Mr Praline - Revision history

Kurt at 12:58, 3 September 2024

2024-09-03T12:58:46Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:58, 3 September 2024
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	==Appearances==		==Appearances==
	The [[Monty Python]] team consciously decided to avoid recurring characters. Along with the Nude Organist ([[Terry Jones]] and [[Terry Gilliam]]), [[Michael Palin]]'s "It's" man, the [[Gumbys]], and [[Graham Chapman]]'s [[The Colonel (Monty Python)\|Colonel]], Mr Praline was one of the few deemed popular and useful enough for multiple appearances.<ref>Johnson 1999, p.51.</ref> Praline's initial appearance was in a first series episode during a [[Vox populi\|vox pop]] segment, to announce that he would be appearing later in the show.<ref name="Johnson-90">Johnson 1999, p. 90</ref> This he did as a Police [[Inspector#United Kingdom\|Inspector]], following up on the case of Whizzo's Chocolates (hence his name, [[w:Praline (nut confection)\|praline]] being a kind of [[hazelnut]] confection), which produced such gems as Cockroach Cluster, Anthrax Ripple, and the titular [[Crunchy Frog]].<ref>{{cite book \|title=The Complete Idiot's Guide to the World of Harry Potter \|last=Stouffer \|first=Tere \|year=2007 \|publisher=Alpha Books \|isbn=978-1-59257-599-2 \|url=https://archive.org/details/completeidiotsgu0000stou \|url-access=registration \|quote=Praline +monty python. \|access-date=5 July 2008 \|page=[https://archive.org/details/completeidiotsgu0000stou/page/122 122]}}</ref><ref name="Johnson-90"/>		The [[Monty Python]] team consciously decided to avoid recurring characters. Along with the Nude Organist ([[Terry Jones]] and [[Terry Gilliam]]), [[Michael Palin]]'s "It's" man, the [[Gumbys]], and [[Graham Chapman]]'s [[The Colonel (Monty Python)\|Colonel]], Mr Praline was one of the few deemed popular and useful enough for multiple appearances.<ref>Johnson 1999, p.51.</ref> Praline's initial appearance was in a first series episode during a [[Vox populi\|vox pop]] segment, to announce that he would be appearing later in the show.<ref name="Johnson-90">Johnson 1999, p. 90</ref> This he did as a Police [[Inspector#United Kingdom\|Inspector]], following up on the case of Whizzo's Chocolates (hence his name, [[Praline (nut confection)\|praline]] being a kind of [[hazelnut]] confection), which produced such gems as Cockroach Cluster, Anthrax Ripple, and the titular [[Crunchy Frog]].<ref>{{cite book \|title=The Complete Idiot's Guide to the World of Harry Potter \|last=Stouffer \|first=Tere \|year=2007 \|publisher=Alpha Books \|isbn=978-1-59257-599-2 \|url=https://archive.org/details/completeidiotsgu0000stou \|url-access=registration \|quote=Praline +monty python. \|access-date=5 July 2008 \|page=[https://archive.org/details/completeidiotsgu0000stou/page/122 122]}}</ref><ref name="Johnson-90"/>

	Praline's defining moment came in two episodes later, when he attempted to return his recently purchased [[Dead Parrot sketch\|dead parrot]] to the pet shop from which he had bought it, not half an hour ago at that very boutique.<ref>{{cite book \|title=Monty Python, Shakespeare and English Renaissance Drama \|last=Larsen \|first=Darl \|author2=Williams, William Proctor \|year=2003 \|publisher=McFarland \|isbn=0-7864-1504-5 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Z6yKtyT-cYC&pg=PA23 \|page=23}}</ref> This segment has been called the comedy team's single best-known sketch,<ref>Johnson 1999, p. 96.</ref> and it led to Praline's appearance in the team's first theatrical release, ''[[And Now for Something Completely Different]]'' (1971) which included a remake of the sketch.<ref>Johnson 1999, p. 220.</ref>		Praline's defining moment came in two episodes later, when he attempted to return his recently purchased [[Dead Parrot sketch\|dead parrot]] to the pet shop from which he had bought it, not half an hour ago at that very boutique.<ref>{{cite book \|title=Monty Python, Shakespeare and English Renaissance Drama \|last=Larsen \|first=Darl \|author2=Williams, William Proctor \|year=2003 \|publisher=McFarland \|isbn=0-7864-1504-5 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Z6yKtyT-cYC&pg=PA23 \|page=23}}</ref> This segment has been called the comedy team's single best-known sketch,<ref>Johnson 1999, p. 96.</ref> and it led to Praline's appearance in the team's first theatrical release, ''[[And Now for Something Completely Different]]'' (1971) which included a remake of the sketch.<ref>Johnson 1999, p. 220.</ref>

