Michael breaks up! Dead parrot.

Parrot sketch live. At one point Michael bursts out laughing. Better see it yourselves. Great performance, look at Cleese do his job with the poor dead parrot!Bashing time:) Even Margaret Thatcher uses it!
The sketch was performed in 1976 and the whole show was first broadcasted as "Her Majesty's pleasure". The secret policeman's balls were done for Amnesty International over the years, and mainly organised by John Cleese.

[@EpicStopMotions72]

Mike cracking up is ultimately the most adorable thing I've ever seen.

[@RoseJacksonHRJ]

Me too :-)

[@ClaudiaGonzalezKinkyFloyd]

I agree ❤

[@CCNuck]

I just love that Cleese is actually laughing at Palin laughing. You can tell there's such a fondness, haha.

[@DeFubz]

I love how John deliberately repeats his high-pitched "pining for the fjords?" just to make Michael laugh again :D

[@BlitzFox]

It's the best thing in the world when one of the actors loses it on stage and cracks a smile or laughs. Just makes it a thousand times better.

[@MrEAus]

BlitzFox Yup - like both Ade Edmondson & Rik Mayall in the first Bottom Live stage show, one of the best..! "I've got some sad & tragic news!"

[@davep8221]

Have you ever seen the olde "Carol Burnett Show?" Tim Conway's mission in life was to crack up his co-star Harvey Korman, and he did it quite often. He was a brilliant ad libber went off script just to break him. Check out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3q4hIBqerCWiKs The other cast members weren't safe either: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2OynIVpatCYqqM

[@hannisori]

Michael laughing is the cutest thing!

[@musicswimsbacktome6201]

hana marie honestly he was the cutest man I’ve ever seen and I’m just a little in love with him If only he were half a century younger lol

[@noway1635]

Michael Palin and John Cleese were brilliant together.

[@PepperPhoenix]

"This is nothing to laugh at!" Is it just me or is John trying to make him worse? :D The high pitched voice and everything. Either way, hilarious.

[@azynkron]

It's a game most stage artists play with each other. It's called corpsing. The point is to make your counterpart break character.

[@MikehMike01]

The audience has already seen it done ‘correctly’ the fun is watching it go off the rails so yes

[@netsurferx1]

"PININ' for the FJOOOOOOOOOORDS?!?" LOL!

[@quizmaster85]

+netsurferx1 "THIS IS NOTHING TO LAUGH AT!"

[@MLaak86]

netsurferx1 this is nothing to laugh at!

[@lpsp442]

What KIND of talk is that!?!?!?

[@terry296xy]

Eric idle at the reenactment of the battle of Waterloo tops this sketch.

[@bighuge1060]

For the longest time I thought the line was "Pining for the fields". Fjords makes much more sense.

[@MaskedMan66]

I remember hearing an interview with Cleese in which he related the story of how Michael broke him up. At the point where the pet shop owner offers the customer a slug as a replacement and Cleese responds, "Does it talk?" Palin usually said, "Well, not really." On this occasion, however, he said, "Well, it mutters a bit. It mutters a bit." Cleese had to turn upstage until he could stop laughing, and by the time he calmed down and turned back to Palin, he'd completely dried. So he asked the audience, "What's my next line?" As one person they all responded, "Well, it's scarcely a replacement then, is it?"

[@erikaswanson7072]

That was a Late Show with Seth Meyers interview that John Cleese did. He told that story, after Seth told him how he and his brother did the dead parrot sketch in high school.

[@MaskedMan66]

@@erikaswanson7072 I heard him tell it years before that on _Dr. Demento._

[@morganfreemanwannabe]

I think of, “it’s pining for the fjords.” every once in a while randomly and just break down in public looking like a lunatic. So good.

[@TheBestCommenterEVER]

there's no one on earth who could keep a straight face with john cleese yelling at you like that

[@Ratelzwatel]

2:26 I think Palin's laughing face shows he really likes Cleese.

[@boiledkettles6066]

Corse he does

[@ElvarMasson]

No, he doesn't !!!

[@omegaman6494]

Apparently backstage none of them really got on

[@GraceDupre]

I love when John screeches "PINING FOR THE FIORDS?!" and Michael can't help but giggling. But, then...he recovers, only to have Johnscreech the same thing at him AGAIN..and just loses it :)

[@lpsp442]

Michael's corspsing has me in STITCHES! Wonderful *PLUMAAAAGE*!

