tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7907752.post6574298739508985966..comments2024-03-27T07:18:39.229-05:00Comments on In Medias Res: Why Michael Palin is, and isn't, My Favorite PythonUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7907752.post-21714017394325128802017-04-21T06:14:59.802-05:002017-04-21T06:14:59.802-05:00This is certainly interesting, and even inspiring....This is certainly interesting, and even inspiring. Michael Palin was like a spiritual father to me during my years in high school but yes, I found reasons to move over to someone else for inspiration, and what you pointed out could be one of those reasons.<br /><br />There are reasons I found why Michael is rather 'detached' from life: <br /><br />1) His politeness and openness comes from not only his cultural and political influences of the 1960's, but also from his consciousness telling him he shouldn't go over the line like his father always preferred to do. Michael's father used to shout when he was triggered. Michael tried not to act like the way his father did and this is a difficult work for him considering the early influence from his father and the genetic things and all. <br /><br />2) Because being an observer makes an actor to do his/her job. That's why entertainers can't be intellectually political - they not only don't have the time to know more about the world, but also, when they become famous, prefer to avoid any chances of stirring controversy. They don't even make ill rumors straight - they know they can't do anything about people imagining stories about them. Likewise, they often prefer to let the world go around. <br /><br />3) There is a possibility he edited out the most emotional and political parts in his diaries. <br /><br />And uh...I'd just like to point out that I don't agree with you saying "Michael Palin is like Paul McCartney." Michael has always been a very determined, clear-minded person. He might have had troubles in his life like everybody does, but he never messed things up like McCartney did. Something like drugs never suited Michael. I understand you preferring Graham Chapman - he's the leading man type who could really 'act' in the Python group - but Michael had a brilliant set of skills in making characters. After all, he was a great fan of Peter Sellers. He might have done some poor foreign accents but no one can deny he made up great characters like Professor Gumby, the suicidal barber who wanted to become a Canadian lumberjack, Roman emperor who has speech impediments, a cyclist who thinks cycling is basically about food, and many more. He often produced the most off-the-wall jokes for Python, which John Cleese appreciated very much. He contributed to Python with the third most surrealist comedic style - the most important contributor being Terry Gilliam for his animations and later for his films, and the next most important one being Terry Jones. John Cleese often hated just plain silly comedy. He liked Michael's jokes because there were things behind all - stereotypes, politics, history, psychology...anything. <br /><br />You don't necessarily have the same ideas and opinions as I have, but I think this is the kind of blog I always wanted to read. Good to know there's someone out there who can talk about things without making me uncomfortable. I was getting sick of childish moans people make these days on the Internet. You make a point with detail and finish it respectfully. Keep it going.<br />Seojin Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12441847842538922702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7907752.post-55913228442060385452012-04-28T16:10:11.537-05:002012-04-28T16:10:11.537-05:00Palin has always been my favorite. I've always...Palin has always been my favorite. I've always found something sweet about the way he comes across in Python Sketches.<br />He does commit to the humor of Python, I don't think anybody can forget his 'Biggus Dikkus' scene in 'The Life of Brian'.<br />Cleese always said that Palin was the funniest of the Python's simply because he was a funny man. Cleese himself never thought of himself as funny, he just "played funny characters".<br />Honestly I love all the Pythons~Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7907752.post-34638102758157073032011-12-24T20:55:12.696-06:002011-12-24T20:55:12.696-06:00You forget something essential. Michael Palin is t...You forget something essential. Michael Palin is the best python because he was the compromise one. He used to do the hard work with enthusiasm and with no complaint. Everyone knew they could trust him and they did.<br />Sorry about my writing, english is not my native language.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7907752.post-83179307035745030692011-10-13T06:56:33.557-05:002011-10-13T06:56:33.557-05:00But how refreshing amidst our post-modern angst to...But how refreshing amidst our post-modern angst to read about the very ordinariness of someone's life! It is so quintessentially English. Do we berate Jane Austen because her writing dealt with the marital aspirations of small-town bourgeoisie and entirely ignored the massive upheavals both on the continent of Europe and in England itself in that period? The point of social progress is that it should enable people like Palin, even if a public figure, to live a life largely untroubled by social and political angst. we should celebrate this with joy and not disappointment!Fiona Tanzer, Cape Townnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7907752.post-89989983363207111432010-06-29T00:12:35.858-05:002010-06-29T00:12:35.858-05:00He repeats the same stories in all his chat show a...He repeats the same stories in all his chat show appearances so doesn't come across as a having the ability to generate fresh humour on the spot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7907752.post-81190490061204256332010-04-16T09:33:41.772-05:002010-04-16T09:33:41.772-05:00You're right, of course: I'm not sure you ...You're right, of course: I'm not sure you actually <i>learn</i> very much for Palin's travel documentaries (indeed, he actually, I think, takes us away from learning opportunities by never dwelling on or investigating anything: it's always, for example, "these people suffer mightily from poverty and discrimination, but hey, they make tremendous beer!"), but you <i>see</i> so much, and all of it with enthusiasm, openness, and respect. It's the same with his diaries; I'm not sure you can really learn anything from them, but they show the reader so much. And someone who wasn't so basically untroubled and "relatable" probably couldn't pull that off. (And, of course, as you way, he's just so funny: commenting "that's good grub!" after eating fried maggots in Mexico, etc.)Russell Arben Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03366800726360134194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7907752.post-24550962185088721492010-04-16T08:19:31.855-05:002010-04-16T08:19:31.855-05:00I think Palin's lack of critique -- of self or...I think Palin's lack of critique -- of self or others -- is part of what makes him such an excellent travel documentarist. He's so accepting of the world, of other people, of other traditions, so curious (he may not be critical, but he is definitely curious), that you can't help but feel a similar enthusiasm for the world.<br /><br />That, and he makes me smile.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00217383813263874657noreply@blogger.com