You can only activate them in co-op mode
September 24, 2009 1:07 PM Subscribe
"When you're stupid, there's nothing that can be done." ... as we all know, YouTube is famed for having the worst comments on the internet. In this SLYT, Eric Idle responds to some of them.
I find it endearing that he addresses his fellow troupe mates by their surnames.
[Is pronouncing it "Cleeze" typical for British speakers?]
posted by Joe Beese at 1:22 PM on September 24, 2009
[Is pronouncing it "Cleeze" typical for British speakers?]
posted by Joe Beese at 1:22 PM on September 24, 2009
That's pretty funny, and that surprises me. Most of Idle's recent work involves brutally raping his own legacy; I didn't think he was capable of anything except ripping off old Python work.
posted by Mayor Curley at 1:22 PM on September 24, 2009 [4 favorites]
posted by Mayor Curley at 1:22 PM on September 24, 2009 [4 favorites]
Joe: yes, the s in Cleese is voiced like a z rather than being a pure sibilant s.
posted by pharm at 1:24 PM on September 24, 2009
posted by pharm at 1:24 PM on September 24, 2009
[Is pronouncing it "Cleeze" typical for British speakers?]
That's the accurate pronunciation. It rhymes with "cheese" because that was the family's last name until his grandfather or someone altered it.
As I type this, it occurs to me that I read that in the 80's and it may be a fabrication that Cleese said in an interview just for fun.
posted by Mayor Curley at 1:26 PM on September 24, 2009 [2 favorites]
That's the accurate pronunciation. It rhymes with "cheese" because that was the family's last name until his grandfather or someone altered it.
As I type this, it occurs to me that I read that in the 80's and it may be a fabrication that Cleese said in an interview just for fun.
posted by Mayor Curley at 1:26 PM on September 24, 2009 [2 favorites]
Delightful. "These are the exact sort of people we wish to upset. So... job well done." - ha!
posted by marginaliana at 1:26 PM on September 24, 2009 [4 favorites]
posted by marginaliana at 1:26 PM on September 24, 2009 [4 favorites]
I was just reading an article about Flickr, and thinking that in some parallel universe, Google ended up buying Flickr while Yahoo ended up with YouTube. Somehow, that makes so much more sense and feels a lot more appropriate to me than "Flickr by Yahoo!" and "YouTube [by Google, but we won't admit it]".
I mean, take a look at Yahoo Answers and then at YouTube video comments and tell me that's not the same audience.
posted by Kadin2048 at 1:26 PM on September 24, 2009 [13 favorites]
I mean, take a look at Yahoo Answers and then at YouTube video comments and tell me that's not the same audience.
posted by Kadin2048 at 1:26 PM on September 24, 2009 [13 favorites]
HAI ITS SYBILANT S!!1!!1
Cleese has a silly walker. Obviously.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 1:32 PM on September 24, 2009 [3 favorites]
Cleese has a silly walker. Obviously.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 1:32 PM on September 24, 2009 [3 favorites]
In this SLYT, Eric Idle responds to some of them.
What is the fucking point? It must suck to be Eric Idle. Between responding to YT comments and regurgitating "I don't like Spam!" or whatever, it sounds like a tedious existence.
posted by KokuRyu at 1:38 PM on September 24, 2009
What is the fucking point? It must suck to be Eric Idle. Between responding to YT comments and regurgitating "I don't like Spam!" or whatever, it sounds like a tedious existence.
posted by KokuRyu at 1:38 PM on September 24, 2009
KokuRyu: " regurgitating "I don't like Spam!" or whatever, it sounds like a tedious existence."
After Sam Kinison became "the scream guy", he told his mentor Rodney Dangerfield, "I don't ever want to hear you complain about 'no respect' again."
posted by Joe Beese at 1:42 PM on September 24, 2009 [3 favorites]
After Sam Kinison became "the scream guy", he told his mentor Rodney Dangerfield, "I don't ever want to hear you complain about 'no respect' again."
posted by Joe Beese at 1:42 PM on September 24, 2009 [3 favorites]
Is this YouTube video just a marketing ploy by BBC or fox or something?
posted by esome at 1:42 PM on September 24, 2009
posted by esome at 1:42 PM on September 24, 2009
in some parallel universe, Google ended up buying Flickr while Yahoo ended up with YouTube.
That's brilliant. You should broker a trade.
posted by rokusan at 1:44 PM on September 24, 2009
That's brilliant. You should broker a trade.
posted by rokusan at 1:44 PM on September 24, 2009
Tangent: Google wants to expand websites with SideWiki, a browser plugin that will show comments from experts and other folk, hoping to succeed where Third Voice and Microsoft's Smart Tag failed (via).
posted by filthy light thief at 1:45 PM on September 24, 2009
posted by filthy light thief at 1:45 PM on September 24, 2009
in some parallel universe, Google ended up buying Flickr while Yahoo ended up with YouTube.