[@11DNA11]

I really love it when Cleese is just working his ass off to make Palin laugh after the first signs of bursting into laughter :D

[@AutumnxMeadows93]

Michael just hit the top chart of adorableness

[@coldsaint87]

Michael is so adorable (and gorgeous) dawww ah my heart

[@headlikeanorange]

I want SO badly to see John's face the first time Mike laughs!

[@steeleye2112]

It's obviously one of the greatest sketches but this is far and away the best performance I've ever seen.

[@TonyEnglandUK]

I'm not politically-minded but Margaret Thatcher doing this routine was facepalming in the extreme.

[@AndreideLosSantos]

Michael Palin was a beautiful young man.

[@asidarnakman5562]

Andrei Minhos To me,the most beautiful Python,however,I must admit,it is crazy,but I`ve never seen before that those five guys could look so beautiful when being dressed like women,in this respect,Eric was the most attractive one,and he was the only one who would rarely change his voice timbre,his natural speech provided a special charm in his appearance.

[@lpsp442]

He's still rather fetching in his old age, truth be told. Even if he is a little bit creased up.

[@yeetythatmeety6856]

@@asidarnakman5562 "I want to break free"

[@yeetythatmeety6856]

@@lpsp442 oooh Ernesto OOUOUUHH

[@Fenderke]

Oooh look how cute he is when starts laughing... and the bashing, GENIOUS

[@dharmaseed]

Oh, that's lovely! John did the voice twice just to watch Michael break up again.

[@renderizer01]

He most cruelly gutted him! Michael's face when he breaks up is so hilariously funny and adorable. Never gets old.

[@stravinsky1300]

When Terry Jones remarked that John and Mike could be just miming, I suddenly had a desire to see them perform this sketch entirely in mime!

[@picklesthewise]

One of the best live sketch performances of all time, even funnier than the original because of John's energy on stage. And Michael breaking up is the cutest thing ever, so it only adds to it!

[@bohemiatotal]

John is really great on this one;)

[@TonyEnglandUK]

@@bohemiatotal lol John's coat from 0:38 to 0:43

[@markschildberg1667]

John is just inspired in this performance.

[@brucebaker810]

"The plumage don't enter Inuit." "An 'is Bering. It's so Strait." "Ooh. Eskimooved."

[@MaryE171]

I absolutely love this! It's impossible not to laugh when Mike starts laughing, it's infectious and cute!

[@KyleRayner12]

The repeated "fjords" line makes me suspect that Cleese is doing it on purpose.

[@alunepps4272]

Would love to see John's face at 2.28. Priceless!

I was there on the first night of the O2 shows. There was a veeery long pause in the middle of the sketch because both Michael and John were about to laugh themselves silly. Absolutely loved it.

[@42Fern42]

Same here about Palin-crush XP And gee, isn't it great to see them enjoying tehmselves as much as the audience (or rather, with them!)

[@Fr0st1989]

When he cracks up the second time you can hear John also laughing as he says "What kind of talk is that?" :D

[@MrDragonPig]

In some instances, laughing during a sketch could be considered unprofessional. Not this, it only gets funnier. :D

[@Applecompuser]

Hollywood Bowl is my favorite of most sketches. Must have been amazing.

[@SpeegBJ]

Love from the start, 1975, loved Michael Palin the most....and still do. Sexy-Funny.

[@smegweevil]

I've heard it hundreds of times and I still burst out laughing!

[@sailorpsycho]

0:55 hearing how Terry Jones talk in this clip and then comparing it to the 2000-201x's interviews, shows (in hindsight) how that rare dementia oblitarated such a wonderful and eloquent wit he had....

[@Puxliak]

Mike is so lovely here! When he starts to laugh it`s awsome!! Love Monty Python!

[@merrywrath]

I remember my dad renting the video of "Her Majesty's Pleasure" and watching the Dead Parrot Skit. I was about four or five years old and my dad reassured me the parrot wasn't real. In the mid 1980's, this and "Holy Grail" were my introduction to Monty Python. Twenty years later I'm still a big fan!

[@alunepps4272]

2.20 for about 30 seconds. Crying with laughter every time!

[@Febbey]

Omg I just love Michael

[@parrot027j8]

When Mike broke up I literally died!!!!😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 A brilliant sketch performed by brilliant actors (who will never cease to be. They are going to be comedy legends forever!)

