John Cleese thanks everyone on the planet for his award

[@AviatorCJ87]

Quite possibly the only time Wile E Coyote, Mother Theresa, and Hermann Goering have ever all been part of the same list.

[@MegaRXB]

Except for your list of them. And the list that includes everyone but them. And also the list the includes everyone who was excluded from the previous list.

[@e2b265]

But it won’t be the last!

[@SquidLikesTalking]

@@MegaRXB the non-complete list of people whose name contain the letter E

[@agnivabanerjee3983]

@@e2b265 yes!

[@zzehyboy753]

And Soren Kierkegaard!

[@smith0779]

I work for the publicity part of Turkish Airlines and I'm glad he recognised us . Thanks John

[@robhuanout5443]

You're doing a smashing job Nick. Keep it up big man!

[@peterkost4376]

That's probably because John Cleese isn't Armenian

[@otocan]

@@peterkost4376 Oh, go away.

[@hywodnsu]

Well your work on A Fish Called Wanda was absolutely superb. That film would never have been made without you. It was such a good film that no-one is surprised that the publicity department of Turkish airlines was never again involved in movie making. Out on a high.

[@JarthenGreenmeadow]

@@otocan Thats what the Ottomans said to the Armenians.

[@ragzaugustus]

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Birds, still gets me.

[@nothanks4248]

Really, what kind of bird are you? How do you manage to escape?

[@riparianlife97701]

I've used that several times in conversation. I claim to be a member. It's almost as impressive as asserting that you're a pediatric gynecologist.

[@JohnD640]

They still haven't done it, though...

[@staszekr03]

I heard for the preventation of births

[@0002pA]

@Docktor Jim; Damn, you.

[@ValtteriNieminen]

I love how he rolls his eyes as he’s announced the best actor in a leading role

[@Ndlanding]

How come, just a few years back, rolling-of-the-eyes was unheard of?

[@MaryAnnNytowl]

@@Ndlanding how did you come up with that odd idea? It's been a reaction for a very, very, very long time.

[@Ndlanding]

@@MaryAnnNytowl Give me an example from more than 10 years ago, please.

[@Martykun36]

@@Ndlanding here's one from 1993 kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIbVl6CJndmcrcU

[@bisonwhisperer2849]

@@Ndlanding kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZCthnWdha2Mo7s found an example for ya mate

[@maggot1111666]

For some reason the fact that he said “I’ll keep it short” makes it so much funnier. That type of subtle comedy sets Monte python apart

[@SWINDLA87]

with a tiny piece of paper he's reading all that from😂😂

[@Hernal03]

I would not be surprised to find out that your favorite book is "The Count of *_Monty_* Christo"

[@johnmulchins6300]

@@Hernal03 Is this a joke about the humour in the vid not being that subtle?

[@Hernal03]

@@johnmulchins6300 Actually I love Python's humor --- it can be both subtle and obvious depending on what's required but either way it's always funny. No, my comment actually was simply (in a subtle way of course), to point out the original poster's misspelling of the comedy troupes name ('Monte' was used instead of Monty) --- thus the reference to the famous novel.

[@johnmulchins6300]

@@Hernal03 I don’t know how I missed that! I’ve always loved Monty Python and I’m currently reading The Count of Monte Cristo for the first time and I’m loving that too :)

[@riparianlife97701]

From the tiniest of pieces of paper.

[@Danneleet]

Docktor Jim thats the joke lol

[@TheUKMikey]

It just makes his great talent at memorizing and/or ad-libbing that much more conspicuous.

[@NYCBG]

Never judge a man's genius by the size of the paper he's holding.

[@chrisisaaclangan]

The pause drawing attention to just how small it was was genius

[@TheTruthKiwi]

He should've checked the back. Would've been hilarious 😂

[@TboneI989]

He drops in “mother” after about 20 names so nonchalantly it’s hilarious.

[@DavidvdGulik]

and then continues with "Bismarck"

[@ericoberlies7537]

And throws in Hermann Göring.

[@Kaefer1973]

@@ericoberlies7537 Nobody ever thanks Albert Göring.

[@joostdriesens3984]

@@Kaefer1973 His chef and or drugs supplier? 😁

[@Kloppsserialbottlers]

Mother Theresa

[@dlscorp]

Not just everyone on the planet. He also thanked Saturn and, of course, all its rings

[@pachy444]

Dreadlord Scorp You're wrong also, as Cleese didn't thank everyone on the planet.

