One of the precursors to Python was a children's TV show called "Do Not Adjust Your Set" which ran for two seasons between 1968 and 1969. Starring Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, David Jason and Denise Coffey, the show was a mix of anarchic sketches, with music provided by the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band. A regular feature was David Jason as "Captain Fantastic" a bowler hatted super-hero spoof which could almost be seen as a precursor to Danger Mouse.
Just to add more of a Python feel to it, Terry Gilliam provided animations for the Do Not Adjust Your Stocking Christmas Special.
Even though this was intended as a childrens show, it gathered a very large adult audience and in 1968 it won an international award, the Prix Jeunesse, in Munich.
Most of the episodes of the show were wiped to enable to the tape to be re-used, but most of the surviving episodes (with the exception of the Christmas special, which has been shown on UK Channel 4) have been released on DVD.
Captain Fantastic - Episodes 1 and 2
Do Not Adjust Your Stocking - Part 1 *
Do Not Adjust Your Stocking - Part 2
Do Not Adjust Your Stocking - Part 3
Click here to view on Youtube
* The version of Do Not Adjust Your Stocking presented here was edited before being shown on Channel 4 at David Jason's request to remove all of his appearances, so the running time is reduced from the original 50 minutes down to 25.
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