Talk:Eric Idle

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is within the scope of the following WikiProjects:

Contents

[edit] "Early Life"

The article states that Idle was born in South Shields and in Harton Village. Is that some sort of Pythonesque humour, or was that sentence meant to read something like "he grew up in South Shields and in Harton Village"? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 132.199.174.149 (talk) 15:11, 17 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] "Boks"

As this has been altered several times, it's probably worth noting here that the Monty Python books are referred to as "boks", hence why the author wrote "boks" (sic) in the original article. Please do not "correct" it to "books" [sic], as this makes no sense. -taras 17:39, 8 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] "Anglo-American"

I edited the sentence that called Monty Python Anglo-American, to just English, because it is English, and from England, even if one member is from America

(The above was an unsigned comment by 81.158.50.245 - on 11:34, 14 September 2006)

You're correct in removing "Anglo-American" The group was defined by the nationality of the majority of its members and the fact that all of them (including the one American) all lived in Britain. However - as Terry Jones was/is Welsh - the correct all-encompassing term is "British" - hence my change to that effect. Davidpatrick 13:52, 14 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Nearly Departed

Does anyone have any details on Eric's extremely short-lived sitcom "Nearly Departed"? If I remember correctly, he played a ghost living in a family's attic. It didn't last an entire season. This might make a worthwhile addition to Eric's Wikipedia entry. (addendum: IMDB info at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096659/)

[edit] Books

why are there two paragraphs on the books he has written? Delete the first one. jettofabulo 01:32, 28 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Also, there are too many states these days, please eliminate three.--Crestville 23:23, 28 Feb 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Eric Idle is the best Monty Python actor

By who's estimation? The Python's themselves seemed to think it was Chapman.--Crestville 12:21, 17 July 2005 (UTC)

Should we add the FCC song to this? [1]. Secretlondon 18:27, 16 September 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Pre-Python collaborations

Could people please leave non-Python members of shows in the article, as well as "Monty Python" members. The non-Python members are as much a part of Eric Idle's comedy history as the Python members are. Figaro 01:52, 5 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] his accent

at least in python's his accent sounds coming from south of englang, maybe london. i have little idea of british accents though, what is his accent sounds like being from?

He's from Durham so he has a northern accent, though his time in America has definitely softened this. What does it matter anyway?--Crestville 18:14, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] He also wrote the song "Fuck You FCC"

Just thought I'd mention it.

[edit] "Early Life"

It states that he was born in South Shields, County Durham. South Shields is in South Tyneside, not County Durham --Geordiejon 18:06, 30 July 2006 (UTC)

I changed it. Thanks for noticing. Garion96 (talk) 21:25, 30 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] addition of Books

Boks or Books, or maybe even better Bibliography, it might be good to have a section where Eric Idle's books can be easily located. If it is deemed as useless repetition, feel free to revert. If not and if possible, please, help to list all his books with edition and ISBN. Hoverfish 21:32, 11 September 2006 (UTC)

I agree. Good idea. Davidpatrick 14:10, 14 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Description in first pararaph

He is a clearly renowned as a comedian and actor. And known (to a lesser extent) as an author and composer. I think to identify him in the midde of the opening sentence as a film director is stretching it. (And I'm a big fan of his!) According to IMDB and other online sources - his only sole directing credits have been the occasional TV segment (not entire shows) and one music video. And a TV special that was shelved and eventually released only on DVD. His best-known directing credit is a shared credit with an established TV director Gary Weis (from SNL) So we should definitely refer to those projects as appropriate in the overall article - but I don't think those amount to a description of him as a film director Davidpatrick 14:09, 14 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Ratty

Eric Idle makes also a remarkable appearance as Ratty in Terry Jones' 'Wind in the Willows' (1996). Yet the way the paragraph starts (Idle received good critical notices...) makes it questionable to add this after 'Casper'. (Did he receive good critical notices for it too?) Also the paragraph on 'Honey, I Shrunk the Audience'(1995) comes after mentioning 'Burn Hollywood Burn' (1999). Shouldn't there be a better chronological structure in this section? Hoverfish 23:45, 14 September 2006 (UTC)

By the way, I added missing dates for some Post Python features, and ask for a go-ahead to put some order in this section's paragraphs. -Well, actually I did it. Hope the good guardians of the article are pleased with it. Hoverfish 12:52, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Does Eric have a contact?

I was wondering if there was a way to contact Eric. I looked around that PythOnline site, but no such luck. The message board is not working either. Does anyone know if he's got an e-mail? --Sivak 05:13, 5 November 2006 (UTC)

Eric Idle, Drugs, Star Wars? Is that true?-mattawa

[edit] George Harrison?

