John Cleese answers audience questions with Eric Idle at Live Talks Los Angeles

Here's a clip from a 75 min long conversation between John Cleese and Eric Idle. In this clip are the audience questions.
We hosted John Cleese and Eric Idle at Live Talks Los Angeles on Nov. 18, 2014. The occasion: Cleese' memoir, "So, Anyway..." The venue, a sold crowd at the Alex Theatre. For more information on Live Talks Los Angeles, visit: www.livetalksla.org

[@Otis151]

Watching them together makes me think that they think it’s hilarious that people would come just to see them answer questions in this serious manner. Like they don’t see themselves as comedy legends, just two goofy guys just like they have always been. And that’s why I love them.

[@Otis151]

And at the end of the day I think they are just trying to make one another laugh.

[@sonaterese799]

Friends who are comfortable together - that"s what life is about

[@markelder9058]

I’ve grown up with these guys and the rest of the crew. They are a British National Treasure! My favorite anecdotes are: 1. A sketch has to make them all laugh before it makes it into the movie or show 2. They avoided accusations of religious bias by making sure they offended absolutely everyone!

[@mongoardath1]

I love the fact that these two have known each other for over fifty years and can still crack each other up.

[@MalAnders94]

It's harder to make someone lyou don't know laugh. It's easy to make friends laugh.

[@Dubtee]

Me too. I hope they really share the friendship I imagine them sharing.

[@j_freed]

@@MalAnders94 - Oh, there you went and #$&king ruined it…

[@westerling8436]

Make friend laugh easy

[@stevewelsh8560]

my step brother was doing some building work on John Cleese's home, he said they could hardly get any work done cos john just talked to them non stop and made them laugh too much, he also said he was the nicest most generous customer he had ever worked for.

[@julietrask7497]

That’s nice to hear, he is my favorite of the Pythons.

[@brentmcwilliams4332]

I saw a similar comment on a different Cleese video who said much the same thing about him.

[@colecancillaartist]

These are the comments I live. Just simply sharing stories :))

[@womynchick]

What a dream client to have!

[@KateVol]

That sounds funny!!😅

[@dvs0n3]

i love how he keeps looking at Eric to see if he's making him laugh. Great friendship when you just want to make your mate laugh

[@flavoredwallpaper]

It's pretty adorable.

[@randolphbusch7777]

I love how they're giggling like little kids. Life goals.

[@55tallanh]

"I would love to strangle Rupert Murdock with my bare hands." Now that is a timeless sentiment.

[@nancyaustin9516]

Especially since that asshole Murdoch won't seem to die.

[@Samfromoneframe]

@@nancyaustin9516why the hate on that guy

[@mightysmith1]

Eric's reply, "I think that means something in Australia - strangling the Murdoch" was brilliant

[@TzunSu]

@@Samfromoneframe He's controlled massive parts of Western print and TV media, and used it to further right wing nonsense, criminal activities and massive theft from the people. Very few men alive today has done more harm to the world then he has.

[@DavidTSmith-jn5bs]

​@@SamfromoneframeWatch the show Succession. The main actor (can't remember his name) does a great performance as that power mad bastard...

[@wholesomegamer]

....we don´t have a f***cking format! 😂😂...let´s sell it to them!

[@boldingsutubes]

Two Geniuses who made you laugh and think. Gold

[@malbig2344]

Hardly geniuses, although they definitely think they are.

[@istealstufff3152]

@@malbig2344 they are geniuses, all of them went to Cambridge

[@zombywoof1015]

@@malbig2344 comedic geniuses if not in scholastics.

[@hammer-r]

@@malbig2344 and you think you are smart for saying that? Lol. I’ll stick with these two guys over you any day. Being a comedian takes intelligence. Sadly you lack both.

[@malbig2344]

@@hammer-r So says a person that types the idiot "lol".

[@farje1]

"We don't have a fucking format". In a nutshell. That was the secret of Monty Python's success: no format.

[@morlokkurak4763]

"You treacherous bastard." The perfect way to end an interview.

