John Cleese's War on Wokeism

The Monty Python legend says political correctness is ruining creativity in all aspects of human activity.
From shows and movies ranging from Monty Python's Flying Circus and Fawlty Towers to Life of Brian and A Fish Called Wanda, the comedian John Cleese has uproariously and relentlessly satirized politics and religion while stretching the boundaries of decorum and good taste like so many silly walks.
Now 82, Cleese-who studied law at Cambridge-has recently set his sights on political correctness and wokeism, which he says are the enemy not only of humor but of creative thinking in all areas of human activity.
He appeared at FreedomFest, the annual July gathering of libertarians in Las Vegas, to discuss creativity, the subject of his 2020 "short and cheerful guide." After giving a talk on the attitudes and habits he believes are necessary for creativity to 2,500 attendees, Reason's Nick Gillespie interviewed Cleese about the importance of freedom of thought and expression for a flourishing society.
Photos: Mirrorpix / MEGA / Newscom/ASLON2/Newscom; PYTHON PICTURES/EMI / Album/Newscom; Original Memorabilia Company / Pacific Coast News/Newscom; Everett Collection/Newscom; D Soto imageSPACE / Splash News/Newscom; Andrew Matthews/ZUMA Press/Newscom; UNIVERSAL STUDIOS / Album/Newscom; Hosie, Andy/Mirrorpix/Newscom; Staff/Mirrorpix/Newscom; NCJ/Mirrorpix/Newscom; Splash News/Newscom; Mirrorpix/Newscom Music: “The Liberty Bell” by the United States Marine Band
Produced by Nick Gillespie; Footage: Courtesy of FreedomFest; Edited by Adam Czarnecki and Meredith Bragg

[@Sam-lm8gi]

Unbelievable. This man is older than Joe Biden, but sharper than most twenty somethings.

[@sitarnut]

Cleese's fingernail clippings are more intelligent than some entire governments.

[@capnmo6718]

That's because Cleese has more humour than every Democrat, Republican, and a large portion of 20-somethings combined. Being able to laugh, genuinely laugh, keeps us sharp.

[@CONEHEADDK]

@@capnmo6718 other way around. High IQ leads to humor, in general.

[@Acujeremy]

What about Big Mike?

[@michaelterry1000]

You can not compare John Cleese with Joe Biden. Joe Biden is in cognitive decline and John Cleese is not. That is not a joke or a political jab, it is just a statement of fact.

[@DianaSwan]

'People sitting there waiting for the thrill of being offended' Absolutely brilliant

[@RaniKhalili]

18:00

[@donaldzinn2927]

I just had the same thought about that you scallywag!!😂😂

[@mikepenn8760]

"...deliberately waiting for the thrill of being offended." So well put.

[@roscius6204]

That is good

[@rigelloar7474]

That's poetic really.

[@glendacollins2898]

This phrase well describes my ex spouse of over 20 years. He is a pathological narcissist. I’m convinced that those who graduated from Narc U are now running the globe. (I was so pleased to be in this audience at Freedom Fest.)

[@mjr2451]

That’s why offense is “taken“.

[@LittleOrla]

I know someone like that.

[@bossofthemoss450]

“Waiting for the thrill of being offended”. So accurate and such a reflection of today’s banal society.

[@AllanMogensen]

Those mostly offended are those who can´t behave like they always did without concern or consideration for others. "My lust and desire comes first"

[@petejohnson8397]

​@@AllanMogensencan you please give an example/hypothetical?

[@Threemore650]

I have an old Saxon soul and I think it’s that that makes me want to do whatever it is that I’m being coerced or bullied into. I refuse to sunbathe and am now in the top 1% of whiteness. I wear a large, visible cross at all times. I’d quite like a T.shirt with ‘certified racist’ and a middle finger on it. I’m not really all that racist, I lived my whole life post racially, as according to MLK, but the idiocy of picking on the least racist people on earth, the only ones with outgroup compassion that goes beyond words, just makes me want to rebel. I RAGE at ALL injustice. A deep sense of fair play pulses in every cell of my body and it sees no colour but misty crimson. Meekness is yet another mistranslation of the Bible. We are commanded to fight evil. Also, turning the other cheek has been inverted, it’s the opposite of surrender. The right side is where you’d strike a lesser person, turning the cheek is an assertion of equality to the challenger.

[@Threemore650]

@@AllanMogensencan you clarify that?

[@AllanMogensen]

I haven´t recorded all the whimping people I´ve heard complaining about victims seeking justice while longing for the "Good old days" when they could grab them by the pussies without consequences@@petejohnson8397

[@dunringill1747]

“People sitting there deliberately waiting for the thrill of being offended” - I've heard this thought phrased in other ways but I think I enjoy this one the most.

[@millertas]

I was offended by that.😃

[@RobMcGrath0]

@@millertas ..."Help, Help!!! I'm being offended 0.o"....

[@christopherheckman7957]

There's an old joke. A woman checks into a motel that has two buildings, one facing the other. She gets to her room and sees the other building out the window, where a man is walking around naked. She calls the manager and says that he needs to cover up. The manager comes up to her room first, walks around, and says, "Yes, he's naked, but you can't see anything below his waist, no matter where you are in the room." She replies, "Oh, yeah? You can if you stand on the bed!" [EDITED: I had "above" instead of "below" originally.]

[@SerunaXI]

For every troll, there's a bridge.

[@npats550]

Love that comment! I loved Monty Python, especially the films. I think John Cleese was always my favourite. Even now, he's as sharp as a tack!

[@athenassigil5820]

Bloody brilliant! Glad he attended and that you guys at Reason interviewed him. Cheers!

[@eekiane1921]

"Do you regret not becoming a lawyer?" The laughter was priceless

[@mitchellhawkes22]

The best lawyers don't laugh. They make their millions and don't respond to taunts like the insipid Cleese remark.

[@kevanbodsworth9868]

@@mitchellhawkes22 You mean dead.

[@markoshea6833]

Morrissey is humorous.

[@uweschroeder]

"There are people who are deliberately waiting for the thrill of being offended" - I think that's the best characterization of today's society I've heard so far.

[@AlbertHEldridge]

That’s because Don Rickles is dead.

[@willianjohnam7350]

This man is a living legend and UK's national treasure.

[@peterclark6290]

He also loves the USA, on Wednesdays (4am-5am) he can pretend to 'like' Australians, etc. He is humanity's treasure.

[@mrobert2707]

@@peterclark6290 i had a similar thought, but you articulated it quite well.

[@jmwoods190]

Alongside Rowan Atkinson who is just as hilarious(NOT just as Mr. Bean) but also fights the same fight against political hyper-correctness and cancel culture.

[@pathacker4963]

A global legend and treasure!

[@michael2974]

John Cleese is great. They broke the mold after he was made. Of course, they tried to say it was an accident...

[@MichaelYoder1961]

John Cleese is a brilliant and articulate man and a gift (along with all the Pythoners). They broke ground and continue to be "discovered" by new generations

[@wrbowcalifyrobertson5087]

Very intelligent man.

[@DJWESG1]

There is probably a good reason he made the types of films he made compared to the sort of films Terry Gillingham made. One would have thought the latter was more on point.

[@brianjob3018]

@@DJWESG1 Terry Gillingham?? It's Gilliam, friends.

[@panvomacka9079]

@@brianjob3018 I think it's Gillinger

[@brianjob3018]

@@panvomacka9079 Well, if you show he's connected to Jobn Dillinger somehow, I might have a go with that! But I'm sure someone from the ol' Monty set could do it better than I!! 😜, 😇.

[@carolbrooks9161]

John Cleese is amazing! "Do you use any performance enhancing drugs? Money!" He always says the unexpected. 🤣

[@richsackett3423]

Certainly wrote that joke decades ago.

