out that the question "do you know what I mean" makes a lot of sense. Not understanding what John Cleese was talking about, you concentrated on what you could do - you counted the repetitions. Do you know what I mean?

[@showmoke]

Magdalena Hoppe - I know exactly what Cleese is talking about and I empathise entirely with what he is saying and fully understand his comments AND his comedy. I do believe though that he is not aware that he is repeating that phrase of his and maybe it’s something that’s a cover for his nervousness. I just find it a bit cringy that he keeps repeating it ( many times in each interview in fact). I was trying to emphasise that to say it once or twice would be acceptable, but it’s very noticeable when one watches many of his lectures and interviews. Anyway, that’s just my opinion.

[@lindabeattie133]

Yes, I think he has to ask it in some interviews …..to my mind, it’s his seeking connection and more spontaneous feedback from the host. Some hosts just don’t project much, …disappointing .

[@ericdenoorman1188]

When this man is gonna be cloned?? We need 1.000 of him, or more.

[@abocas]

The press director here doing his interview, Dean Smith, is a real peculiar person. Present and absent at the same time. Disengaged and doing his job at the same time.

[@TheGava4]

41:15 - 41:25 😂😂😂 love it

[@elizabethannegrey6285]

John Cleese is brilliant as ever and never misses a stroke. The interviewer is disengaged, perfunctory and bordering rude at times. He sits like a sack of potatoes and exudes boredom. However was he chosen to host this interview?

[@LiJianofficial]

Thanks for the compliment 😊

[@fisherking7798]

I would think he'd be more interested in shrubberies than trees

[@SkyeMpuremagic]

John saying there is no hope... Channeling his mother I see 😂🤣

[@jeff420sparky8]

STUPIDITY IS THE FUNNIEST THING IN THE WORLD

[@Walperion_Music]

30:45 - why does the host half of the time looks like he's dead? Like here he doesn't move for like a minute. Should we call for help?

[@jonathanpope81]

Top guy

[@oldskoolfool141]

Cleese has plenty to say about Trump but strangely seems to gloss over ever mentioning the dreadful alternative they were voting against, must one keep affirming ones self to the mob in the halls of academia? what happened to "we are all individuals" John?

[@Zettel9016]

Dreadful?? Are you completely daft? There were more than two candidates on the ballot you ponce.

[@sizzler271]

​@@Zettel9016 He's a ponce ? you're the one resorting to personal insult in the ridiculous belief that it somehow enforces your opinion !

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

What you ignored, absolutely and entirely, is how Cleese related what someone close to Trump said: Trump self-admittedly avoids and defrays the slightest shred of self-awareness and self-listening because, as Trump admits, he finds himself too repugnant to examine. That failing has nothing to do with Hilary Clinton ... and is probably the WORST thing a person can be who has access to nuclear weapons launch-on-warning codes.

[@SkyeMpuremagic]

It's especially funny what he said about only 10% of shrinks knowing what they're doing.. I have always said "no one is qualified to help me" LOL ...seems it's true! 😝😅 ((The ones that could are terribly expensive and usually booked)) I have always had that impression tho... People basically read a text book or two, memorize answers. Pass a few tests, get a degree... and think that degree "qualifies them", when in reality it takes actual skill especially when it comes to helping people through serious life issues. There's some without degrees in psychology that are born for it, and others with degrees in psychology that seemed to have simply picked that profession out of a hat 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@aikishugyo]

Awesome interview. That rogueish smile with the moustache reminds me a bit of David Niven. It is pretty clear that happiness is impeded by the pursuit of money for its own sake, and that the kind treatment of people rather than their complete inhuman exploitation ("tou have to prove your value to the company" type of idiotic two-faced management) would vastly reduce the interest in money as a proxy for happiness, and increase actual happiness throughout society. I really like what he says about being aware of emotions in order to control them. There is a whole range of levels from the physiological up through emotions, feelings, to thinking, and getting deeper down that range allows one to exercise more control over the reaction to external and internal stimuli, and actually control their thoughts (presumably to remain in the wonderful state of relaxedness/play where brain activity is regular, allowing thought to be most effective).

[@PCSJEFF67]

John Cleese, the perfect english man. Oh, and he left brexit UK. So smart indeed.