[@larrylentini5688]

Eric Idle's one liners are legendary

[@BiffChunksteak]

I'll never get used to how he's so much more foul mouthed as himself than in any of his characters.

[@DrAnne-mc8er]

Eric Idle is genuinely as funny (if not more so), when he's just being Eric Idle rather than any character on-screen. I know it could be argued that John Cleese has been more successful since Python, but I still think Eric Idle is the funnier of the two. Cleese takes himself far too seriously imo, whereas Eric doesn't seem to give a f**k what anyone thinks of him. And why should he? He just seems to enjoy life, and he can afford to do it so why not? More power to him!

[@IlBiggo]

@@DrAnne-mc8er I guess a good half of Cleese's impact is how he delivers devastating humour with a straight face. In the beginnings of the Pythons, his role seemed to be the out-of-place thespian in a group of comedy actors.

[@DrAnne-mc8er]

@@IlBiggo Yes, I can see what you mean. It's very true and an excellent observation. Actually, your own screen name made me laugh, It sounds like the stage name for a bad magician working the northern clubs or something. Like much of the original Python, it just sounds so stupid, it makes me laugh just saying it. Please don't be offended .

[@Walperion_Music]

ohh, such a warm and sparkly chemistry between them! I hardly remember anyone having such brilliant spark between them.

[@SuperArestus]

Two living legends, God bless them🙏

[@everydayperson764]

The story of Graham dressed as a carrot had me howling 😂

[@cloudjoetwentytwenty8414]

Two men who deserve a long , happy life

[@CarloPiana]

Two of the funniest people I've ever had the pleasure of watching on TV. Pure fucking genius.

[@jeremyriley2102]

You can see the love these two gentlemen have for each other and it’s wonderful.

[@eproulx]

Melody Shaver anagram: Overly Shamed

[@trizvanov]

"The format of it". "Well, we don't have a fucking format". Genius. :D

[@GoddyofWar]

15:00 Leave it to Graham Chapman to give me the hardest laugh I've had in months from the grave.

[@doronstauber7285]

These 2 men will live forever.

[@vuchaser99]

I would hope so, but the tyrants are winning.

[@darrylcatay2295]

I met Eric Idle in a Crosswalk in NYC. I said Hey ! Your Eric Idle . He was so surprised . He shook my hand and said please to meet you.

[@FrankHeuvelman]

And that was the moment you woke up and realized it was all just a dream..?

[@Timodifiying]

I wouldn't have thought that would surprise him, I'd think he'd have known that he's Eric Idle

[@swaxesarlschweiz]

​@@Timodifiying 😂

[@slowery43]

Wow that is so amazingly and completely not at ll interesting in any way. This video is not about you or who you've maybe met

[@moaningpheromones]

You're not comment king clown, and I liked it@@slowery43 You've got the opposite of the Python spirit - you're the one in the wrong place.

[@deanpapadopoulos3314]

Beautiful…gems as people and geniuses at their work.

[@lpdog82]

i never understood british humor as a kid, years later i couldnt get enough of it, brit comedy is funny as hell hahahahaha

[@stephenmurray2867]

Thanks for posting this and thanks to John and Eric without whom I would never have understood the comedic power of a dead parrot.

[@julietrask7497]

Or a penguin on the Telly.

[@schroedingers_kotze]

Damn, I can't see my screen anymore, too many tears of laughter in my eyes!

[@antoinefdu]

Guys, find yourself someone who will look at you the way Eric and John look at each other.

[@croviktorija]

you're not wrong!

[@zombywoof1015]

They've been friends/partners for over 50 years.

[@agatenby41]

eric idle, he's funny as hell.

[@PeterKocic]

Absolute legends... think about it, we are laughing our minds out at jokes written 40-50 years ago...its impressive.

[@benjaminparkinson5255]

2 of the best comedians of all time in one room what a classic

[@NijimaSan]

“....as a carrot.” Jesus. I died at that. 😂

[@jamesluby6705]

We don't have a fucking format, so yes, let's sell it to them!! Brilliant 🤪

[@matthew3140able]

Eric looks like a founding father.

