Eric Idle on Late Night

LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN Transcript of October 11, 1996 show with guest Eric Idle, Peter Gallagher, and Los Lobos.

Conan: My first guest is one of the founding members of "Monty Python," we're all fans of his, Eric Idle!

[ Cheers and applause. ]

Conan: Nice to meet you.

Eric: Nice to meet you, I don't want to make a big thing about it but they did say I'd be out of here...have a plane to catch.

Conan: Eric has to catch a plane to London, really going to leave right for the airport from here.

Eric: Yes, right from here.

Conan: So the more time I waste the greater jeopardy you're in...

Eric: Exactly. So we'd better not waste any more time.

Conan: That's a nice coat you have, where could I get one? [ Laughter. ]

Eric: Oh, probably Japan...Very lightweight, can keep your CD's in here. [ Laughter. ]

Conan: You're here to talk about a children's book..we have a child here.

Eric: We could try it on her. [ Laughter. ]

Conan: The book is called "The Owl and the Pussycat," by Eric Idle, what are you trying to accomplish?

Eric: It is based on an Edward Lear poem, everyone knows that one. "The owl and pussycat went to sea in a beautiful green boat; They took some honey and plenty of money wrapped up in a five-pound note." I wondered what happened to them, why they were there, what they were doing, my daughter did too, so I wrote the story. Used some of Lear's illustrations, neat little illustrations, like people hanging from a flow, "manypeopleupsideownium."

Conan: Most fascinating thing is the book on tape, with songs, some quite interesting songs.

Eric: Yes, would you like to hear one?

Conan: Of course.

Eric: I'll just change into my singing uniform. [ Cheers and applause. Sings: ]

Conan: Very nice, thank you. We'll take a quick break and be back with Eric Idle and then get him on that plane.

------

Conan: That was the shopping song...I understand Monty Python has a web site.

Eric: We have a web site, PythOnline; have T-shirts with original Gilliam animation on them for you and Andy. We try to have different services, like the Spam Club. It costs nothing, you get nothing, so far we have 25,000 members. We've had eight million hits in eight weeks on our website.

Conan: You've had that much response.

Eric: There are lunatics out there with nothing to do. We have an abuse service; we'll walk you through, you can select the abuse you wish to do and sent it to the person you wish to do. [ Laughter. ]

Conan: Sounds like people have been waiting for this service.

Eric: You can also donate an organ, any part of the body you're finished with, you can send off by email. One final service we offer is you can change your star sign. You can become a whole new personality. [ Laughter. ]

Conan: Want to ask about...there's talk of the surviving Python members making a new movie...

Eric: Sort of half rumor and truth. I'm on my way to London right now to open a film, "The Wind and the Willows," directed by Terry Jones, with me and Michael Palin and John Cleese and...but it's not a Python movie really.

Conan: Do you think you'd get together for a Python film or--do you asked that all the time.

Eric: It's unlikely; I think it'd be rather undesirable, though.

Conan: I know the Sauer family is waiting expectantly for a new "Python" movie. [ Laughter. ]
One of the things I want to ask is, do you have an amazing show business story about you and Madonna?

Eric: Actually, I'd love to tell you but I've really got to go now...

Conan: Oh, I understand, thank you...have to get it next time.

Eric: Goodbye, goodbye, bye Sauer family... [ muttering as he walks out to the limo ] Oh, it went terribly, I'm sorry for him...bye everybody, sorry, bye, see you...okay, driver, let's go...come on, we've to get a plane...honestly, limo drivers in New York... [ limo finally starts driving ]

Conan: I think he's going to miss the plane...going to be very mad... book is "The Quite Remarkable Adventures of the Owl and the Pussycat," of course PythOnline...we'll be right back.