The ownership of the networks isn't what matters, it's the userbase. User-made photos and images, as hosted on Flikr, tend to be more personal. YouTube has personal videos, but also clips of popular media, the latter which draws more attention from random passer-bys. YouTube has gotten to the point where the stupid comments are expected, so people get annoyed but shrug and say "that's YouTube for you." If people deleted more of the dumb comments, things could get better over time.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:53 PM on September 24, 2009 [1 favorite]
The ownership of the networks isn't what matters, it's the userbase. User-made photos and images, as hosted on Flikr, tend to be more personal. YouTube has personal videos, but also clips of popular media, the latter which draws more attention from random passer-bys. YouTube has gotten to the point where the stupid comments are expected, so people get annoyed but shrug and say "that's YouTube for you." If people deleted more of the dumb comments, things could get better over time.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:53 PM on September 24, 2009 [1 favorite]
regurgitating "I don't like Spam!" or whatever, it sounds like a tedious existence.
My guess is that the one piece of his oeuvre which will never get tedious to him is "The Money Song."
posted by Mayor Curley at 1:53 PM on September 24, 2009 [1 favorite]
My guess is that the one piece of his oeuvre which will never get tedious to him is "The Money Song."
posted by Mayor Curley at 1:53 PM on September 24, 2009 [1 favorite]
It must suck to be Eric Idle. Between responding to YT comments and regurgitating "I don't like Spam!" or whatever, it sounds like a tedious existence.
Don't forget contributing the least entertaining material in The Aristocrats.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 2:02 PM on September 24, 2009
Don't forget contributing the least entertaining material in The Aristocrats.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 2:02 PM on September 24, 2009
"...while Gilliam, being American, of course went to no known school whatsoever." I love it. Thanks for this; it's nice to see Idle being funny again.
On the Cheese/Cleese thing, Wikipedia sources it to this. I leave you to decide how reliable a source that is.
...Hmm, he tells the story at some length here (saying the name Cheese goes back to "Norwich in 1273" and "it would have been much better to have been Cheese"), but I'd be happier if it were sourced to something other than the comedian himself, because let's face it, it's an irresistible story.
posted by languagehat at 2:06 PM on September 24, 2009
On the Cheese/Cleese thing, Wikipedia sources it to this. I leave you to decide how reliable a source that is.
...Hmm, he tells the story at some length here (saying the name Cheese goes back to "Norwich in 1273" and "it would have been much better to have been Cheese"), but I'd be happier if it were sourced to something other than the comedian himself, because let's face it, it's an irresistible story.
posted by languagehat at 2:06 PM on September 24, 2009
I thought the family changed their name when the shop ran out.
posted by InfidelZombie at 2:10 PM on September 24, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by InfidelZombie at 2:10 PM on September 24, 2009 [2 favorites]
[Is pronouncing it "Cleeze" typical for British speakers?]
posted by Joe Beese
RHYMES WITH CHEESE. You of all people should know that!
posted by Sys Rq at 2:37 PM on September 24, 2009 [5 favorites]
posted by Joe Beese
RHYMES WITH CHEESE. You of all people should know that!
posted by Sys Rq at 2:37 PM on September 24, 2009 [5 favorites]
I mean, take a look at Yahoo Answers and then at YouTube video comments and tell me that's not the same audience.
You mean, the vast majority of people?
posted by delmoi at 2:40 PM on September 24, 2009 [1 favorite]
You mean, the vast majority of people?
posted by delmoi at 2:40 PM on September 24, 2009 [1 favorite]
I was hoping this would be a satirical song composed entirely of horrible Youtube comments.
Oh God, someone please write a satirical song composed entirely of horrible Youtube comments. Bonus if you can get Eric Idle to sing it.
posted by louche mustachio at 2:47 PM on September 24, 2009 [1 favorite]
Oh God, someone please write a satirical song composed entirely of horrible Youtube comments. Bonus if you can get Eric Idle to sing it.
posted by louche mustachio at 2:47 PM on September 24, 2009 [1 favorite]
Sidewiki will work out so much better than Knol.
posted by benzenedream at 2:51 PM on September 24, 2009
posted by benzenedream at 2:51 PM on September 24, 2009
Don't forget contributing the least entertaining material in The Aristocrats.
The feces?
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 2:54 PM on September 24, 2009 [1 favorite]
The feces?
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 2:54 PM on September 24, 2009 [1 favorite]
He looks like his trousers.
posted by turgid dahlia at 3:20 PM on September 24, 2009
posted by turgid dahlia at 3:20 PM on September 24, 2009
Between responding to YT comments and regurgitating "I don't like Spam!" or whatever, it sounds like a tedious existence.