[@MakeSomeNoisePlaylists]

you misspelled OBVIOUS

[@eyeh8liberals]

The energy this man showed in Fawlty Towers was superhuman. So much energy in his acting that I thought he would have a heart attack.

[@haroldstafford3189]

amazing that his writing Partner was Connie Booth,and they were Divorcing at the same time!

[@kurtgodel5236]

@@haroldstafford3189 That was when the second series was shot.

[@leonardoiglesias2394]

Thats technik.

[@roddmatsui3554]

I’m very impressed by John Cleese and his work, I’ve enjoyed Monty Python since the 1970s, and all of the Python crew have shown a deep understanding of humor being a stimulant of thought.

[@helen9289]

their humour still works today

[@rhinocore]

Making John Cleese laugh would be the highlight of anyone's life.

[@niniv2706]

Having Miley Cyrus orgasm would be a close second ;) Like the perfect combo of brawn and brains .

[@DeirdreCatherineDoyle]

I WAS TOLD NOT TO LAUGH AS IT WRINKLESS YOUR FACE! I HAVE LAUGH WRINKLES AND PROUD

[@p4our587]

Making him hiccup & finally be over… would be mine.

[@Dowlphin]

Why? It's not hard.

[@ClyDIley]

​@@Dowlphin That goodfellow, is either one of the weakest attempts to troll someone I have ever seen, or... the most cynical and/or asinine thing I've read all week. Either way, making one of if not the greatest humorist of all time laugh will always be a flattering compliment for anyone who isn't an egotistical ass with a bloated sense of self worth...

[@eldergeektromeo9868]

Thank You, John Cleese, for the lifetime you have given us filled with humor and laughs! Your jokes will always live rent free in my brain until I can pass them to another appreciative human, where they will continue to enrich someone elses life!

[@d283jdsk2]

There's no need to write a eulogy yet

[@jezzter4293]

What a brilliant man. He still makes people laugh which as he says is the most important thing. Bless him for helping so many people get through difficult times with laughter

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

“People sitting their deliberately waiting for the thrill of being offended”….. the defining characteristic of 50% of US society.

[@dingfeldersmurfalot4560]

It used to be about curse words and religious differences. Now it's about almost anything and everything.

[@phoenixrising4073]

In my experience it is much less than half who are woke. The media would have you think it's the majority when it simply isn't so. They cannonize those who complain and marginalize those who produce.

[@wmason1961]

Not just "U.S."

[@monad_tcp]

@@wmason1961 because the US is the biggest global exporter of that bullshit, obviously not just the US, others import that woke shit

[@dustinDraig]

@@phoenixrising4073 Yeah, I just today read an article about people being offended that Cracker Barrel added "Impossible Meat" sausage to their menu. There were several articles on the topic but the one I read just contained a bunch of "A person on Facebook posted..." quotes. It's called the Nutpicker Fallacy--for any position you can find someone who supports it, so cherry-pick an extreme position and find the nut who is arguing for it and use that to make your case that "many people believe" whatever nonsense you want--be it people who want to claim that we should not use the phrase "pregnant women" because it's exclusionary or weirdos who think the Book of Genesis is meant to be taken literally and want that taught in schools. Then write a clickbait article to rile up your base.

[@michaelconway2024]

“There are people out there deliberately waiting for the thrill of being offended.” So funny and true.

[@catherineberry6971]

Like gossip’s who lust to spread rumors and cause mayhem. No difference.

[@dikkie1000]

It gets worse, there are people who are professionally offended on behalf of other people, who don't give a damn, but should according to the formentioned offendees. And that such people exist and are serious about it, is sillier than a python sketch.

[@wtfvids3472]

@@dikkie1000 yes because "we are all the same" HAHAHA

[@bearowen5480]

"People sitting there, waiting for the thrill of being offended...." Wow, was that ever great or what?! This is what confirms the age old notion of listening to and respecting the wisdom of our elders!

[@plumbawl5977]

Best of many, that day!

[@bishopthefool]

that was a great line indeed

[@Jack-hy1zq]

Respect Joe Biden because he is an "elder"?

[@athanasiossoulakakis7893]

Even to racist and fascist grandmas and grandpas?

[@fritobandito5374]

@@athanasiossoulakakis7893 Especially them.

[@IIVVBlues]

This is why I keep a dog. He's a constant generator of laughter. Laughter makes life better.

[@christiankeul9892]

Like Russell Howard said: Live is a struggle and silly is a rest.

[@carolynzaremba5469]

The Pythons will always be legends for me. From the very first time they appeared on PBS in the early 1970s, through all of their films, champions of outrageous, literate, goofy, silliness that made me laugh until my ribs hurt. Thank you!

[@robinhood6954]

You forgot to mention the SYMBOLISM! Everything else was just the surface plot.

[@johnheigis83]

Our loophole, through "their" front doors. Restore your true "active and passive civil defense" /comprehensive contingencies-management capabilities, in a 21st century context. Gigantic possibilities. I can prove every drop, in this Tanker. From - 60+ yrs - wandering the tunnels btwn rabbit-holes (The FEMA/EMI versions, of R/NCB-C Warfare Recon... From nuke war MAD to "pollution."), I happened upon the exact loophole "We..." needs; but, (In my broke, broken, wore out, latter days, and tech ignorance.)... I can't get the talking heads to listen, and hear me out. If fact, this covers what KFA is hoping for. Please help me get connected, with any one of the MT fighters. I tried CBS, about 10 yrs ago, but they twisted it into nothingness. This is imperative. It's our wide open - bright blue skys - loophole... Right through "their" front doors... And, all the way down every snake's hole, too. This only needs be, in the hands of good, smart, educated, experienced professionals, like KFA, Popok, Ben, Harry... "armies" of good people! In fact, this system will end up drawing out our true - exact - numbers - on any crucial issue, through our secondary manual backup system... All are born "members"!.. In, demos-kratia... In a "republic" system... So, to get our individual voice and vote - quietly, or blatantly - injected back into the political processes... While, our system lays out all the info we need, on any crucial issues that directly affect us... And, the effect, thereafter... Assigned, as Projects, in our non-profit Matrix NGO... (Suffrage, food, water, shelter, shielding, medical, fire, security, enforcers, logistics, liaison...). This system will give us a way to assess, and analyze all our "public servants / employees / personnel / representatives"... Facilities, Equipment, Supplies... Admin, Social, Tech, Political, Legal, Environmental, Econ / Commerce, and even, Culture...). Oh! Too... You are welcome to my research... .. some still in latter working draft stage... ... history of active and passive civil defense systems... ... 101/201 ..... Comprehensive contingencies-management capabilities ..... Neighborhood incident management capabilities... While noting, our millions of Vets - scattered throughout all neighborhoods - who could build us an excellent, honorable - professional - SOP backbone in our non-profit Matrix NGO Sections... ... (Admin, Personnel, Sections, Operations, Projects, Facilities, Chapters, Tech, Finance, Memberships...) With, access to those Sections, through a Desktop Icon. Where, you can help us manage any crucial issues. Where, we can gather, and process info, for finding truth - quick - on an crucial issues. ... (Suffrage, Infrastructure, Environment, Education, Republic, Social, Security, Legislation, Logistics, Liaison, Through our NGO Sections, Oversight, and Projects... ... Projects, with Sub-Projects... ... With "Missions"...! ...(Who, What, When, Where, Which, Why, How...). And, since life is the "game"... For instance...? I propose putting a compartmented gaming platform, behind the Icon... ... With, hard questions, to pass through, into any NGO Section, so only our best gain access, where they help us choose the leadership, therein...!...? ... Where, they add more questions! And, this is where kids can be involved, too.... ... At every Grade level... ... With Internships... ... And, In-Service Learning... ... And, EOC training... ... And, helping us with Admin.. And, since this is probably to be structured, something like the Red Cross, Id recommend Her being our "Big Sister", and to lock in, for the long haul, to help us, help Her! (Find frmr ARC Chpt. Dir. Connie Stein.). Or, we can just continue... ... Looking back, for what just hit us... ... Rather than, ahead for what's coming at us - like loaded Freight Trains. The option is to - at least - give this an honest attempt. I figure, the numbers are in our favor! In fact, in the world of "civil-defense", our Gov version -"Civil Defense" / DES - Disaster and Emergency Services - while including NGOs like ARC, S&R, etc., are only - at best - 3 to 5 percent of the total population, which includes all Department Heads, and their Staff, hiding in cozy Blast-Proof / Fallout Safe Bunkers... Far behind a Police Lines... With folks wondering - who is that person, behind that Badge number... Who was kind, and a professional...???... Or, who was having fun, using power of Gov position, for being a bully, ..???... Damn it, I served, holding a high security clearance, during and after my time in the Corps. Shouldn't that have earned me some time, to be heard, about this? I guess not... Yet... Still...! It makes me wonder, what the hell was it all worth... Absolutely nothing! Embarrassing, and insulting! While, I lost all I had worked for, because of it. In fact, I could sure use some serious justice, too! (All my best / supportive protection passed on, or disappeared into deep retirement. Maybe, we can find frmr FEMA - MT - DES Div. Dir. William "Bill" Thomas... Tell him, I said, "HELP...!!!..." Damn! Why do I feel like a Squeeky-Toy...?

