Editing Dead Parrot sketch (section)

{{short description|Monty Python sketch (1969)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
[[Image:DeadParrot.png|right|thumb|250px|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 comedy|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).<ref name="Complete">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x0PbXrxZAxoC&q=Dead+Parrot+sketch |title=The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus |author1=Monty Python |first2=Graham |last2=Chapman |authorlink2=Graham Chapman |first3=Eric |last3=Idle |authorlink3=Eric Idle |first4=Terry |last4=Gilliam |authorlink4=Terry Gilliam |first5=Terry |last5=Jones |authorlink5=Terry Jones |editor-first=Roger |editor-last=Wilmut |editor-link=Roger Wilmut |date=12 November 1989 |volume=1 |language=English |publisher=[[Pantheon Books]] |location=New York, New York |isbn=0-679-72647-0 |page=320 (Appendix) |access-date=30 October 2023 |archive-date=4 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404025736/https://books.google.com/books?id=x0PbXrxZAxoC&q=Dead+Parrot+sketch#v=snippet&q=Dead%20Parrot%20sketch&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Egan">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SnkxEAAAQBAJ&q=Dead+Parrot+sketch |title=And Now for Something Completely Different: Critical Approaches to Monty Python |editor-first1=Kate |editor-last1=Egan |editor-first2=Jeffrey Andrew |editor-last2=Weinstock |date=October 20, 2020 |type=Hard cover |isbn=978-1474475150 |publisher=[[University of Edinburgh Press]] |access-date=30 October 2023 |archive-date=4 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404025846/https://books.google.com/books?id=SnkxEAAAQBAJ&q=Dead+Parrot+sketch#v=snippet&q=Dead%20Parrot%20sketch&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref>

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.<ref name="McCabe"/>

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.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4052641.stm |title=Python Dead Parrot is top sketch |access-date=31 March 2007 |date=29 November 2004 |publisher=[[BBC]] |archive-date=9 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080109053104/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4052641.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>{{listen|filename=Parrot sketch.ogg|title=The Dead Parrot sketch performed on ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'' in 1969|description=Listen to a clip from the sketch.}}