They always say the bigger they are the nicer they are. Well it is certainly true about legendary actor and comedian John Cleese.
Last week he was in town to accept the Ernie Kovac Award, which recognizes the career and talents of some of televisions greatest visionaries. Dallas VideoFest honored the actor and comedian best known for the British comedy, Monty Python’s Flying Circus and Fawlty Towers, and presented the award on December 4th at Texas Theatre.
It was a trifecta anniversary celebration for the 100th anniversary of Ernie Kovacs’ birth, the 50th anniversary of the start of Monty Python’s Flying Circus in the UK, and the 45th anniversary of the British comedy making its debut of airing in the United States.
The day before the event a small media group, including AdChat DFW, had the opportunity for a roundtable interview with Mr. Cleese and Ron Devillier, retired KERA programmer who brought Monty Python to Dallas in 1974 and then to the rest of America. Joshua Mills, son of Edie Adams and keeper of the Kovacs flame, as well as Ben Model, official archivist for the Edie Adams and Ernie Kovacs collection, were also in attendance.
If you have a few minutes, please watch the casual conversation that revealed details how the Pythons created the hilarious and beloved scenarios like Cheese Shop and the Fish Slapping Dance, and also how much they were paid for the series. NOT what you’d expect!
Watch interview…
