Comments on: Monty Python's free web video increased DVD sales by 23,000 percent http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Mon, 20 May 2013 16:00:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: wolfwitch http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387072 wolfwitch Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387072 @Bemopolis: The DVD set on the Monty Python site is still produced by A&E, so I'm willing to bet it is still the same content as the earlier one. :( @Bemopolis:
The DVD set on the Monty Python site is still produced by A&E, so I’m willing to bet it is still the same content as the earlier one. :(

]]> By: David http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387073 David Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387073 I bought 'Life of Brian' and 'The Meaning of Life' via their amazon reference link. Hooray, I'm part of the solution! I bought ‘Life of Brian’ and ‘The Meaning of Life’ via their amazon reference link. Hooray, I’m part of the solution!

]]> By: robulus http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387843 robulus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387843 Actually its funny to hear Python described as dated. I'm reminded of a Flying Circus sketch about a guy who completed everyone's sentences. That sketch has become a regular bit on Late Night with Conan O'Brien with a character called "The Interupter". Apart from some minor details it is essentially the same material. Python is one of those rare collaborations where a group of talented people are given the resources and opportunity to experiment, and the result is a paradigm shift in the art. Python is dated, like the Beatles and the Theory of Relativity are dated. Actually its funny to hear Python described as dated. I’m reminded of a Flying Circus sketch about a guy who completed everyone’s sentences. That sketch has become a regular bit on Late Night with Conan O’Brien with a character called “The Interupter”. Apart from some minor details it is essentially the same material.

Python is one of those rare collaborations where a group of talented people are given the resources and opportunity to experiment, and the result is a paradigm shift in the art.

Python is dated, like the Beatles and the Theory of Relativity are dated.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387589 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387589 he could have watched them on his own time. he could have watched them on his own time.

]]> By: ridl http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387591 ridl Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387591 No he couldn't have. No he couldn’t have.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387337 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387337 <i>Um, hasn't the entire output of the music industry been given away for free for over a decade now? Why aren't they up 23,000%?</i> You mean radio has been around for only a decade? I expect it already <i>is</i> up 23,000% from where it would be without that. Um, hasn’t the entire output of the music industry been given away for free for over a decade now?

Why aren’t they up 23,000%?

You mean radio has been around for only a decade?

I expect it already is up 23,000% from where it would be without that.

]]> By: avraamov http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387851 avraamov Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387851 the 'in rainbows model'? good lord. please lets get over the 'radiohead invented pay what you like' thing. the ‘in rainbows model’? good lord. please lets get over the ‘radiohead invented pay what you like’ thing.

]]> By: tw15 http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387084 tw15 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387084 Who'd have thought thirty year ago we'd all be sittin' here watching YouTube, eh? In them days we was glad to listen to it on gramophone records. Who’d have thought thirty year ago we’d all be sittin’ here watching YouTube, eh?

In them days we was glad to listen to it on gramophone records.

]]> By: Mister N http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387086 Mister N Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387086 I will get the box set for sure. Must practice my silly walks as I get in the store to pick it up. I will get the box set for sure. Must practice my silly walks as I get in the store to pick it up.

]]> By: knyghtryda http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387346 knyghtryda Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387346 I think the rule of all of this is that 1)Your content must actually be good. Then you can move on to 2) Give low res versions away for free, before 3) Selling the good stuff and making teh profitz. Being that Monty Python is genuinely good, I'm glad this new business model is working for them. I think the rule of all of this is that 1)Your content must actually be good. Then you can move on to 2) Give low res versions away for free, before 3) Selling the good stuff and making teh profitz. Being that Monty Python is genuinely good, I’m glad this new business model is working for them.

]]> By: Pablissimo http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387603 Pablissimo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387603 @54: That's not an argument, you're just contradicting him. @54: That’s not an argument, you’re just contradicting him.

]]> By: Ugly Canuck http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387859 Ugly Canuck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387859 geez, if you want dated, listen to nightclub comics of the fifties and sixties - or watch jerry lewis solo comedy films. Or watch tapes of the old laugh-in show. In general, the more 'topical' the jokes, the worse it will date. EG Python's political jokes about Cyril Connolly, etc. Most 20th C. comedy dates very badly indeed. Python, not as much , IMO. But for me personally I admit that the nostalgia factor does play a role with Python. And for me it is tough to winnow it out, so it may indeed be dated. geez, if you want dated, listen to nightclub comics of the fifties and sixties – or watch jerry lewis solo comedy films. Or watch tapes of the old laugh-in show. In general, the more ‘topical’ the jokes, the worse it will date. EG Python’s political jokes about Cyril Connolly, etc.
Most 20th C. comedy dates very badly indeed. Python, not as much , IMO.
But for me personally I admit that the nostalgia factor does play a role with Python. And for me it is tough to winnow it out, so it may indeed be dated.