[@extensivity29]

John Cleese also thanked God, who exists outside of the universe.

[@pachy444]

Can you back that up with any evidence. ?

[@pachy444]

No, I'm not going to spend my time arguing about whether God exists. I simply wanted you to confirm how you know WHERE God exists.

[@Diggnuts]

I'm rather more interested in how you think that your assumptions on the attributes of this god are correct. I mean, it is just as likely that after you die, you become a celestial brick for a heavenly palace, why not? It could be a number of things really if you blindly choose to allow for the supernatural and ethereal to exist despite the evidence to the contrary. Perhaps only Hell is real... perhaps the Muslims got it right, or the Zoroastrians. You could just as easily reincarnate into a slug. What makes you so sure that within this unlikely realm of a myriad possibilities, your baseless assumption is correct?

[@carriep5072]

I met John Cleese in Brisbane sometime in the 80's as I was getting in an elevator and he did his silly walk out to his limo and proceeded to give me a royal wave as he was driving away! Something I will never forget and laugh about after all these years! 😂🇦🇺

[@whitedsepuchre1326]

He bummed you didn’t he?

[@MaryAnnNytowl]

@@whitedsepuchre1326 um, what? Why would you think that?

[@garyk1334]

Haha brilliant

[@Grandiloquent]

@@MaryAnnNytowl because id bum them

[@ross1972]

@@whitedsepuchre1326 still worth it

[@vaclavcervinka65]

One of the very few people who rememberd to thank Hermann Göring.

[@Mordred478]

Michael Palin once said that Cleese's strength in the writing he did for Python was in making lists of things. This is evidenced in the Cheese Shoppe sketch and the Dead Parrot sketch in particular, and here, one of the cleverest and funniest lists of all time.

[@Ericwvb2]

Don’t forget to credit Graham Chapman for his contribution to the dead parrot sketch which was originally about a broken toaster John Cleese could not return. “That’s boring make it a parrot instead.”

[@andrewpatrickallen9009]

Of course Liam Neeson is one the great list makers: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaKkZmptlK6ieM0

[@kristiannrgaard706]

@@Ericwvb2 chapman was a legend! Combined with Jones, Palin and Cheese they was phenomenal. Nothing beats their creativity and timing

[@jagheterhopp]

@@kristiannrgaard706 And both holy grail and life of brian Chapman played the main character so excellent.

[@Alex_1729]

The cheese shop scene is hilarious. I love the lists of things in comedy, and this is no exception

[@PixelPigu]

Transcript of the whole speech: I’d obviously like to thank a few people. I’d like to thank Charlie Cryton, for doing the plot with me, and Jamie and Kevin for writing their parts. I would like to thank Michael Palin, for checking the scene numbers. I’d also like to thank John Comfort, Jonathan Benson, Roger Murray-Leech, Hazel Pessig, Glenn Palmer-Smith, Cynthia Kayla, Mariah Aitkin, Johnathan Aitkin, Lord Beaverbrook, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jack Cousteau, and his wife Mimi, Soren Kierkegaard, Gisela Werbezerk-Piffle, Sonny Liston and Hayden Jones, and her husband Pip, Gregor Mendel - the founder of the science of genetics, my tailor, Harriet Beacher-Stowe - author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, The London Symphony Orchestra Brass Section, The Leighton Orient Strikers, Mother, Bismarck, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Birds, Sir Basil Smallpiece [long pause] St Francis of Assisi, Diana Ross and The Supremes, Earl Haig, Wily E. Coyote, Mother Teresa, Herb Alpert, and his Tijuana grass, Herman Goering, Dame Agatha Christie, the planet Saturn and, of course, all of its rings, Joan Collins, The Publicity Department of Turkish Airways, the unknown soldier, Tammy Whinette, and last, but of course not least, God. (not 100% on all the spellings, but mostly right)

[@saoirsedeltufo7436]

PixelPigu I’m not sure on all the spellings but it’s Herb Alpert and his Tijuana Brass (a band), not grass

[@Deebz270]

Mother *Teresa*

[@Belforhir]

Leyton Orient

[@ericjamieson]

It's "Anne Hayden-Jones and her husband Pip." They get mentioned a lot in Monty Python sketches.

[@InfinityX2]

Thank you for doing this!!

[@andreavila6610]

The text was very funny, but the tiny paper is the joke! Brilliant!

[@TboneI989]

André Ávila Yes! This^. He even pauses in the middle to mimic like he’s at the end of the list and he’s staring at the small scrap of paper to identify the tiny letters and then continues on for longer than the first half of the names. Absolute genius.

