John Cleese On How They Sold Monty Python To The BBC

Living legend John Cleese stops by to talk about his book "So, Anyway," how he and his fellow Pythons pitched their show, and why fish are funny.

[@AuntieWelly]

Cleese was expelled from Clifton College school for the following incident: There was a white statue of Earl Haig in the grounds. Cleese painted white footprints from the statue to the toilet and back again.

[@alexhicks6207]

He was a butcher anyway should've got a reward

[@sasukesarutobi3862]

I've heard a similar story about students and the Queen Victoria statue in Newcastle Upon Tyne

[@alexhicks6207]

@@sasukesarutobi3862 I have never heard Newcastle be referred to so politely outside of the BBC

[@sasukesarutobi3862]

@@alexhicks6207 I've lived away long enough to realise that not everyone knows which Newcastle I'm talking about, especially non-British readers

[@alexhicks6207]

@@sasukesarutobi3862 yeah not like under Lyme is famous for those sorts of tricks tho or anything really 🤣🤣

[@muhhest]

Notice how Stephen doesn't say much here. He usually has a lot of small witicisms he interjects, but here he is mostly just listening, because Cleese is a legend.

[@thebrazilianatlantis165]

Conan needs to learn to do that with Norm.

[@SpencerFlagg]

I was just thinking "I wish Colbert talked less"

[@MrSuperbeast92]

Spencer Flagg Compare this to the other late night talk show interviews with John Cleese. Comparatively, Stephen is just setting things up for John to work his magic off of. Also Stephen isn't being a fangirl, and sucking up... So John is actually taking him more seriously.

[@hitmanwolf]

@Joseph Norm Mcdonald? Conan? that is like mixing Coffee with Coke...

[@troyevitt2437]

Something completely different.

[@danpalmer8235]

Amazing to see how star struck comedians get when they interview Cleese, true respect and admiration

[@lovablesnowman]

Dan Palmer he truly is a legend of comedy. Python changed comedy forever and comedians obviously acknowledge that

[@goodgollymisspolly5163]

My favorite Cleese moment. "Wanda" dancing butt exposed... with children audience. Omg!

[@BenjWarrant]

I remember watching the fish-slapping sketch when it was first broadcast. My mum and dad were in the room, I was a teenager. The sketch made me helpless with shaking, but what made me cry with laughter was the dead-pan, slightly disgusted expressions of my parents.

[@singenstattatmen5096]

I just love that Stephen is absolutely familiar with John's work and, most importantly, his humour. "You looked like an absolute idiot", "Did it help being a circus freak" - you can tell Mr. Cleese is absolutely loving it. He does always say that he prefers rude, interesting questions to boring, polite and generic ones. What a marvelous interview with a wonderful atmosphere.

[@seamac206]

SingenStatt Atmen feels like a podcast

[@docjc9465]

Incredibly disingenuous

[@Ron898]

Doc is a Trumper

[@OriginalPuro]

If you're a comedian worth your salt you know the works of John Cleese.

[@ExoShaman]

Stephen is getting the best people to interview. They're all so interesting and he's letting them open up about themselves and it's wonderful.

[@Ou8y2k2]

+dued27 Unlike the other late night hosts that interrupt their guests stories incessantly...

[@RikardPeterson]

+dued27 He's doing well with them, too. It's rare to see a good Cleese interview these days. (I only wish it had been longer.)

[@Ou8y2k2]

***** It's hard not to like Colbert. I'd say his show is second only to Graham Norton's in terms of hilarity. Watch the Norton episode with Matt Damon, Bill Murray and Hugh Bonneville if you haven't already.

[@MRayner59]

+Michelle Topham He did seem to be genuinely affectionate, which often isn't the case with Cleese who tends to be a bit flinty and aloof at times.

[@Stranj100]

+Michelle Topham It had to be the hat.

[@DJ-bj8ku]

I saw Cleese interviewed by Conan, Colbert and Seth Meyers and they all yielded the microphone to his brilliance. The guy at BBC who told the Pythons to create thirteen episodes without knowing what they’d produce is the wisest executive ever.

[@docjc9465]

Isn’t that what should happen?