Kurt at 16:36, 26 January 2023

2023-01-26T16:36:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:36, 26 January 2023
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	\| portrayer = [[John Cleese]]		\| portrayer = [[John Cleese]]
	\| gender = Male		\| gender = Male
			\| series = Monty Python
	}}		}}

Kurt at 16:15, 26 January 2023

2023-01-26T16:15:22Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:15, 26 January 2023
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	~~[[File:~~Mr Praline.webp\|~~thumb~~\|~~right~~]]		{{Infobox character
			\| name = Mr Praline
			\| image = Mr Praline.webp
			\| caption =
			\| first = Series 1
			\| creator = [[Monty Python]]
			\| portrayer = [[John Cleese]]
			\| gender = Male
			}}

	'''Mr Eric Praline''' is a fictional character from the television show ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]'', played by comedian [[John Cleese]].		'''Mr Eric Praline''' is a fictional character from the television show ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]'', played by comedian [[John Cleese]].

	==Appearances==		==Appearances==
	The [[Monty Python]] team consciously decided to avoid recurring characters. Along with the Nude Organist ([[Terry Jones]] and [[Terry Gilliam]]), [[Michael Palin]]'s "It's" man, the [[Gumbys]], and [[Graham Chapman]]'s [[The Colonel (Monty Python)\|Colonel]], Mr Praline was one of the few deemed popular and useful enough for multiple appearances.<ref>Johnson 1999, p.51.</ref> Praline's initial appearance was in a first series episode during a [[Vox populi\|vox pop]] segment, to announce that he would be appearing later in the show.<ref name="Johnson-90">Johnson 1999, p. 90</ref> This he did as a Police [[Inspector#United Kingdom\|Inspector]], following up on the case of Whizzo's Chocolates (hence his name, [[Praline (nut confection)\|praline]] being a kind of [[hazelnut]] confection), which produced such gems as Cockroach Cluster, Anthrax Ripple, and the titular [[Crunchy Frog]].<ref>{{cite book \|title=The Complete Idiot's Guide to the World of Harry Potter \|last=Stouffer \|first=Tere \|year=2007 \|publisher=Alpha Books \|isbn=978-1-59257-599-2 \|url=https://archive.org/details/completeidiotsgu0000stou \|url-access=registration \|quote=Praline +monty python. \|access-date=5 July 2008 \|page=[https://archive.org/details/completeidiotsgu0000stou/page/122 122]}}</ref><ref name="Johnson-90"/>		The [[Monty Python]] team consciously decided to avoid recurring characters. Along with the Nude Organist ([[Terry Jones]] and [[Terry Gilliam]]), [[Michael Palin]]'s "It's" man, the [[Gumbys]], and [[Graham Chapman]]'s [[The Colonel (Monty Python)\|Colonel]], Mr Praline was one of the few deemed popular and useful enough for multiple appearances.<ref>Johnson 1999, p.51.</ref> Praline's initial appearance was in a first series episode during a [[Vox populi\|vox pop]] segment, to announce that he would be appearing later in the show.<ref name="Johnson-90">Johnson 1999, p. 90</ref> This he did as a Police [[Inspector#United Kingdom\|Inspector]], following up on the case of Whizzo's Chocolates (hence his name, [[w:Praline (nut confection)\|praline]] being a kind of [[hazelnut]] confection), which produced such gems as Cockroach Cluster, Anthrax Ripple, and the titular [[Crunchy Frog]].<ref>{{cite book \|title=The Complete Idiot's Guide to the World of Harry Potter \|last=Stouffer \|first=Tere \|year=2007 \|publisher=Alpha Books \|isbn=978-1-59257-599-2 \|url=https://archive.org/details/completeidiotsgu0000stou \|url-access=registration \|quote=Praline +monty python. \|access-date=5 July 2008 \|page=[https://archive.org/details/completeidiotsgu0000stou/page/122 122]}}</ref><ref name="Johnson-90"/>

	Praline's defining moment came in two episodes later, when he attempted to return his recently purchased [[Dead Parrot sketch\|dead parrot]] to the pet shop from which he had bought it, not half an hour ago at that very boutique.<ref>{{cite book \|title=Monty Python, Shakespeare and English Renaissance Drama \|last=Larsen \|first=Darl \|author2=Williams, William Proctor \|year=2003 \|publisher=McFarland \|isbn=0-7864-1504-5 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Z6yKtyT-cYC&pg=PA23 \|page=23}}</ref> This segment has been called the comedy team's single best-known sketch,<ref>Johnson 1999, p. 96.</ref> and it led to Praline's appearance in the team's first theatrical release, ''[[And Now for Something Completely Different]]'' (1971) which included a remake of the sketch.<ref>Johnson 1999, p. 220.</ref>		Praline's defining moment came in two episodes later, when he attempted to return his recently purchased [[Dead Parrot sketch\|dead parrot]] to the pet shop from which he had bought it, not half an hour ago at that very boutique.<ref>{{cite book \|title=Monty Python, Shakespeare and English Renaissance Drama \|last=Larsen \|first=Darl \|author2=Williams, William Proctor \|year=2003 \|publisher=McFarland \|isbn=0-7864-1504-5 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Z6yKtyT-cYC&pg=PA23 \|page=23}}</ref> This segment has been called the comedy team's single best-known sketch,<ref>Johnson 1999, p. 96.</ref> and it led to Praline's appearance in the team's first theatrical release, ''[[And Now for Something Completely Different]]'' (1971) which included a remake of the sketch.<ref>Johnson 1999, p. 220.</ref>

