Parrot Sketch Not Included – 20 Years of Monty Python

Parrot Sketch Not Included – 20 Years of Monty Python
Created by	Graham Chapman John Cleese Terry Gilliam Eric Idle Terry Jones Michael Palin
Starring	Steve Martin Graham Chapman John Cleese Terry Gilliam Eric Idle Terry Jones Michael Palin
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Production
Running time	72 minutes
Original release
Network	BBC (UK) Showtime (US)
Release	5 October 1989 (UK) 17 March 1990 (US)

Parrot Sketch Not Included – 20 Years of Monty Python was a tribute special to the Monty Python comedy group, produced in 1989 and originally broadcast by the BBC on 5 October of that year (the 20th anniversary of the debut of the group's television series, Monty Python's Flying Circus). It was compiled by noted British comedy producer John Lloyd.

It was hosted by actor and Monty Python fan Steve Martin, who introduced several sketches from Monty Python's Flying Circus, as well as some sketches from the German remake Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus. True to its title, the popular Dead Parrot sketch was not included.

Sketches Included

• Willam Tell
• The Merchant of Venice as performed by a herd of cows
• Silly Olympics
• Dennis Moore
• How Not To Be Seen
• Exploding Version of The Blue Danube
• Dennis Moore (again)
• World Forum / Communist Quiz Show
• The Philosophers' Football Match
• RAF Banter
• French Lecture on Sheep-Aircraft
• Conrad Poohs and His Dancing Teeth
• Architects Sketch
• How to Recognize a Mason
• The Ministry of Silly Walks
• Queen Victoria Handicap
• The Wacky Queen
• Working Class Playwright
• The Fish-Slapping Dance
• A man with a Stoat Through His Head
• Roy and Hank Spim – Mosquito hunters
• Sam Peckinpah's "Salad Days"
• Patient Abuse
• Hospital Run by RSM
• Come Back to My Place
• Homicidal Barber
• The Lumberjack Song
• Film Trailer
• Spam
• A man With a Tape Recorder up His Nose
• Musical Mice
• The Mouse Problem
• House Hunters
• Rival Documentaries
• Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto Escape Act
• Argument Clinic
• The Spanish Inquisition
• Bus Animation
• The Spanish Inquisition (again)
• And Then
• The Visitors
• Man-Powered Flight
• Raymond Luxury Yacht
• Television is Bad for Your Eyes
• Last Gumby announcement

Deleted sequence

According to the autobiography The Pythons, a new piece of material written and featuring the Monty Python members and Steve Martin was to be included in the special. In the sequence, the Monty Python members, dressed as school boys, ask Martin questions and take notes. The sequence was removed at request by the Pythons because it was felt to be unfunny. However, some of the members today wish it had been included, as it had been the last time that Monty Python member Graham Chapman would perform with the group.

The Pythons gave an alternate version of their appearance, which is featured in the special, in which Steve Martin briefly reveals that they are all in a cupboard. Chapman appears very pale and sallow; at the time the throat cancer that would kill him was advancing rapidly. This would be his last appearance on television before his death, which coincidentally was one night before the premiere of the programme.