[@gustafsone]

@@TboneI989 I finally found a video of this after all these years! There was one thing I always remembered about this that apparently didn't happen. I'm actually wondering if John did this bit at another award ceremony? The one I remember (or misremember) is that when he pauses in the middle of reading off his list of names, he actually turns the piece of paper over before he continues reading the rest of the names. That makes it funnier in my head but as always, the magic is in the delivery of the joke and John is perfection here!

[@mustafa1name]

Bit rude to refer to the late Dud as a "paper", I don't think he was even that religious.

[@Mythraen]

"The joke." There were several, actually.

[@riparianlife97701]

No, no, no. That's actually quige a large piece of paper. It's just that he's a comic giant.

[@chrisfairbarn9908]

I work and live in Huntsville Ontario. John is doing a movie here and has come to the restaurant I work at a couple of times. Very nice man, easy to talk to and still wants to crack a joke anytime he can. He's been a pleasure to serve.

[@jamesderiven1843]

No shit, John Cleese was in Huntsville? Any idea what they were filming? Did he get down to Gravenhurst to see the giant chair? Inquiring minds need to know!

[@MaryAnnNytowl]

@@jamesderiven1843 it's a YT comment, not a novel. 😄

[@jamesderiven1843]

@@MaryAnnNytowl What a rude thing to say to some innocuous questions about an unusual event.

[@frummel403]

Lmao I love John Cleese he's one of the best comedians of all time. He's an entire genre of comedy.

[@That2J]

Couldn't have put it better myself

[@EEEEEEEE]

E‎ ‎

[@saxoungrammaticus9132]

I still think the funniest part is when he mispronounces Palin on purpose, he does that to annoy Michael.

[@LittleB2007]

Thanks for the info! I wondered about that because I remember John pronouncing Michael's name correctly when he was amused by Sarah Palin's hilarious stupidity and sorry for Michael not being the funniest Palin anymore. :)

[@Casarzino]

Good thing he checked the scene numbers

[@lewissanter2760]

Fucking brilliant👍 😂

[@5Andysalive]

I think they were long past annoying each other.

[@howdan1985]

LOLLLLLLLLL cryinggggggg at that!! "Michael Pa-lin" hahahaha he's so clever...and all from that tiny piece of paper

[@warchild4974]

lol John Cleese just turned the awards into a Python sketch!

[@CS-zn6pp]

Having waited on his table once I can tell you he turns everything into a python sketch....

[@thedandelion157]

...that's John Cleese for you... ;-)

[@warchild4974]

@@CS-zn6pp Oh goodie, I love that he lives the Python

[@sorellman]

It had it coming.

[@GabbieTheFox]

And now for something completely different. :P

[@ClassicHolic]

...The publicity department of Turkish Airways... hahahaha

[@jorgeguberte7585]

I lost it at that part hahahaha

[@-danR]

...my mother Bismarck...

[@teenspirit1]

they are always amazing chaps.

[@husainjam]

I thot the same thing. Turkish airways would have been enough but he had to mentioned specifically the publicity department. That got me.

[@hadimali6392]

We should thank him. After that, years later Turkish airlines is the number one in the world :D

[@vulturnuszan]

It's about time Saturn's rings had some attention, they've had a hell of a time.

[@timbrom]

You win the thread.

[@reenarawat5537]

"Blessed are the cheesemakers?!"

[@Cosmicblast77]

And it's moons, especially that big fat one Titan.

[@gaynorpatterson2915]

LOL 😂

[@donnatate458]

Hilarious observation, Volturn😂

[@iamtheowl9631]

"We did have a problem. There are no boxes, apparently, in Los Angeles." I feel like that joke deserved more of a laugh.

[@ytwos1]

I didn,t get that one? Could you explain it?

[@iamtheowl9631]

@@ytwos1 He's much shorter than John Cleese. So for him it's a problem, because he couldn't find a box to stand on in order to look taller.

[@dizzydazed8055]

@@iamtheowl9631 I think it's a body joke. LA is renown for crime. A box is a coffin?

[@spelcheak]

@@dizzydazed8055Don't be silly, Why would the City of Angles need coffins? 🤔😎

[@MaximumCarne]

@@dizzydazed8055 wtf? It’s a short guy joke because he’s short and needs a box to stand on.

