According to John Cleese, Graham Chapman improvised the line,"Intercourse the penguin!", catching him completely off guard. In a very rare moment you can watch as Cleese struggles to keep it together at 4:26
The "BURMA" line was also improvised, hence John Cleese's confused reaction (he's looking at the others in the set and they're just indicating he should go with it) as well as Graham's almost smug "I really nailed it, but where the heck did that line come from" facial expression.
Just saw John Cleese & Terry Jones doing this sketch live at the o2 Arena... obviously not the same with out Chapman, but was great fun... almost 45 years later :-)
I love this so much! Its probably one of my favourite Python sketches. I actually have a little plastic penguin sitting on top of the TV in my room dedicated to this. It hasnt exploded yet though....
I absolutely love this sketch - they're clearly enjoying it Cleese's face when Chapman shouts 'INTERCOUSRE THE PENGUIN' is a classic xD Dare i say it but i think i prefer to the Dead Parrot Sketch :O
hahaa wonderful! XD graham and john made the funniest pair of ladies ever! eric and michael made the most attractive women. the terrys where just kinda strange as ladies. ^^
@SolipsismSyndrome yes, they took this actress (mostly carol Cleveland) only, when they needed a woman with sex appeal... for example in the marriage counsellor sketch :D "women" like in this sketch where so often used they even have an own name - pepperpots (because of their body shape)
@DuckofAwesomeify They did have one female actress that I remember, though they only used her when having men in drag wasn't supposed to be part of the joke in the first place. I mean honestly, this sketch wouldn't have been half as funny if it had ACTUALLY been two women.
I don't see how the first part of the sketch seems to be overlooked. It's absolutely brilliant. "Are you Mary Queen of Scots?" "I am-OOW! OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!" xD
Arguably the single funniest sketch the show ever did, pound for pound. Chapman's firing on all cylinders, and John's right up there with him...unbeatable comic duo.
"How did he know that was going to happen?!" "It was an inspired guess ... and now--" (I would follow this with some choice specimen of TV signoff announcement)
I first saw this when I was in elementary school and could not stop laughing. Not only because of the shear comedic brilliance of this sketch, but also because my family used to have an inflatable Linux penguin sitting on top of our television set.
This sketch had one of the best one-liners I've heard in television: "Oh, intercourse the penguin!" You can use that anywhere, substituting penguin for whatever you feel like cursing. :p
Throatwobbler Mangrove In one of their movies, "Monty Python's 'And Now For Something Completely Different,'" they re-did their best skits, slightly differently. So maybe you saw some alternate version of this sketch from that movie.
My sister and I always loved this sketch the most just because when we first saw this on top of our television we had a large inflatable Linux penguin that my stepdad had gotten from work (he was a programmer at Corel and Linux had given them a bunch of free stuff). When you're in fourth grade that's the funniest thing on the planet.
If everyone watched a bit of Monty Python every day the world would be a better place.
According to John Cleese, Graham Chapman improvised the line,"Intercourse the penguin!", catching him completely off guard. In a very rare moment you can watch as Cleese struggles to keep it together at 4:26
The "BURMA" line was also improvised, hence John Cleese's confused reaction (he's looking at the others in the set and they're just indicating he should go with it) as well as Graham's almost smug "I really nailed it, but where the heck did that line come from" facial expression.
GrahamChapman and it looks like graham is trying to hold a smile back straight after
@@BIGSIXESFAN Filming took over a dozen takes; they both kept corpsing.
I wonder if "intercourse" was supposed to a euphemism for "fuck".
@@Desmaad Yes it was.
"I think she's dead...." "No I'm not"... (gunshot) AAAAHHHHHHHHHHH! That had me in tears!
Thank you sir for uploading this!
"What's on the television?"
"A penguin."
One of my very favorite Python sketches...and the reason I've had a penguin on my telly since 1980.
But...does it have exploding capability?
I gavexmy Mum one for the TV,as she loved penguins ,but I just did it for Python fun
We've had a wee plastic penguin from Wallace & Gromit on the telly since 2001 bc of this sketch.
I actually carved a penguin out of solid soapstone Rock to place on top of my TV set.
About as big as my hand. It does me good just to see. I carved The Rock in 19 78 and still have it....... On my TV set of course
I'm here for "intercourse the penguin." Haha.
