Personal Best

It's only fitting that Eric Idle, if not the funniest of the Pythons, then certainly, by his own estimation, "the third tallest," launch this new-to-DVD collection of favorite sketches as selected by each of the troupe's surviving members. Of the prolific Python boys, Eric has been anything but Idle. He has been particularly busy of late keeping the Monty Python fires burning, from his Greedy Bastard Tour, (as chronicled in The Greedy Bastard Diary: A Comic Tour of America) to his crowning achievement, Spamalot, the sensational Broadway musical adaptation of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. As Idle himself notes in the amusing, newly filmed prologue featuring a series of faux Idle on Idle interviews, thanks to DVD, Python's "particular brand of cheap sketches will always be available for recycling." Sampled here are Idle's memorable gallery of unctuous talk show hosts ("World Forum"), supremely annoying blokes ("Mr. Smoketoomuch") and loonies ("The Man Who Talks in Anagrams"). Also of note are some of Idle's most memorable musical contributions, including "Never Be Rude to an Arab" and his rendition of "The Lumberjack Song," both from the classic Monty Python Live from the Hollywood Bowl concert film. His signature sketch, "Nudge-Nudge," is also included, so as far as Idle fans are concerned, we can probably say no more. --Donald Liebenson