[@Thorsbeard]

"The London Symphony Orchestra Brass section!" Hahahaha

[@IZn0g0uDatAll]

They are quite awesome it needs to be pointed out.

[@theradgegadgie6352]

Woodwind would've been funnier. *sigh*

[@scottsnelling5610]

@@theradgegadgie6352 Not when he's tooting his own horn.

[@iainbagnall4825]

Yeah fuck the string section, they were a bunch of dicks

[@theexcaliburone5933]

@@iainbagnall4825 strings are not fun

[@name2589]

"I'd like to thank Michael Palin for checking the scene numbers" what a fantastic burn

[@n0denz]

He thanked Herman Göring but not Joseph Goebbels? The absolute madman.

[@heliotropezzz333]

Goebbels was too busy to get involved and had no sense of humour either, but Goering had time on his hands.

[@whatwillhefindouttheredoct6191]

Didn't he mention two egg mayonnaise and a prawn Goebbels?

[@FinneousPJ1]

Why is it Göring but not Göbbels

[@Tjp7624]

@@FinneousPJ1 Because of propaganda

[@R6videos6R]

Yes my friend

[@naedolor]

I'm so happy he's still with us. I hope he lives for many many years to come!

[@rl6852]

He's awesome. I find it comforting that he exists, for real. Some sort of reality check that we live in utter nonsense, and he knows it.

[@EEEEEEEE]

E‎ ‎

[@brunomcleod]

@@EEEEEEEE I think you've replied to a comment of mine, are you trying to reply to as many comments as possible? I've seen you in a lot of videos

[@Casarzino]

it's amazing that he put so much effort into memorising this purely for love of comedy, think about it he probably didn't get paid for this and could have just given any old speech but instead came up with a moment of utter comedic genius

[@lafeeshmeister]

"...Mother, Bismarck, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Birds..."

[@TboneI989]

Will McFadden The fact that he mentions mother so deep down the list is itself absolutely hilarious.

[@warchild4974]

prevention of dead parrots

[@decespugliatorenucleare3780]

I think that's one of the funniests shit I've ever heard

[@WaterShowsProd]

His mother was terrified of birds, which might explain the one following the other.

[@fransbuijs808]

@@warchild4974 It's sleeping.

[@jackmanley1473]

I love the fact that he took a moment to genuinely acknowledge Kevin Kline's role and then quickly turned it into a joke.

[@kirnpu]

Truly - what a fabulous movie Wanda is!

[@karthikmunishamaiah2689]

Kevin Kline was bonkers in that movie

[@jefferydraper4019]

@@karthikmunishamaiah2689 "Assshooooole!!!!" Almost 40 years later and I still use this one in traffic.

[@NuntiusLegis]

This speech is way better than the entire movie.

[@criddlegakes2650]

Off the top of my head he's the last actor to be nominated for an Oscar in a (genuine) comedy. I'm obviously excluding "prestige" drama films full of comedy elements such as The Wolf of Wall Street and The Passion of the Christ.

[@InformationIsTheEdge]

I think John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Gram Chapman and Terry Jones are an absolutely genius ensemble. That so many talented men were able to work together as often as they did for as long as they did is simply astounding. Usually that much raw talent all in one place, such as with bands, self destructs and they fade away. Love their work.

[@michaellejeune7715]

InformationIsTheEdge True. Guess you could compare them somewhat to the beatles. A relatively short period of all working together and creating something new. Then getting the feeling it's time for each to set his own course - with success in a various range of fields (Palin: documentaries, Cleese: fawlty towers and movies, the Terry's: directing movies and series, Idle: got on well with his music), and a tragic death (Graham Chapman). And for all their sarcasm, they still get along - got the impression even Cleese toned down on the cynical part lately.

[@spwr1931]

InformationIsTheEdge The Beatles? Hardly. Monty Python and Terry Gilliam as a movie director are genuine.

[@cdog252]

I assume Gram Chapman is Graham's much lighter brother.

[@epluribusu9430]

Because in addition to being geniuses they're all profoundly decent human beings. Remarkably well adjusted for THEIR profession,

[@electrontube]

Don't forget Carol Cleveland.

[@ongogoblogian1343]

I love he’s reading all of this off of the world’s smallest piece of paper. Just adds so much to his amount of thought through a joke.

[@omg_wtf]

I was waiting for him to turn it over half way through :)

[@jonasstrmgren7326]

That one time John Cleese got a Patreon.

[@nathanmcgill7249]

This comment deserves more likes

[@sebastiano728]

@@nathanmcgill7249 Agreed

[@Urlocallordandsavior]

Was that why Cleese has got so few stuff released since the 90s?

