Also with all the lesser Python projects mentioned already nobody's mentioned A Fish Called Wanda yet. Always best to jump for the good stuff. Although I suppose it's all a matter of taste.
I hadn't heard of the new cut of Erik the Viking. I don't see it for sale in the U.S. - I'm curious to see it, as the film wasn't very good. Did have Neil Innes music (and cameo) at least.
This shows you how out of touch I am I suppose. I gave up on both Python and Star Wars fandom when they became exasperating to me, due to actions of Eric and George respectively.
(Eric was always my favorite Python, so some of his actions in the past 15 years have been quite disappointing. Although embarrassing an idea as Rutles 2 was, I thought it was funny enough and nice for the outtakes from the real Rutles and enjoyed seeing it on the big screen with Eric there .... sitting in the same row as him ....!)
RUTLAND DELETED SCENES!
The UK Arena cut-down versions of Rutland Weekend Television series 1 were interesting for one reason - they used an alternate previously-unaired "pilot" edit of the first episode with a different host (Timothy Carlton) and some brief extra footage (notably one gynecologist joke). (As it was cut by 6 minutes for its airing, I'm not sure if any other variations existed in the pilot.)
There also exists a longer cut of episode 6 (containing exactly one extra sketch, exactly one minute in length, entitled "In this studio with me") - I don't think this was ever aired anywhere, but it was the version I saw first!
Both of these oddities are, oddly, referred to in obscure little in-jokes in the second series of the show ... presumably for the crew alone to laugh at.
A deleted song from Rutland Weekend series 2, "Elvis and the Disagreeable Backing Singers" turned up in The Innes Book of Records. In 2003 while helping Neil perform the song live, we learned that even that version had been cut down, and there was an unnecessary extra few lines at the end in Neil's full version.
If anyone wants anything related to Python, Rutland, Rutles, Neil Innes or the Bonzo Dog Band, write me at tygerbug at yahoo.com - I keep quite a collection.
The Rutles! If you don't own both albums, buy them now. Neil's best work, and the film is among Eric's best also.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RFxencNmZw
Checking Youtube for RUTLAND ... more songs on there than sketches, but hey, why not? Neil!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hU0QZQRTNr0
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_eH4HeZrg48
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5sj-bjm48YA
http://youtube.com/watch?v=AarhZScyuz0
http://youtube.com/watch?v=4fC5B778Oeg
http://youtube.com/watch?v=CNn40od7PlQ
http://youtube.com/watch?v=lplGAiqgPwQ
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KBK5NyRdWsY
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ISCympuFDVU
http://youtube.com/watch?v=1vrrVj8LbqI
1948 Show! Pre-Python sketch show featuring some great sketchwriting by Cleese, Chapman, Feldman and Brooke-Taylor.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=a0F1ra13VzU
http://youtube.com/watch?v=nioWR2qcMNo
http://youtube.com/watch?v=nsBoiMv9rvc
http://youtube.com/watch?v=GVY8iVAhfuU
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8_b6vyaZUns
Not always the best clips from any of these shows, just what I could find on Youtube ...
More Neil Innes from the wonderful 97 Rutles reunion .... which Eric declined to participate in with profanities .... :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlTwXXIj_B4
Bonzos! (as if anyone watched Do Not Adjust Your Set for the pre-Pythons ...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2003zBR7-BI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGHhDpIds78
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fnrGIFMpcY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anmnnZPjrIs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Omc9lkSjYjc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2fXUe-dmy0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLdA4zKp-00
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZHTkb6BUxU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riIqZCfhLVY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7PEhU0PvVY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do0SERv-QFk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lFHkvIYR1w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm8F9Q2zU2w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85fdtF9yR3k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HS_lI-ARK4I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz6KHhRGVKs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngvxidwyTVM
Typical kids stuff from Do Not Adjust Your Set
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwC_YXFCpIM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKysX9YMBb0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpx31NNnEEc
Innes Book
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ui0c7FhTes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TDKYH-dJVA