[@aniruddhahar]

You could say he had supreme executive power

[@DJ-bj8ku]

@@aniruddhahar haha, yes

[@andrewcrowder4958]

@@aniruddhahar Well-played, sir.

[@lettuceprime4922]

He's like the world's most well-spoken irreverent Grandpa.

[@JohnD640]

He probably is.

[@AnnaWebb37]

Lettuce Prime Only problem is... He has no kids.

[@lettuceprime4922]

Tony Flamingo - Even better. That way he can be everybody's Grandpa.

[@KarstensCreationsKC]

PERFECT way to look at it...;)

[@AnnaWebb37]

Lettuce Prime OMFG SO TRUE

[@KingOfMadCows]

Hats off to John Cleese for all the years of laughter he's given us.

[@Danmarinja]

I love that John Cleese isn’t just a comedian, he’s a properly respectful and insightful guy who knows how to tell a story.

[@mango2005]

" I didn't start it" "yes you did you invaded Poland!"

[@googlewolly]

Hahahah. Oh, man. He really is a legend.

[@roberthuppert4912]

My favorite Fawlty Towers episode!! "Ohhh,youre German! I thought there was something wrong with you!"😂😅

[@yareyare_dechi]

DONT MENTiON THE WAR!

[@jessesteinbar]

Great humor in great times!

[@davidbrowne6371]

John was the quintessential Hitler impersonator on Python .. he did a fabulous Hitler ! (albeit, about 2ft taller than the real life fascist) utterly priceless stuff .. eons ahead of their times, comedically speaking of course. There will never be another Monty Pythons Flying Circus ... ever.

[@thesheepthatwentmooo]

Most subtle reference to the Parrot Sketch I have ever seen at 5:24 :P love it

[@knng2008]

+Ollie Langdon It's a late parrot, an ex-parrot

[@Bigfatbutterfly02]

+Ollie Langdon I think that's why only Stephen laughed

[@gusbaker4u]

+Ollie Langdon the first time I watched this, I didn't get why Colbert laughed so hard...I am more than a little ashamed of myself now

[@MrNikolidas]

+Ollie Langdon Thank you, some other people noticed. I was expecting "This is a dead pitch!" and was sad when it didn't come.

[@66flamer]

+Jonathan Charles and i....a total stranger......sorry for your sadness.....hands you a tissue.

[@shkotayd9749]

Colbert has to stop interviewing geniuses back to back (seriously). This is blowing the brain. All the respect to Cleese. The man has earned his kudos!

[@RyanCanSee]

True that, my brain is hurting from all the epicness

[@mason_salt]

+Shkotay D I've never found Monty Python to be that all that great. The only funny thing they did was the movie and that isn't even that funny anymore.

[@shkotayd9749]

mason salt Depends on your sense of humor. I always found most of their stuff to be freaking hilarious and stupid, which just made it more so xD

[@alstroberg]

+mason salt This reminds me of the word SarChasm: that giant gap between someone who told a satiric joke- and the guy who just doesn't get it.

[@zacharyfarr5044]

+mason salt If you have never sen "Faulty Towers" you should check it out

[@daggumnametaken]

His willingness to just sit there in awe of people he looked up to as his guests, he doesnt even attempt to hide it. That is one of the best parts of Colbert.

[@SamBinuful]

Now this is a good talk show. Colbert is letting the guest have fun and asking questions that actually can have a thoughtful response.

[@Kdpsnake]

I love that Colbert actually allowed the guest to talk and didnt interrupt every 4 seconds to steer the conversation

[@fabulousmyriad267]

I've rarely seen John smiling and so relaxed. Kudos to Stephen for being an excellent host!

[@docjc9465]

Colburt a faker

[@chrisb9345]

John Cleese is incredible. I love that he is still with us.

[@luckystrke]

Wow, he's sharp at 76!

[@goggletoggle1294]

Right?

[@jimmy27paul]

+luckystrke That statement would only work if he was 96....

[@vyrnmn]

+luckystrke He's not even reached the average life expectancy for a man (79 in the UK),. so I'd hope he was still completely compos mentis

[@DeathBringer769]

+James Franklin Plenty of people lose their minds far sooner. Who the fuck cares about some estimated average? It's not a law or rule. It's no guarantee of anything either way.