[@SteveLaneGalway]

That extra second he takes at 01:59 is genius. He just lets the surreality blossom in awkward silence

[@francesatty7022]

I'd like to believe that he memorised the names as a script, but then started improvising after the pause

[@squattingheads]

the best joke is the one where he says nothing

[@MaryAnnNytowl]

@@francesatty7022 oh, no, that was definitely and totally part of the gag. Note how he sort of squinted at the piece of paper, there. That was deliberate.

[@holliswilliams8426]

comic genius

[@nick37104]

I almost feel like the pause was to allow the audience to digest Basil "Small Piece," ala "Nigel Small-Fawcett" in Never Say Never Again. Then there's that big laugh from maybe Dudley, getting the "Small Piece" bit.

[@Ring0fSaturn]

Quintessentially British and superbly humorous. Thank you, John.

[@jamma246]

No, thank you, ring of Saturn. Send my regards to your siblings and Father.

[@ClannCholmain]

Cleese said his inspiration was from Spike Milligan, who got his humour from his Sligo father.

[@southerncomfort7490]

@@ClannCholmain Who got his sense of humour from the madness of war and a nervous breakdown.

[@MrQuakeroat]

@@southerncomfort7490 So, really, we have Rommel to thank.

[@southerncomfort7490]

@@MrQuakeroat Oh, absolutely. A fine man, as I am sure you will agree.

[@akvam9069]

"I would like to thank everyone involved. you know who you are, even if I dont"

[@MrBiggiefuckinsmalls]

who said this?

[@sorrowandsufferin924]

I like that, and I will use it eventually.

[@cube2fox]

I’d obviously like to thank a few people. I’d like to thank Charles Crichton, for doing the plot with me, and Jamie and Kevin for writing their parts. I would like to thank Michael Palin, for checking the scene numbers. I’d also like to thank John Comfort, Jonathan Benson, Roger Murray-Leach, Hazel Pething, Glenn Palmer-Smith, Cynthia Caylor, Maria Aitken, Johnathan Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jacques Cousteau and his wife Mimi, Søren Kierkegaard, Gisela Werbezerk-Piffle, Sonny Liston, and Ann-Haydon Jones and her husband Pip, Gregor Mendel - the founder of the science of genetics, my tailor, Harriet Beacher-Stowe - author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, the London Symphony Orchestra brass section, the Leighton Orient strikers, mother, Bismarck, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Birds, Sir Basil Smallpeice, St Francis of Assisi, Diana Ross and The Supremes, Earl Haig, Wile E. Coyote, Mother Teresa, Herb Alpert and his Tijuana Brass, Hermann Göring, Dame Agatha Christie, the planet Saturn and, of course, all of its rings, Joan Collins, the publicity department of Turkish Airways, the Unknown Soldier, Tammy Wynette, and last, but of course not least, God.

[@adolfhiller3146]

Thank you for the list! :)

[@seppokuusinen8595]

Well done! Just one correction: Leyton Orient strikers, not Leighton 😇

[@MaryAnnNytowl]

I always like to locate this speech when I need a true laugh! Thank you for the existence of this on KZbin!

[@taxmanfelix5189]

"The Royal Society for the Prevention of the Birds"

[@burnstjamp]

I would like to thank them as well

[@peridusk6128]

They haven't done a very good job

[@trizvanov]

"He's having a go at birds now".

[@MaryAnnNytowl]

@@trizvanov it was a running gag from other stuff he'd done.

[@alarbu17]

i love michael’s face when john pronounces “palin” like that. he’s like “of course he did that”

[@Puschit1]

Theses guys are taking stabs at each other for decades, he would be disappointed if Cleese didn't. Cleese also did a fantastic speech at the funeral of Chapman where he said (paraphrasing) "when I wrote this speech it was like Graham watching and urging me to use this opportunity to utter the word "fuck" in a church" ... these guys know each other inside out and in their mind it would be a crime to not do such a joke if the opportunity arises.

[@therealzilch]

John Cleese is a cultural treasure.

[@roberth1322]

Best acceptance speech ever, the eye roll just makes it.

[@stevendarkstalker]

This still brings me immense joy to this day. A true timeless classic

[@brux7650]

There will never be anyone else like him, what a magnificent bastard he is!

[@beelzeboss9631]

His delivery never fails

[@kdtjones]

I loved the part with David Jason, when you have a legend cracking up another legend you know you've got gold

[@anonygent]

Dudley Moore was cackling under his right elbow, too.