Yeah, "tedious." Tedious all the way to the bank. I'd love to have an existence that tedious.
posted by blucevalo at 3:31 PM on September 24, 2009 [1 favorite]
Yeah, "tedious." Tedious all the way to the bank. I'd love to have an existence that tedious.
posted by blucevalo at 3:31 PM on September 24, 2009 [1 favorite]
Joe Beese: over there in Blighty (and many other parts of the world) it's common for friends to address each other by their surnames (or a school nickname like Stinky or Tubby). Typically only family members (and family friends) will use one' given name.
posted by phliar at 3:34 PM on September 24, 2009
posted by phliar at 3:34 PM on September 24, 2009
philar: You mean referring (such as in the video), or addressing (as in, to someone's face)?
As an American, I find being addressed by my surname to be very jarring, (probably because it's only something an authority figure such as school teacher or drill sargeant would do.) I see no problem being referred to in this way, however. Hadn't thought about it this much before.
posted by blenderfish at 3:40 PM on September 24, 2009
As an American, I find being addressed by my surname to be very jarring, (probably because it's only something an authority figure such as school teacher or drill sargeant would do.) I see no problem being referred to in this way, however. Hadn't thought about it this much before.
posted by blenderfish at 3:40 PM on September 24, 2009
(By "As an American" I mean, I happen to be one, not that I'm speaking for Americans or anything.)
posted by blenderfish at 3:41 PM on September 24, 2009
posted by blenderfish at 3:41 PM on September 24, 2009
Enjoyed this: "Once you've collected all the death cards, you can only activate them in co-op mode, okay?"
posted by A dead Quaker at 3:44 PM on September 24, 2009
posted by A dead Quaker at 3:44 PM on September 24, 2009
That was pretty great. Thanks for posting it!
posted by Pope Guilty at 4:24 PM on September 24, 2009
posted by Pope Guilty at 4:24 PM on September 24, 2009
>(By "As an American" I mean, I happen to be one, not that I'm speaking for Americans or anything.)
No need to be self-effacing; you're doing great. Carry on.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 4:35 PM on September 24, 2009
No need to be self-effacing; you're doing great. Carry on.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 4:35 PM on September 24, 2009
blenderfish: both referring to and addressing -- "Hey Johnson, feel up to a row on the lake?" as well as "That Johnson is a good bowler." There are a few variations -- if there are two boys from the Smith family, the older will be Smith Major and the younger Smith Minor.
There's a whole genre of fiction called "school stories" -- on life at a public school -- that will tell you all about these strange customs.
posted by phliar at 4:58 PM on September 24, 2009
There's a whole genre of fiction called "school stories" -- on life at a public school -- that will tell you all about these strange customs.
posted by phliar at 4:58 PM on September 24, 2009
I've been sat here for the last 5 minutes trying to think of a pronunciation of Cleese that doesn't rhyme with cheese. Cless-ee? Cle-essay? What?
posted by influx at 5:00 PM on September 24, 2009
posted by influx at 5:00 PM on September 24, 2009
Incidentally, if you're not familiar with life at English schools you may be missing many of the jokes in Monty Python. Try the Billy/Bessie Bunter books, or the "Jennings" books. Also P. G. Wodehouse.
posted by phliar at 5:05 PM on September 24, 2009
posted by phliar at 5:05 PM on September 24, 2009
influx: or
fleece
piece
peace
lease
Reese (as in witherspoon or that dude from Terminator and the original NES cover of metal gear)
grease
Meese (cf. Edwin Meese, former Attorney General of US)
cease
niece
geese
Ok, sorry about that, just got on a rhyming spree.
Also, "Will Mr Michael Ellis please go straight to the manager's office..."
posted by chambers at 5:48 PM on September 24, 2009
fleece
piece
peace
lease
Reese (as in witherspoon or that dude from Terminator and the original NES cover of metal gear)
grease
Meese (cf. Edwin Meese, former Attorney General of US)
cease
niece
geese
Ok, sorry about that, just got on a rhyming spree.
Also, "Will Mr Michael Ellis please go straight to the manager's office..."
posted by chambers at 5:48 PM on September 24, 2009
So "Joe Beese" rhymes with "John Cleese" right? And both rhyme with "cheese". Am I caught up?
posted by Ron Thanagar at 6:39 PM on September 24, 2009
posted by Ron Thanagar at 6:39 PM on September 24, 2009
Eric Idle is my sentimental favorite of the Pythons. There's something about him in full flight that's just such a joy to watch, such as in the Stock Market Report sketch.
posted by Kattullus at 7:13 PM on September 24, 2009
posted by Kattullus at 7:13 PM on September 24, 2009
The Pythons have their own way of spelling things.