[@sweetazndoll]

76 is not that old

[@JessemyBeadle]

I don’t think I fully understood my father until I understood John Cleese. He was raised on Monty Python And went to university in the 70s, he speaks and thinks just like the talented mr Cleese. What a lovely reminder of a fun time.

[@Drinapropriatetouch]

John Cleese has to be one of the best guests to interview, he just seems to be able to carry it himself, I notice he just needs so little to work with, he can respond with the most interesting & funny stories to only the simplest questions.

[@phero2]

+The Red Buffoon Except it was a staged and rehearsed interview like pretty much every interview today. I hate that shit. When you go to a job interview do you get to have their questions in advance? NO THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT. To put you on the spot to see the REAL you. Not this fake shit. If they want to show clips it's easy as hell to make a proper database and just query whatever the hell they want to show. This is a book promotion in exchange for a few rehearsed questions.. jeez.

[@Drinapropriatetouch]

Phero I understand you cynicism & to a degree I share it but go & watch any interview with John Cleese & you'll get the same fantastic responses. Or even have a look at the debate he was in with Michael Palin & a couple of catholic priests after the release of 'Life of Brian' None of that was scripted & you can see the same wit & humor. Believe it or not John Cleese is actually quite funny & intelligent.

[@porkwoofles3909]

+Phero Hating things is a choice you make.

[@denisesevierfries]

+The Red Buffoon Agree 100%. One of the few celebs I would love to meet in person.

[@jakegerber6588]

+The Red Buffoon I like the face Colbert doesn't try to upstage his guests or take the attention from them to himself, unlike some other talk show hosts..

[@DeathlyTired]

You get the guest on, who actually has things to say, not just things to sell, you let them talk, and don't interrupt them every five seconds. Substance, see, it's not difficult. Of course, it helps to have so seasoned a raconteur as Mr. Cleese - who can make any tangent a joyous diversion - but, still: conversations not soundbites

[@Exigentable]

thanks daria

[@jasondelves8758]

@@Exigentable lol!!!

[@lordythegreat88]

Yeah and Steven for the most part knew what he was talking about too. Everyone kind of glazed over when Cleese talked about comedians from the 40s and 50s though haha

[@w6467]

He is selling his book. Listen carefully.

[@jamescarter3196]

Insonmniacfolder, why do you make a lot of negative points when trying to say something positive? It's really weird to see a bunch of complaints about other stuff that isn't in this video.

[@richardcastellanos9329]

I like how you can see that Cleese was genuinely flattered by Colbert's compliment in "You've given me hope that there'll be another John Cleese book."

[@3ver4fter53]

Yes, that was a brilliant ending. So much respect between these 2 guys.

[@brovold72]

Right. Though now I'm sad that there has NOT been another Cleese book.

[@fabianher120373]

this guy knows how to interview, love it

[@SugarfreeYT]

Less than 30 seconds in and Cleese is angrily telling the audience to 'Shhhhh!' lol.

[@attlee2010]

Do you think it was because he's 85 and deaf and he can't hear Stephen over the audience?

[@leebaron3230]

It's cause he appreciates his audience but doesn't want any recognition.

[@seanmatyas3938]

go look up John Cleese and Eric Idle having a conversation. The audience begins to clap and he tells them to "shut up". Cleese is the best :D

[@miguelurdaci7884]

@@leebaron3230It's the Basil in him; true irritation. It's like an audience made up of Manuels and Sybils. Cleese likes recognition (the kind Colbert was eloquently giving and which he was trying to hear) but not hype (the kind the audience was giving, preventing him from hearing Colbert).

[@balazstoth7977]

It was good to see how touched Mr. Cleese was in the first few moments of the interview and I am verry happy to see people (like Colbert) well appreciate him and his heritage. And of course nobody expects the spanish inqusition.

[@222ableVelo]

Monty Python and the Holy Grail will always be etched in my memory.

[@SpursFanCanada]

In my opinion he uttered the greatest line in comedy history "my hovercraft is full of eels" brilliant.

