Massive, 50-Foot ‘Dead Parrot’ Suspended In London In Honor Of Monty Python Live Show At O2 Arena (VIDEO)

A 50-foot fiberglass dead parrot in honor of Monty Python's famed "Dead Parrot" sketch was hung upside down from a crane in London's Potters Field yesterday to celebrate the reunited Python's live show at O2 Arena. The show will also be broadcast on UK comedy channel, Gold.

The Dead Parrot sketch, in which an exasperated customer (John Cleese) attempts to return a dead "Norwegian Blue" parrot to a pet shop run by stubborn owner Michael Palin has recently been voted favorite comedy routine of all time. It first was screened by the BBC on December 7 in 1969.

Parrot lead sculptor Iain Prendergast said: "We are all Monty Python fans so we were delighted to receive the brief from Gold to recreate the mythical Norwegian Blue on a giant scale.

"We watched both live and televised versions of the sketch and found that there have been a number of different incarnations of the parrot with a variety of different plumages.

Our sculpture provides a colorful hybrid of the dead parrots which have featured in the celebrated sketch.

The key challenge for us was capturing the comedy value of the dead parrot, keeping the realism of the bird whilst also adding touches like the bloodshot, stunned eyes."

The parrot will soon be moved to O2 Arena and the live broadcast of final Monty Python Live (mostly): One Down, Five to Go stage show on airs on Sunday, July 20.

General manager of Gold, Steve North, said: "We believe that our giant dead parrot provides a fitting tribute to a sketch that is so loved by audiences throughout the world. We hope that fans will join us for the final Monty Python performance this Sunday to see Britain's greatest ever comedy group bow out in style."

Check out video of the "parrot that is no more" making its way through the streets of London.

via The Independent