Monty Python on Letterman, Part 1: 1982 re-upped

The earlier version of this upload, from November 2017, was blocked due to film and television copyright restrictions. This version omits all film and television clips to avoid further blocks.
1. Terry Gilliam: February 3, 1982. Promotes "Time Bandits."2. Graham Chapman: April 20, 1982. Promotes "The Meaning of Life," to begin filming in July.3. Terry Gilliam and Graham Chapman: June 24, 1982. Promote "Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl" and upcoming reissue of "Jabberwocky."4. Michael Palin: November 4, 1982. Promotes "The Missionary."5. Terry Jones: December 3, 1982. Promotes book _Fairy Tales._Part 2, 1983, here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8uu8... 3, 1984, here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDK68... 4, 1985, here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FXMg... 5, 1986, here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaOiQ... 6, 1988, here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lQK3... come:Monty Python on Late Night, Part 7: 198918. Terry Gilliam: February 28, 1989Monty Python on Late Night, Part 8: 199119. Michael Palin: June 28, 1991Monty Python on Late Night, Part 9: 199220. Michael Palin: December 8, 1992Monty Python on Late Night, Part 10: 199321. Michael Palin: April 1, 1993

[@percyvolnar8010]

Had Graham lived longer, we would have seen a phenomenal television series from him ( As he was planning one ).

[@kilohertzstudio3429]

Chapman was such a terrible loss. That one really hurt.

[@interghost]

How many ad breaks are there on these shows WOW!

[@joshjacques1701]

Graham Chapman really liked that jacket.

[@starduck8014]

Chapman was gorgeous

[@DannyD714]

from what i understand this was a rare appearance for terry jones. you can tell he was rather shy unless he was in character. sweet,funny man. you will be missed.

[@davidsthubbins176]

Wow, I think Graham Chapman talking about his sexual orientation on network TV in the early 80s is kind of a big deal.

[@BossyGuyMike]

Or maybe it was never as problematic as people like to think it was, and people who were into that lifestyle were, like Graham, a lot more comfortable with themselves and weren't looking to constantly smash it in peoples' faces and act as though they deserved to be celebrated for just existing.

[@lpsp442]

A lot of delicious ironies in this ... Terry Gilliam, often conceived as the kookiest Python, talking very dryly and normally, while Palin, the loveable ordinary scamp Python, completely off the ****ing chain and then some. A bittersweet moment as Terry sageaciously discusses a king who has gone mad in his later years, mirroring his own recent dementia - Jones being a wise king if there ever was one in his day. And Graham, the outrageous "party while dressed as a root vegetable" member, very somberly discussing the consequences of alcohol subsistence. Amazing stuff.

[@jpm199]

Terry was fucking boring and insecure

[@jpm199]

I mean gilliam was terrible

[@reinpost]

I find Gilliam's nervousness endearing.

[@ronaldcatullus]

Dependence, not subsistence. He subsisted, just barely, while being massively dependent on alcohol.

[@Panlinda]

​@@reinpost true😊.

[@sarahkinsey5434]

Such a shame about Terry. At least he's not suffering anymore. RIP

[@exitus82]

He's still alive, though.

[@jamesdettmann94]

@@exitus82 terry jones died last week

[@gabrielp9646]

@@jamesdettmann94 This is the director Terry GIlliam, not Terry Jones.

[@easyandy95]

@@gabrielp9646 nope, this is Terry Jones. (Last segment)

[@jpm199]

@@gabrielp9646 its a compilation BABEE

[@oscarmarsh29]

Bi pride in 1982. What a man Graham Chapman was. RIP.

[@NxDoyle]

It's weird to think of it now, but the mere mention of homosexuality even this late at night on TV in those days was enough to cause discomfort. Once Graham came out, he was 100% out. And he was the kind of person, it seems, who was prepared to be quiet and reserved unless invited to be candid. And that's exactly what happened in his first Letterman appearance. Cajoled into candor.

[@monolithgeometry3221]

The art of British candor

[@debbieramsey-hanks3757]

He came to my university, great evening with the one of a kind Terry Gilliam in Florida Gulf Coast

[@darkforest3333]

Chapman was a comic genius of unparalleled proportion. I saw it once.