[@johnheigis83]

Watch.... PBS.... "Half the Sky": "FET"... ( In Part II). And, "Meet John Doe" (Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwick...).. A system that mixes those possibilities, as our secondary manual backup system.

[@johnheigis83]

Note: "hostage population"... Versus..."active and passive civil defense are integral to national security [democratic] posture." To mechanize and empower pure/direct demos-kratia within a republic.

[@johnheigis83]

Love... Living the art of kindness.......!...??.. Love is God..?.. When kindness is happening..?.. When, we make any Princess of Peace... Smile..!..?

[@crypticTV]

18:05 thrill of being offended 20:22 American ex 24:00 woke self humor 24:33 Bosnian war 25:33 People in charge know nothing and don't know they don't know anything 26:30 Dunning Kruger effect 27:45 Dismal sciense 29:49 without noticing any of it 31:00 NY Jewish and Christian backlash 31:48 agree after 500 years 32:11 Punishment for seeing 33:05 Humor but serious vs solemn - project ruggedness to the exclusion of everything else

[@-M0LE]

Science

[@DVincentW]

Cryptic, Thanks the chapter time stamps. Best regards.

[@Alsatiagent]

@@-M0LE Medication

[@alumpyhorse]

thanks! Dunning Kruger 👏

[@reedsawyer5704]

Humor is the ultimate cleansing of the soul. When you laugh, you change your entire attitude. We need more edgy comics and standup comedians.

[@sickoftheleftwingscum]

Good luck with that especially when watching the BBC ! ☹️👈 👍

[@DUCKSAREEVILLLLLLLL]

Only humor can speak the truth without being censored. It's a very serious profession.

[@charlottecolley8713]

❤️🙏💫

[@MarcAndreLacas]

"There are people sitting... who are deliberately waiting for the thrill of being offended" - John Cleese (around 18:00)

[@ViaConDias]

I feel like there's a whole generation of people that wakes up like that every morning

[@opeeate]

yeah they're everywhere.

[@Franklin-pc3xd]

I've done some social behavioral research on this and found that being offended addicts are the same population as those who wear surgical masks whilst driving alone in their cars.

[@daddog9252]

Rubbish........live in an area of the USA that presently boils over with HATE.

[@Dowlphin]

They want to put the skillset they have been taught to good use.

[@jayjames7055]

"How do you write a masterpiece?" "Well, when I did Fish called Wanda ..." "Can I just interrupt you there, that film still gets applauded." JC goes off on tangent. Just as JC is about to reveal a great writing secret, the Genius interviewer stops him in his tracks. So many interviewers do this. Please get your own ego's out of the equation, FFS! (In the future this could be considered one of the biggest blunders in interview history).

[@aikiseppuku]

The interviewer doesn't seem interested in JC at all, as if he just thinks about himself and his questions. Very bad interview. Just let JC talk alone for 30 minutes would have been much better

[@bertplank8011]

Yes he is an annoyance.....and typically American ......Americans.....jeeeeez.They dont do subtlety....their tv is absolutely appalling like the people who own and run it.

[@nordicexile7378]

Agreed, every interruption he made was annoying and self-serving.

[@GaryDean]

give the interviewer a break. he's american.

[@blotski]

Good. It’s not just me then. A couple of times JC starts a fascinating answer only to be cut off and the conversation taken off at a tangent. Pretty annoying.

[@pavel0900]

The man is a legend. I don’t know if we can compute the number of years that were added to our lives, all thanks to his comedy. Thank you for making us laugh! ❤️

[@garrysekelli6776]

The funniest joke killed all the military saving countless lives.

[@stephenconway9284]

It's funny and the Monty Python python movies they have a parody of parody of British soldiers doing doing a marching formation which is definitely gay and a feminine. The general speaking at the beginning and at the end is a gay actor in the money python group I thought group but today you probably couldn't do that because it would be offensive to some. I purposely put that video on social media and remind them that the general at the beginning and at the end, actually a Monty Python actor, was gay and was not offended. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bV6Vm3-Cgsl4eNk

[@mugsofmirth8101]

Compute the number of years? Are you in the life insurance industry?

[@pavel0900]

@@mugsofmirth8101 😂 no, but good one. Not sure people who are in life insurance industry watch comedy lol

[@55k3v1n]

This guy is a Fawlty character

[@christinelang2417]

I remember when JC was talking about his mother,who was in a nursing home, and she was very depressed. She was wanting to die. So John says,what about next Thursday? And this made her laugh.

[@wolfgangdevries127]

I remember he did ads for the bankers. To get kids a bank account.

[@charlesmichaelschmitt6412]

@@wolfgangdevries127 this man does not draw the line in sand! he shows all the lines as Zebra Stripes i.e. Cross walk! no! Ich bin ami aber Zeit 2000 in Deutscland geblieben.

[@wolfgangdevries127]

@@charlesmichaelschmitt6412 well, at least it shove him $20M. Which must be peanuts in his world.

[@charlesmichaelschmitt6412]

@@wolfgangdevries127 silly walks gave him the license to walk all over the issues of boundaries.

[@thebirdee55]

I love that. My family has the same dark sense of humor. My parents would often talk about things like what we each wanted of theirs when they die. During one of these conversations, my brother grabbed a pad of sticky notes, wrote his name on them and started sticking them to things in the living room. We all started doing the same thing, arguing and removing each others' sticky notes to replace them with ours... It's one of my fondest memories. If you're up for reading another... My mom was in the hospital and started talking about wanting to leave and die and such, but she can't get out of the hospital because she's hooked up to the IV line. My sister pulled out her pocket knife and said, "Just give me the word and we're out of here." Mom made a face and then laughed. Using humor to deal with uncomfortable situations is in my blood. lol

[@nikbull1258]

I was a preteen in the seventies when Monty Python first came out. My parents didn’t understand this new radical form of comedy but they allowed my one year older brother and myself to watch and it’s been a lifelong love for both of us since but also includes their successors. Thanks Mum and Dad.