[@elgranbatera]

@@seanconlon2773 Oh sorry Loretta

[@Unknown-jt1jo]

Ha, he does look like Ben Franklin.

[@NancyRodriguez-ip5rj]

Well , that adds up 😉☝️

[@fishlips2817]

John Cleese and Eric Idle helped me to always look on the bright side of life!🎶🎶

[@witeskyn7]

On Graham Chapman; @14:33 Cleese >"...And Graham turned up to debate Nuclear Disarmament dressed as a Carrot." Idle> ".I think it was Rather Relevant." Classic!!

[@saltriverpirate3172]

When the end comes, no one will be remembered. What I love is they still crack each other up

[@bmrt1000]

How good was this! Listening to two legends!

[@joandar1]

They have still got it, loved every second of this! John, Australia.

[@daviddawkins1]

One of the BEST use of 24 Mins 45 seconds of my Life. Excellent. Thank you for sharing

[@PeterCombs]

These two have been making me laugh for over 50 years....THANK YOU!

[@SimplyRapMusic]

I’m envious that you got to experience this stuff when it was brand new. Wish I grew up when you grew up.

[@DrAnne-mc8er]

@@SimplyRapMusic If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?

[@SimplyRapMusic]

@@DrAnne-mc8er I’ll be turning 25 in October.

[@DrAnne-mc8er]

@@SimplyRapMusic Ahhh to be young again!😊 May your God or Gods bless you Sir. Sadly, I'll be turning 66 on October 14 this year😢. I don't know if you've ever heard older people say it, but time really does seem to go so much faster than it used to as you get older. Being 25 literally seems like nothing more than _;a few years ago'_ (i.e. 5-8 years ago, not 41). But in a way, I do sort of understand, and what's more, agree with what you said above. I'm not just talking about Monty Python of course. I'm talking more generally about you wishing you had grown up in our era. I know I probably sound like an old fart, but life really was so much less stressful, less complicated, and less chaotic growing up in the 60's and 70's. Plus I strongly suspect that we were the most fortunate generation *ever* as far as being able to buy our own homes with such relative ease. I genuinely don't understand how young people today, can be expected to afford to buy a home of their own? I mean apart from the high deposits required, the monthly mortgage repayments are just through the roof compared to how they used to be. From way back to when my own parents bought their very first home (in 1955), to when we bought our first home in 1978, there was a 5% deposit required, and you could borrow *up to* 3.5 x your annual income before taxes as a mortgage. And that was relatively easy, even for our household, which like most others, only had one parent working full-time. Usually the husband, while wives took care of the home and bring up the kids. So at the time, remember this was 1978, my husband was on typical average pay of around £6,200 ($8,000). That meant we could borrow a mortgage of 3.5 x that, i.e. £21,700 ($28,200). Plus the 5% deposit up front. Our first home was a smallish 3 bedroom town house, on the market at just £13,500 ($17,550). In other words, just over twice our annual income. House prices today have clearly and evidently gone up much *much* faster than wages. It's disgusting really! Anyway, apologies for rambling on. Good luck and my very best wishes for you in the future SRM x

[@SimplyRapMusic]

@@DrAnne-mc8er That was an amazing little read! Thank you for the insight and best of luck to you too!

[@martinbajsic4836]

cleese absolute legend 🙌

[@mrmiked6577]

After watching The Holy Grail, I can't help but laugh at almost anything Eric Idle says. He could read the phonebook and I'd probably laugh! 😅

[@jeffclement2468]

Bless his heart. John's got a fascinating new chat show. (GBN) Very thought provoking subject matter. With cats walking around. He describes laughing his ass off when he watched the Coronation of Prince Charles. Pure Cleese. 😻

[@alf8579]

One word..... Genius.

[@reservoirdude92]

Let me be the first to say that John's Terry Gilliam impression is spot on 😂

[@patrickwebb7388]

The world is a better place because of Monty Python

[@christopherrafter7851]

What a wonderful interview. Loved it. Thank you.