Just saw John Cleese & Terry Jones doing this sketch live at the o2 Arena... obviously not the same with out Chapman, but was great fun... almost 45 years later :-)
I think she's dead...."No I'm not!"
Ok, I'm going to go buy a penguin to put in top of my Telly now:)
You and me both :) have you found one yet?
If it lays an egg, it'll fall down the back of the television set. You'll have to watch that.
+the Sententious Vaunter Unless it's a male.
I got mine for Christmas!
It might explode! : /
Look at John at 4:26!!! ^^ God, I love this man...
Nouli S Huh?
Mag Pie He struggles to keep a straight face
Me too 😅
Graham wanted to laugh so many times during this sketch. At one point, Graham and John were both close to cracking up.
Great sketch.
Just to clarify, "BURMA!" was in the script, but "INTERCOURSE THE PENGUIN!" wasn't (hence the shock on Cleese's face).
I thought it was the other way around.
I love this so much! Its probably one of my favourite Python sketches. I actually have a little plastic penguin sitting on top of the TV in my room dedicated to this. It hasnt exploded yet though....
same here, it's so silly and absurd, so meaningless it becomes essential
Is there a penguin on your tellie? Yes. What's it doing? STANDING!
"Burma!"
*pauses and looks around*
"Why'd you say Burma?"
"I panicked"
"Oh"
ha ha! One of the funniest things ever.
It's just gone 8:00 and time for the penguin on top of your television set to explode. (BOOM!)
It was an inspired guess. And now...
This is my favorite too. Thanx for uploading this, so I know it will be on You Tube hopefully forever.
I love how they almost break character and almost laugh!! Python is sooo greeeaatt!
"BURMA!"
"...Why'd you say 'Burma?'"
"I panicked."
My mother and I still quote this to each other all the time.
maybe he accidently said Burma, and then they made it part of the script
this is one of the best sketchs they do!! IT'S SO FREAKIN HYSTERICAL!!!!!!!
Doctor Bronowski became David bloody Attenborrough in subsequent sketches.
My brother just told me that his homework is to write an account of the death of Mary Queen of Scots and we both thought of this :D
my absolute favorite video. ever. lol
What happened to them humming "The Girl from Ipanema"? Now they are humming "I Dream of Jeannie." ...
I absolutely love this sketch - they're clearly enjoying it Cleese's face when Chapman shouts 'INTERCOUSRE THE PENGUIN' is a classic xD Dare i say it but i think i prefer to the Dead Parrot Sketch :O
BEST PYTHON SKETCH EVER
hahaa wonderful! XD graham and john made the funniest pair of ladies ever! eric and michael made the most attractive women. the terrys where just kinda strange as ladies. ^^
I don't know how the guys kept straight faces when they were filming these episodes.
Best sketch ever.
Oh! It's like a reunion with an oldest and bestest friend. Joy!
"Looks like a Penguin."
"Intercourse the penguin!"
The reaction certainly seems to point that way.
you can see graham almost cracking up at 1:39
grrr, intercourse the penguin! xD
"Intercourse the Penguin!!!"
sometimes to make people laugh during that aukward silence I yell "burma", no one understands but they laugh.
One of my favorites, these guys still crack me up
@SolipsismSyndrome yes, they took this actress (mostly carol Cleveland) only, when they needed a woman with sex appeal... for example in the marriage counsellor sketch :D
"women" like in this sketch where so often used they even have an own name - pepperpots (because of their body shape)
i love when cleese looks at chapman after sayign "intercourse the penguin" i love when they have those out of character moments lol
Cleese almost loses it at 4:23 after "intercourse the penguin."
Burma.......ah. cant believe finding this. i and my sad friends used to repeat this ad nauseam over 30 years ago
I crack up EVERY TIME when Gray says "If it lays an egg..."
XD It's my favourite monty python scene
God, it's like being at my client's house!
Patty and Selma..?
Intercourse the penguin!
This is the "expurgated" version, with "Girl from Ipanema" replaced with "I Dream Of Genie"
2:30 - Evangelion in a nutshell.
Somehow relevant in September of 2024
I don't think the penguin looked butch, but what do I know?
INTERCOURSE THE PENGUIN!
better version then that of the movie with Vanessa Redgrave
First time seeing this. I'll now be seeking a penguin.