[@NxDoyle]

Michael is often cited as the Python with the greatest range in terms of characters and characterisation. But Graham, as evidenced by his leading man status in both Grail and Brian, was not only the most natural/naturalistic performer, but one of the greatest straight men in comedy history.

[@NankerPhelge65]

lolz straight! 🤣

[@oppressednolonger1497]

didnt he admit to being homosexual however? Too bad it wasnt today, he may have felt less shame over it. He seemed to have an awful lot of it. shame that is. Family and society in his day - less accepting and approving.

[@gaskellr44]

@@oppressednolonger1497 He didn't come over that shameful unless you know otherwise. His drinking was not about his sexuality I think, just that he enjoyed it.

[@BareBandSubscription]

Graham was the best quality actor of the group for sure, and each Python has admitted as much, but I do think there is something to be said about Palin’s versatility as a comedic actor and how well he embodies whatever he’s playing. I always thought he was the second best actor of the group while Graham was still alive.

[@sub-jec-tiv]

The older I get the clearer it is to me how Chapman’s my favorite Python. Every step along the way, from completely RP British broadcaster, to totally insane lunatic, it’s all brilliant and hilarious. His sense of manic silliness was so important to Python, and then, humor in general. I can’t imagine what comedy would be like without his influence. Certainly later shows like Mighty Boosh, Toast of London and Kids in the Hall were influenced by his spirit.

[@BoycottChinaa]

Time bandits was my favorite movie for my first 20 years

[@LunaLupin]

Michael and that ruddy bag! My favourite Python for now, ever and always.

[@michaelweeks6053]

I love how Gilliam says, "oh, shit" at the 0:54 mark during his second fall and and it got past the censor.

[@dongiller]

That was from a pre-censored source. It was muted when broadcast.

[@kristinnewman8548]

First Neil Innes, now Jonesy. They have ceased to be, but Python has left a rippling influence through the comedy world for generations. RIP Graham, Terry, and Neil. This upload is very cathartic for me; thank you so much!!

[@Cazz8203]

Shove your meaningless R.I.P.s up your ass. Theyre dead, theyre not resting

[@RoyRogerer]

Bruh wtf Neil Innes passed away?!?!??!? This is all so sad... Rest in peace you urban spaceman...

[@gretagreebling]

@@Cazz8203 R I P could mean "Remain (Stone Dead) In Peace"

[@LiamLewyShepherd]

I love them all, but Gilliam has always been my favourite as a person. He just seems like the most genuine up-front bloke out of the group. Largely I feel because the other have that stereotypical British trait of self-deprecation like the rest of us! I can honestly say that I have never been in a pub, where a line from Life of Brian or Holy Grail has been spoken, and no one has been able to carry it on!

[@rashaseden7062]

I’m glad Dave gave Graham a spot to talk about his personal life, but Graham was amazingly creative and confronted reality like few others. Dave focused on some obvious things, where they’re deeper than you’d expect.

[@wonderrob3225]

Graham is an Icon and hero

[@billmiller2051]

The Chapman accent bit was brilliant !

[@randyj420]

For some reason I lost it at @46:19 when a guy in the audience whooped when Dave was introducing a guy (Terry Jones) that happened to play an organ nude. A wonderful compilation from around the time when I had just gotten my 1st TV as a young teen - and started losing sleep while staying up late to watch Letterman in junior high.

[@nellgwenn]

I could listen to Terry read me fairy tales all day.

[@lpsp442]

Palin's appearance is so sweet and weird. It's like he was on something for the episode, and it was something good!

[@katy3901]

Whatever was in the turtle must have worked!

[@morbido13]

Rest in Peace Terry J

[@michaeljenkins7024]

Chapman's wonderful. He's almost an exact cross between Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry.

[@MartinHiggins1972]

Ah, yes. Also, check out his eyes ... Hugh Grant!

[@floatingsara]

I think it's the very first time I hear Terry Gilliam's voice ! Thank you for uploading

[@ojkolsrud1]

All the pauses in the show! Crazy!

[@g-r-a-e-m-e-]

But we don't have to suffer the ads.

[@ojkolsrud1]

@@g-r-a-e-m-e- Luckyily, no. But they were there, at the time of broadcasting.

[@studywithmay5872]

dude, i can't believe the interview is 7 years before graham leaving us. im crying 😭

[@nigelfarage4119]

If i had to hang out with any of them based on this video I'd pick Terry Jones.