The section under "Trivia" that states that he made a joke about Dhani needs to specify which event honouring George Harrison he made it at. I mean, it's the sort of thing he WOULD say, I have no doubt, but I have seen "Concert for George" and he says no such thing there...

[edit] Shrek the Third

There's a missing work in a sentence toward the end of the Post-Python career section, in reference to his reaction at the Shrek the Third premiere:

"Idle was reported to have stormed out of the premiere to Shrek the Third and has said he may sue the producers of the film after seeing them directly a gag from his earlier film Monty Python and the Holy Grail."

Perhaps this word was left out intentionally, since the correct verb in this circumstance appears to be a matter of some dispute? Could a suitable placeholder be found in the interim? Mr. Chuck 23:49, 23 May 2007 (UTC)

I added "copy" - it may not be the best choice, but at least it fixes the sentence for now. Thanks for catching that one. --Ckatzchatspy 23:54, 23 May 2007 (UTC)


I am not sure this trivia is of any significance unless to document that he has an irrational temper or how some people don't pick up when he is making a joke. After all Idle stole the coconut gag himself. I believe several B&W movie actors (Abbott&Costello?) have used the gag in movies were they got caught using the coconuts to deceive someone about an approaching horse. Worse yet for claiming originality, the gag itself is just making visible how old radio and early movie sound effects crews made the familiar hoof beats. Thus there are hundreds of cases of prior art in sound and possibly dozens in film. 69.23.124.142 (talk) 04:39, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

"He was reported to have stormed out of its premiere and has said he may sue the producers of the film after seeing them directly copy a gag from his earlier film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The gag in question is banging coconuts together to imitate hoofbeats- a running gag throughout Monty Python and the Holy Grail.[6][7]"

Tonight (Monday 9th June 2008) BBC Radio Seven played a classic radio comedy episode, "I'm Sorry I'll Read That again", first broadcast in April 1967. This episode uses the "you're not riding a horse - you're just banging two coconuts together!" gag quite a few years before Python and the Holy Grail. The script is attributed to Grame Garden and Bill Oddie. So logically, aren't they due a big court pay-out from Idle and the Pythons, as logically, in the absense of a time machine, the only conclusioon is that Idle pinched a Garden/Oddie joke? (Or perhaps Idle could stop being precious and accept that gags, by their nature, get recycled over the years)86.155.78.146 (talk) 22:05, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Ancestry

Hi!

Eric Idle strongly reminds me of Gene Wilder. And his nasal pronunciation (Cockney-like, quite uncommon for Northern England) is very similar to that of Fran Drescher.

I just wondered whether he might have Jewish forefathers or perhaps even he himself is or was Jewish.

Best regards

Harald

Eric's mother moved back to Stratford-upon-Avon when his father died, where Standard English is the norm. I suspect Eric's mockney accent is just an attempt to hide this.
Anyway, Eric Idle and Gene Wilder look more Eastern European than middle-eastern. Unknown Unknowns 12:04, 31 May 2007 (UTC)
I do not understand your last sentence. Is he Jewish or not?
Sorry, there is no record of Eric having Jewish ancestory. Unknown Unknowns 07:55, 1 June 2007 (UTC)
and what do the jews have to do with it? just stop the false stereotype i ain't funny Markthemac 14:05, 14 July 2007 (UTC)
But I would need a creditable citation to accept that the majority of bloodline Jews have no characteristic noses. However nose shape generally has little to do with nasal accents. Isn't Drescher's accent actually New Jersey? While Eric himself may not claim Jewish faith or close ancestors...keep in mind that the famous Jewish Geneologies only track those who retain Jewish faith. Eastern European noses can come from many sources, including the large number of Jews who once migrated there to get away from Rome.
For most people the Jewish ancestory would make no difference either way -- except if they were adding names to that semi-comic song about all the Jewish people in show business. Don't worry the song is by a singing Jewish comedian (whose name I forget). 69.23.124.142 (talk) 04:51, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] CITIZEN

Is this person an American citizen? If not, this article should not be in an 'English American' category. Please fix. Hmains 03:18, 14 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Child Actor?

He's listed as being an English Child Actor, but there's no mention in the article or his IMDB entry about anything before 1966, when he was probably 23. Rayhol (talk) 19:52, 6 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:Eric Idle presenting Rutland Weekend Television.jpg

Image:Eric Idle presenting Rutland Weekend Television.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images lacking such an explanation can be deleted one week after being tagged, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot (talk) 06:26, 2 January 2008 (UTC)