[@johndenicola6173]

Very interesting! I'm from the US, and I remember my dad watching it often (possibly in reruns) in the mid 1970s (I was about 11) . My dad always had a very good sense of humor. He frequently told what I/we call "Dad Jokes" THat follows what Cleese said, You don't know if something is funny unless you try it out." Even a joke that may flop, it would still be funny in some way - If not for me, it would be funny for someone else! - I have followed in my dad's footsteps. The thing I find neat is that people laugh at my jokes much more than I would think..

[@ianthesoccerref]

Did Mum and Dad ever come to appreciate the sarcasm/wit/genius of the Pythons?

[@healthcareforallfiftyseven3773]

I recall from a Cleese novel ( a bio, the name escapes me) that he said Python pursued incongruity and silliness without punch lines. Awkward situations, things juxtaposed against type, and the like. This became something like a defining aspect between American comedy and British comedy, or at least Python comedy--a sketch or routine which lacks a punch line. It becomes dangerously close to seeing or not seeing the emperor's clothes, but really, does one need to 'get' a thing so long as it amuses you? It's fair to admit that you don't see why something is considered funny, so long as you don't criticize those who are amused anyway whether they 'get it' or not. I have no idea what I am saying.

[@MrPossumeyes]

Gotta say, I just enjoyed the stupidity. I was a teen but had to leave home before enjoying freedom from restriction. Parents, right? The Fish Slapping Dance? The Larch? How much screen time would a modern network give either? I mean, what could possibly be funny about a chap being slapped upside the head with a salmon? Or listening to a fellow intone "The Larch" while looking at a fucking tree, over and over again? Aahhh, but if you had about 30 minutes of this type of stupidity on tape (oops. old boy give-away) you could sell those bytes to advertisers, couldn't you?! But I ask, why is the only stupidity available to me limited to the internet, and so VERY, VERY stupid? Why can't some of it be intelligent?

[@jlevogiani2012]

I found Monty Python on PBS when I was about 11. My parents didn't know that I was watching it because it was on long after they'd gone to bed. The only problem my Mum would've had with it would've been the nudity, and even that would only have elicited a scornful cringe. 😄

[@mako911]

I got to see him talk on his 82nd birthday. Probably one of the profoundest nights of my life. Total bucket list check

[@Phthalo]

Every talk show and interview Ive seen with him, turned out being very profound.

[@Polyphemus47]

"Monty Python and the Holy Grail" probably saved my life. I saw it at the absolute lowest point in my life, and it changed my whole outlook - I thought, "THIS. This is what life can be like." Thank you forever, John. I owe you.

[@janete5331]

Wtg Bill,good job you watched it.Uplifting film,so funny. X

[@pyrmontbridge4737]

Monty Python was the antidote to the parent generation's biggest putdown: "Stop being silly!"

[@thecharliec5393]

"You've got two empty halves of coconut and you're banging 'em together.!"...

[@C64SX]

@@pyrmontbridge4737 Stop that! It's silly! /The Colonel

[@kellykelly7747]

So so true! Humor saved my life many times.

[@jeffersonianideal]

Slay your enemies with humour. While they're obliviously in hysterics, you can do whatever you want to them.

[@divinecomedian2]

The woke don't know how to laugh though

[@jeffersonianideal]

@@divinecomedian2 True. Apparently, that includes the ownership and administrative staff at KZbin. YT's imprecise and despotic algorithm shadowbanned your very legitimate comment.

[@User-54631]

Laughing at someone to their face when they want to be taken seriously is the best.

[@JK-gu3tl]

Oscar Wilde had a quote on this.

[@jeffersonianideal]

@@User-54631 It also pisses them off in the most delightful way.

[@Lurker-dk8jk]

A spectacular and thought-provoking interview with one of the most brilliant people of our time. Intelligent comedy is the best comedy, and there are few alive that can reach that level as often and as consistently as John Cleese has in his career. Thanks for posting this.

[@timbuktu8069]

It's so nice to hear an interviewer who understands that he is talking to a comedian.

[@Dowlphin]

It's basic skillset for the job to understand who you are talking to and adjust accordingly. Of course it's a problem if someone without humor interviews a comedian. But it is basic skillset of other people to not arrange such a pairing in the first place.

[@jeffmarden9502]

I'm not at all familiar with the interviewer, but was struck at how well he did his job in that particular interview!

[@nortiusmaximus1789]

This interviewer was soggy melba toast. Cleese was reaching out to no avail for some interaction upon which he could develop a humorous discussion.

[@timbuktu8069]

@@nortiusmaximus1789 And with all that, it was still ahead of most other interviews.

[@robinwatson4282]

​@@nortiusmaximus1789 I think he did a perfectly good job. He pops off well-pitched questions that Cleese answers with obvious interest/sincerity , and moreover, freely and uninterrupted. On the few occasions the interviewer does interject, it's almost always brief/on-point and prompts Cleese to extrapolate further (which of course Cleese can do so well). Interviewing skills 101: The audience was there to listen to Cleese talk; and he did - a lot.

[@equaliser2265]

Well done John, words of sanity in an insane world.

[@gregorybyrne2453]

Sodom and Gomorrah is being created on purpose because we are in the climate change END TIMES not due to you or CO2 but rather due to the precession of the Alpha Omega equinoxes when our solar system eclipses the centre of our galaxies electromagnetic gravitational plane for a thousand years.

[@josiplilic3384]

Still the funniest man in my book!(With all due reaspect to Larry David,Trey Parker & (6 - 7 stand up comics,dead or alive😂😂😂)!

[@AtmosphericAtmosphere]

Whole world is not Insane just the part you falsely called democracy or i should say west world

[@NuntiusLegis]

Great man, but the title of the video picked the one thing he got wrong. If someone thinks creativity is impossible without discrimination, my god, must that person be creative. And he said himself pitiful people are afraid of change. "Warriors on wokeism" are utterly full of that, afraid they need to stop dreadfully stupid but habituated prejudice and discrimination.

[@josiplilic3384]

@@NuntiusLegis I agree,but even the fact that we have to censor our words just to write "something down the line" is a standard now! I think my comedy heros would've been banned,with exception of South Park(cuz they are trashing everyone,but in cartoon characters)! Imagine film like Monthy Python's Meaning Of Life or Carlin's Jammin In New York!? Who would air that if it was new material???

[@dandare1001]

Isn't all cocaine for the brain? Lovely to see John Cleese. He's a very clever, humourous, and decent man. He's still very sharp at his age. May he live another 80 years. One of the best things to come out of Britain.

[@kellyandjulieelander5523]

I thought the same thing about cocaine for the brain. 😂

[@petestanton1945]

Ya that was awkward, soon after almost quashing the lawyer joke.

[@williammccarthy5248]

John was very gracious to this unfunny boob of an interviewer.

[@reignman30]

For most people probably, but for me personally, I just like the smell of it ;)

[@thebirdee55]

LMAO - I said the same exact thing when he said that line.

[@SSgreen09]

Thank you for all the laughter you have brought into the world.

[@kbr7171]

"There are people...waiting for the thrill of being offended."

[@Justanotherconsumer]

But not all of them. Some of them are sick and tired of it.

[@darlalathan6143]

He doesn't know how being offended works. It's like everybody hates you and calls you bad names in the 4th grade or Catholic school gym class!

[@mikitz]

Ricky Gervais' account on these people being 'professional offendees' was also spot on.

[@helen9289]

this is awesome John Cleese is one of the greatest humorist/satirists who has ever lived ..........he is also extremely intelligent & his wit is as sharp as ever ......

[@mymixture965]

I don´t want to imagine a world without John Cleese, he is just great, I can listen for hours.

[@ari3lz3pp]

Me either. The fact that he's so aged makes me sad. Then realising he's still so on-point makes me feel we will all miss him that much more!