]]> By: stanfrombrooklyn http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387349 stanfrombrooklyn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387349 Too many variables at play here. There have also been a lot of TV commercials lately for this boxed set. Heck, there was a whole hour long special on PBS less than a week ago. I'm sure that had something to do with it. Plus, I hate the tone of this post - it seems to imply that because there is a business end that copyright holders should not object to their product being online and given away for free. Personally I don't want my albums being downloaded for free even if does increase my overall sales. - Ghost of Elvis Presley Too many variables at play here. There have also been a lot of TV commercials lately for this boxed set. Heck, there was a whole hour long special on PBS less than a week ago. I’m sure that had something to do with it. Plus, I hate the tone of this post – it seems to imply that because there is a business end that copyright holders should not object to their product being online and given away for free. Personally I don’t want my albums being downloaded for free even if does increase my overall sales.

- Ghost of Elvis Presley

]]> By: ridl http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387605 ridl Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387605 No I'm not. No I’m not.

]]> By: arkizzle http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387613 arkizzle Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387613 Ridl, controversial. Ridl, controversial.

]]> By: Phikus http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-388643 Phikus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-388643 Avraamov@67: No one said Radiohead invented the model of giving things away paying off in real cash. It's just nice to see. I could have used several other examples but decided on one that could be easily and instantly understood by most BB readers, which seems to have succeeded. Why does my choice of words matter so much to you? Or more to the point: What the hell is your problem and why are you even commenting here if that is all you have to say? I leave you with the immortal words of our beloved Antinous: <blockquote><a href="http://www.boingboing.net/2008/11/07/berkeley-billboard-l.html#comment-325561" rel="nofollow">You've given one of the Five Principal Examples of Unintentional Irony. 1) Anyone who tells other people to <b>grow up</b>, hasn't. 2) Anyone who tells other people to <b>relax</b>, can't. 3) Anyone who tells other people to <b>get over it</b>, hasn't. 4) Anyone who tells other people to <b>stop whining</b>, won't. 5) Anyone who tells other people to <b>get a life</b>, doesn't have one.</a></blockquote> Avraamov@67: No one said Radiohead invented the model of giving things away paying off in real cash. It’s just nice to see. I could have used several other examples but decided on one that could be easily and instantly understood by most BB readers, which seems to have succeeded. Why does my choice of words matter so much to you? Or more to the point: What the hell is your problem and why are you even commenting here if that is all you have to say?

I leave you with the immortal words of our beloved Antinous:

You’ve given one of the Five Principal Examples of Unintentional Irony.

1) Anyone who tells other people to grow up, hasn’t.
2) Anyone who tells other people to relax, can’t.
3) Anyone who tells other people to get over it, hasn’t.
4) Anyone who tells other people to stop whining, won’t.
5) Anyone who tells other people to get a life, doesn’t have one.

]]> By: arkizzle http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387620 arkizzle Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387620 Hah! I was replying to #52 and <a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=k3HaRFBSq9k" rel="nofollow">totally missed the next couple of comments</a>. Nice. Hah! I was replying to #52 and totally missed the next couple of comments.

Nice.

]]> By: Ugly Canuck http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387109 Ugly Canuck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387109 Geez TW15 I almost forgot about the Python LPs. Technically savvy even back then, they released the first three-sided single LP (Matching Tie & Handkercheef) IIRC. There's some radio comedy in Python's DNA, eh wot? Geez TW15 I almost forgot about the Python LPs.
Technically savvy even back then, they released the first three-sided single LP (Matching Tie & Handkercheef) IIRC.
There’s some radio comedy in Python’s DNA, eh wot?

]]> By: anthony http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387631 anthony Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387631 It's a fair cop. It’s a fair cop.

]]> By: Crackity Jones http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387123 Crackity Jones Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387123 I hope this will serve as a signal to many media companies: I find a lot of old music on YouTube and if I like it I go out and buy it - I know many others do the same. It's an easy way of discovering, not ripping people off. Let's hope more follow the Python's example. I hope this will serve as a signal to many media companies: I find a lot of old music on YouTube and if I like it I go out and buy it – I know many others do the same. It’s an easy way of discovering, not ripping people off. Let’s hope more follow the Python’s example.

]]> By: noen http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387124 noen Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387124 Gramophone records? LUXURY! We had to listen to Monty Python on radios we built ourselves from spare parts and <b>we were grateful!</b> Gramophone records? LUXURY! We had to listen to Monty Python on radios we built ourselves from spare parts and we were grateful!

]]> By: Jaycatt http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387131 Jaycatt Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387131 When the whole MPFC collection came out on DVD at CostCo, I snapped it up right away. One of the first sets of DVDs I ever bought, too. I'm just getting around to watching them with someone who has never seen the series. The one problem with the early ones, though, is that DVDs were such a cool nifty thing back then, that it's almost painful to navigate the menus. We all got over the whiz-bang menu navigation long ago, just play the shows! :D When the whole MPFC collection came out on DVD at CostCo, I snapped it up right away. One of the first sets of DVDs I ever bought, too. I’m just getting around to watching them with someone who has never seen the series.