Indeed, being omniscient takes the mystery out of life. Now, where is my penguin?
"Funny that penguin bein' there, innit?"
Start about 4:14 and watch Cleese corpse at 4:26.
And Number 29, The Larch.
Burma!
whyd you say that?
I panicked!
Stopped laughing to chuckle as I write 'Hilarious'
Barma!
Why'd you say barma?
I panicked!
4:57 Margaret thatchers brain
"...Doctor bloody Bronowski!"
I've always thought instead of saying "berber", Chapman should have said Bourbon!
+Bob He's actually saying "Burma",as in the country.
+Fordham1969 Shit. I've had it wrong all these years!
BURMA
why'd you say burma?
i panicked XD
Graham Chapman is the best :DD
@DuckofAwesomeify They did have one female actress that I remember, though they only used her when having men in drag wasn't supposed to be part of the joke in the first place. I mean honestly, this sketch wouldn't have been half as funny if it had ACTUALLY been two women.
Ditto!
Barma!
BURMA!
I actually have some Terry Deary videos.
03:30 for the state which is now called Myanmar
Ha ha ha ha
You must read 'Horrible Histories'?
LOL
@drhowarddrfinedrhowa one of the best comments on MP I've ever read :-)
hahaha
your spelling is "tearebull"
yawn..this passed as humorous back in the day.???...ffs public school boy shit.
I don't see how the first part of the sketch seems to be overlooked. It's absolutely brilliant. "Are you Mary Queen of Scots?" "I am-OOW! OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!" xD
BURMA!!!
Why'd ya say Burma?
... I panicked.
Oh,
The "Death of Mary Queen Of Scots" part is underrated.
"penguins don't come from next door, they come from the antarctic!"
"BURMA!"
@@Sl0wry Why'd you say Burma?
@@syoung321 I panicked.
These two reminds me of my grandmother and her sister. They dress exactly like this, and the hairstyle is an exact copy from this scetch.
Otherwise known to Old Pythonians as "pepperpots."
Arguably the single funniest sketch the show ever did, pound for pound. Chapman's firing on all cylinders, and John's right up there with him...unbeatable comic duo.
"It's time for the penguin on top of your television to explode." Lol. Best line ever.
"How did he know that was going to happen?!"
"It was an inspired guess ... and now--"
(I would follow this with some choice specimen of TV signoff announcement)
Was "Burma" improvised?
+GoodMachines yes
I first saw this when I was in elementary school and could not stop laughing. Not only because of the shear comedic brilliance of this sketch, but also because my family used to have an inflatable Linux penguin sitting on top of our television set.
My friend had a MP LP record that had this and the mary queen of scotts in 3 different parts. Classic.
"What's the on the television then?"
"...It looks like a penguin."
This is by far my favorite Monty Python skit ever!!
Chapman and Cleese were brilliant in drag! This is pure genius! LMAO
This sketch had one of the best one-liners I've heard in television: "Oh, intercourse the penguin!" You can use that anywhere, substituting penguin for whatever you feel like cursing. :p
The death of Mary queen of Scots is probably my favorite MP skit, along with the silly walks.
There are so many good sketches. I love the cannibal undertakers, the dead parrot and RAF banter sketches
Has this sketch been overdubbed to avoid copyright problems? In the version I remember, they sing 'The Girl from Ipanema'.
Throatwobbler Mangrove In one of their movies, "Monty Python's 'And Now For Something Completely Different,'" they re-did their best skits, slightly differently. So maybe you saw some alternate version of this sketch from that movie.
+Throatwobbler Mangrove Yeah I had the old VHS collection and it was definitely Girl from Ipanema.
genius, i dont think my life would be the same without this
This sketch makes me wonder if they Pythons love of explosions had an influence on Jim Henson.
You mean Micheal Bay?
My #1 favorite MP sketch
is this the first ever comedy dig at mrs thatcher? 1970 so nine years before she became prime minister
My sister and I always loved this sketch the most just because when we first saw this on top of our television we had a large inflatable Linux penguin that my stepdad had gotten from work (he was a programmer at Corel and Linux had given them a bunch of free stuff). When you're in fourth grade that's the funniest thing on the planet.
4:26 Cleese trying to not burst out laughing at Graham's "Intercourse the penguin!"