[@redawnlivebirds9572]

hmmm Cleese is a genius ; although i prefer "Life of Brian" / Fawlty towers" as his best work... .... the sad thing is there will be so many watchers of this video who will laugh or agree then CONFIRM to their fear ridden FUBAR loacl & global swamp.... IMPORTANT; discussion & Vision is NOT enough (REPEAT; NOT ENOUGH!) ACTION improves LIVES! their virus is ME d1A POX ... danger to Humanity ChRiSlive "Freedom e Union NGO"; chrislivecampaign.blogspot.com/2022/08/chrislive-now

[@gen.whakinov7270]

Agreed

[@TonyEnglandUK]

Remember, when he passes on, he's not dead, he's resting.

[@75blackviking]

John Cleese is simply damn brilliant. His comedy is surreal and deep. His philosophy is more timely than ever.

[@KibyNykraft]

Although not all CALLED wokeism is a dumb thing ,we could boil it down to this : Religion. Wokeism is religion. It's a negative form of rigidity or the lack of intellect.

[@waggishsagacity7947]

@@KibyNykraft Agree. I would use the apt word DOGMA too.

[@wordwarrior2350]

I am sure you think so especially if you are a Conservative Christian, also.

[@jacksimpson-rogers1069]

Brilliant observation!

[@stevev238]

A true classic Liberal who fights for real liberty not simply a right to be offended.

[@paulelverstone8677]

I think that it is clear to everyone that John Cleese still has a lot to offer the world. Despite advancing age; he remains enlightening and sharp. Feel lucky to have grown up within his era...

[@markfox7764]

Yeah! What Paul said.

[@ildart8738]

There is a psychological hypothesis that if a person is needed by society, he/she will live longer than someone who lives only for his own needs. John Cleese is a good example of this.

[@wideseen]

Nope. He has nothing to offer except extreme woke hate. Like all socialists he now thinks he is funny when all he does is spewing poison. I used to love all he did - he killed every memory, every moment, every expectation with his sick hatred of Trump and being associated with the extremist hater Rob Reiner (said to produce Faulty Towers rise-from-the-dead). We live in the times where socialists is on the rise again with all the madness, lies, censoring, hate this ideology ever produced. I guess 120+ million murdered by socialism is not enough for some, oh the others just didn't get it quite right, let's try again.

[@noahbrown4388]

@Ildar T8 Makes sense. We all (or most of us) need to be needed. Hence the crisis of postmodern hyper-individualism. I think I just made that term up, but you get what I mean

[@susanfairman2051]

​@@ildart8738 1¹1¹¹à

[@roxee57]

A dying breed. Really smart & really funny. We either don’t make them like him anymore, or the suits aren’t letting us know they exist.

[@francishatton6683]

No my friend. It's just that his parents stopped having kids .......

[@Ballinalower]

You got it right in the last line.

[@brunetteXer]

a lot of the old, great British comedians met in university, they were all very talented and very smart, a marvellous combo.

[@OCMOOO]

"I don't make jokes I just point them out" - A great man!

[@Dowlphin]

Sounds like he wants to play an evil supervillain.

[@torch2k]

For the record, the name Cleese was struggling to recall was Donald Hebb, a Canadian psychologist who has been described as the father of neoropsychology and neural networks. Brilliant guy, fascinating subject. This is why people like John Cleese are so interesting: it's not what they know per se, it's the diversity of interests that drive their curiosity and their ability to explain their thinking in relation to those influences.

[@TomHuston43]

"it's the diversity of interests that drive their curiosity and their ability to explain their thinking in relation to those influences."??🙃🙃🙃.

[@stevethebutcher1776]

I still, to this day watch Fawlty towers. It's timeless. There's never been a TV series that comes close in regards to humorous sarcasm.

[@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff]

Father Ted would be close.

[@deaddoll1361]

In fairness, Cleese co-wrote the series with his then wife, who deserves mentioning. Both resisted the temptation (and money) to continue the series, realising their best material had already been written.

[@take942]

Same here!

[@YewrMan]

Blackadder.

[@michaelkarp378]

and remarkable that they only made 12 or 13 episodes!

[@Kevin-jb2pv]

I think it's always a good sign when you can make John Cleese burst out laughing with your first question.

[@ianp2716]

One of the great gifts I gave my kids was an appreciation of this man's comedy. His mastery of astute comedy is his legend.

[@randyfitch7911]

Can you imagine John Cleese and George Carlin together on stage discussing their thoughts on life? That is a show I would have loved to have seen.

[@gretchenwestreicher3234]

Omg yes!

[@googlyeyedcat]

Definitely yes

[@lorena5mash]

I only discovered George Carlin sometime this year (am not from the States) and what a wonderful discovery it was. I can listen to his bits over and over because they're as much funny as they are true. He really had an interesting outlook on life and it would have indeed been great to have him up there with John Cleese! Alas, we can only dream about how amazing it would have been.

[@jayweiss602]

The two best comedians ever, insight like no others!

[@svenjansen2134]

Bill Hicks as third?

[@smileywarhead5178]

"I'm not so sure the wokes would ever laugh at themselves, no matter how hilarious they are." -John Cleese, Legend 🤣🤣🤣 (edited because I had lightly paraphrased. Now it's word-for-word)

[@riverstun]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaqkZnadbNt_bNE

[@gydur]

THAT is the problem in a nutshell!

[@teresawilliamson9377]

Interesting, I see miscreant!

[@ari3lz3pp]

@@teresawilliamson9377 That's called a reflection. 🙈💩

[@kbanghart]

Is this an actual quote of his? Can you show me where it is in the video?

[@shivam.maharshi]

I always say this. Good comedians are one of the smartest people in the world. Definitely in the show business. They observe daily subtleties and complex issues of life and add a humorous flair to it. It is not an easy thing to do without sounding like you’re ranting about it. George Carlin, Leslie Neilson, John Cleese, etc all extremely smart people.

[@TheLindadb]

Which is why censoring them is such a crime.

[@paulgrieve7031]

They all rant and bore everyone. They go on and on. Cleese was funny; Carlin never was.

[@paulgrieve7031]

One is not they.

[@helen9289]

most of them just say out loud things we think ourselves or poke fun at the sacred cows we set up to show us how silly they really are & how meaningless in the grand scheme of everything

[@richsackett3423]

And if they're REALLY talented, they'll get you to accept their POV as your own. "It's funny because it's true!" That's why Gutfeld! gets ratings.

[@catfootball592]

I was 12 years old when me and my mates went to see "Life Of Brian" in Northern Ireland '79. I grew up in a Protestant area and the Cinema had crazy Presbyterian preaches outside shouting we will go to hell. We nearly died laughing at them. It was a great memory in otherwise dark times. I can only thank the Phyton team and George Harrison.

[@vencejo7572]

@@brianjob3018 George Harrison financed the film when nobody else would put up the money.

[@ari3lz3pp]

@@vencejo7572 George H voice: "I'd really like to see that movie" 😄 and it's good for all of us that he did!

[@vencejo7572]

@@ari3lz3pp Yeah, that was when George read the script. So he paid for Monty Python and crew to go out to Tunisia for a few months, and the result was one of the greatest films ever.

[@nofyou5182]

Maybe the preachers were right. Just saying...

[@topcatcoolio8807]

There's many Dark times ahead. Belive in Jesus, repent, get baptized. Get saved from the Judgement day coming.. warning ⚠️

[@Etothe2iPi]

18:01 "There are people...who are deliberately waiting for the thrill of being offended." Priceless!

[@brady2528]

The man is still "BRILLIANT". One of the best at illustrating the idiocy of government, bureaucracy, and accepted social norms through comedy.

[@aussiehillbilly]

he is the KING. life of brian, the discussion of the mans right to have a womb , GOLD JUST GOLD

[@aussiehillbilly]

40 years ahead of their joke, and what a joke it is

[@aussiehillbilly]

@norman smithers peoples front of Judea?