The one problem with the early ones, though, is that DVDs were such a cool nifty thing back then, that it’s almost painful to navigate the menus. We all got over the whiz-bang menu navigation long ago, just play the shows! :D

]]> By: ispivey http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387912 ispivey Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387912 I love this story, but I just don't think it's true. What Python DVD is #2 on the Movies & TV bestsellers list on Amazon? <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/dvd/ref=pd_dp_ts_d_1" rel="nofollow">Look at the list on Amazon</a> - there are no Python DVDs in the top 100. The best seller I can find is the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Pythons-Flying-Circus-Megaset/dp/B0009XRZ92/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1232814970&sr=1-1" rel="nofollow">Complete Flying Circus</a>, at #817 in Movies & TV. Besides, Amazon doesn't rank sales by "comedy troupe"; there would be no way to find a statistic about how Monty Python's sales have improved over a period of time. They only track the sales of individual items. Most likely someone at Mashable saw that some Python DVD was #2 in the TV > Monty Python Store category and went off half-cocked. So while this probably has done good things for the Python guys, the lack of any actual evidence makes this hard to believe. I love this story, but I just don’t think it’s true. What Python DVD is #2 on the Movies & TV bestsellers list on Amazon? Look at the list on Amazon – there are no Python DVDs in the top 100.

The best seller I can find is the Complete Flying Circus, at #817 in Movies & TV.

Besides, Amazon doesn’t rank sales by “comedy troupe”; there would be no way to find a statistic about how Monty Python’s sales have improved over a period of time. They only track the sales of individual items. Most likely someone at Mashable saw that some Python DVD was #2 in the TV > Monty Python Store category and went off half-cocked.

So while this probably has done good things for the Python guys, the lack of any actual evidence makes this hard to believe.

]]> By: tomioka http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387913 tomioka Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387913 Totally makes sense to have clips on the best remembered Python sketches on youtube. Most of the Python fans will already have bought the DVDs, so the best way to gain new younger fans is to have those clips ready for showing 24/7. BTW, as those Flying circus episodes were originally filmed in European PAL TV format, I highly recommend getting a UK box set if your DVD player can play them: The picture looks so much better on your new HDTV set without the PAL->NTSC downsizing. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Monty-Pythons-Flying-Circus-Complete/dp/B001EY5VNC Totally makes sense to have clips on the best remembered Python sketches on youtube. Most of the Python fans will already have bought the DVDs, so the best way to gain new younger fans is to have those clips ready for showing 24/7.

BTW, as those Flying circus episodes were originally filmed in European PAL TV format, I highly recommend getting a UK box set if your DVD player can play them: The picture looks so much better on your new HDTV set without the PAL->NTSC downsizing.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Monty-Pythons-Flying-Circus-Complete/dp/B001EY5VNC

]]> By: Jack http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387168 Jack Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387168 Doesn't "23,000 percent" seem like an insane lie of a number? We're people violently returning DVD sets in the days/weeks up to this happening? That number makes 100% no sense. Doesn’t “23,000 percent” seem like an insane lie of a number? We’re people violently returning DVD sets in the days/weeks up to this happening?

That number makes 100% no sense.

]]> By: neplusultra http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387425 neplusultra Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387425 We Love MP. Let's see if this strategy works for Kanye West. Lol. We Love MP. Let’s see if this strategy works for Kanye West.

Lol.

]]> By: eustace http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387684 eustace Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387684 (dancing on graves, singing hallelujah) (dancing on graves, singing hallelujah)

]]> By: rmstallman http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-389744 rmstallman Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-389744 This is a delightful example. I wonder if it is possible to buy these DVDs without going through Amazon. Amazon has done several nasty things. Can they be obtained direct from the publisher? Also, I wonder if they have, or will now, release unencrypted DVDs. Now that they release them for download, there is no rational motive to keep the Digital Restrictions Management. But if they already have DRM, they might keep it from sheer inertia. Meanwhile, with such large sales, they may have to reprint soon. If someone could pass along the suggestion... Meanwhile, if you love these videos, please don't call them "content", because that term takes the stance that they are just filler and what is important is the box that they fill up. This is a delightful example. I wonder if it is possible to buy these
DVDs without going through Amazon. Amazon has done several nasty
things. Can they be obtained direct from the publisher?

Also, I wonder if they have, or will now, release unencrypted DVDs.
Now that they release them for download, there is no rational motive
to keep the Digital Restrictions Management. But if they already have
DRM, they might keep it from sheer inertia. Meanwhile, with such
large sales, they may have to reprint soon. If someone could pass
along the suggestion…

Meanwhile, if you love these videos, please don’t call them “content”,
because that term takes the stance that they are just filler and what
is important is the box that they fill up.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-387185 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-387185 one copy as opposed to 23,000 copies. one copy as opposed to 23,000 copies.

]]> By: moniker42 http://boingboing.net/2009/01/23/monty-pythons-free-w.html#comment-386931 moniker42 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-386931 ♥ ♥

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