[@thebreadman]

"Hermann Goering" that one went right over everyone's heads!!

[@normanpearson8753]

Luftwaffe jokes do !

[@billyhendrix5544]

The German

[@mkaleborn]

@@billyhendrix5544 ssshh just dont' mention the war!

[@ruialmeida818]

@@mkaleborn 'it's Ok, I'll do the silly walk'

[@benghazi4216]

An added descriptive line would have been the icing on the cake, some thing like "Hermann Goering, for his tireless efforts to look like a clown"

[@uosdwiSrdewoH]

Given how small that piece of paper was (fantastic prop work there that made the bit even funnier) he must have rattled off that list of names from memory. Or else he just came up with the names off the cuff. Either way it's comedy gold. The man was an absolute genius.

[@rowanmelton7643]

It was probably a mix of memorised names and improvised ones.

[@holliswilliams8426]

Probably half memorised and then throws in some random ones that occur to him.

[@sailor5853]

​@@rowanmelton7643It's all memorized. This isn't even hard to do compared with Flying Circus' performances.

[@lePistolero]

His capacity to stay serious is the cherry on the cake.

[@whenthemusicsover6028]

Not sure how or why Hermann Goering got in there. :P

[@iveco555]

Master of propaganda...

[@gwarlow]

Chozo Hunter Because John Cleese is a comedian...

[@Severin69]

+iveco555 That was Goebbels, not Goering.

[@oskarb6885]

iveco555 Goering was Luftwaffe.

[@oxcart4172]

Chozo Hunter ...And a fighter pilot

[@WizardOfAtlantis]

That mad, glorious bastard. How he worked that tiny piece of paper. Genius.

[@Sabrowsky]

for some time the people actually thought he was reading names from the paper. and then he thanked Lord Beaverbrook

[@rphttech4520]

That caught my attention as that was my high school

[@marscaleb]

I love how you can see when his name is called that he genuinely is displeased; he really didn't think he should be the one to earn this award. That kind of attitude is fantastic; no arrogance, no prideful ego. More actors need to be like this man right here.

[@gusthekat]

This goes down as the single best acceptance speech of all time. Saturn, and, of course, all of its rings!!! I've watched this dozens of times over the years and love coming back to it for a quick laugh.

[@JohnDoe-dj3lw]

The delivery of "last but ofc not least....God" did the whole sketch for me. Top quality stuff from one of the greatest!

[@englaland3030]

"Søren Kierkegaard"

[@t45tt4tr]

Englaland kirkegård

[@waffleless]

J awm No, Kierkegaard is the correct spelling for the theologian and philosopher most famous for his thoughts regarding existentialism.

[@viljamtheninja]

Well, existentialism wasn't really a thing when Kierkegaard was writing; at least it wasn't known as such, although his writings certainly served as a theoretical source of inspiration for Jean Paul Sartre in founding existentialism.

[@Neuroneos]

@@viljamtheninja Jean-Paul Sartre did not "found" existentialism, he _theorized_ atheistic existentialism.

[@viljamtheninja]

@@Neuroneos You're right, terrible choice of words on my part.

[@antiv]

"Mother, Bismarck" LOOOOL ffs haha

[@jaspertickler1831]

best award speech ever! .. thank you for posting & also to Saturn and of course all it`s rings

[@user-lz5vh9bb5w]

I love how small the little note is as well, that's what really made it funny for me.

[@lorriesmith5086]

The entire Publicity Department of Turkish Airlines... I'm DYING!

[@danielwilliams173]

Finally someone mentioned my favorite line!!!

[@josh2Sides2]

Always love Dudley Moore and to see him with John of Cleese is always a real treat

[@HarryInEdi]

He learnt it off by heart. It’s the tiniest piece of paper.

[@TimThomason]

I think some of it might be improvised, since it's purposely a random list.

[@WaterShowsProd]

He’s not one to improvise, he prefers memorising long lists like that. There’s also a rhythmic flow to the names.

[@meinalteregon]

Impressive

[@MaryAnnNytowl]

@@TimThomason no, he's not an improv guy. He much prefers having it down by rote, not leaving anything to chance. It's so he doesn't have any room to mess up. It's just how he has always done stuff.

[@acigercek]

2:24 The Publicity Department of Turkish Airways 🙂. Was a joke back then but now almost every celebrity played in their ads 🤠.

