In 1975, the ABC Network purchased the rights to Monty Python’s Season Four. Instead of broadcasting each episode individually and in its entirety, the network chose to combine the six shows into two specials. During this process, they made so many cuts to nearly every skit that the comedy team felt the American network had robbed their material of all artistic merit. So in mid-December, Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin flew to America to fight for an injunction against ABC’s first scheduled broadcast on the December 26th.
The two were forced to cancel personal commitments, deprive their families of their presence during the holiday season, and give up days that could have been spent on more creative tasks. After facing weather delays, the two men arrived in New York City, where they suffered the annoyances of jet lag and lost luggage. They attempted to reach a satisfactory compromise with ABC, but after meeting with executives, realized that an out-of-court settlement was impossible. So on December 19th, the two Englishmen walked into a New York City courtroom to take on the giant American network.
How does one describe a sketch to a court and make it sound funny? How do you make the judge understand how ABC’s cuts robbed the material of its creators’ original intent? And how does an Englishman explain why an aspect of his society that is wholly alien to American culture is not only funny but worth preserving for ABC’s viewers? These were the dilemmas Michael Palin faced as he struggled to answer the judge’s detailed questions. Later in the day, a TV was rolled into the courtroom and everyone squeezed in around the judge. The format for the viewing was this: they would watch an episode from Season Four as it was originally transmitted by the BBC, then follow that with ABC’s highly-edited version.
After considering the evidence, the judge decided that while Monty Python’s original material was irreparably damaged, he couldn’t issue an injunction. However, he would consider ordering that a disclaimer from the group be placed at the beginning of each special. While this wasn’t what the comedy team had sought, at least such a disclaimer would accomplish the group’s intent of making American viewers aware that these specials did not represent their original artistic vision. So it appeared their efforts had not been wasted: Monty Python had won a compromise, if not out-right victory.
While the men yearned to return home immediately, weather had delayed or canceled many flights. All available planes returning to England seemed fully-booked. Somehow, the men got themselves aboard an Air Iran flight to Tehran via Heathrow. Back home in England after a difficult flight (and realizing that their luggage was on its way to Tehran), the two made up the time lost with their work and their families. Then, on the day before Christmas, the bomb fell. Gilliam and Palin learned that ABC had appealed the judge’s decision, and won. The network would not be forced to transmit the following disclaimer: “The members of Monty Python wish to disassociate themselves from this program, which is a compilation of their shows edited by ABC without their approval.” Instead, two days hence, all the network would be required to display before each special was: “Edited for television by ABC.”
So, as Michael Palin so eloquently put it, they had “tilted at windmills and lost.” Yet this was not the end, but merely the beginning of the group's fight with the giant American network.
This story will conclude in Monty Python’s Crusade Part Three: “...And Forever.”
Research for this blog post was entirely taken from Michael Palin Diaries 1969-1979: The Python Years, published by St. Martin’s Press. And yes, to present his views in this abbreviated account, his entries were heavily edited.
The two were forced to cancel personal commitments, deprive their families of their presence during the holiday season, and give up days that could have been spent on more creative tasks. After facing weather delays, the two men arrived in New York City, where they suffered the annoyances of jet lag and lost luggage. They attempted to reach a satisfactory compromise with ABC, but after meeting with executives, realized that an out-of-court settlement was impossible. So on December 19th, the two Englishmen walked into a New York City courtroom to take on the giant American network.
How does one describe a sketch to a court and make it sound funny? How do you make the judge understand how ABC’s cuts robbed the material of its creators’ original intent? And how does an Englishman explain why an aspect of his society that is wholly alien to American culture is not only funny but worth preserving for ABC’s viewers? These were the dilemmas Michael Palin faced as he struggled to answer the judge’s detailed questions. Later in the day, a TV was rolled into the courtroom and everyone squeezed in around the judge. The format for the viewing was this: they would watch an episode from Season Four as it was originally transmitted by the BBC, then follow that with ABC’s highly-edited version.
After considering the evidence, the judge decided that while Monty Python’s original material was irreparably damaged, he couldn’t issue an injunction. However, he would consider ordering that a disclaimer from the group be placed at the beginning of each special. While this wasn’t what the comedy team had sought, at least such a disclaimer would accomplish the group’s intent of making American viewers aware that these specials did not represent their original artistic vision. So it appeared their efforts had not been wasted: Monty Python had won a compromise, if not out-right victory.
While the men yearned to return home immediately, weather had delayed or canceled many flights. All available planes returning to England seemed fully-booked. Somehow, the men got themselves aboard an Air Iran flight to Tehran via Heathrow. Back home in England after a difficult flight (and realizing that their luggage was on its way to Tehran), the two made up the time lost with their work and their families. Then, on the day before Christmas, the bomb fell. Gilliam and Palin learned that ABC had appealed the judge’s decision, and won. The network would not be forced to transmit the following disclaimer: “The members of Monty Python wish to disassociate themselves from this program, which is a compilation of their shows edited by ABC without their approval.” Instead, two days hence, all the network would be required to display before each special was: “Edited for television by ABC.”
So, as Michael Palin so eloquently put it, they had “tilted at windmills and lost.” Yet this was not the end, but merely the beginning of the group's fight with the giant American network.
This story will conclude in Monty Python’s Crusade Part Three: “...And Forever.”
Research for this blog post was entirely taken from Michael Palin Diaries 1969-1979: The Python Years, published by St. Martin’s Press. And yes, to present his views in this abbreviated account, his entries were heavily edited.
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