Monty Pythons Flying Circus

@drosso46561 wrote:
When Listing the main cast of Monty Python's Flying Circus, since the main cast assumes so many roles in the skits, a few where their character has names, but a large majority where they play characters with no given names. Would it be best for me to just add/edit the main cast as the Actors Name, with the character name being entered as "Various Characters". Example, John Cleese as Various Characters instead of as John Cleese as Himself? I checked the cast wiki and did not see anything about this specific type of situation.

I would say this is completely up to you. If you know a vast majority of the character names then add those and then add an additional character called 'Various Characters', unless there's a specific characteristic that separates that role without a name out, you could always add it that way too - for example Servant or Bald Man. Sketch comedy is always going to be a tricky one to handle correctly with cash which is why I'm assuming a policy hasn't been decided on yet. 

@TomSouthwell wrote:s then add an additional character called 'Various Characters', unless there's a specific characteristic that separates that role without a name out, you could always add it that way too - for example Servant or Bald Man. Sketch comedy is always going to be a tricky one to handle correctly with cash which is why I'm assuming a policy hasn't been decided on yet. 

It is the Main Cast entries I am concerned about. Maybe Each of the main Cast as themselves and also as Various Characters in the Main Cast listing, that would cover a wide field for the series and the few characters who's names are listed in the  different episodes possibly listed under guest cast as they are not reoccuring characters and would just clutter up the shows Main Cast listing for every single episode. I know the Monty Python group is just credited with their stage names in the shows credits and no individual character names are given except once in a while at the start of a sketch.

Or another possibility for the Main Cast and the more I think about it, the more appropriate it seems would be for example: John Cleese, John Cleese / Various Characters; so there is only 1 entry in Main Cast for each Actor.

@drosso46561 wrote:
It is the Main Cast entries I am concerned about. Maybe Each of the main Cast as themselves and also as Various Characters in the Main Cast listing, that would cover a wide field for the series and the few characters who's names are listed in the  different episodes possibly listed under guest cast as they are not reoccuring characters and would just clutter up the shows Main Cast listing for every single episode. I know the Monty Python group is just credited with their stage names in the shows credits and no individual character names are given except once in a while at the start of a sketch.

If they are credited as main cast that's how they should remain regardless of the roles they are playing though. I guess we really need to look at forming some sort of policy. A sketch show like Catherine Tate has Catherine play the same characters constantly, so we could easily add the main cast of characters, however a show like Monty Python or Dead Ringers for example would be harder to cover. 

@TomSouthwell wrote:
If they are credited as main cast that's how they should remain regardless of the roles they are playing though. I guess we really need to look at forming some sort of policy. A sketch show like Catherine Tate has Catherine play the same characters constantly, so we could easily add the main cast of characters, however a show like Monty Python or the Dead Ringers for example would be harder to cover. 

I agree and thats why I am starting to think along the line of actors stage name followed by Stage name / Various or just a simple Various Characters under Character name for shows like Monty Python where just the stage name is credited in main credits or even under character the actor could just have Various listed.

@drosso46561 wrote:
I agree and thats why I am starting to think along the line of actors stage name followed by Stage name / Various or just a simple Various Characters under Character name for shows like Monty Python where just the stage name is credited in main credits or even under character the actor could just have Various listed.

If a actor is referred to as a named character then it should be added as such. I don't understand why we list them as Stage Name / Various, do they portray themselves as well? 

@TomSouthwell wrote:
If a actor is referred to as a named character then it should be added as such. I don't understand why we list them as Stage Name / Various, do they portray themselves as well? 

Right on the named character, I am just trying to figure out the best way to portray someone under similar circumstances if they occur before policy is set for this type of sketch show. In Python, they just list the Actors names. I am not currently aware of any episodes where they actually played themselves but is has been years since I watched most of the episodes and have just recently started rewatching them. I am figuring for monty python, it would be best to list actors name then characters name as Various Characters for Cleese, Chapman, Idle etc. The if I come across a episode where they actually do play themselves which is unlikely, it can be edited accordingly.

Then under a similar but different circumstance that may occur in another show, if a actor shows as himself/herself as well as various unnamed characters in a sketch then to keep the main cast list from getting overloaded, then it can be listed as actor name, then under character - Actor name / various characters. Kinda like Archer where Cheryl Tunt is listed as Judy Greer then Cheryl and Charlene Tunt.  I guess what I am trying to say under this last example, is it okay to do it this way under this circumstance if it occurs. 

Sorry did not intend to drag this out.

@drosso46561 wrote:
Right on the named character, I am just trying to figure out the best way to portray someone under similar circumstances if they occur before policy is set for this type of sketch show. In Python, they just list the Actors names. I am not currently aware of any episodes where they actually played themselves but is has been years since I watched most of the episodes and have just recently started rewatching them. I am figuring for monty python, it would be best to list actors name then characters name as Various Characters for Cleese, Chapman, Idle etc. The if I come across a episode where they actually do play themselves which is unlikely, it can be edited accordingly.

Then under a similar but different circumstance that may occur in another show, if a actor shows as himself/herself as well as various unnamed characters in a sketch then to keep the main cast list from getting overloaded, then it can be listed as actor name, then under character - Actor name / various characters. Kinda like Archer where Cheryl Tunt is listed as Judy Greer then Cheryl and Charlene Tunt.  I guess what I am trying to say under this last example, is it okay to do it this way under this circumstance if it occurs. 

Sorry did not intend to drag this out.

A couple of admins who have more awareness of the show have agreed that the sheer amount of characters would make this task impossible. It would probably be best in this instance to list each main cast member as Various Characters. 

Just in case, only the members of Monty Python should be considered the main cast, the rest appearances are guest stars. For them (if possible) the actual characters should be listed, I think the guests usually were participating in one sketch only, not playing several various characters.

@tnt wrote:
Just in case, only the members of Monty Python should be considered the main cast, the rest appearances are guest stars. For them (if possible) the actual characters should be listed, I think the guests usually were participating in one sketch only, not playing several various characters.

I agree with you on the Main Cast of the series. I think your right on the guests, will have to re-watch more episodes to refresh my memory and even then they may or may not have given the guest a character name in the sketch.