John catches the iconic (and 'generous and warm-hearted', in his own words) John Cleese for a conversation during his Australian comedy tour 'An Evening with the Late John Cleese'.
They discuss a wide range of topics including Cleese's admiration for Australia, the psychology of creativity, religion, social media and comedy. Cleese delves into the history and politics of the UK, reflecting on the highpoint of optimism in the '60s and the subsequent pessimism that has captured the West. Both Johns ruminate on the problems facing us today and how we might overcome them.
John Cleese is an actor, comedian, screen writer and producer best know as the creator of Monty Python and Fawlty Towers, the latter of which was voted the UK's greatest ever sitcom. In 2005, Cleese was ranked by a panel of comedians as the second best comedian of all time.
On screen, Cleese has both appeared in blockbuster films, from Harry Potter, to James Bond, to Shrek, and written his own. 'A Fish Called Wanda', which he wrote and starred in, received Academy Award, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations.
A heterodox political thinker, Cleese is a vocal critic of cancel culture, reluctant supporter of Brexit, sceptic of multiculturalism, and describes his inclinations as 'slightly left of centre'. In 1999, he declined an invitation to sit in the House of Lords as a Liberal Democrat peer.
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00:00 Intro
00:52 Introducing John Cleese
01:27 Cleese's love for Australia
02:13 The Psychology of Creativity
03:55 Laughing in Tough Times
05:17 Britain's Declining Confidence
06:33 Good Therapy vs Woke Ideology
07:57 'No such thing as society'
10:11 Cleese, what have you got against Americans?
11:11 We no longer have privacy
12:50 What happened to the BBC (the love of money is the root of all evil)
13:45 Is wealth inequality the fault of Thatcher and Reagan?
15:29 The problem with political systems is the people, not the system
16:52 What went wrong in Britain
18:04 Life of Brian
19:29 Old money's sometimes better than new money
23:52 Humor vs Hierarchy
27:22 The abandonment of Christianity
30:27 William Wilberforce and the Evangelicals
33:52 Malicious vs Affectionate Offence
41:32 Social Media
47:52 Surround yourself with people you disagree with
50:42 Why we need good people in politics
55:34 Left and Right Brain Hemispheres
1:00:04 Immigration
1:02:52 What makes Cleese Laugh?
1:04:14 What gives Cleese hope?
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Conversations feature John Anderson, former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, interviewing the world's foremost thought leaders about today's pressing social, cultural and political issues.
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