[@TheNeeenha]

Oh Yes He was the best

[@monolithgeometry3221]

Yes yes. YES

[@tbx59]

Watching these collections I love how much Beatles Paul's band played back then.

[@hugozesati6640]

Paul played Beatles for Python... he played “she’s so heavy” because of the comments palin and letterman made about Maggie Smith being in the bag. Paul is very thoughtful.

[@joshuasmith9251]

Graham Chapman was a comedy genius. I really enjoyed this interview and his perspectives about his life how frank and honest he was. Its interesting that both he and John Cleese were a lawyer and a doctor and had promising careers in those fields but they went with what they truly wanted to do-Comedy.

[@adammwalch]

Letterman, not homophobic, is nonetheless utterly indicative of his era...and of how far the acceptance of sexual differences have advanced. Uninvolved with any or this: God bless Graham Chapman- one of the best of a troupe of geniuses

[@amandahighmoor9410]

Think it was interesting how the audience laughed as well. Whether they were laughing at him or laughing because they were uncomfortable, I can't imagine how Graham felt sitting there.

[@harrypainter7472]

Generally people were more accepting in the UK than the US though.

[@govinda102000]

David may have been just uncomfortable to discuss it due to FCC or the network execs.

[@Targemq8]

A 2009 Time Magazine article about a Python reunion: “Idle launched into a raunchy story about “The Boston Startler,” the name that Chapman-who was gay and who Idle said like to scandalize the rest of the cast with sex stories-gave to the male appendage of a particularly fortunate acquaintance from Massachusetts.”

[@straightmanforever69]

God bless these men

[@GregCurtin45]

Thanks for compiling and sharing it with us.

[@sammavacaist]

Chapman was pretty good looking. He reminds me of David Bowie a little bit.

[@SixteenTonesStudio]

Around 44:40 I wish they would've widened the shot when Michael put the carapace on his head

[@johndutchman]

wow, the Graham Chapman is priceless . . Thank You !

[@eugenemalkin4364]

This is fantastic. Thank you so much for putting this up.

[@kurington.blogspot7876]

Am I seeing things but I think Letterman really, really likes Michael Palin.

[@debbieramsey-hanks3757]

Such a special and wonderful episode. Thank you. In all their wonderfully talent t

[@thealaskan1635]

Thanks again for another clip!Have a gr8 weekend!

[@garrethboland5646]

Graham's Australian accent is hilarious haha

[@danielwode4271]

many thanks Don! :) Somebody get this guy a nobel prize

[@yellowdark5070]

It's amazing how can and old interview has still coments!!! 😁😁 mr Chapman sadly died on 89 and people still remember and miss you!!!😍🤩

[@MobiusBandwidth]

these guys will never be forgot. funniest troupe of all time.

[@thejkyle]

Graham was great

[@acechipstarship1542]

Thanks for uploading :)

[@ianofliverpool7701]

"STOP THAT......IT`S SILLY!!!!"

[@kerryedavis]

Just wondering, what part of python episodes was shown during the early Graham Chapman part?

[@stevensprunger3422]

I keep seeing him clicking those two coconuts together and the holy Grail but his animation a whole my God his animation is so freaking stunning and is acting and that the place is Pete pieces he played in and the bear is different on Monty Python skit oh my god he’s just so gloriously wonderful

[@5Andysalive]

How can anyone watch tv with more ad breaks than content?

[@willberman1562]

Hearing graham talk abt being gay/bi in the 80s on letterman makes me proud

[@jamesdettmann94]

@roger james hunter you clearly don't understand the attitude towards gays in the past. In the 80s it was still frowned upon to declare yourself a homosexual, especially on television

[@NxDoyle]

What I really like is that Graham touched on it briefly at the top, but Dave brought it up at the end.

[@jamesheath7601]

Good for you

[@willberman1562]

@@jamesheath7601 thank you James, and a happy pride month

[@jaliaskilo]

well, it makes me VOMIT 🤢 🤮

[@MarkTarmannPianoCheck_it_out]

He did say " a bunch of lakes" . It's on a CBC documentary on youtube, footage of them flying towards Toronto over......" a bunch of lakes".