[@dorothyn.7500]

@norman smithers I owe you SO many extra likes for that!

[@dorothyn.7500]

@norman smithers Maybe we should lock the 'woke' in a (sound--proofed) roomful of 'Grammar Nazis' and just leave them there... slide pizza under the door now and again, of course. But they'd have a great time self-righteously snarking at each other - and maybe then the rest of the world could just live and let live?

[@stlouisarch2162]

Mr Cleese has inspired me in tow stages of life. In my younger years, he made me laugh. That is a special gift. In recent years, he has fought for Freedom of Speech and Thought. Many thanks to the man for both.

[@TheJacklwilliams]

Same here, hometown homey! Got my doors blown off by him and the Monty Python crew, early eighties. Huge fan and no one has ever compared. John and the entire crew, always managed to bring my humor into play, release the stress, and remind me this is all quite ridiculous. Brilliant, conscientious, amazing human being.

[@bootstrapperwilson7687]

What is a tow stage?

[@stlouisarch2162]

@@bootstrapperwilson7687 *two*

[@mrpostnorts5259]

Meanwhile Eric Idle is a completely deranged Leftist living in Hollywood with massive TDS.

[@mjt1517]

@@stlouisarch2162 toe*

[@austinwoodall5423]

Imagine having told Cleese his writing was bad then watching him grow to become world famous for the very elements of writing you disliked

[@Rrrrichy]

What an iconic person he is. Imagine what he did to the last century. Certanly one of the best things that could happen to us. Thank you so much Mr John Cleese

[@jl696]

John Cleese has brought a lot of laugher to this world and for that he deserves our everlasting gratitude.

[@jammin1881]

Are you the people front of Judea?? Lmao

[@theboombody]

But he doesn't deserve the Upper Class Twit of the Year award.

[@kiwitrainguy]

@@jammin1881 No, we're the Judean Peoples Front.

[@jammin1881]

@@kiwitrainguy Lmao 🤣 Its the right of every man....... Or woman.

[@kiwitrainguy]

@@jammin1881 "Please, guys, we should be fighting together" "We are !!"

[@RamsFan93]

He finds a joke in almost everything, such a witty intelligent man.

[@meghan42]

Yes, and a lightness. I'm sure he also is serious at times as per his intelligence.

[@teresawilliamson9377]

Lunatic!

[@maureenrhysjones4643]

@@teresawilliamson9377 If THAT is lunatic, there should be more of it.

[@teresawilliamson9377]

@@maureenrhysjones4643 Really? 🥴

[@teresawilliamson9377]

How bloody annoying, just not funny, everything is a joke. Really?

[@Amalthea16]

John Cleese is the best. I admire how much this man is willing to speak the truth and stick to his guns. my favorite comedian and a brilliant philosopher in his own right.

[@funbigly]

About five years ago he, like many other wise cracks were on Team Woke, fighting the evil conservatives and their supposed kingpin, Orange Man. Most of these donkeys have since had a change of heart. And now here he is at a libertarian convention. Amazing.

[@stringlarson1247]

So much wisdom he's able to share. Nearing 60, I'm grateful to have discovered Monty Python et. al. at age 10. Thank you to the old PBS for the Sunday night lineup. And to all the Pythons for a lifetime of humor that has aged so well.

[@runlevelone]

Great interview, they don't make enough men like John Cleese. A pity.

[@raifthemad]

He is the product of his genes and his environment. While the genetics are still there, the saying about soft times and weak men comes to mind.

[@roger.e.lareau4556]

I don't like to think about the fact that someday John Cleese will be gone. I was truly blessed that Monty Python was part of my life. All of it's members have contributed so much to our culture.

[@simonbarnwell7787]

Men like him are everywhere , but most have been suppressed into silence by education .

[@bjkarana]

I remember reading one of his Twitter exchanges with an SJW a while back, and the SJW was basically asserting that one of Mr. Cleese's remarks had invalidated this particular SJW's existence, or some such nonsense, and Mr. Cleese's wonderfully British reply was, "Oh dear! Well, I trust in time that you shall recover."

[@gordonspond]

I remember when Life of Brian came out. Bunch of "Christians" took issue with the movie. My schoolfriends and I went to watch it at the theater. Still one of my all-time favorite movies. The "Loretta" scene predicted all the gender nonsense to a T...

[@nunyabidniz2868]

"But it's a joke name sir. Like Incontinentia Buttocks." My favorite Python movie of all. _...Holy Grail_, as wonderful as it is, comes in a distant second in comparison... A wonderful day to everyone, & always look on the bright side of life!

[@AxeMan808]

"gender nonsense," you say?

[@shadowlandstudios86]

I was and am a Christian, and never took issue with Life of Brian. In fact I absolutely love it. At least as much as Holy Grail. Those that did have problems with it, unfortunately heard about it from others without actually seeing the movie themselves. But I personally don’t know any Christians who had an issue with it.

[@merlin5476]

The lorreta scene is so correct & so highly amusing that i had to show my 14 yr old daughter to show her how mental & pathetic the world has become.

[@darlalathan6143]

That's not nonsense in real life. It just seems that way to you because Loretta was played by Eric Idle, a cisgender man in bad drag. If a transwoman actress such as Laverne Cox played her, Loretta's request would seem reasonable, because she is beautiful and stacked!

[@Jeff-z3l3q]

One of my favorite people ever, along with the rest of the Pythons! So many hours of non-stop laughter came from those guys, especially in a movie theater where *everyone* was cracking up from start to finish, were the best therapy ever no matter what else was happening in the world!

[@WinkLinkletter]

Thinking outside the box was generally discouraged in schools while I was growing up, even in non-academic recreation. For instance, we had a field day fair (5th grade) and each kid team was to compete in a greased pole climb to reach a flag. Mostly to entertain the staff, it was basically an impossible task as set forth by traditional implied rule interpretation, but the only stated game parameter was "get the flag and win". So, after all other team's failures, I got my team to stand around the 5 inch wide bamboo pole and begin to flex it back and forth, whipping the top around and flinging the flag out, which we joyously retrieved as victors. But no, we were told that's not what they meant, and that nobody was the winner. Similarly, there was a "glass hill" at another school field day years later (me 11th grade). This is a greased plastic sheet set on a hillside that teams compete to climb up (what the deal is with all the greasy kids, I don't know; it was a different time?". Everyone was running like mad at the slope, with a very few athletic types making it, but no teams worth. So I got us together, put big Charlie laying at the bottom of the hill, heels dug in, and we climbed and "stood" on each others shoulders until we had a couple of anchors up there, and then pulled up the rest of the team, winning the contest. But no, again we had succeeded the wrong way, no winners. We were still, however, the champions in our own estimations.

[@ThePinkBinks]

In my estimation also. Well done.

[@bitc0inlightningrules423]

Once i a while i help my spouse (teacher) with checking kids homework from school, Sometimes I find are really good "out of the box answers" which are mostly really fun to read too. I try to convince her to give them extra credit for ingenuity, but when the answer is not as expected it just doesn't count, even if the answer is genius.

[@bogdiworksV2]

excellent stuff. Imagine if they actually encouraged kids to come up with interesting ways to solve these problems. I come from a family of teachers so I've known loads of them intimately in my family as well as their colleagues, friends, acquaintances etc. and most of them are dullards obsessed with their own (supposed) authority. Sadly...

[@danforesman2627]

When losers are in charge of who wins, it's time to smash dinosaur eggs.

[@LoneBrowncoat]

@@bogdiworksV2... OOOooooo that is the story of my whole scholastic life! From K to year 13{at the time Ontario had a grade 13, a short of college/university prep to see if you handle the pressure and do a higher level of work} Especially my idiotic History teacher. Elmer Fudd we called him behind his back.