[@johnhanson5943]

He supported Brexit - like all people who support democratic process / political representation - accountability. You prefer Berlin autocracy?

[@philipbunney9445]

Cleese’s comments about the afterlife...I wonder if Ricky Gervais has heard this.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

1:21 The girls like that one. Cleese's Woolly Lemur

[@EricBrunoBorgman]

Here's what Cleese had to say on Twitter about Biden, "Reading about Joe Biden's lack of boastfulness this morning, I felt deeply touched. It's such a relief to have a person like him in charge of the US. Maybe we could try it in the UK one day." I would have said, "You've got to be JOKING!" But, I'm afraid Cleese isn't funny when he talks about politics.

[@caesartopacio9636]

Read more...

[@Tango12372]

memorable comedy: "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" Michael Caine; Steve Martin

[@misselto78]

I don’t want him to get older, want him to stay forever. Life sucks sometimes.

[@DWHarper62]

Thanks for proving the point... This movie was a remake of a script from 1964...

[@ivancarlson953]

A "fish" called Jennifer

[@rebeccaduncan5366]

why a life time job and seeing him it Cornell University too, John Cleese ,

[@markmaki4460]

Skip to 8:50...

[@borabg6267]

Nibble, nibble. nibble...lol

[@SkyeMpuremagic]

Acquisition only makes Ferengi happy 😂 ((My fellow Star Trek nerds will get this reference 🙌)) Humans think money or sex can do it for them and always wonder why they're so damn depressed We need to change our priorities as a society/culture

[@BrianMcCann421]

Like all great Englishmen, lives in the USA

[@terrydickinson3296]

So true about taking parents to the cinema and the things they will come up with to make all thing an impossible disaster (for cinema it could be changed to anything... shopping, meal out etc)

[@LiJianofficial]

Thanks for the compliment 😊

[@sandrasalas9813]

Mr Cleese only knows the America he wants to see. Would love to hear about his knowledge of the US. Celebrity Bubble

[@petermaxwell2965]

I couldnt hear what 50 voices were saying, i had to put subtitles on ..maybe thats why it didn't get a BIG laff??

[@ivancarlson953]

"You know?"

[@martinvanheusden9832]

Science? It's is all about facts. Faith/religion? It's all about truth. C'est-ça.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Religion is about nothing.

[@Canalcoholic]

Why can the host in particular and Americans in general not pronounce Monty Python? Listen to John, it’s not Monny py-THON, it’s more Mon-Tea PY-thern.

[@mr.hitchens]

Thank you! Drives me nuts! John Cles? Professor needs education......

[@OGRE_HATES_NERDS]

in america we pronounce pretty much every word differently than they do in England. This is commonly referred to as an "accent". most countries and even different regions within each country have their own distinct "accents". In china, for example, Ill bet they use a totally different third way to pronounce "monty python", even if they are speaking english. Hope this helps.

[@MarcStjames-rq1dm]

Some people just need housing...any housing....

[@OGRE_HATES_NERDS]

everyone does

[@donnarouse5366]

Fawlty towers memory sybill was in the hospital because of an ingrown toenail! And basil was sitting in sybill's room and annoying the nurses. And the nurse asks it he is still here and he looks all around and says apparently"

[@BenjiOrthopedic]

58:00 - Spot-on with his comments about Trump. And you hear the audience applaud. NY is a blue state...this would not go over well in Trump territory!

[@ownpetard8379]

There was a little push back too towards the end of the audience reaction. Upper NY is conservative and Republican.

[@8888-9]

International Inter galactic Creative brain

[@rob16248]

I'm gobsmacked by his spiritual beliefs.

[@veritas6335]

What an ugly word to use.

[@rob16248]

That's "gobsmacked", not "godsmacked"!@@veritas6335

[@sammavacaist]

I'm surprised young people know Monty Python.

[@womenfrom0202]

I’m surprised you know KZbin

[@sammavacaist]

@@womenfrom0202 Just because something is on youtube doesn't mean young people know what it is.

[@0623kaboom]

i can see the being oppressed scene being one of the scene that made the archeologists and history guys stop and think about the little guy and what the bigger changes meant to them ...