Kurt: /* Bibliography */

2023-01-26T16:09:49Z

Bibliography

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:09, 26 January 2023
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	* {{cite book \|title=The First 28<s>0</s> Years of Monty Python \|last=Johnson \|first=Kim "Howard" \|year=1999 \|location=New York \|publisher=Thomas Dunne Books \|isbn=0-312-16933-7 \|url-access=registration \|url=https://archive.org/details/first28yearsofmo0000john }}		* {{cite book \|title=The First 28<s>0</s> Years of Monty Python \|last=Johnson \|first=Kim "Howard" \|year=1999 \|location=New York \|publisher=Thomas Dunne Books \|isbn=0-312-16933-7 \|url-access=registration \|url=https://archive.org/details/first28yearsofmo0000john }}

	{{Monty Python}}		{{Monty Python\|state=collapsed}}

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Praline, Eric}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Praline, Eric}}

Kurt at 16:08, 26 January 2023

2023-01-26T16:08:21Z

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	~~{{Lead too short~~\|~~date=May 2020}}~~		[[File:Mr Praline.webp\|thumb\|right]]
	~~{{Use dmy dates~~\|~~date=February 2021}}~~
	'''Mr Eric Praline''' is a fictional character from the television show ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]'', played by comedian [[John Cleese]].		'''Mr Eric Praline''' is a fictional character from the television show ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]'', played by comedian [[John Cleese]].

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2023-01-26T15:57:35Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 10:57, 26 January 2023
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en>Discospinster: /* Character */ format

2023-01-09T18:12:40Z

Character: format

New page

{{Lead too short|date=May 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
'''Mr Eric Praline''' is a fictional character from the television show ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]'', played by comedian [[John Cleese]].

==Appearances==
The [[Monty Python]] team consciously decided to avoid recurring characters. Along with the Nude Organist ([[Terry Jones]] and [[Terry Gilliam]]), [[Michael Palin]]'s "It's" man, the [[Gumbys]], and [[Graham Chapman]]'s [[The Colonel (Monty Python)|Colonel]], Mr Praline was one of the few deemed popular and useful enough for multiple appearances.<ref>Johnson 1999, p.51.</ref> Praline's initial appearance was in a first series episode during a [[Vox populi|vox pop]] segment, to announce that he would be appearing later in the show.<ref name="Johnson-90">Johnson 1999, p. 90</ref> This he did as a Police [[Inspector#United Kingdom|Inspector]], following up on the case of Whizzo's Chocolates (hence his name, [[Praline (nut confection)|praline]] being a kind of [[hazelnut]] confection), which produced such gems as Cockroach Cluster, Anthrax Ripple, and the titular [[Crunchy Frog]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Complete Idiot's Guide to the World of Harry Potter |last=Stouffer |first=Tere |year=2007 |publisher=Alpha Books |isbn=978-1-59257-599-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/completeidiotsgu0000stou |url-access=registration |quote=Praline +monty python. |access-date=5 July 2008 |page=[https://archive.org/details/completeidiotsgu0000stou/page/122 122]}}</ref><ref name="Johnson-90"/>

Praline's defining moment came in two episodes later, when he attempted to return his recently purchased [[Dead Parrot sketch|dead parrot]] to the pet shop from which he had bought it, not half an hour ago at that very boutique.<ref>{{cite book |title=Monty Python, Shakespeare and English Renaissance Drama |last=Larsen |first=Darl |author2=Williams, William Proctor |year=2003 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=0-7864-1504-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Z6yKtyT-cYC&pg=PA23 |page=23}}</ref> This segment has been called the comedy team's single best-known sketch,<ref>Johnson 1999, p. 96.</ref> and it led to Praline's appearance in the team's first theatrical release, ''[[And Now for Something Completely Different]]'' (1971) which included a remake of the sketch.<ref>Johnson 1999, p. 220.</ref>