[@britvica]

As a bosnian, I confirm his underground cinema story- as you get the "wire" (electricity source from priority i.e. hospital or small local stationary ambulance). After you watch monty python or only fools and horses and other stuff...you felt like a normal person, even there is bombing during the day and in the night and you were nowhere safe..at home or in the street...but you were you again.

[@pixelfan2261]

22:50

[@radiotelegram]

My god, that is profound. There is so much in it that I don't know where to begin thinking about it. Thanks for taking the trouble to post it. Regards from Melbourne.

[@mikeparsons140]

superb

[@hollysalem1411]

🕊💜🕊

[@K-Biskerow]

In essence it's "Confuse-a-Cat" for humans

[@meganconn142]

John, we love you not just for your comedy, but for your common sense. 👍

[@danhanqvist4237]

Cleese is a consistent opponent of authoritarianism. And The Life of Brian -- from 1979! -- was prescient. Well worth watching today. It's even harder-hitting now.

[@ArmySigs]

Except most of the people obsessed with "Wokeism" are far right fascist authoritarians. They have hijacked the whole debate and turned into simply a hate campaign against gays.

[@EvelynBaron]

George Harrison morgaged his house to fund it ..... priceless.

[@rk41gator]

"a consistent opponent of authoritarianism" is the English Aesthetic as described by Andy Edwards, musician and educator..... kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmezimqcmLFpjdk

[@slavojalois1639]

The best movie ever made, in my opinion, I when to see it three times in the opening week of The Life of Brian, and every time I told someone about how awesome it is I ended up going with them to see it. Every single word uttered in the movie is funny. Slava Ukraini! 🇨🇿 🇺🇦 🇦🇺

[@robhussey5732]

I love Brian! The opening scene in the manger has me pissing myself!! Soo great!!

[@Zonker66]

My life has been tragic and laughter is the only thing that's kept me sane. Thank you for making me laugh, John.

[@VVizeman]

Tragedy and comedy are two sides of the same coin. You choose

[@douglasfreeman3229]

Same here. Monty Python certainly helped me when I went through bad times. Music also helped, but comedy can be very therapeutic.

[@tphilbin1]

I recommend the fast show if you haven't already seen it, old bugger is a good character

[@Zonker66]

@@tphilbin1 Scorchio... yah, comedy is important to me.

[@tphilbin1]

@@Zonker66 hahayeah

[@Broonbeans1975]

Legend.. Honesty, character.commonsense and fun... All attributes that are sadly lacking now in society.

[@mobiditch6848]

The question of why people wait on the thrill to be offended is it’s the easiest path to having an excuse to express their aggression. Humour or comedy requires finesse or effort and is not the quickest path to unleashing hostility.

[@camillelemmens1745]

Yes, it is also why this type of behaviour is so often seen on the internet (or in media in general). It is far easier to express your aggression when you do not have to actually look people in the eyes when doing it

[@mobiditch6848]

@@camillelemmens1745 good point.

[@consonaadversapars]

Such a brilliant man. Thank you! Wish people like him could stay with us forever.

[@mylesjordan9970]

The “Woke” movement is also coming for structured creative thinkers, people like classical musicians.

[@squatch545]

"Woke" is just a swear word for anything you don't like. It's an imaginary boogeyman nobody can define.

[@mylesjordan9970]

For that matter, so is “Democrat,” to much of the country.

[@ForbiddenFollyFollower]

@@squatch545 Woke people are people who believe in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and that it should be represented at every level of society. I think you've just been thoroughly debunked.

[@minoozolala]

@@ForbiddenFollyFollower lol. Lots of wacko wokes. They go way too far. I think you’ve just been debunked.

[@anonleft]

@@ForbiddenFollyFollower if that's your definition of "woke", then fine, but then nothing said here connects at all. It's just rightwing fantasy and insults.

[@TigerMilla]

What a glorious delight to listen to John Cleese. If only there were more like him. He can brighten any day!

[@crapisnice]

EVEN GOEBBELS DAY, AND THAT'S WHAT I CALL RICH

[@breakfree1949]

This who can’t control themselves, will always seek to control others. ~ John Cleese

[@morkey74]

we need more John Cleese in the world

[@tomssongslive6238]

Nice idea, but there is only one John Cleese!

[@klausstock8020]

We are not allowed to have more than one John Cleese. And if they had a choice, they'd ban the one we have as well. Kinda like Benny Hill - totally different comedy, of course. Hill had a sarcastic view on the "typical women-chasing man", making fun of that stereotype with the "typical male" turning out to be a loser. But sudden people began to take his satirical sketches as earnest, serious depictions of sexism.

[@Grimenoughtomaketherobotcry]

​@@klausstock8020Most people can't think beyond their next meal/snack/drink/orgasm/payday/payday loan/sports bet or vapid woke comment. They can't get beyond the boobies of Benny's sight gags and understand his subversive humour. What's hilarious (pun intended) is that many of them think HE's "stupid"!

[@gbalfour9618]

Nick: “Can you make politics funny?” Me: ‘No it’s already a joke.’ As a kid I watched what my parents watched on TV and they watched Fawlty Towers, Dr Who, Monty Python. So I thank all the heavy lifting to who I am today to you Mr Cleese.

[@craigcole9337]

And Cleese was in all of them!

[@gbalfour9618]

Was hoping someone caught that ^_^

[@janlindtner305]

The next time I vote for elections it will be at Circus Benneweis, they call a clown a clown and clean up after them.

[@MichaelPohoreski]

Over in America the MSM (Mainstream Media) is a complete joke while comedians tell the actual news. Both Faux News and Clearly Not News have admitted to selling entertainment.

[@enjoyslearningandtravel7957]

I didn’t know John Cleese was in Doctor Who!?

[@emmettturner9452]

Nick: It’s like cocaine for the brain. Me: Cocaine is already “for the brain.” Nick: Exactly.

[@fearthehoneybadger]

Cleese stays true to his beliefs and fights the sjws while still keeping a sense of humor. Sadly, I did expect the woke inquisition.

[@jamesmorrow1646]

Is that when the woke poke people with the lumpy end of a cushion? Nobody expects that.

[@ModeratelyAmused]

Maher and Cleese are good examples of how people naturally move from progressive to conservative as they age. A young progressive is often a conservative with more forward thinking values. When their world eventually gets to the values they held so dearly, they want their world to stay like that.

[@aaronpaul6601]

@@ModeratelyAmused. They both still vote for standard Democrats. Liberals and progressives, unlike conservatives, have a broad range of political stances. That’s why we have a harder time getting things done. Libertarians are too ideological which is their problem. Republicans fall in line because they care more about ‘owning the libs’ than about the actual policies of their fascist candidates.

[@ModeratelyAmused]

@@aaronpaul6601 you can be conservative and vote democrat. the definition of conservative is being for the status quo. (the current status quo being much more liberal than 20 years ago) there is a wide divide between old school liberals and the leftists. much like there is a wide divide between old school conservatives and the alt right. what the two parties have in common is that while they disagree with their own extremists, they liken them to useful idiots to get majority votes for their respective parties.

[@Oscarphone]

There's some truth to the argument. But when progressivism mandates that men can become pregnant and other absurdities it starts to fall apart

[@306champion]

Always a pleasure to hear John Cleese. Just remember,, any day without a laugh is a day wasted.

[@stephenandrijischyn3804]

Ahhh, John Cleese, back when comedy was actually funny, we miss you John!

[@tonygrowley5275]

Watch today's English comedians. They will make you laugh.

[@maureenrhysjones4643]

@@tonygrowley5275 NOT!

