The best joke on last night’s Monty Python-themed Jimmy Fallon show was even older than the comedy team, four members of which appeared to mark their 40th anniversary. “Did you ever think the show would be a disaster?” asked Fallon at one point. “Shortly after you started the monologue,” replied Eric Idle, quick as a flash. He had a point, too. While self-confessed comedy nerd Fallon was genuinely, and justifiably, psyched to have Idle, John Cleese, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam on the show, you’d be hard pressed to say the result was all that mirthsome.
Then again, in Fallon’s defense, it’s hard to imagine quite what he and his writing team were supposed to do with three laugh merchants and one director-animator who haven’t really worked together in a quarter of a century and whose surreal, groundbreaking, comedy was in many ways the very antithesis of the conventional TV realm Jimmy inhabits. At one point the Pythons were reduced to throwing water at each other. “And they say comedy’s dead!” quipped Idle. Again, you could understand where he was coming from.
But check out the clip below and tell us what you think.
Comments (1-18) of 18 Add your comment
The carpet sample bit was funny – you have three secondss to name anything you can think of – usually I don’t like Fallon, but yesterday’s opening was pretty good – Late night shows are better than the preceding shows -letterman and conan who have to cater to an older crowd while craig ferguson (especially) and to a lesser extent fallon can experiment and get actual big laughs
Big laughs? When has Jimmy Fallon gotten anything resembling a big laugh?
Come on, the guys were funny.
I’m not sure what you expected but it was four guys promoting a new documentary, not a reunion. They were pretty funny and I enjoyed watching them.
I thought it was brilliant.
What happened to Michael Palin? He was scheduled to appear as well.
WHERE WAS HE?????? he’s going to be there tonight, isn’t he? is a channel going to air their award thing tonight? WILL POPWATCH PLEASE WRITE ABOUT IT? no one writes enough about monty python anymore
Clark, what are you talking about?? That was hilarious! And perfectly absurd, silly, and rule breaking, just like Python should be!
I personally loved the whole episode (sans the monologue, of course). I dig Fallon’s enthusiasm and genuine excitement but I was wondering whether the right audience was there. I’m not too sure many of them would appreciate Monty Python and their type of humor, so that brought it down a bit for me but Always Look on the Bright Side of Life more than made up for it.
I hate that I missed it! Loved watching the MP reruns in college. They’re still wonderful.
If you didn’t enjoy that episode of Jimmy Fallon you don’t enjoy comedy. That was hilarious. Love Monty Python. I agree that its cool to see Jimmy’s school admiration for them and really enjoy to have them there. Also interesting to hear that the show’s tapes were almost destroyed.
Love Monty Python, but Fallon just looked in over-his-head with these guys and still can’t conduct an interview.
Oh, I don’t know. I love JF, and I thought the interview last night was delightful!
Self-confessed comedy nerd? In over his head? Can’t conduct an interview? The whole “it’s cool to rip on Jimmy Fallon” thing is quickly being turned into “ohya, actually Jimmy Fallon is hilarious” So shut up. If there was any awkwardness at all it was Monty trying too hard. But I think the show was a success regardless. Very entertaining. Keep it coming Fallon! “It’s time for head swap!” Jimmy owns all but Conan.
Look I think Fallon is getting better as time goes on – but Craig Ferguson is easily far funnier than Fallon – AND Ferguson knows how to have great interviews – people are never really seem to promote their stuff, just having a good talk with Craig.
Fallon is an idiot and Ferguson can run roughshot on this goof on even his worse day. NBC should CXL him soon enough.
Last night was amazing!!! They were building off each other, the first half was legendary and then they were just having some fun in the second half. Just because it was unconventional doesn’t mean it was bad EW, live a little, change is something you should try more often.
Monty Python’s timing method is very different from the comedy on late night shows in USA. So the audience was perplexed. But for Python fans like myself, the show was a refreshing experience. They are the greatest. Better than SNL. So Fallon did right by letting them take over. He is more of a comic actor than a humorist.