foxbat Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 Terry Jones, one of the initial Pythons, passed away a couple of days ago. I often thought of Jones as the "glue" of Monty Python ... not necessarily first and foremost, but held everything together and enmeshed throughout. Most folks, especially Americans, could name the likes of Idle, Cleese, Chapman, and Palin when naming the members of the troupe, but somehow Jones, and perhaps animator and mainly behind-the-scene guy, Gilliam, were the ones named last or perhaps forgotten all-together. All the same, his influence on Python, from a writing and directing perspective, was monumental ... especially for Python's stroll in the cinematic realm where he co-directed Holy Grail and directed Life of Brian and Meaning of Life. Palin, in recently speaking of Jones, referred to him as "the spirit of Monty Python." As a junior high kid, discovering Python late-night Saturdays after the latest episode of SNL had finished, I admit that I was drawn to the "flashier" and quirkier Idle, Chapman, Cleese, and Palin, but in my high school and college years, I developed a deep appreciation and understanding of the writing side of comedy and found an appreciation and admiration for Jones's work. I've provided a few articles that detail a bit more about him behind the scenes as well as a couple of classics from him and Palin's tribute to his friend. https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/monty-python-star-terry-jones-death-comedic-legacy-timeless-troupe-ncna1121436 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/22/arts/television/terry-jones-dead.html https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2020/01/terry-jones-brought-many-gifts-including-spam-to-the-monty-python-lunacy-machine.html 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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