Parading Poonsters Honor Cleese

British comedian John Cleese had little trouble overtaking his competition to earn the Harvard Lampoon's annual "Elmer" award at the Science Center last night.

Dubbed by Lampoon editors the "lankiest comedian of all time," the 6'4" Cleese outdueled a meek Undergraduate Council Chair Guhan Subramanian '91-'92, wrestler Dwight Cooper '92 and several other local heroes in a mock battle for the dubious humor award.

After testing his weight, cooking expertise, luck and ability to tell `shit from shinollah,' Lampoon editors declared Cleese the winner. After besting his opponents, the star of A Fish Called Wanda raised his hands and flashed the victory sign.

Beaming with the win, Cleese spoke for almost45 minutes on such topics as the differencesbetween American and British humor. He said thatalthough Americans have a greater love forone-liners, the "main difference is the waythey're spelled."

But he did note that some other Americanpeculiarities contribute well to comedy.

"With a New York accent, you can say 'goodmorning', and that sounds like a gag," Cleesesaid, adding that his own accent was the "worst"imaginable for comedy.

Currently writing a book on psychiatry, Cleesesaid he wants to finish the project before hemakes another movie--although he said anotherMonty Python film was doubtful.

Stressing the difficulty of writing a movie inthe Monty Python group, Cleese said Life ofBrian was a fluke "because we had the sameattitudes and feelings on religion."

But in The Meaning of Life, Cleese saidthere was no group concensus on the plot, withsome members wanting to make an anti-war film.

"I said, what can be more boring than ananti-war film?" Cleese said. "Isn't it about timesomebody did a pro-war film?"

Cleese also said that the money fromindependent projects kept the Monty Python castapart.

The comedian said that whomever he decides towork with in the future will have to be able toliven up the filming work. "Filming is like war,"Cleese mused. "It is 5 percent terror and 95percent pure boredom."

To the disappointment of the nearly capacitycrowd, Cleese balked at a request that he performhis famous "silly walk," citing trouble witharthritis of the knees. "If I do that silly walk,I'd go back [to England] with even more problems,"he said.

After the completion of the "Elmerthon"festivities in the Science Center, the band ledthe large crowd in a parade through Harvard Yard.As the group passed through Johnston Gate, theymet with Cleese, who was riding in a covered,horse-drawn chariot.

Outside the Lampoon Castle, the comedian wadedthrough the crowd and signed only one autograph.Lampoon members on the steps of the Castle thenpresented Cleese with the 'Elmer' award, a flimsytrophy with three loosely attached bases.

"I'd like to thank you first for this gorgeousobject d'art," Cleese said before entering thebuilding. "And secondly for the silliest evening Ithink I can remember."

Lampoon officers announced to the crowd in theScience Center that the night's event had raised$1200 for the HAND public service program.

The Elmer award is named for former Lampooncurator Elmer W. Green, who died in 1977. Pastwinners have included Jay Leno, Bill Cosby andRobin Williams