[@Mysterioux]

Seen this before, a million times, but it's still sweet, and i love how the audience cheer like hell when he laughs. And i don't really blame him, Cleese is fabulous! ^^ Don't cha just wanna hug Palin?

[@peterburd]

"This is nothing to laugh at!" And Cleese is breaking up too.

[@tonyhall9681]

Olympic sport of parrot-bashing.

[@TheClearSummer]

That's really cute... :3

[@smithereens388]

Exactly! I'm 19 and I've loved the Pythons pretty much all my life. They managed to do crazy, surreal comedy in an unpretentious, charming way. Most of today's surreal comedy just ends up leaving you clueless and annoyed. The flying circus must go on!

[@Morgalica]

OMG! I'm only 19 as well. I grew up watching all sorts of Monty Python stuff. Absolutely adorable to see Michael laugh! I just love Michael! He was sooo adorable. And Cleese is just brilliant! Awesome acting!

[@Azoria4]

Dayum..now you’re 34

[@CF1975]

I always regeretted he is not about 25 years younger...

[@MillebilleKrokodille]

I get in such a good mood every time I see this one. Just love when Michael can't keep a straight face, when John screeches "Pining for the FIOOORLDS?!" That made me laugh, he is adorable at this point. He just gets your sympathy, being so positive and smiling always. Would have loved to see Johns face as well, when Michael cracks up. 5 stars and an absolute favorite :)

[@tommysjostrom3002]

The way Mr. Palin says "Plu-mage" is priceless!

[@shniggle99]

oh...my...god. hes soooooo fuckinggggggg CUUUUUUUUUUUUTE

[@aliciabrissou]

i have a crush a michael palin too and i dont think theres ANYTHING wrong with that

[@IsabelleVD]

WE LOVE MICHAEL PALIN ! Michael, I love your diaries too! thanks, Isabelle

[@monsterlair]

Love the corpsing. Love it so.

[@neillaw]

Send for the man!

[@synthonaplinth5980]

Yup, it's sad that they have a slang word, those should be outlawed.

[@StewartNicolasBILLYCONNOLLY]

An amazing bit of writing. From the team inspired by Spike Milligan and the GOON Show, Monty Python. My late father allowed me to stay up late, although it was a school day next day. His appreciation of this humour opened my mind up to the future of comedy and life. Life is ridiculous - if you can't see that then you are probably dead!

[@yannatoko9898]

Unlike the parrot! Hang on...

[@BethGoth15]

I have a crush on Mike, what's wrong with that?

[@alectricfoxx]

Have always liked Michael Palin. Hope the quote is correct. As follows: . . . ... . . . "And this is one of THE very best stage performances that I think we ever did. And I never seen John with such sort of High Voltage. He's absolutely terrific. He does a great routine with it. There should be some Olympic sport of parrot bashing. And he would win, hands down. Look at that: ' bong bong Bong bong, bong bong Bang! Bang BANG, Thwap Bang, dong Dong '

[@carrianne1985]

hahaha!that is great!michael giggling is so adorable, it is sad that the camera didn't film john cleese laughinig as well.

[@doodlebugamy]

Anyone who says they don't fancy michael palin is lying

[@LoverOfVenom]

I could never do a sketch with John Cleese like that without laughing.

[@Sekhmet18]

Really, it's hilarious. Michael is sooo cute. I never knew he was this cute before I saw this scetch. Thx for uploading, it really made my day.

[@BennyMcGhee]

Crazy to think that Terry Jones no longer exists.

[@bellaellis5979]

this put THE biggest smile on my face 😭 I love them together

[@ClaudiaGonzalezKinkyFloyd]

Me too❤

[@CCNuck]

@xemily91 Oh my goodness yes that look at 2:25 is so stinking funny, this sweetly evil little "Oh you brat, I AM going to get you for this" expression. I have to admit I'd keep rewinding it to see that look, heeheehee.

[@EuskaltelEuskadi]

mike got his own back later though cos he told john that the slug muttered a bit and so they both ended up laughing whilst the audience shouted the lines!

[@JintySteam1]

John Cleese was great and crazy with his comic acting. He seems nothing like that now, probably because he doesn't have the energy but its like hes a different person lol

[@arayaslayer666]

i started cryin when he said "pinin for the fjoooooooooOOORRDS?!?"