[@pillettadoinswartsh4974]

"The crew of Sheffield fought for almost four hours to save the ship before Captain Salt made the decision to abandon ship due to the risk of fires igniting the Sea Dart magazine, the loss of the combat capability of the destroyer, and the exposed position to air attack of Arrow and Yarmouth. Most of the Sheffield's crew climbed over onto Arrow, a few transferred by Gemini RHIB to Yarmouth, while some were taken by helicopter to Hermes. As Sheffield's crew departed in Arrow, Sub-lieutenant Carrington-Wood led the crew in singing "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" from Monty Python's Life of Brian."

[@caderoger]

hahahaha amazing, TED NUGENT was a follow-up for Terry Gilliam and Hraham Chapman, what a fun night!

[@DaftSwank]

❤️❤️❤️ Graham ❤️❤️❤️

[@glorioskey]

They're all so nervous.

[@NxDoyle]

In the space of two shows, Dave had Robert Klein, Henny Youngman and Michael Palin. Just think for a second about how many comedians, comedy writers and comic actors were inspired or influenced by those three people.

[@mfeltes]

9:18 The topper on that story is that they were between the third & fourth series when Cleese left.

[@1SaG]

Graham Chapman's interview is pretty amazing. Would probably make a good video to show to an alcoholic who's trying to kick the habit. Two liters of gin every day sounds incredible, but I do know that it's not unheard of. He was extremely lucky to be able to go dry the way he did. A colleague of my ex-GF was drinking about as much and she died at around the age of 35 from her addiction.

[@jeffmiller9206]

Awesome actor.

[@jeffmiller9206]

Chapman that is.

[@Skiddla]

44:13 they have the zipper, not a single laugh, damn that one was quick

[@danw4490]

Michael Palin is hilarious!

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

I guess Gray was never in the closet, huh? Pretty brave for back then.

[@itsatr1p]

He came out right before They started doing Monty python When they were still working on do not adjust your set.

[@DulceN]

Graham?

[@isengrim99]

That's a lot of intermissions...

[@perspellman]

The program is actually a set of commercials with some occasional interview breaks in between.

[@johnmc3862]

You should see the Super Bowl.

[@Da1Dez]

Geez kind of an invitation to interrupt the guest a lot.

[@brenttaylordotus]

"A duck!"

[@tracymiller1149]

Interesting that they were talking about the Royal birth, which was Prince William, the firstborn of Charles and Diana. Prince William is now 40 years old with three children of his own!

[@hilaryepstein6013]

Graham was so brave and honest in the way he spoke about himself, his alcoholism and his sexuality, especially in the 70s and 80s when the world was not so tolerant. Of all the Pythons he always strikes me as being the most modest and unassuming - very much ahead of his time and still missed.

[@thecybergeezer4190]

I always got the impression that Terry Gilliam thought he had to be funny but didn't know how to not be over the top about it.

[@dildonius]

Have you considered that hes just having fun??

[@dildonius]

@Wes 76 Nah hes a pretty funny guy.

[@apostolosannis198]

thanks for the uploads! unfortunately there's nowhere part 7 and further...:(

[@dongiller]

A temporary stall is all.

[@liquidsonly]

I remember those "home fires" in Wales .

[@copywritergena1225]

David Letterman appears to be extremely stumped by the very simple concept of bisexuality. Graham was so open here. Love him.

[@jamesdettmann94]

Well this was the early eighties so bisexuality wasn't talked about much

[@stokepogue]

It's not that he was extremely stumped but rather he wasn't familiar with the concept itself. But he openly said it confused him for the benefit of the fact that he was doing a national television interview. So he did for the benefit of the audience, including obviously Graham.

[@connievino4226]

I thought this was about Terry.

[@connievino4226]

Wow, an alcoholic and gay.

[@connievino4226]

He just said 75 too 25, he is gay. Wow, keep it straight.

[@kurtb8474]

Censors missed the ''S'' word when Terry fell back.

[@dongiller]

That’s from a pre-broadcast and pre-censored source. When it aired,the word was muted.

[@evilotis01]

Australian accents aren't easy to do, and he nails it

[@evilotis01]

("he" being Graham Chapman)

[@markvinci4369]

I figured Gilliam was going to fall back a second time on the chair l.o.l.

[@monolithgeometry3221]

Dave was sort of an oblivious comedian way back then wasn't he...he grew into his role as a listener though, over time

[@ZenFox0]

monolith geometry He seemed very self-conscious about losing control of the show.