[@halflanding1900]

“I will not buy this tobacconist it is scratched”

[@gailremp8389]

Jeez!

[@allen-simpson]

He is the only man who can shush a crowd and elicit no negative responses.

[@HailZod]

Allen Simpson Ant and dec are the only other people who can do it. But that’s with English audiences so yeah it’s different

[@Spankabuttux]

@@HailZod Well, maybe just Dec these days...

[@ManlyStump]

@@HailZod What about Alan Partridge?

[@HenryDavidFloyd]

5:27 - That is the sound of 99% of people in the room completely missing the joke.

[@bigbangtheorymanic]

I know, so sad. They should have shown the parrot sketch rather than fish slapping

[@SpaceCattttt]

+Alex I've always preferred a bit of parrot slapping myself.

[@Tigermachine1]

+Henry Floyd I didn't get it either :(

[@ianfindlay865]

+Alex Much too long. JC's point was that Fish Slapping was meaningless. Dead Parrot had some meaning or tenuous connection to reality.

[@SelvesteSand]

+Henry Floyd They're all pining for the fjords!

[@thebrazilianatlantis165]

What Cleese is too gentlemanly to say here is that he was already famous in England at the time, the others all weren't, and the reason Mills greenlit the show was that Cleese was a known commodity.

[@rbeck3200tb40]

They actually wanted to call their tv show John Cleese's Flying Circus but he didnt want to do that

[@thebrazilianatlantis165]

And it was an undesirable time slot and a very small budget, so given that they knew the public liked him in "At Last The 1948 Show" (including Four Yorkshiremen and Bookshop) and "The Frost Report," they weren't taking much of a risk.

[@FloydMaxwell]

Cleese is to Monty Python as Paul McCartney is to The Beatles

[@joelwexler]

Who's Ringo?

[@fgldnglbs]

I'd say who it is, but he's dead and I like Ringo.

[@kenwilliams8067]

In my opinion, what made the Python troupe so great, ahead of anything I saw in American comedy, or any other competitor, was the way they played their roles, no matter the absurdity of the sketch. Watch any film or sketch, and it's so damned believable, within the roles, with the costuming, posturing, line delivery, etc etc. in spite of the silliness of the overall scene. MP & the Holy Grail for example, is one of the best, most respectful representations of the Arthurian story cycle in film, in terms of setting, costuming, overall feel, etc. All of which is then contradicted by the wonderful absurdity to which that brilliant fidelity is pointed. Pure genius.

[@zeemzok]

They are british but okay...😂

[@N.I.R.A.T.I.A.S.]

5:22 "It was a non-pitch, it was an un-pitch, it was an ex-pitch." Bothers me that Stephen was the only guy who got that.

[@cartoonking461]

Got it

[@carlasciandra7958]

The joyful look of understanding on Stephen Colbert's face at 06:41 truly warms my heart. Two great comedians with a passion for making others laugh. What an interview.

[@EmilyGloeggler7984]

Yet Cleese is funny

[@Captain-Jinn]

At first he seems like he's well beyond his prime, but the way he tells these stories is so grandfatherly and really makes you want to listen, and fantastic timing as always. Such a great man, John Cleese.

[@PianoScenesMoviesandSeries]

I remember a party with a couple of friends when we were 14, some kind of a sleepover, and we watched The Monthy Python The Holy Grail. I laughed so much that day, I think I even passed out a few minutes. My body couldn't take the laughing laughing anymore.

[@davidscott129]

When I was a teen, the local PBS station bought episodes of Python, thinking it was just another Britcom. My father laughed himself silly until he saw bare breasts on the screen, and shut the TV off. Go fig.

[@gabe_s_videos]

When I was about sixteen, I went with my dad to buy a new car, and I made some smartass remark when the dealer, who was about forty years older than I am, asked if we had any more questions, and I said something like "What's the fastest animal on earth?" He replied "Ok, I have a question for you: what's the average velocity of a swallow." I paused for a second and said, "African or European?" And the guy threw his arms around me in joy.

[@tjthill]

I was the kind of kid who read the credits. I was 15. I also remember actual physical -- not pain, but physical knowledge that I'd better rein it in here -- for a moment, I was laughing so hard.