[@serfer1983]

beautiful PLUMAGE!

[@sid1662]

Beautiful treasure of a moment!

[@plunder1956]

Oh god that's funny. John was doing it to make Mike corpse. Which the audience knows. So that interaction is like another story line in the joke. On another version Mike gets him back by giving him an instant refund for the parrot. Short circuiting the rant John is about to unleash. The audience (who know the rutine backwards by now) burst out laughing. Because they see what Mike's done to him. I really miss Python. It's one if the best teams Britain ever produced.

[@valeriaaroca9467]

plunder1956 what does it mean to make someone ‘corpse’?

[@argetlamgirl711]

i got this on iTunes..this performance... but ive never laughed so hard at it bfore. poor mike, he's trying so hard not to laugh..aww so cuuute! me luvvz mike! haha lmfao!

[@IsilHelyanwe]

OMG Michael Palin is so adorable!!

[@AshLuvsJonnyStew]

OMG this is too good...my two fave Pythons at it! LOVELY!

[@szymonch]

Margaret Thatcher - excellent!! :)

[@alunepps4272]

2.08-2.45. This certainly is something to laugh at. If it doesn't make you cry with laughter, you are either not alive or you dont get it!

[@trublgrl]

You know, this sketch WAS donated to "Comic Relief", in the sense that ANYONE may perform it IF the proceeds of the performance are given to Amnesty International. (I read this in somethign called the "Red Nose Book" or somethign like that) so, I think everyone should do it and pass along some money to help people in need! Congrats on your award-winning performance!

[@ken131]

bromance!

[@merdehappens]

Olympic sport of Parrot-Bashing!!! I'd enter that.

[@antonswitajewski]

i think its hilarious when people are doing a sketch and one person breaks up, and instead of waiting for that person to get control of himself, the other just makes it worse for them and tries to make them laugh harder.

[@shmivv]

This /always/ makes me smile. "THIS IS NOTHING TO LAUGH AT!!"

[@diananaomi9452]

Que hermoso se vio mike cuando se empezó a reir ♡ jajajaj .. Los amo , son mis python preferidos ♡

[@19ThePurplePython93]

Im 14 :P and this is pretty much my life as well.... watching Monty Python. That's it! it's just fantastic xD Michael, John and the others are just comic geniuses ^^ Michael cracking up in this is priceless, he's so cute ^.^

[@ziripond3502]

Oh wow, it feels a little unbelievable to stumble upon someone commenting about their life as a 14 year old... 14 years ago! Hope all is going well :)

[@artanis82]

LOL LOL LOL That was so funny!!!!Michael is a GOD and Cleese is SOOO fantastic!!! xD

[@BethGoth15]

Yeah every time I shout "Cough! Cough, my darling! Cough like you've never coughed before!" but of course he can't hear me lol. He is so beautiful when he laughs.

[@SgtPepper303]

@headlikeanorange Yeah lol and you can hear his voice crack when he says "what kind of talk is that?!"

[@gr8deals2do]

Palin is laughing at 2:14 :-DDD

[@argetlamgirl711]

mike=gorgeous

[@Mysterioux]

Cleese is so awesome when he says "This is nothing to laugh at!". xD

[@mgabbard]

Priceless! Pure comedy genius!

[@Southeastsaddler]

1979 - Secret Policeman's Amnesty Show at Her Majesty's Theatre, London.

[@Scotzie69]

Sadly, today that would be unpossible. Thanks to Monty Python to give us the joy of such stupid things. My favorite scene is: "how not to be seen"

[@watermelonineasterhay]

Happy Birthday Cleesey!!!! 68! whod have thought?

[@soganzallgemein]

there is nothing cuter than michael laughing!!

[@jpsned]

Kudos to Baroness Thatcher! 😀

[@squigglycircle]

Pining for the fjords. Longing for the Norwegian landscape of long, narrow bays with steep sides, created in a glacially carved valley that is filled by rising sea water levels. Must be where the bird got its plumage.

[@filmfreak44]

That was the funniest thing i've seen in weeks! loved it...

[@Donnoliel]

I love how that gets a bigger laugh then the sketch!

[@jesperjnielsen]

The best sketch EVER!!!!

[@surgeland9084]

Thank goodness Thatcher is an ex-parrot.

[@alunepps4272]

She has certainly ceased to be?

[@surgeland9084]

@@alunepps4272 This is an ex-fascist!