Dead Parrot sketch

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.
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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference McCabe was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Python Dead Parrot is top sketch". BBC. 29 November 2004. Archived from the original on 9 January 2008. Retrieved 31 March 2007.