The Bishop (Monty Python)
Encyclopedia
The Bishop is a Monty Python
sketch from season 2, episode 17 of Monty Python's Flying Circus
(titled "The Buzz Aldrin Show"). "The Bishop" is a parody of The Saint
, a British crime-drama series of the 1960s starring Roger Moore
as Simon Templar
, enemy of gangland.
"The Bishop" stars Terry Jones
as a crime-fighting bishop attempting to stop several comical murders of various Anglican clergymen (played by John Cleese
, Michael Palin
, Graham Chapman
and Eric Idle
), always arriving a moment too late to be of assistance. Palin also appears as a character called "Devious", whom the Bishop directs 'Don't move!' at the very beginning and ends of the sketch. Much of the humour from this sketch derives from its frequent repetition. The bishop smacks his crook onto Devious' desk and tells him not to move, leading into the opening credits. This is then repeated at the end of the sketch when the Bishop comes in to rescue the priest being fleeced by Devious, and again later in the program when - after an extended tirade by an inexplicably nude Graham Chapman on a chat show - John Cleese's interviewer addresses an off-screen 'Bishop', again launching the crook slam scene and the opening/closing credits. This is then interrupted by a caption and voiceover apologising for the frequent repetition in the programme. This is then interrupted by a caption and voiceover apologising for the frequent repetition in the programme.
The Bishop drives a blue Pontiac Firebird
up to a church, followed by his entourage of four tough-looking priests, during a Sunday sermon. The Bishop storms into the church saying "The text, Vic! Don't say the text!" The priest names the scripture text to be read anyway, and his pulpit explodes.
Next, the Bishop almost makes it to a baptism in time to stop a time bomb disguised as a baby from exploding. Despite yelling "Don't say the kid's name, Vic!" he is too late, and the fake baby explodes.
The Bishop arrives at a wedding and says, "The ring, Vic! Don't touch the ring!" but the priest takes the ring from his Bible, unaware that it is attached to a cord attached to a sixteen ton weight. The weight falls on the priest.
Two bellringers are seen, one enthusiastically ringing, the other standing still until he yanks the rope, hanging the other bellringer by the neck. The Bishop arrives, again too late, and leaves dismayed.
At a funeral, a cannon rises out of the open grave and aims at the priest. This time, the Bishop and his men don't even exit the car, but reverse in the parking lot and leave as soon as they hear the cannon blast.
While purchasing cigarettes at a tobacconist's, the Bishop and his men hear a cry of help from a priest (the same priest from The Insurance Sketch) in an upper floor window. The Bishop and his men run across the street, charge up the labyrinthine staircase, and break into an office, using one of the priests as a battering ram. The Bishop tells Devious not to move, slamming his crook on the desk. The animated title sequence begins again.
's animation:
C. of E.
Films
In Association with the Sunday Schools Board Present...
'THE BISHOP'
Starring: The Reverend E.P. Nesbitt
Introducing: F.B. Gromsby-Urquhart-Wright as the Voice of God
Special Effects By: The Moderator of the Church of Scotland
Directed by: Prebendary
"Chopper" Harris
Monty Python
Monty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
sketch from season 2, episode 17 of Monty Python's Flying Circus
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Monty Python’s Flying Circus is a BBC TV sketch comedy series. The shows were composed of surreality, risqué or innuendo-laden humour, sight gags and observational sketches without punchlines...
(titled "The Buzz Aldrin Show"). "The Bishop" is a parody of The Saint
The Saint (TV series)
The Saint was an ITC mystery spy thriller television series that aired in the UK on ITV between 1962 and 1969. It centred on the Leslie Charteris literary character, Simon Templar, a Robin Hood-like adventurer with a penchant for disguise. The character may be nicknamed The Saint because the...
, a British crime-drama series of the 1960s starring Roger Moore
Roger Moore
Sir Roger George Moore KBE , is an English actor, perhaps best known for portraying British secret agent James Bond in seven films from 1973 to 1985. He also portrayed Simon Templar in the long-running British television series The Saint.-Early life:Moore was born in Stockwell, London...
as Simon Templar
Simon Templar
Simon Templar is a British fictional character known as The Saint featured in a long-running series of books by Leslie Charteris published between 1928 and 1963. After that date, other authors collaborated with Charteris on books until 1983; two additional works produced without Charteris’s...
, enemy of gangland.
"The Bishop" stars Terry Jones
Terry Jones
Terence Graham Parry Jones is a Welsh comedian, screenwriter, actor, film director, children's author, popular historian, political commentator, and TV documentary host. He is best known as a member of the Monty Python comedy team....
as a crime-fighting bishop attempting to stop several comical murders of various Anglican clergymen (played by John Cleese
John Cleese
John Marwood Cleese is an English actor, comedian, writer, and film producer. He achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report...