In a second series episode Praline had more pet trouble, this time trying to buy a [[Fish Licence|fish licence]] for his pet [[halibut]], Eric.<ref name="Slowik-182">{{cite book |chapter=Existentialism in Monty Python: Kafka, Camus Nietzsche, and Sartre|title=Monty Python and Philosophy: Nudge Nudge, Think Think! |last=Slowik |first=Edward |editor=Hardcastle, Gary L. |editor2=Reisch, George A. |year=2006 |publisher=Open Court Publishing |isbn=0-8126-9593-3 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wPQelKFNA5MC&dq=Praline+%2B%22monty+python%22+%2Bfish&pg=RA1-PA182 |page=182}}</ref> In this sketch, he mentions that he also has a cat and a dog named Eric among others and has acquired a (fraudulent) licence for the cat. This final sketch led to Praline singing the song "[[Eric The Half-A-Bee]]" on the ''[[Monty Python's Previous Record]]'' album.<ref name="Johnson-141">Johnson 1999, p. 141.</ref>

Cleese eventually got so fed up with "doing the one with the parrot", that he vowed never again to perform the sketch; conversely, the Eric the Half-A-Bee segment is one of Cleese's personal favourites.<ref name="Johnson-141"/> It includes the revelation that Praline's first name is also Eric.

In episode 18, "Live from the Grill-o-mat", Praline appears with his flatmate Brooky ([[Eric Idle]]) as the host of a new chat show. However, the show in the sketch is cancelled and they later appear in "The Seven Brides For Seven Brothers Sketch".<ref>Johnson 1999, p. 129.</ref>

A ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' photo shoot during the filming of ''[[Monty Python's Life of Brian]]'' in [[Tunisia]] resulted in the character's post-TV-series appearance. The comedy team was photographed in costume against mosques and palm trees; Michael Palin noted in his diary: "Nostalgia time. John was dressed in his [[Cagoule (raincoat)#The roll-up-able cagoule|Pacamac]] as Praline, complete with dead parrot."<ref>{{cite book |title=Diaries 1969–1979: The Python Years |last=Palin |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Palin |year=2006 |location=New York |publisher=Thomas Dunne Books |isbn=0-297-84436-9|page=487}}</ref>

==Character==
Robert Ross' ''Monty Python Encyclopedia'' notes that Mr Praline has become a beloved figure within the Python canon.<ref name="Ross p.43">{{cite book |title=Monty Python Encyclopedia |url=https://archive.org/details/montypythonencyc0000ross_f1a4 |url-access=registration |last=Ross |first=Robert |year=1999 |location=New York |publisher=TV Books |isbn=1-57500-036-9 |page=[https://archive.org/details/montypythonencyc0000ross_f1a4/page/43 43] }}</ref> He has been discussed in Python-related literature as well as works not specifically dealing with the comedy team. Praline has an incredulous tone and exaggerated, somewhat high-pitched English accent with Scottish elements. Ross describes Praline's character as "slightly creepy", with a "[[Britishness|British]] air of oppressed madness".<ref name="Ross p.43"/> ''Literature Through Film: Realism, Magic, and the Art of Adaptation'' (2004) holds Praline up as an example of a "[[Sancho Panza|Sancho]]-like [[realism (arts)|realist]]".<ref>{{cite book |title=Literature Through Film: Realism, Magic, and the Art of Adaptation |last=Stam |first=Robert |year=2004 |location=Malden, MA |publisher=Wiley-Blackwell |isbn=1-4051-0287-X |page=[https://archive.org/details/literaturethroug0000stam/page/58 58] |url=https://archive.org/details/literaturethroug0000stam/page/58 }}</ref> The 2006 book ''The Best British Stand-Up and Comedy Routines'' describes the disgruntled Mr Praline as "all plastered down hair and plastic raincoat".<ref>{{cite book |title=The Best British Stand-Up and Comedy Routines |editor-last=O'Brien |editor-first=Mike |year=2006 |location=New York |publisher=Running Press |isbn=0-7867-1858-7 |page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780786718580/page/248 248] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780786718580/page/248 }}</ref>

Edward Slowik writes that in the "[[Fish Licence]]" sketch, Praline provides an example of [[Jean-Paul Sartre]]'s [[Existentialism|existentialist]] concept of
"[[bad faith (existentialism)|bad faith]]". In this concept, a denial of individual freedom can result when a person fails to accept that past choices and behaviour determine one's character. By declaring "I am not a loony!" when his actions have shown he is clearly insane, Praline exhibits Sartrean "bad faith".<ref name="Slowik-182"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |title=The First 28<s>0</s> Years of Monty Python |last=Johnson |first=Kim "Howard" |year=1999 |location=New York |publisher=Thomas Dunne Books |isbn=0-312-16933-7 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/first28yearsofmo0000john }}

{{Monty Python}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Praline, Eric}}
[[Category:Fictional English people]]
[[Category:Fictional characters with neurological or psychological disorders]]
[[Category:Fictional British police officers]]
[[Category:Monty Python characters]]
[[Category:Television characters introduced in 1969]]