[@jonathangold2087]

Two brilliant comedic talents, funny as ever! Thank you John and Eric for getting us all to laugh again!!!

[@shawarmageddonit]

Holy shit! I'd forgotten all about that Little Red Riding Hood sketch, and now I've just laughed myself to tears remembering it. Just goes to show that Python is not only hilarious, but timeless.

[@gmf121266]

Christ, W. C. Fields, Cary Grant, Eric Idle, Plato and John Cleese at a dinner party...... I'm convinced that's a Luis Bunel film.

[@MrCook1227]

Yes, and we can buy tickets to see them, but we won't be able to hear what they say!

[@devonblue]

Great British humour never gets old ....that was hilarious......love them 😁

[@dallesamllhals9161]

..unless someone kills you...

[@D4NJ4CKS]

Love how fond they are of each other

[@tuberhubris4154]

This conversation MUST be carved in stellae because after we destroy ourselves something must survive 12,000 years for the future to see. Decipher that!

[@johnkean6852]

John Cleese was on TV at our Sauna/Steam area in a Club in London. We were all sat in towels and robes. He said absolutely NOTHING for about 5 minutes: we were in all in stitches. 😂😆🤣

[@erikdyrting4582]

Just love this! Eric idol and John Cleese.having a good talk. Having a good giggle. Thank you❤️

[@zanemurcha9742]

You love him so much you don't know his name.

[@peterh1353]

Cleese is the funniest and most talented comedy/actor ever. Just a genius. What that man has put his name to. The German episode in Fawlty Towers is the funniest thing I have ever seen. Just killed me. I couldn't even get out of my chair for twenty minutes.

[@coolhat8517]

Two very funny people....love these guys since I was a kid!!

[@HarveyBacktheBeatles]

I always wondered what John Cleese told the American Producers trying to adapt Fawlty Towers.

[@gracesaulog]

"Why doesn't somebody boil up a whole bunch of water....." I honestly don't know why, but I laughed at that the most. I actually cried while laughing. I really don't know why, but I did.

[@nickbarton3191]

Delightful conversation.

[@PapaDutch]

These two together are like some kind of nuclear critical point has been exceeded and everything thereafter is increasingly hilarious...🤣

[@redsquirrel1086]

Love these guys. I had the pleasure of meeting Michael Palin at a book signing. A genius of a man and very, very funny.

[@michstockholm1164]

Still remember how shocked I was when I saw "The meaning of life" for the first time in Zagreb in 1983. I just turned 20 or 19... I went home still didn't truly getting it... What was that, that I just saw...? I had to go the next day to check it again. And I did it again and again every day until it stopped playing in the tethers for that season. It profoundly changed my life!

[@bradmenpes809]

Two of the six greatest comedians of our, or any, time.

[@devonblue]

Good old British humour....had the pleasure of seeing John Cleese last year in Exeter at a Q and A night ...( before lockdown) ....pure Genius!

[@harrow2355]

We love you both for all the fun and laughter you gave us all,thankyou.

[@windycityliz7711]

The other thing about John Cleese is his physical comedy - truly genius.

[@tomkath3859]

Good humour like this is far more serious than people think. Definitely not just a laughing matter.

[@fergusof]

"You treacherous bastard!" Ha ha! Yep, John Cleese and Eric Idle at their best! Love these guys. Their skits are unforgetable.

[@susanbishop5349]

What a simple and brilliant idea. If something is ridiculous just laugh. I am taking this unto myself. I’m going to be laughing all day long today. Thank you John Cleese.😊😊😊

[@jonathangreen640]

Legends 🙏😁

[@Twirlyhead]

This and the rest of the show is just about the funniest thing I have ever experienced.

[@eugene7476]

Two kings

[@lipranditoys]

Imagine how it must feel to have been these people, to have these absurd, delicious memories of the craziest things, having literally laughed at the world in its face in the most creative ways possible.