[@tonygrowley5275]

@@maureenrhysjones4643 Look up Jimmy Carr.

[@josephwatts314]

That without a doubt was one of the most brilliant interviews I have ever heard! John Cleese , M/Python , F/Towers silly; yet an understated genius ! Someone I aspire to emulate! "Creativity is getting out of a rut"! 82 years old. There is hope for all of us! Thank you

[@lizlambert]

The interviewer is not very skilled and doesn't have much of a sense of humour. Clive James or Michael Parkinson - now they were great interviewers - tgey hardly spoke- but let the interviewee get on with it

[@seabud6408]

I remember very clearly, as a 12 year old in 1969 ... not “getting,” the first few episodes of Monty 🐍 Python (shown at 11 pm on a Sunday night) That was, until we started to talk about it the next day in school and realised just how crazy they, it and by implication the culture we were being indoctrinated by and in, really was. Their comedy of the absurd, and the work of those who inspired them like Spike Milligan and possibly the Marx Brothers, was a huge part of our informal education and I believe, the making of a more tolerant society.

[@topcatcoolio8807]

2Peter 3v3 3Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.a 4“Where is the promise of His coming?” they will ask. “Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.” 5But they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6through whichb the world of that time perished in the flood. 7And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. The Day of the Lord (Zephaniah 1:7-18; Malachi 4:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11) 8Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.c 9The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. 10But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyedd by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.e

[@ftlpope]

Exactly same for me and my friends (same age) but we rolled off the lines with glee nevertheless - "nobody expects . . ."

[@mariadegan1029]

Love John Cleese, he is so open to the Universal Consciousness!! His energy is perfect and nothing is better than Laughter!! SO RIGHT 😂

[@jimbo9305]

John Cleese's voice is perfect for serious or comedy or both or neither. If I had to make a guidebook to the universe, he would do the voiceover.

[@joeltedley1734]

I hope my mind is as good as John's when I get his age. He speaks the truth and it is so refreshing to hear in this day and age. Thanks John may you continue to enlighten and entertain us for years to come.

[@frankphillips7436]

As an American, I would only wish our so called president was as sharp and intelligent as the great John Cleese!

[@Oscarphone]

"People are deliberately waiting for the thrill of being offended." Wisdom from an old white Englishman.

[@martinzitter4551]

White Christians are the most easily offended people of all.

[@sclark9011]

why do people heckle at a comedy??? they know they will be offended !!! thats what makes Kevin Bloody Wilson, Victoria wood, Jim Davidson, Jimmy carr, Rodney rude - to name but a few, so successful. can't help but love the old white englishman !!🙂

[@roy_for_real2674]

That sentence resonates with me and not a lot do( I mean some people who are being politically correct).

[@shawnlittle3184]

Àaaaaahhhh

[@TimGreigPhotography]

Great quote. but why?

[@Marvidsen1973]

Sharp as a knife - and still with perfect timing. Love what he represents, love the man 🙏🏻

[@TheEvertw]

John Cleese is an international treasure. Such a clear and relevant thinker.

[@TheEvertw]

This comment didn't age very well...

[@Mattened]

@@TheEvertw Oh no, did he say something you didn't like about The Current Thing?

[@spiffenage1]

Shane he has reneged on the causes he once championed.

[@onetwo19]

Wokeism with its anger and lack of humour is like a brain deformity. If you take everything seriously, you are miserable.

[@bwenluck9812]

@ONE TWO It *is* possible to be "woke" without being angry, or an arsehole.... 😉

[@camillelemmens1745]

@@bwenluck9812 I do feel like people often mistake "being woke" with "internet outrage". We see the latter in people of any conviction or political colour. It is why I have a problem the "wokeism is bad"-debate, because it seems to mislabel the actual problem. I see plenty of people on the internet waiting for the thrill of being offended and many of them wouldn't be caught dead being associated with "wokeness"

[@tamiking2982]

What's wrong with being aware ?

[@Apollo_Blaze]

@@tamiking2982 Nothing at all...I wish a lot more people were.

[@Apollo_Blaze]

@@bwenluck9812 Yes. you are totally correct about that.

[@three2267]

Ten years ago my college age kids & friends came over, a mix of every stripe. We had some drinks & played "Throw your best off color joke." Nobody was off limits. The next morning we could hardly move because our jaws & ribs hurt from laughing so hard. Nobody got thier feelers hurt. We are all still close today and when we get together talk about how hilarious that night was.

[@Justanotherconsumer]

Looking back at the night, though, what remained off limits even if technically nothing was? Some of it is managed subconsciously and you wouldn’t even know you were censoring yourself. Orwell and his ideas on thoughtcrime where the goal of the party’s indoctrination was to make it impossible to even think of resistance is a very real problem. The huge backlash against even discussing what it means to be “male” deals with a lot of that subconscious censorship.

[@three2267]

@@Justanotherconsumer I do remember the kids intentionally not using the Fbomb or being too sexually explicit because it was mixed company and of course Moms were there. But EVERYBODY brought their A game with the racial & "guy" slings & arrows. Even the hokey Dad jokes & Yo Mama jokes were hysterical 3 cocktails in. 😂😂😂

[@georgemorley1029]

Here’s a gentle enough one to to start off with then. A man rings up work and says he can’t come in to work today because he’s sick. The boss asks him “Really? Well, how sick are you?” The man says “I’m in bed with my sister”.

[@three2267]

@@georgemorley1029 🤣🤣🤣

[@choosecarefully408]

@@georgemorley1029 Is it too soon to escalate to the joke where the punch line is "Pedophile? That's a fairly big word for someone who's only ten years old, don't you think?"

[@milliewoo337]

Didn’t discover this man til this year. Wow, I love him

[@cybrarian9]

Whatever John Cleese has, I wish we could bottle it and inject it into people all over the world. That's one infection I'd be willing to see turn into a pandemic. I can only wonder what the world was like sitting at the feet of Mark Twain and so many other great wits and comedians. Truly as good as it gets. But with regard to the last question, the man hit the nail straight on the head, "You mean funnier." EXACTLY. To me, comedy is simply a function of finding the humor out a situation. And that's a function of being grateful for no less than being alive.

[@alniedrich1245]

I've heard it said, "he who laughs, lasts." John Cleese is proof of that.

[@sarahgilbert8036]

@Wise Acres not what is meant here

[@utpharmboy2006]

incredible man. my sense of humor and intellegence that goes hand in hand with it wouldn't be the same without him.

[@Azobassify]

I was the in studio propmaster on a late night TV show a while back and John Cleese was one of the nicest guests ever on the show. He was a true, down to earth gentlemen. As mainstream television became more disgustingly woke, I was eventually driven off that show the eventually out of the business 3 years before my planned retirement for not falling in line with the poison shot. It only makes sense that a down to earth, real person would stand up and speak out against the Marxist disease that is destroying everything. I wish more would, but the majority of celebrities are insecure followers who will to sell their souls for their fame and fortune... God bless John Cleese.

[@okccuster]

John Cleese is my Spirit Parrot

[@rekindlefitness]

John Cleese is an absolute legend, thank you for doing this interview. Superb!

[@Will-ge7ri]

This guy taught me self-defense. Owe him my life and he owes me a dozen bananas.

[@mrlucky5025]

It's all fun and games until someone releases the tiger.

[@dingfeldersmurfalot4560]

Just don't come crying to me when someone comes at you with a hand full of loganberries.

[@CharlesPonsford]

Very good!

[@FoodNerds]

@ Will here ya go 🍌🍌🍌🍌🍌🍌🍌🍌🍌🍌🍌🍌

[@planetdisco4821]

What if he uses a pointed stick!?

[@swyntopia]

"...it´s only a question of balance..." That´s so absolutely right ! So obviously ! Why most people don´t see that ???