Mr Praline (John Cleese) (right) attempts to return his dead Norwegian Blue parrot to the shopkeeper (Michael Palin)
The "Dead Parrot Sketch", alternatively and originally known as the "Pet Shop Sketch" or "Parrot Sketch", is a sketch from Monty Python's Flying Circus about a non-existent species of parrot, called a "Norwegian Blue". A satire on poor customer service, it was written by John Cleese and Graham Chapman and initially performed in the show's first series, in the eighth episode ("Full Frontal Nudity", which first aired 7 December 1969).[1][2]
The sketch portrays a conflict between disgruntled customer Mr Praline (played by Cleese) and a shopkeeper (Michael Palin), who argue whether or not a recently purchased parrot is dead.[3]
Over the years, Cleese and Palin have performed many versions of the "Dead Parrot" sketch for television shows, record albums, and live performances. "Dead Parrot" was voted the top alternative comedy sketch in a Radio Times poll.[4]
The Dead Parrot sketch performed on Monty Python's Flying Circus in 1969
Listen to a clip from the sketch.
Problems playing this file? See media help.
^Monty Python; Chapman, Graham; Idle, Eric; Gilliam, Terry; Jones, Terry (12 November 1989). Wilmut, Roger (ed.). The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus. Vol. 1. New York, New York: Pantheon Books. p. 320 (Appendix). ISBN 0-679-72647-0. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
^Egan, Kate; Weinstock, Jeffrey Andrew, eds. (20 October 2020). And Now for Something Completely Different: Critical Approaches to Monty Python (Hard cover). University of Edinburgh Press. ISBN 978-1474475150. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
^Cite error: The named reference McCabe was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"Python Dead Parrot is top sketch". BBC. 29 November 2004. Archived from the original on 9 January 2008. Retrieved 31 March 2007.
and 21 Related for: Dead Parrot sketch information
The "DeadParrotSketch", alternatively and originally known as the "Pet Shop Sketch" or "ParrotSketch", is a sketch from Monty Python's Flying Circus...
Monty Python Live (Mostly), as a surprising coda to the DeadParrotsketch. The idea for the sketch came after a day of shooting in Folkestone Harbour, where...
involving the merger of Python with Perl was dubbed "Parrot" after the DeadParrotsketch. The name "Parrot" was later used for a project to develop a virtual...
Retrieved 3 July 2016. "PsittaScene Magazine". World Parrot Trust. Retrieved 3 July 2016. "The DeadParrotsketch". Monty Python. Season 1. Episode 8. United Kingdom...
the faulty item into a deadparrot, and he also suggested that the parrot be specifically a "Norwegian Blue", giving the sketch a surreal air which made...
Philogelos has been described as "an ancestor of Monty Python's famous DeadParrot comedy sketch." Comedian Jimmy Carr has said that some of the jokes are "strikingly...
Chapman. He acted in some of the most famous Python sketches, including "Argument Clinic", "DeadParrotsketch", "The Lumberjack Song", "The Spanish Inquisition"...
Chapman's sketches, featuring a used car salesman refusing to believe a customer's model had broken down, became the inspiration for the DeadParrotsketch. Chapman...
breath. The Philogelos even contains a joke similar to Monty Python's "DeadParrotSketch". During the 15th century, the printing revolution spread across Europe...
negative connotations. Call a spade a spade Code word (figure of speech) DeadParrotsketch Distinction without a difference Dog whistle (politics) Double entendre...
And Now For Something Completely Different, it follows on from the "DeadParrotsketch" with Palin's character leaving the pet shop as Eric Praline (played...
Salesman" sketch, in which Palin refuses to accept customer Chapman's claim that a car he sold is faulty, later inspired Python's "DeadParrot" sketch, in which...
Lovecraft. She is stopped upon the arrival of King Triton. In the DeadParrotsketch by Monty Python's Flying Circus, the Customer is sent to Bolton for...
composed of some well-known sketches from the first two series of the Flying Circus, including the "DeadParrot" sketch, "The Lumberjack Song", "Upper...
new "bird" logo in language lifted from the famous Monty Python "DeadParrotsketch". Only days later, the Liberal Democrats took a seat from the Conservatives...
As a tribute to the DeadParrotsketch, a short that features Kyle as the owner of a shop to where Cartman attempts to return a dead Kenny aired during...
"Mountain Town" from the film. As a tribute to the DeadParrotsketch, a short that features Kenny as a "dead friend" being returned by Cartman to a shop run...
performed in the movie. As a tribute to the DeadParrotsketch, a short that features Cartman attempting to return a dead Kenny to a shop run by Kyle aired during...
The twenty-second season of Saturday Night Live, an American sketch comedy series, originally aired in the United States on NBC between September 28, 1996...
sketch); Mrs. Thing and Mrs. Entity (Pepperpots sketch) and, most surprisingly, the DeadParrotsketch. A film version of the Hollywood Bowl performances...
nods to "Ministry of Silly Walks", the "Election Night Special" and "DeadParrotsketch" routines, a bar from "Spam" worked into "Knights of the Round Table"...
Global Information
