1. Description

2. Versions

3. Development

4. See also

5. References

The Bruces sketch is a comedy sketch that originally appeared in a 1970 episode of the television show Monty Python's Flying Circus, episode 22, "How to Recognise Different Parts of the Body", and was subsequently performed on audio recordings and live on many occasions by the Monty Python team.

In reference to the sketch, Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson used the stage name "Bruce Bruce" while a member of the British hard rock band Samson.^[1]

Description

The sketch involves a group of stereotypical "ocker" Australians of the period, who are all wearing khakis and cork hats. All are named Bruce, hence being known as the Bruces.

The skit begins with a group of men named Bruce sitting at a table, as someone sings Waltzing Matilda in the background. The Bruces are revealed to be the Philosophy Department at the fictitious University of Woolloomooloo (see below). The department appears to be situated in nothing more than a simple wooden building apparently somewhere in the outback.^[2]

The Bruces all have a common fondness for lager beer and a dislike of "poofters" (a derogatory Australian and English slang word for a homosexual). Terry Jones plays a "pommie" professor, Michael Baldwin, joining the department and meeting his colleagues for the first time. Since his name is different from that of everyone else, Baldwin is asked if he minds being called "Bruce" to avoid confusion.

1. No poofters.
2. No member of the faculty is to maltreat the "Abos" in any way whatsoever—if there's anyone watching.
3. No poofters.
4. I don't want to catch anyone not drinking in their room after lights out.
5. No poofters.
6. There is no rule six.
7. No poofters.

Versions

The sketch featured on the Matching Tie and Handkerchief album and in many of the team's stage shows, where it would be capped with a performance of "The Philosophers' Song". Free cans of Fosters beer were tossed to the audience with the addition of a joke about American beer given at Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl.

The song does not feature in the original television version, which instead ends with the first Bruce saying "Sidney Nolan! What's that?" pointing to the ear of fourth Bruce returning to that episode's running joke, "how to recognise different parts of the body", with the voice over saying, "Number nine. The ear." (the TV sketch began with "Number eight. The kneecap." and a closeup of the First Bruce's knee).

A slightly different version of the sketch is recorded on Monty Python Live at Drury Lane. The identity of "Bruce" is Lauchlan Chipman, Professor of Philosophy and friend of Michael Palin. Chipman was the founding Chairman of the Philosophy Department at the University of Wollongong.^[4][5]

Development

The fictional University of Woolamaloo is based on either a misspelling of, or a name derived from, the Sydney suburb of Woolloomooloo; this is how the suburb is actually pronounced with an Australian accent. It is to be noted that, as mentioned above, Palin's friend Lauchlan Chipman founded the Philosophy Department at the University of Wollongong.

See also

• Bruces' Philosophers Song

References

• Tokyo-daigaku sougoh kenkyu-jyo Hakubutsukann Koishikawa bunninn
• Tokyo-daigaku sougoh kenkyu-jyo Hakubutukann Koishikawa bunninn
• Tokyo Daruma Pond Frog
• Tokyo Daruma Pond Frog (Rana Porosa Porosa)
• Tokyo Den-en-toshi Line
• Tokyo Denkikagaku Kogyo K.K.
• Tokyo Derby
• Tokyo Differ Ariake
• Tokyo Diner
• Tokyo (disambiguation)
• Tokyo Disneyland Hotel
• Tokyo Disneyland Sea
• Tokyo Disney Resort Line
• Tokyo Disney Resort Monorail
• Tokyo disney sea
• Tokyo District Court
• Tokyo Doesn't Love Us Anymore
• Tokyo Dome City
• Tokyo Dragons
• Tokyo Drift
• Tokyo drift
• Tokyo Egg Dome
• Tokyo Eleven
• Tokyo Encore
• Tokyo Exhibition