[@amonraii7273]

Legend has it that he's still thanking people

[@cyberhaggis]

Legend has it he's still thanking people to this day, still reading from the same page.

[@GrumpyGrobbyGamer]

Pure. Comic. GENIUS. The man is a treasure

[@me_here_now]

His memorization skills unbelievable, as none of his speech was on that tiny piece of paper! They don’t make comedians like him anymore.

[@RuefulCenturion]

Or improv?

[@Puschit1]

@@RuefulCenturion Improv would actually be more impressive. I mean, memorizing dialogue/speeches&text is a central skill of any actor and can be trained, however, improvising is hard if not impossible to learn, either you do have that gift or your don't. And in this case it also had to be funny.

[@MaryAnnNytowl]

@@RuefulCenturion no. He avoided improv whenever he could, and still does. It makes him uncomfortable, worrying that he will mess something up if he doesn't have his lines down just so. At least that's what he's said in interviews where it's come up.

[@MaryAnnNytowl]

@@Puschit1 he prefers to avoid improv, as he's always concerned he will mess up and embarrass himself. Ironic, with the silly comedy he's always done, but he's always been very practiced at his craft.

[@Puschit1]

@@MaryAnnNytowl Which is why I said improv would be even more impressive

[@brucewilson1958]

I watched this for the first time a week ago...4.1.20222. Since then, I fall off to sleep making my own thank you lists. Pee Wee Herman, Herman Melville, Ace and Jesse Ventura, Chaka, Imran, and Ghenis Khan....

[@oliverholmes-gunning5372]

I have an old Herb Alpert and his Tijuana Brass record, and every time I play it (which isn't often, but still) I always think of this speech😂

[@telquel7843]

The shoutout to the Unknown Soldier still gets me most.

[@24-karat-plonker]

This is the definition of comedic genius, so freaking hilarious 😂

[@RobertTC009]

Kierkegard... and Diana Ross and the Supremes. Cleese is awesome.

[@NuntiusLegis]

I am quite sure the world has profited more from the legs of Diana Ross than from the philosophy of Kierkegard.

[@lukef1586]

Legend has it he is still thanking people to this very day

[@saymyname218]

I love the way he seems to be reading it when in fact it's all from memory. (The opposite of what most people do) "Pure class."

[@Lmclean89]

The London Symphony Orchestra brass section hahahaha

[@Superphilipp]

Yeah, fuck the woodwinds.

[@LittleB2007]

Those string players are unbearable

[@CliffLewis28]

Ah John Cleese, the funniest man on the planet. Still get a huge laugh from this.

[@ProjectFlashlight612]

Dudley Moore dying of laughter in the background

[@independentfilmchannel1476]

I love that he thanked Soren Kierkegaard, my favorite philosopher.

[@gymcapybara9496]

If he hadn't won this would never have existed

[@fractalequation]

and? if you're parent's never had sex then you wouldn't have been able to watch this video. if you didn't eat last night, you wouldn't have been able to take that poo you had this morning. if they didn't decide to put on the award ceremony, he wouldn't have been able to win the award. if the big bang didn't happen, there would be no girl guides. if there was no lisa there would be no mona lisa. if there were no cars there would be no motor racing. if there was no sea, there would be no submarines. if there were no humans, there would be no elevators. if there was no comments section, there would be no stupid comments.

[@MaryAnnNytowl]

@@fractalequation um... what the _~bleeping bleep~_ are "girl guides" and what do they have to do with the Big Bang or its subsequent expansion?

[@templario_non_nobis_domine]

And everyone in this planet thanks him for being part of it! Love you John!

[@jasonwaterfalls9]

And of course, its moon.

[@andrewbriers1166]

if all acceptance speeches were like this i would still watch award shows

[@faizullakhan1556]

Only John Cleese could look so serious and do this hilarious bit.

[@FastNBulbous]

I watch this clip every time it comes up in my feed. I will one day give this exact speech if I ever win anything.

[@wileecoyotegenius5955]

2:07 Hey, that's me!

[@4urluvjones155]

Oh my god, I laughed my ass off!!!! He creates laughter out of thin air!!

[@CliffLewis28]

4urluv Jones Yes, a true comedy genius.

[@Cchogan]

I just love Dudley Moore's laughter

[@kevinwarren3998]

Wow look how young everyone is. I remember when this movie came out. It's hard to believe it was so long ago.

[@Lu-KN]

1:35 Gregor Mendel OMG John Cleese is EPIC!!!