[@richinoable]

The interstitial cards like from when he had a daytime show.

[@knownpleasures]

An early mention of the future Prince William before they knew his name!!

[@malcolmjcullen]

Just noticed Dave calls Terry Jones "Terry Gilliam" right at the end of the last interview, then apologises while the outro music is playing.

[@-solidsnake-]

The crossbeams gone out of skew on the treadle

[@pillettadoinswartsh4974]

"Idle launched into a raunchy story about “The Boston Startler,” the name that Chapman-who was gay and who Idle said liked to scandalize the rest of the cast with sex stories-gave to the male appendage of a particularly fortunate acquaintance from Massachusetts."

[@ZenFox0]

I wonder if Dave still has Dave the Turtle.

[@DoctorFeelOkay]

Oops! Terry Gilliam is actually being interviewed by David Sweaterman. You need to re-edit and re-up one more time, Don!

[@edwardjtruskyjr.1098]

Dennis, there's some lovely Filth over here!

[@TruthSurge]

a man who has "a mission" hahahahaha that part....

[@garywilson3042]

2 litres of Gin a day? Wow

[@kerryedavis]

He said 80 oz, or two quarts. But 80 oz is about 2.5 quarts.

[@jpm199]

Everyday

[@jpm199]

Only way to do it really ha

[@garywilson3042]

joaquin being an alcoholic is a terrible thing, please seek help if you suffer from it.

[@starduck8014]

@@jpm199 renal failure's no fun

[@dongiller]

@Rick Heli - Being the clumsy idiot that I am, I inadvertently deleted our thread. I did see your YT link to Eric Idle’s interview, and thank you for that. But my deep apologies for my blunder.

[@avinotion]

Hey from what I've seen in other channels, clips of 9 seconds or less are okay (this is regarding the need to reupload after the system automatically removed your video)

[@paulmcgrath3248]

So he's the quite one

[@weekendindkpsnrasmusmax8277]

People were funny when i was born in 1982 and i guess thats how was made

[@terencebauer74]

I wonder where the stuffed turtle toy is now, and how much is it worth?

[@barrycross2585]

Probably a daft point but when the show a film clip on the TV show, why doesn't that show up on this video?

[@dongiller]

Because the copyright claimants block them.

[@TheHerbert1971]

he is a sweet person

[@wowmachineradio]

Was this the air tape? I only ask because of the clear "OH SHIT!" on Gilliam 2nd fall.

[@dongiller]

From a pre-broadcast source. It’s silenced in all broadcasts (original, two repeats, A&E, and E!).

[@bobjersey]

@@dongiller Man, what are the odds?

[@brandonreyes8212]

Dude is it just me or is the audio on this video wild? I’m watching it on my phone, and it sounds louder in my left year, then I turn the phone a little bit and it’s louder in the left ear. Can’t explain it, it’s just nuts. Doesn’t happen with any other video.

[@oskarvikstrom229]

🥰

[@debbieramsey-hanks3757]

Graham Chapman gone too soon.

[@iain860]

Is Terry related to Meatloaf and Bruce Dickinson...? Someone should do a 'Separated At Birth' special episode!

[@nunolassousa]

37:50 what's the song playing?

[@dongiller]

“I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” - Beatles, last track on Side 1 of Abbey Road.

[@nunolassousa]

@@dongiller thanks!

[@DJ-bj8ku]

Chapman was brilliant and probably could’ve been even more so had he not had a drinking problem.

[@DrumsTheWord]

50/50...it brought him out of his shell. But it ended up killing him :(

[@DJ-bj8ku]

www.DrumsTheWord.com Cleese said he was erratic during the Python years even though he rose to the occasion on screen. He died of throat cancer but that was probably because of the alcohol abuse.

[@DrumsTheWord]

I think it was more to do with the smoking. But the point still stands, alcohol made and broke this man.

[@DJ-bj8ku]

www.DrumsTheWord.com since we’re both cheerfully nitpicking, I wouldn’t say alcohol abuse “made” him. It was to dull his pain from the rejection he felt over his homosexuality, and Cleese his writing partner said it made him very difficult to work with and prevented him from doing his best work.

[@DrumsTheWord]

@@DJ-bj8ku Seeing as you continued to nitpick back, we just don't know, do we?