[@sdry]

Damn same story here. We were around that age and we had to stop the vhs for multiple times so people could wipe their eyes and try to breathe normally. Epic movie.

[@gabe_s_videos]

***** At the risk of sounding like a snob, it's something you either get or you don't.

[@GhostMasque]

God this is such a good interview, I could listen to Cleese talk like this for hours.

[@gpeddino]

"Did being a circus freak help?" LOL

[@rumblefish9]

Stephen knew John would love that.

[@MothraBlues]

Yess - classsick!!! :-D

[@tylertyler82]

One of my favorites- the Ministry of Silly Walks.

[@innerlight7632]

+tylertyler82 Me too

[@iglooo102videos]

+tylertyler82 ditto

[@robbieclark7828]

And the argument clinic

[@nastrael]

+Robbie Clark You want to complain!?! I've only had these shoes two weeks and there's already holes in them!

[@dooderhooder4656]

Its all about that joke warfare tho

[@cityhawk]

Johns is truly an idol of mine in so many ways. Keep writing and keep doing your thing.

[@warriorwaitress7690]

John Cleese is the Paul McCartney of comedy. There are few comedians that I have more adoration for. ♡

[@salvadormarley]

I could watch John Cleese talking forever

[@travellingspud7972]

OMG the fish slapping dance is my all time favourite sketch of anything

[@netrade3898]

When John starts talking about being silly, I still expect Graham to pop out and interrupt the interview dressed as the Colonel.

[@FilmKiln]

I love that HE loved doing the hat sketch.

[@kylewagoner]

One of my favorite people on earth.

[@ffsf739]

You can feel the love in this interview. The respect and admiration that Colbert has for John is palpable.

[@alwaysgonnarun123]

Incredible comic legend. Love seeing Steven Colbert not only selecting such interesting, talented people to interview, but being such a excited interviewer that facilitates terrific conversation.

[@johnbaldock6353]

Wow, Stephen Colbert Rocks As An Interviewer!!!! I've Never Seen John Cleese Look So Relaxed In An Interview!!

[@simplysimon9868]

I was allowed to stay up and watch Monty Python on TV and thankfully John and the gang made me and parents laugh so much! All utterly brilliant and silly!! Great to see here Stephen. Hope John Cleese can write another book.

[@rogerhwerner6997]

I have been watching Python for 40 years and honestly, I laugh so hard tears run down my cheeks. The hish slapping sketch is a killer.

[@analogman1909]

Best measure of funny. NO matter how many times you go back to a bit we know by heart, and it still does it's job. Yes 4 decades plus.

[@vinayseth1114]

'They ...trusted their guts in the old days'! So true- people are very very risk-averse today in many spheres of life.

[@Tenebrousable]

debt vs savings economy. You can spend money you have, but if you run on debt, you'll be much more risk averse. Thanks our central bank overlords.

[@GunnerJoe93]

Fucking A. This guy is pure gold.

[@dw69376]

You could see the joy on Stephen's face! He was just so honored and happy to have John as a guest!

[@Pierreisking]

John Cleese is the only guy i´ve seen that can pull off a combover

[@brovold72]

And in person he'd be tall enough that you wouldn't see the "over" part.

[@sullivanspapa1505]

I think its really a process of thinning hair, he always combed it that way

[@neilsarath9812]

Wait till the wind blows. 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@heather173]

Gawd...my heart. John Cleese can just be deadpan, and I totally lose it. He has absolute comedic brilliance. Love him to death.

[@madstylesnz]

Basil Fawlty was apparently based on a real hotel owner Cleese met while staying at his hotel, Cleese described him as 'the most delightfully rudist man I've ever encountered.'

[@johnking5174]

Mr Donald Sinclair of the Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay. That is who Fawlty was based on.

[@kevinwoodsofficial]

And a little bit of Trivia, Cleese starred in the movie: ‘Rat Race’, a wealthy man who initiates the bets & picks the players. The character’s name: ‘Donald Sinclair’. 🤓

[@shyamparakkal]

respect where it's deserved. and you could see it in stephen's face. great interview.