[@0623kaboom]

lol the sandals bit is funny ... best part is you know that guy from the hotel wont give anyone your slippers lol

[@chefmichaelgriffin4005]

I could listen to John Cleese talk every single day!! But that is the worst interviewer I think I have ever seen!

[@misselto78]

Like really the Worst he should be fired asap. Or atleast work behind television

[@johanjohansson7717]

John ”you see what I mean” Cleese 😀

[@OGRE_HATES_NERDS]

nameen

[@simongore]

Dear Mr Cleese - Would you please consider myself as a pro bono pupil. I think about 2 weeks would be my capacity.

[@sanchamaher2808]

The interviewer seems uninterested.

[@sulufest]

Yes, he appears so but I think he is overwhelmed by Cleese’s presence.

[@veritas6335]

Cleese is marvelous. He does need the eliminate the phrase "you see what I mean" from his repertoire. He says it every four or five minutes and sometimes three times in the same sentence. It's irritating and unnecessary. Otherwise delightful.

[@MrBricameron]

I would have loved to have seen 1776

[@peterj4741]

I feel like Cleese and Alec Baldwin would have an interesting conversation.

[@brianjacob8728]

Cornell has historically had the highest suicide rate among the ivies. If they think their approach is correct, I think this should give them pause...

[@themasterswitch1603]

Great discourse from Cleese. Exceedingly dull and humourless host. Christ.

[@VarnaVix]

30:45: Does Cleese realize how important sex, drugs and alcohol were in the 18th century military? Edit: Don't forget the gambling! King George had to tax dice.

[@cgametheory1423]

There is a game called No Mans Sky with one Quintillion star systems. Could some people work with such people that worked on that computer game or others with huge amounts of detailed worlds and bring in some other high end ai systems and people like John Cleese to make one million star systems games with rich procedural mistake based cultures like most of humanities and in a comedic (isn't it all obvious by now what's wrong with it) style very much created by being similar to all of Monty Python's work, especially their wonderfully intellectually observant movies The Holy Grail and The Life Of Brian? They could be role playing games where the player played a character in the range of anything from a Travelling King On A Quest ala The Holy Grail, to a Not The Messiah ala The Life Of Brian or any of the secondary Main Characters or a completely new take like maybe someone sensible and knowing the obvious flaws in inter-galactic societies in a cosmic galactic multi-civilisation Universe with idiots running the show as usual.

[@johnbarthram8789]

Please please wear socks

[@MrMetube4]

Is your underwear clean and appropriate.?

[@carmelpule8493]

I always felt that John Cleese was a rather childish immature not so witty comedian who lived in his own space, not exactly respecting the "Norms" around him. Success is relative to the people one caters for!

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Do you respect the the Norms around you?

[@amitraam1270]

56:00 and he means All research, even my favorite subject .🤦‍♂️ And yours .

[@philipdent-composermusicpr9297]

Such a terrible interviewer! How did he get the gig?

[@HearturMind]

Maybe they thought it would save time to have someone with no sense of humor

[@utl94]

As much as I admire Cleese he got the standpoint of science completely wrong at the end (1:41:50). Science do not make proclamations of possibility for anything that is not supported by evidence.

[@plekkchand]

I seriously doubt that you understood what he was trying to say.

[@utl94]

@@plekkchand Oh, sure I did understand. I objected to his assertion that sciences says that "that can't be possible because we don't have a theory to justify it". Nothing more, nothing less. Maybe I am chasing words here but paraphrasing science in this way does not make much good in terms of people's trust in science. What points did I misunderstood, you think?

[@blaggercoyote]

"You see what I mean?" Cleese uses this phrase far too much for me.

[@ownpetard8379]

Yeah, I see what you mean. tee hee

[@pettertran1405]

The unequaled rifle roughly raise because creator conversantly crawl against a meek clerk. inexpensive, red pheasant

[@redsquirrel1086]

I prefer Michael Palin. Just saying.

[@wangdangdoodie]

Palin is a lot more interesting to listen to, to be fair.

[@redsquirrel1086]

@@Zettel9016 There wasn't a weak link among the Python group apart from perhaps Terry Gilliam whose animations just didn't do it for me. Chapman was a comedy genius but I enjoyed watching Palin the most, and some of the stuff he has done post Python has been great as well.