Ah, no, no. My name is spelt 'Luxury Yacht' but it's pronounced 'Throatwobbler Mangrove'.
posted by O.Ruehl at 4:39 AM on September 25, 2009
Ah, no, no. My name is spelt 'Luxury Yacht' but it's pronounced 'Throatwobbler Mangrove'.
posted by O.Ruehl at 4:39 AM on September 25, 2009
I'm British and I have never in my entire life called a classmate, friend or colleague by their surname. Politicians and celebrities, maybe, but actual human beings, no. It would be rude, impersonal and archaic. Times change, even here.
posted by BinaryApe at 5:25 AM on September 25, 2009
posted by BinaryApe at 5:25 AM on September 25, 2009
That's pretty funny, and that surprises me. Most of Idle's recent work involves brutally raping his own legacy; I didn't think he was capable of anything except ripping off old Python work.
You say that like it's a bad thing. Are you telling me that 'Spamalot' is not excellent? I refuse to believe you! I also loved the early pc games based on Monty Python films, a major contributor to which was Eric Idle. Rape is a strong word. I'd like to think capitalise on would be a nicer way to put it.
And why shouldn't he capitalise on it? You think others won't? He was there at the start! Jaysus, why wouldn't he want to stay a part of it, particularly when you consider how many people still love Monty Python? Why would you want to discourage an original member from adding his many mites and actual experience with the whole phenomenon, just because you think he might be getting some money from it?
posted by h00py at 6:13 AM on September 25, 2009 [4 favorites]
You say that like it's a bad thing. Are you telling me that 'Spamalot' is not excellent? I refuse to believe you! I also loved the early pc games based on Monty Python films, a major contributor to which was Eric Idle. Rape is a strong word. I'd like to think capitalise on would be a nicer way to put it.
And why shouldn't he capitalise on it? You think others won't? He was there at the start! Jaysus, why wouldn't he want to stay a part of it, particularly when you consider how many people still love Monty Python? Why would you want to discourage an original member from adding his many mites and actual experience with the whole phenomenon, just because you think he might be getting some money from it?
posted by h00py at 6:13 AM on September 25, 2009 [4 favorites]
binaryape - I'm British and I have never in my entire life called a classmate, friend or colleague by their surname. Politicians and celebrities, maybe, but actual human beings, no. It would be rude, impersonal and archaic. Times change, even here.
It must vary a lot between schools. In my high school (ca. 7-15 years ago), the better you knew someone the less likely you were to use their first name. Surnames were friendly and first names (which all the teachers addressed us by) seemed much more formal. Some people had distinct nicknames, but most were called by their surname or a variant of it. There was a whole spectrum of bahaviour: my best friend, whose humour was totally deadpan and so often came across as very serious, was almost always addressed by his first name. By contrast, the jokers in the year were always addressed by surname or nickname, even by some teachers.
For non-Brits: It seems archaic because the habit evolved from the practice of schoolteachers just calling pupils by their surnames (just like at Hogwarts!). That practice has died out pretty much everywhere, with just a handful of private schools keeping it up. There's a fairly good chance that the Pythons went through their school lives with their teachers and friends all addressing them by surname. The same could well be true for their university days, especially in Oxford/Cambridge.
h00py - Rape is a strong word. I'd like to think capitalise on would be a nicer way to put it.
I agree completely. They made some fantastic stuff and sold it; I have no problem with them going back to play with it again and trying to sell the result. The originals will always be out there to revisit, but it it's comforting familiarity that people want from the Pythons I think they're sort of missing the point. (xkcd said this quite well).
posted by metaBugs at 10:52 AM on September 25, 2009
It must vary a lot between schools. In my high school (ca. 7-15 years ago), the better you knew someone the less likely you were to use their first name. Surnames were friendly and first names (which all the teachers addressed us by) seemed much more formal. Some people had distinct nicknames, but most were called by their surname or a variant of it. There was a whole spectrum of bahaviour: my best friend, whose humour was totally deadpan and so often came across as very serious, was almost always addressed by his first name. By contrast, the jokers in the year were always addressed by surname or nickname, even by some teachers.
For non-Brits: It seems archaic because the habit evolved from the practice of schoolteachers just calling pupils by their surnames (just like at Hogwarts!). That practice has died out pretty much everywhere, with just a handful of private schools keeping it up. There's a fairly good chance that the Pythons went through their school lives with their teachers and friends all addressing them by surname. The same could well be true for their university days, especially in Oxford/Cambridge.
h00py - Rape is a strong word. I'd like to think capitalise on would be a nicer way to put it.
I agree completely. They made some fantastic stuff and sold it; I have no problem with them going back to play with it again and trying to sell the result. The originals will always be out there to revisit, but it it's comforting familiarity that people want from the Pythons I think they're sort of missing the point. (xkcd said this quite well).
posted by metaBugs at 10:52 AM on September 25, 2009
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Moreover, there are two links in this post.
posted by kenko at 1:09 PM on September 24, 2009 [5 favorites]