I think the special thing about Python is that it's a writers' commune. The writers are in charge. The writers decide what the material is. Eric Idle More Quotes by Eric Idle More Quotes From Eric Idle When we graduated [ from Cambridge], we were grabbed right into television. I was grabbed straight into the practice of writing comedy. It was all writing and performing. You wrote something in order for you to perform it. Eric Idle practice writing order I got locked into a tradition [at Cambridge] of doing comedy. Eric Idle comedy tradition cambridge I don't necessarily know much about comedy, I don't spend a lot of time watching it. Mainly because all my life for about 50 years I've had comedy. Eric Idle comedy knows years I interviewed Matt [Stone] and Trey [Parker], actually, and I got to ask them questions. I love them deeply because they appeared dressed as J-Lo and someone else [who had worn the same scandalous dresses the year before at the Oscars]. They confessed they were on acid. Eric Idle stones dresses years I don't like animation. I hate animation, actually. Eric Idle animation i-hate hate Filming a pirate film is always good fun, with ships and indecent clothing. Eric Idle ships pirate fun I pay taxes in three countries, but can't vote in any of them. Eric Idle three pay country I don't invest in the stock market, but I have pension funds - some in America and the UK. Eric Idle pension fund america I never pay any attention to figures. Eric Idle figures pay attention You could write a joke in the pub at lunchtime and watch it performed on television that evening. Eric Idle writing watches television When, in 1966, I progressed to The Frost Report, I was paid ten guineas a minute. I was guaranteed three minutes a week, so this was good money. Eric Idle week frost three When I was 23 I started writing for I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again and was paid three guineas for every minute's airtime. Eric Idle three sorry writing My first professional job was appearing in a disastrous theatre production of Oh, What a Lovely War in Leicester Rep, shortly after leaving Cambridge. Eric Idle leaving jobs war Having little money to spend was a valuable learning experience. My schooling also shaped my work ethic because while other children were listening to the Goons, I was studying, which enabled me to go to Cambridge University. Eric Idle cambridge-university work-ethic children My father, who was a sergeant in the RAF during the Second World War, was killed in a hitchhiking accident while returning home on compassionate leave. As a result, my mother had to get work, as a nurse, and at seven the RAF put me into a boarding school and ex-orphanage called the Royal Wolverhampton School. Eric Idle mother war father I didn't want to be big Mr. Ego walking around. Eric Idle ego bigs want Monty Python paid me £20,000 to write, direct and assemble them - the cheapskates! I told them I'd never earned less in a year since leaving Cambridge. The first show sold out in 43 seconds and we ended up performing ten in total. We had no idea there would be such demand. Eric Idle python writing years I just believe in a huge universe of billions of miles. Eric Idle billions miles believe I used to have a house in London, but couldn't face 20 more years of St John's Wood in the rain. Eric Idle house rain years I'm not careful with my money at all these days. I buy people a lot of dinners! Eric Idle dinner these-days people
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