[@ndgv2]

john just seems like the most likable person ever. I could listen to him talk about anything at all and would enjoy the hell out of it. just an awesome guy.

[@kickinbackinOC]

One of my favorite Brits- Right up there with Jimmy Page, Robin Trower, and Eric Clapton, and whoever is playing James Bond!

[@greenghost2008]

I like that Colbert is himself. The character was cool but it was time for Colbert to be himself.

[@innerlight7632]

+greenghost2008 Colbert's authenticity shines thru.

[@dlh7989]

+greenghost2008 Colbert Report was legendary and always will be, but yes, this Late Show has been fantastic and only getting better, and he is just as great to watch if not better as himself.

[@ddha0000]

fawlty towers is fucking hilarious

[@mad_max21]

+the good hustler Fawlty.

[@zacharyfarr5044]

+the good hustler ¿Qué?

[@TlalocW]

+the good hustler You'll have to excuse Zach Farr. He's from Barcelona.

[@quarkwrok]

+madmax21st Mr Fawlty to you

[@jcoptimus]

+Donald Trumps Trumpet Whatever you do, don't mention the war.

[@vonkruel]

"Gosh, we're all _really_ impressed down here, I can tell you."

[@lionhead123]

"fantastic"

[@Trazynn]

7:16 That was masterfully done by Stephen. Colbert wants to keep the show as optimistic and non-cynical as possible. So when John Cleese went into black humour (and he's great at that) Stephen masterfully turned it on it's head to keep it light-hearted yet charming regardless. I deeply respect both men but that was the most powerful reframing stunt I've ever seen.

[@DeadNorwegianBlue]

Colbert's laugh at 5:27 is the exact same laugh I had, just that genuinely being tickled by how subtly and casually John slips in that joke, and almost no one in the audience got it.

[@tjmctube]

It was a non-pitch, it was an un-pitch, it was an ex-pitch. Stephen immediately caught the reference.

[@DanielDanielsen]

Been clicking around tv show clips and kudos to Stephen for letting his guests speak..that's where the gold is found.

[@nicksievers]

3:34 Just look how passionate Cleese is about comedy and just how important and meaningful it is as a voice of rebellion and reason. Colbert is getting the absolute best out of his guests by not just being the normal Late Night interview fluff promo pieces.

[@Alex_1729]

"So, a comedy stuff. So what exactly are you going to do?" - "We don't know." "What is it about?" - "Uhh... Comedy?... We don't know." "Do you have any music, any famous celebrities in it?" - "Nope." "Any story, material, anything?" - "Nope." "Ok, you got 13 episodes." - "Cool. Let's do this Monty Python show!"

[@WendellsCat]

I love how he said that the stuff they did on Python was stupid, silly and usually meaningless. Python is wonderful. LOVE IT!! I hope Stephen veers away from the politics more often and does stupid silly stuff like the Hat has Spoken! It's just pure silly fun!

[@OeditpusRex]

+Bos La Moss - The Pythons probably used the word "silly" more than any other adjective in MPFC. The Colonel, of course, is famous for it. :)

[@Ericwvb2]

+OeditpusRex Comments are closed, they are getting too silly. I'm shutting this page down! Right, cut to camera two on my mark. Cut!

[@OeditpusRex]

+Eric van Bezooijen - You can't do that! It's on film!

[@SelvesteSand]

+Bos La Moss Monty Python and the Holy Grail is my favourite movie of all time - because of the perfect mix of utter silliness (such as the Black Knight, the swallows and doves carrying coconuts, or Dennis's mother collecting mud) and actually brilliant satire of the middle ages with common problems mixed into it. It's so stupid and so intelligent at the same time!

[@ShaunMcCready]

I went to see this show “why there is no hope” and it was absolutely fantastic!!!! Wished i could have had the references he used to do further reading.

[@kenzofinucane4057]

and here i thought the fish slapping dance was great contemporary social commentary, i feel so dumb

[@Alpha0727]

And that’s what makes you funny. Sometimes pulling something out of nothing more than a joke is amazing on it’s own, but you also need to know when to just laugh at meaningless dribble.