[@theawecabinet]

Gruyère.... emmental ..... brie ......edam ......Cheshire ........red Leicester ....... Venezuelan beaver cheese....

[@JohnD640]

Well, it's so clean...

[@MandleRoss]

@@JohnD640 Well, it's certainly uncontaminated by cheese.

[@santeebandit3246]

The best! You haven’t asked about Limburger?? Is it worth it??

[@nahuelmat]

Could be...

[@stevethon2444]

"Well, we've got, uh-"..."No, no, I'm keen to guess."

[@MarcoLongoMusic]

I thought he said Sauron and all of his rings

[@Kulascus]

Don't think so much.

[@martialme84]

Marco Longo you are a good man. A good man, i say!

[@donaldoney9735]

Marco Longo was

[@Plafintarr]

lol

[@craig.tanner]

Amazing

[@RadicalCaveman]

He couldn't have done it without Sonny Liston.

[@jelt110]

Cleese is a fucking GENIUS. He knew exactly how to capitalize on the moment. Truly fucking genius.

[@roytheboy1963]

I've been a Python fan etc since I was a teenager, now I'm 57 & I still love watching these classic moments of brilliance!

[@MaryAnnNytowl]

I grew up watching them on PBS - with my dad watching them, how could I not watch, too? And even though they are a bit naughty, I was too little to notice at the time. _~shrug~_ I'm around your age, too, so I must have become a fan before even you did. 😄 Not gonna give an exact age, though. 😉 My ego needs the protection. 😄

[@roytheboy1963]

@@MaryAnnNytowl Of course; a Lady never reveals her age..

[@HSMiyamoto]

I love how Cleese reads the names so slowly, the audience can laugh at each one. The cheek of the man!

[@MaryAnnNytowl]

Well, he did go a bit faster in some areas than others. But definitely paused to let them laugh at the funniest ones!

[@FarbrorBaku]

All that from the smallest piece of paper, such a classic.

[@TheonlyaviableID]

No mention of the greatest name in German Baroque music? Johann Gambolputty...

[@jamesbyersmusic]

de von Ausfern- schplenden- schlitter- crasscrenbon- fried- digger- dingle- dangle- dongle- dungle- burstein- von- knacker- thrasher- apple- banger- horowitz- ticolensic- grander- knotty- spelltinkle- grandlich- grumblemeyer- spelterwasser- kurstlich- himbleeisen- bahnwagen- gutenabend- bitte- ein- nürnburger- bratwustle- gerspurten- mitz- weimache- luber- hundsfut- gumberaber- shönedanker- kalbsfleisch- mittler- aucher von Hautkopft of Ulm

[@anonygent]

Great reference!

[@tacituskilgore7349]

@@jamesbyersmusic you sir have just made 2020 a bit better ....I have always loved that sketch. Best name ever. Thankyou for the time and effort for posting that. Cheers and Happy new Year to you from Australia. :)))

[@Ndlanding]

@@jamesbyersmusic If I hadn't read this, then I wouldn't have read it.

[@asterix7842]

Don't forget Tarquin Fin-tim-lin-bin-whin-bim-lim Bus Stop F'tang F'tang Olé Biscuit Barrel and Jethro Q. Bunn Whackett Buzzard Stubble and Boot Walrustitty.

[@SirMrShanks]

Our pleasure John! Keep up the good work

[@brokenstrenght]

Watched this soooo many times and stilll tears

[@mikecimerian6913]

Right off the top of his head for the most part, such wonderful thought process.

[@MaryAnnNytowl]

Oh, no. Not even close. It was all very practiced. He avoided improv whenever he could, and still does. It makes him uncomfortable, worrying that he will mess something up if he doesn't have his lines down just so. At least that's what he's said in interviews where it's come up.

[@mikecimerian6913]

@@MaryAnnNytowl Ah, a control freak, I knew it :) 🍬 Still has a wonderful thinking apparatus. He forgot Spike Milligan... 😮‍💨

[@starblazer5178]

The Monty Python comfy pillow still gets me at the oddest times. I got my kids saying "not the comfy pillow!" in a British accent when I beat them with the comfy pillow 😂

[@berbatovfan27]

"The publicity department of Turkish Airways" deaddddd lmaoooo

[@teelurizzo8542]

LOL London Symphony Brass Section, All in his classic straight face, it's priceless.

[@TheTuttle99]

And on the tiniest piece of paper. Brilliant

[@badideass]

I like how he mispronounced Palin's name haha