# It pains me, Mr. Idle, to pit you, but pit you I must. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 21, 2007, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-pains-me-mr-idle-to-pit-you-but-pit-you-i-must/404989 "2007-05-21T21:50:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-pains-me-mr-idle-to-pit-you-but-pit-you-i-must/404989/21 "2007-05-22T01:09:04Z")
If you read the Michael Palin Diaries, you will see Eric has always been like this. He’s never satisfied with anything, and likes making a lot of noise whenever the opportunity arises. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-pains-me-mr-idle-to-pit-you-but-pit-you-i-must/404989/22 "2007-05-22T01:15:15Z")
[QUOTE=Idle Thoughts] Is it weird to have initially thought this was a pitting of me? :o [/QUOTE] That was my first thought! “What’s **Idle Thoughts** done, then?” As long as ol’ Eric is in a lawsuit-happy mood, d’you think he’ll also go after David Chase for last night’s Sopranos? The scene where Phil taunts Tony a second time-a? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-pains-me-mr-idle-to-pit-you-but-pit-you-i-must/404989/23 "2007-05-22T01:53:36Z")
[QUOTE=tomndebb] Despite the negative personal views already expressed in this thread, is there any chance that Idle is having a bit of fun, himself, stirring up a bit of imaginary conflict? The only reference I can find was to the radio interview quoted by The Sun, (and I have an innate suspicion of morning drive radio), so I am not sure how serious this bit might be. [/QUOTE] I think it’s entirely possible that Idle meant it as a joke. Whether he did or not, it ought to be treated as one. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-pains-me-mr-idle-to-pit-you-but-pit-you-i-must/404989/24 "2007-05-22T02:04:51Z")
IANACopyrightL, but is the coconuts gag really something that Idle, or the Pythons as an entity, need to protect? Everyone knows it’s their gag (even if the Goons did it first, as someone claims). It’s associated so strongly with them that I don’t see how there could be any doubt about ownership. If Shrek’s people did try to claim it was original with them, they’d be scoffed at as an artist would if he submitted “Christina’s World” to an exhibition. I honestly don’t see the harm. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-pains-me-mr-idle-to-pit-you-but-pit-you-i-must/404989/25 "2007-05-22T02:52:22Z")
[QUOTE=Rilchiam] That was my first thought! “What’s **Idle Thoughts** done, then?” [/QUOTE] Me, too! There’s nothing to see here. I’m going to bed. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-pains-me-mr-idle-to-pit-you-but-pit-you-i-must/404989/26 "2007-05-22T04:16:58Z")
Idle whooshing… ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-pains-me-mr-idle-to-pit-you-but-pit-you-i-must/404989/27 "2007-05-22T15:45:18Z")
IANABEE (I am not a British entertainment expert) but wasn’t the point of the _Holy Grail_ joke that they took an old and well-known music hall/pantomime stage effect and showed it right out in the open instead of behind the scenes? I don’t think that Monty Python can claim any real ownership of the idea, and even as an “out in the open” joke were probably only the first to do it in film rather than on stage. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-pains-me-mr-idle-to-pit-you-but-pit-you-i-must/404989/28 "2007-05-22T15:47:17Z")
[QUOTE=Bookkeeper] IANABEE [/QUOTE] Are you half a BEE? ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-pains-me-mr-idle-to-pit-you-but-pit-you-i-must/404989/29 "2007-05-22T16:23:15Z")
This, from the guy who came up with **The Rutles**? The Pit is too good for him. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-pains-me-mr-idle-to-pit-you-but-pit-you-i-must/404989/30 "2007-05-22T16:50:21Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] This, from the guy who came up with **The Rutles**? [/QUOTE] Well, he came up with the _name_, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-pains-me-mr-idle-to-pit-you-but-pit-you-i-must/404989/31 "2007-05-22T17:03:39Z")
[QUOTE=Biffy the Elephant Shrew] Are you half a BEE? [/QUOTE] Is that a BI? ---