[@mage8568]

Of course, it is. It is a portray of a common behavior when a weaker creature tries to bully someone stronger due to either silliness or its way of trying to become friends. Not only humans do it. You’ll find a lot of videos about a small cat trying to bully a huge dog. Most people don’t need or don't like deep explanations though. Nothing ever was meaningless in Monty Python.

[@jamescarter3196]

Mage, you're either making a joke so dry that it doesn't sound like a joke, or you're just trying too hard to find meaning in total silliness (you even used the word yourself and don't seem to understand how it undermines the grandiose point you're attempting to make), which would be par for the course for the many Americans who act like they're the only ones who 'get' Python, so you can pat yourself on the back for self-perceived intellectualism. That's why they always had images of nude women on the show, because it was so uh, intellectual. All the group's members, including Cleese in this interview you're commenting on but apparently didn't watch, have talked about the many, many jokes they did which solely exist to be funny, and not for pseudo-intellectual placation.

[@MrBoreray]

@@jamescarter3196 I think you should elaborate more instead of the 'bumper sticker' reply you gave.

[@mariokarter13]

So, Anyway, you need the rest of Python now.

[@fyodordostoyevsky6917]

+mariokarter13 including what's left of Graham. He'd probably approve.

[@OeditpusRex]

+Fyodor Dostoyevsky - I imagine he would, since he once played a director named Carl French, being interviewed about his new film starring Marilyn Monroe 12 years after she died (with James Dean in a box and bits of Jayne Mansfield). :)

[@mansuorabazarnia723]

+Fyodor Dostoevsky I use

[@direnova6284]

I'm 58 yrs old and a Brit male. That means I was 10/15 years old and in what we call Secondary School when Python was on TV. To me and just about everyone in my school, the Python's were Gods. We knew all the records by heart and the language of those sketches changed the speech patterns of a generation in the UK.

[@MarkArandjus]

I've only actually pissed myself laughing once. I was ten years old and I saw my first Flying Circus episode. It was the 'how not to be seen' sketch. I was forever changed for the sillier. I honestly don't know how people who have never heard of Monty Python can live.

[@amitabhmishra7401]

John Cleese is literally a Living Legend 💯

[@mollytsanadis1323]

Every time I watch monty Python my whole body just breaks down form laughing to hard

[@Vrig]

I was extremely hesitant on you taking on the Late Show.. but.. damn you've done an amazing job. Keep it classy, hilarious and relevant!

[@PatrickStarfist]

i love this interview so much

[@jeffrichey3623]

Just saw Mr. Cleese on stage in Austin, TX last night. Great show with memories of Python. I recommend trying to catch him on his tour.

[@andrewmccullough9334]

Flupping ADORE John Cleese. He needs to be celebrated everyday. Legend.

[@CyanideSublime]

CLEESE is a LIVING LEGEND! It will be a sad day when he passes.

[@ExodusPessoa]

I don`t even want to think about it my friend just enjoy him while he`s still with us.

[@Divinemartyr]

+Exodus Pessoa The beauty of celebrity is: No matter how bad we cry when they are gone they're never gone. John Cleese lives forever in every book, film, and game he graces with his comedy. I own all the Monty Pythons and I refuse to mourn John Cleese because his work is immortal. He'll never. NEVER. Not be funny.

[@ExodusPessoa]

CryingBuddha Well Said My Friend

[@metallsnubben]

Reminds me of the name of the Monty Python live stage tour that they did, "one down, five to go" :(

[@edzzup]

metallsnubben -- Taking black humor and darkening it down a bit. That's the ticket!

[@samman4696]

I would really love to sit down and chat with John Cleese, I honestly could not imagine having a better conversation with anyone else

[@saxoungrammaticus9132]

Thank you Stephen for getting John Cleese on, made my day.

[@LadyHashZ]

Colbert is making everyone forget about Letterman ! He's going a fantastic job

[@gavinreid8937]

The kids show Cleese is referring to is Do Not Adjust Your Set,& the format for Python was inspired by Spike Milligans Q series.

[@bozhijak]

Nothing but love and respect for this man. Bravo!

