Idle Writing

I just read Eric Idle's "Sortabiography" Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.  It's a quick 290 pages that covers it all, from the beginning to near the end.

Idle was always odd man out in the Monty Python troupe.  Of the five Oxbridge boys (Terry Gilliam was off in the corner doing animation, so he doesn't count), he was the only one without a partner, so didn't get an extra vote in deciding whose material to use.  Did that mean his had to be twice as good?

Anyway, the book is highly entertaining.  It moves quickly and doesn't get too bogged down in the harsher moments.  And his life was pretty harsh at times.  For instance, his father survived World War II only to be killed in an accident while hitchhiking home from the war.  Idle was sent to a boarding school with some pretty harsh rules--rules that gave him a healthy disrespect for institutions.

He went on the be a writer and performer at Cambridge and then the BBC.  He worked on Do Not Adjust Your Set with Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam.  Though it was a kids' show, they wrote for adults, and among their fans were the writing team of John Cleese and Graham Chapman.  When Cleese was offered his own show, he and Chapman joined up with the four and Monty Python's Flying Circus (after a lot of other titles were considered) was born.

I wish Idle had slowed down and spent more time to discuss the TV show.  I realize it was a long time ago, and only lasted 45 (or so) episodes, but that's the stuff I find most interesting.  Idle claims a lot has been written about the troupe, but I assume he could offer a special perspective.

It's not that he gives short shrift to Python--he talks about everything they did, including live shows, books, records and movies.  It's just that the TV show was the fount, and it's what I (and many fans) would like to know most about.  One chapter on those years seems meager, especially considering he spends three chapters discussing Spamalot. (Admittedly, that project was all his, and is in more recent memory, but it's still watered down Python.)

In addition to Python, there are many solo projects, such as the Rutles (which grew out of his Rutland Weekend Television series) and his appearances on Saturday Night Live.  There's also much about his personal life, including his wives and his acquaintances, especially his close friendship with George Harrison.

Then there's the song that's had such a life of its own that he made it the title of his book. The odd thing is it's not that great a song.  I much prefer other songs he created for Python--for instance, "Eric The Half-A-Bee," "The Philosopher's Song" and "The Money Song." To be fair, "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" really works in Life Of Brian since it's so completely inappropriate a ditty to sing when you're being crucified, but I'm surprised it's had such a strong life outside that movie.

It became a hit single in Britain, has been covered by a fair number of artists, made it into the hit movie As Good As It Gets and was inserted into Spamalot.  It's also sung at sporting events and funerals.  It will apparently outlive its creator.  So I guess it's a good title for his book.

Anyway, if you're a Python fan, recommended.  Now if John Cleese would only write his second memoir, as the first ended just as the troupe was formed.