**Author:** ![Ensign\_Edison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ab992/32.png) [@Ensign\_Edison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ensign_Edison)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-pains-me-mr-idle-to-pit-you-but-pit-you-i-must/404989/32 "2007-05-22T17:12:19Z")
[QUOTE=GuanoLad] If you read the Michael Palin Diaries, you will see Eric has always been like this. He’s never satisfied with anything, and likes making a lot of noise whenever the opportunity arises. [/QUOTE] Why did my mind immediately make this sound absolutely obscene? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-pains-me-mr-idle-to-pit-you-but-pit-you-i-must/404989/33 "2007-05-22T18:49:53Z")
[QUOTE=Biffy the Elephant Shrew] Are you half a BEE? [/QUOTE] He is Devo! ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-pains-me-mr-idle-to-pit-you-but-pit-you-i-must/404989/34 "2007-05-22T20:00:41Z")
[QUOTE=Biffy the Elephant Shrew] Are you half a BEE? [/QUOTE] No. He is not Eric. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-pains-me-mr-idle-to-pit-you-but-pit-you-i-must/404989/35 "2007-05-22T20:01:32Z")
[QUOTE=Rilchiam] IANACopyrightL, but is the coconuts gag really something that Idle, or the Pythons as an entity, need to protect? [/quote] Need doesn’t enter into it. > [@](#): > > Everyone knows it’s their gag (even if the Goons did it first, as someone claims). It’s associated so strongly with them that I don’t see how there could be any doubt about ownership. If Shrek’s people did try to claim it was original with them, they’d be scoffed at as an artist would if he submitted “Christina’s World” to an exhibition. I honestly don’t see the harm. I think you’ve got it backwards. If it’s obvious that it belongs to you, that makes it \*easier \*to make an infringement claim. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-pains-me-mr-idle-to-pit-you-but-pit-you-i-must/404989/36 "2007-05-22T21:52:49Z")
IIRC Alton Brown did a similar type of parody- much smaller scale I know, but just to say I doubt its the first time. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-pains-me-mr-idle-to-pit-you-but-pit-you-i-must/404989/37 "2007-05-23T01:52:23Z")
I still want his autograph. One step closer to the full set. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-pains-me-mr-idle-to-pit-you-but-pit-you-i-must/404989/38 "2007-05-23T21:27:16Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] There’s a scene at the beginning of the movie where Prince Charming is performing dinner theater. You see him seemingly galloping on a horse while scenery races by, then the camera pulls back to show that he’s on a stick horse and that a stage hand is making the coconut clop-clop sounds (the scenery is a scrolling, painted backdrop). [/QUOTE] Scrolling scenery? Lifted from “When Things Were Rotten” and from even before that. I think the sight gag goes back to Spike Milligan. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-pains-me-mr-idle-to-pit-you-but-pit-you-i-must/404989/39 "2007-05-23T21:33:12Z")
[QUOTE=tomndebb] Despite the negative personal views already expressed in this thread, is there any chance that Idle is having a bit of fun, himself, stirring up a bit of imaginary conflict? The only reference I can find was to the radio interview quoted by The Sun, (and I have an innate suspicion of morning drive radio), so I am not sure how serious this bit might be. ETA: Idle attended the premier on Friday night and waited until a morning radio program on Monday to express his outrage? [/QUOTE] You’re no fun anymore. ---
**Author:** ![essell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/34f0e0/32.png) [@essell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/essell)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-pains-me-mr-idle-to-pit-you-but-pit-you-i-must/404989/40 "2007-05-23T21:40:21Z")
Legally, he’s probably as screwed as a lone knight vs a bunny. However morally: **he was involved in the project and they didn’t ask him** If they just gone and done a coconut clapping joke that’d be funny. That’d be homage. But to have him involved in the project and do the joke behind his back is **rude**. He’s offended by it and I can understand that. Screw the extremely rich bastards who run the shrek films. And give it to the rich pythons. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-pains-me-mr-idle-to-pit-you-but-pit-you-i-must/404989.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-pains-me-mr-idle-to-pit-you-but-pit-you-i-must/404989.md?page=3)