, Michael Palin
Michael Palin
Michael Edward Palin, CBE FRGS is an English comedian, actor, writer and television presenter best known for being one of the members of the comedy group Monty Python and for his travel documentaries....
, Graham Chapman
Graham Chapman
Graham Arthur Chapman was a British comedian, physician, writer, actor, and one of the six members of the Monty Python comedy troupe.-Early life and education:...
and Eric Idle
Eric Idle
Eric Idle is an English comedian, actor, author, singer, writer, and comedic composer. He was as a member of the British comedy group Monty Python, a member of the The Rutles on Saturday Night Live and author of the play, Spamalot....
), always arriving a moment too late to be of assistance. Palin also appears as a character called "Devious", whom the Bishop directs 'Don't move!' at the very beginning and ends of the sketch. Much of the humour from this sketch derives from its frequent repetition. The bishop smacks his crook onto Devious' desk and tells him not to move, leading into the opening credits. This is then repeated at the end of the sketch when the Bishop comes in to rescue the priest being fleeced by Devious, and again later in the program when - after an extended tirade by an inexplicably nude Graham Chapman on a chat show - John Cleese's interviewer addresses an off-screen 'Bishop', again launching the crook slam scene and the opening/closing credits. This is then interrupted by a caption and voiceover apologising for the frequent repetition in the programme. This is then interrupted by a caption and voiceover apologising for the frequent repetition in the programme.
Summary
The sketch leads out of The Insurance Sketch, which ends with Devious (a sleazy insurance agent) asking a priest to leave the office after Devious has swindled him. The Bishop suddenly appears, slams his crook on the desk, and orders Devious not to move. This is followed by an animated title sequence suggesting a dynamic, adventurous crime programme.The Bishop drives a blue Pontiac Firebird
Pontiac Firebird
The Pontiac Firebird was built by the Pontiac division of General Motors between 1967 and 2002. The Firebird was introduced the same year as the automaker's platform-sharing model, the Chevrolet Camaro...
up to a church, followed by his entourage of four tough-looking priests, during a Sunday sermon. The Bishop storms into the church saying "The text, Vic! Don't say the text!" The priest names the scripture text to be read anyway, and his pulpit explodes.
Next, the Bishop almost makes it to a baptism in time to stop a time bomb disguised as a baby from exploding. Despite yelling "Don't say the kid's name, Vic!" he is too late, and the fake baby explodes.
The Bishop arrives at a wedding and says, "The ring, Vic! Don't touch the ring!" but the priest takes the ring from his Bible, unaware that it is attached to a cord attached to a sixteen ton weight. The weight falls on the priest.
Two bellringers are seen, one enthusiastically ringing, the other standing still until he yanks the rope, hanging the other bellringer by the neck. The Bishop arrives, again too late, and leaves dismayed.
At a funeral, a cannon rises out of the open grave and aims at the priest. This time, the Bishop and his men don't even exit the car, but reverse in the parking lot and leave as soon as they hear the cannon blast.
While purchasing cigarettes at a tobacconist's, the Bishop and his men hear a cry of help from a priest (the same priest from The Insurance Sketch) in an upper floor window. The Bishop and his men run across the street, charge up the labyrinthine staircase, and break into an office, using one of the priests as a battering ram. The Bishop tells Devious not to move, slamming his crook on the desk. The animated title sequence begins again.
The Credits
The opening/closing credits read as follows, accompanied by Terry GilliamTerry Gilliam
Terrence Vance "Terry" Gilliam is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam is also known for directing several films, including Brazil , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , The Fisher King , and 12 Monkeys...
's animation:
C. of E.
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
Films
In Association with the Sunday Schools Board Present...
'THE BISHOP'
Starring: The Reverend E.P. Nesbitt
Introducing: F.B. Gromsby-Urquhart-Wright as the Voice of God
Special Effects By: The Moderator of the Church of Scotland
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The Moderator of the General Assembly of Church of Scotland is a Minister, Elder or Deacon of the Church of Scotland chosen to "moderate" the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is held for a week in Edinburgh every May....
Directed by: Prebendary
Prebendary
A prebendary is a post connected to an Anglican or Catholic cathedral or collegiate church and is a type of canon. Prebendaries have a role in the administration of the cathedral...
"Chopper" Harris
Ron Harris (footballer)
Ronald Edward Harris , better known as Ron "Chopper" Harris, is a former English footballer who played for Chelsea in the 1960s and 1970s. Harris is widely regarded as one of the toughest defenders of his era - along with players such as Tommy Smith MBE and Norman Hunter - hence the nickname...