[@SFCB1954]

What a pleasure to watch and hear two geniuses having an intelligent conversation.

[@rainkatt]

Grew up a MP fan, back in the early days my best friend and I would record skits on our cassette tape decks with a handheld microphone sitting in front of our TV sets, we would memorize them, and even still today, would often quote lines as appropriate in our conversations....2 brilliantly witty men

[@JeremiasSBenitez]

Can’t help but love these guys

[@Chesterton7]

Priceless.

[@tenenbaummark]

I could watch this for 10 hours

[@colinbrooks6290]

Brilliant too see the boys chatting…… checkout their work over fifty years….. you won’t stop laughing 😝😛🤪😜🤣😂🎉💥👍

[@Kpictures_NYC]

I had the pleasure of meeting him once and he was super nice and funny as hell.

[@andrewclayterman6230]

Murdoch?

[@gyanw9612]

A friend of mine lived in Japan for a couple of years and she said that for a time Monty Python was shown on TV there and as the culture was so different they needed to have a Japanese academic on after each sketch to ‘explain’ why it was funny. She said it was hilarious because invariably the academic would completely miss the point of the sketch and come up with his own bizarre theory about why it was funny

[@urosmarjanovic663]

@Graxxor Anandro Vidhelssen That is the point about Pythons. They hit only the intelligent ones...

[@brahtrumpwonbigly7309]

That sounds twice as funny

[@miguelurdaci7884]

@Graxxor Anandro Vidhelssen That is one of the funniest things I've ever heard

[@ryandean8586]

@@urosmarjanovic663 biggus dickus. I think you're holding your own intelligence to a far higher regard than it deserves. They hit all faculties of comedy.

[@jv-lk7bc]

Now I want to see the joke-explainer ... sounds like the funniest bit .. but it'd probly be lost in translation. (or gained.)

[@Nigeltufnel711]

I'm sure others could do better, but the only Melody Shaver anagrams that I came up with that (sort of) made sense were Overly Shamed and Her Moldy Vase. Always enjoy seeing these legends do their thing.

[@fredflintstoner596]

Mrs Richards: "I paid for a room with a view !" Basil: (pointing to the lovely view) "That is Torquay, Madam." Mrs Richards: "It's not good enough!" Basil: "May I ask what you were expecting to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically past?..." Mrs Richards: "Don't be silly! I expect to be able to see the sea!" Basil: "You can see the sea, it's over there between the land and the sky." Mrs Richards: "I'm not satisfied. But I shall stay. But I expect a reduction." Basil: "Why?! Because Krakatoa's not erupting at the moment ?

[@lasersbee]

The original Fawlty Towers was Excellent and Hilarious

[@gReepOne]

So much intelligence between these two.

[@jolinkarlsson8569]

John has what we call today no filter but we love him for it

[@BMegda]

04:14 i love how eric's laughing is so pure and sincere about that

[@DrAnne-mc8er]

Yes, absolutely genuine and from the heart it seems. He's great.

[@siamsurf]

My eyes: see Eric Idle My brain: sings *Always look on the bright side of life!* My mouth: whistles

[@Dodger2879]

How nice it would be to have a friend such as these two have and for as long and still possess the, "12 years old" schoolboy wit!

[@julietrask7497]

Oh I miss them 💕

[@newbrules]

This is phenomenal. Now I want to see them reverse it with John interviewing Eric.

[@lisanef04]

This is pure comedy! The fact that they can still make each other laugh after all the years is awesome

[@deltajean119]

I was already laughing in the first 30 seconds!

[@rnw2739]

"Yeah, why doesn't somebody boil up a whole bunch of water.." Two legendary Englishman.

[@JSmith73]

19:19 - amazing! Thanks so much for a great interview.

[@wreython]

I love this man....

[@susanrich606]

Eric Idle has a book about his adventures in M.P. that came out in the past few years; I recommend it!

[@phillipwalker6517]

What a brilliant half hour.

[@marthaworc7873]

I like John Cleese's shoes. :) Funny stuff guys!