[@chrisrichmond1941]

I was very young when Monty Python first hit the screens but my parents twigged that it was something special, so my brothers and I were sent off to bed at 7.30 or whatever and then at 9pm there would be a cry of "MONTY PYTHON!" and we were allowed back downstairs to watch. :-)

[@TheWSGman]

Ex pitch killed me. Long live the mighty Cleese!

[@jariemonah]

Considering how many people bash American comedy and praise British humor, it's nice to hear that John Cleese grew up watching American comedy.

[@meowmeow7540]

I'm nto american, but i will give america one thing, their comedy in the PAST was GREAT. Their comedy now is most often just bottom denomination catering drivel the only show on atm from the USA that gives me a laugh at all is Colbert....and that's got to do with his classically trained wit and the fact his jokes often are quite intelligent.

[@aidaaman1742]

+Meow Meow oh, come on. As long as Dan Harmon and Mitch Hurwitz are alive and producing stuff, American comedy is not that hopeless

[@alias588]

Well we have lost a lot of really good ones on both sides here, lately...but in spite of John's next book, I still have hope that there will always be good comedy, somewhere....maybe not on TV or in movies or books or conversation, but surely you can still get a good laugh out of something striking someone about the head? No? Well I guess we're doomed after all. It was a good run.

[@chatteyj]

The 2000's were a wasteland in terms of British comedy. It has picked up post 2010 a little.

[@ivPRodiiGy]

Devonian largely agree with the exception of the office and extras. Post 2010 has been hit and miss. Mrs browns boys voted best comedy of 21st Century says it all!

[@mitchellgreen2385]

Such an honest, open man. It's inspiring to hear him tak about how he was bullied at school but found comedy as a way of combatting that

[@olenilsen4660]

Colbert went the extra mile and made this interview epic. When you push John Cleese, you get some interesting results.Stephen wasn't afraid to do that, and that what's made this so good.

[@macedossaulo8917]

6:39 that amazing, truthful smile by Stephen… =)

[@zachhaywood1564]

Colbert has to be the best late night talk show host. Asks questions you never hear, but have always wondered about, doesn't try to talk over his guests, doesn't have that constant, fake laugh, and just has an overall sense of class.

[@SamCosentino]

Ah, Pink Floyd! The greatest band of all time. An interesting fact is that Pink Floyd actually helped financed the making of the Holy Grail (as did Led Zeppelin).

[@zachhaywood1564]

Yes sir, yes they are!

[@BIGBLOCK5022006]

StanDaMan George Harrison helped out, too.

[@mvictorbm]

This guy, man, my God.... He is absolutely brilliant. Funny, quick, silly! Thank you!

[@krkhan]

You can sense the respect Colbert has there for an absolute master of the craft.

[@Jay-ei4cr]

John Cleese is an absolute treat to this world and without a doubt belongs in the history books as the wonderful man he is.

[@ShadowinaCave]

When he was talking about being bullied and rootless as a child, I felt a kinship with the man behind the clown. It was like a door cracked open at the end of a dark corridor, and we got a glimpse of the sad bewilderment that underlies his comedy.

[@johncleeseofficialfanpage5236]

Thanks for the comments and support, your constant support has brought me this far, keep supporting me you can contact me privately on mail, Google hangout via [e-mail]

[@mastertheillusion]

John Cleese has always been one of my favorite performers and overtime it seems a pretty good chap

[@articulatedkat6608]

I'm currently listening to the audio book of "So, Anyway..." and it's brilliant. John goes into a lot more detail about how Cambridge and the Footlights didn't start to become this well-known uber-creative machine, churning out brilliant young comic minds, until after Beyond the Fringe in 1962, which began the "Satirical '60s". It's wondrous to conceive of how that phenomenon had a start point, within the lifetimes of people still on this planet, that gave us the likes of Monty Python, Cook & Moore, Fry & Laurie, Perkins & Giedroyc, and Mitchell (whose audio book is also outstanding) & Webb and many other wonderful artists. Earlier I was watching Stephen's interview with Hugh Laurie, and It's funny hearing Stephen just casually throw out a reference to Cambridge, knowing that he knows how much more that credential says about Laurie than just his education and intelligence.