Dead Parrots Across the Ages Trivia Quiz

Answer: "Hello, I wish to register a complaint."

"The Parrot Sketch", also known as "Dead Parrot", debuted on "Monty Python's Flying Circus" in the eighth episode of the first season. In its original form, Mr. Praline ends up being referred to another pet shop in Bolton, and the sketch disintegrates to the point that Graham Chapman's Bernard Montgomery-like Colonel eventually stops the proceedings as they have become "too silly". Subsequent performances of the piece have featured tighter, more concise endings.

Answer: Norwegian Blue

The name "Norwegian Blue" is, of course, a joke in itself, as there are no indigenous parrot species outside the tropics. The other listed varieties are bona fide parrots. The African Grey is noted for its exceptional intelligence, though it is problematic as a pet; it requires a great deal of attention, and is prone to bite with its strong beak.

The eclectically-colored Cuban Amazon, which occurs in the Bahamas and the Cayman Islands as well as Cuba, is actually in danger of becoming an endangered species due to the destruction of its habitat.

The Australian King is rather popular as a pet in and around its native land (the east coast of the continent), but is relatively unknown beyond this range.

Answer: It was tired and shagged out after a long squawk.

Desperately trying to cover his tracks, the dealer offers that the bird it "pining for the fjords". Mr. Praline counters that the Norwegian Blue is "not pining; it has PASSED ON!" This prefigures the most beloved portion of the sketch featuring an increasingly spirited recitation of English euphemisms for death.

Answer: "Of course it was nailed there! Otherwise, it would have muscled up to those bars, and then VOOM!"

The increasingly frustrated Mr. Praline retorts, quite sensibly, that "this parrot wouldn't VOOM if I put four thousand volts through it." It is worth pointing out, however, that the African Grey has been known to bend the bars of cages that are not solidly constructed, and as such the shopkeeper's argument is not entirely without merit.

Answer: "It sleeps with the fishes!"

Among the other euphemisms used are:

"This parrot is no more! It has ceased to be!"
"It's expired and gone to meet its maker!"
"Bereft of life, it rests in peace!"
And, finally: "This is an ex-parrot!"

In later performances, Cleese would include: "It's metabolic processes are of interest only to historians!"

Cleese's recitation does indicate the origins of the sketch: it started, in part, as an improvisatory exercise where participants cannot repeat a line without being eliminated.

Answer: The Lumberjack Song

Perhaps it goes without mentioning that "The Lumberjack Song", iconic in itself, features the protagonist declaring his love of the traditional timber industry in song - accompanied by a harmonizing group of Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It concludes with the singer revealing his transgendered proclivities and the inevitable degeneration of the sketch into the bemused chaos so typical of Monty Python.

Answer: Amnesty International

The benefit show, originally titled "A Poke in the Eye with a Sharp Stick", would spawn the later-titled Secret Policemen's Ball concerts to benefit this human rights organization. If you're not acquainted with Amnesty International (AI), it is a non-governmental group founded in 1961 for the purpose of countering grave human rights violations, which it usually defines as trespasses against the United Nations' "Universal Declaration of Human Rights", signed in 1948. Specific issues addressed include the fate of political prisoners, torture, and executions, which AI opposes in all cases.

Answer: Margaret Thatcher

This observation was especially pointed in that the Liberal Democrats' symbol is a stylized yellow bird. Ironically enough, the Lib Dems would pick up a House of Commons seat soon thereafter in a special election, leading Lib Dem leader David Steel to remark that "this dead parrot gave her a good pecking!"

Cleese, a longtime Liberal Democrat supporter himself, has stated that he is reasonably certain Thatcher was coached in this, as comedy was never her strong suit.

Answer: Saturday Night Live

Though the sketch was performed essentially as written back in the Python days, it concluded with Palin unexpectedly asking Cleese: "How would you like to go back to my place?" Cleese responded: "I thought you'd never ask," and the pair exited to a well-deserved ovation.

Answer: Graham Chapman

"The Parrot Sketch" itself was directly descended from a sequence in the film "How to Irritate People" which saw Chapman try to sell Cleese a used car whilst steadfastly rationalizing its myriad problems.

The ironic and occasionally profane eulogy concluded with Cleese (who had been with Graham all through his struggle with spinal cancer) declaring his colleague an "ex-Chapman". The service was concluded by Eric Idle leading the mourners in a rendition of "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" from the film "Life of Brian".

To my friends who may be reading this: if anything happens to me, this is how I want to go out.

As always, I'd love to hear any comments you might have, especially those that will make this a better quiz. Thanks for playing.