S. Worthen | Weblog

from what i understand, numerous species of wild hedgehogs are found throughout europe, africa, and central asia. the "african pygmy" hedgehog that is most commonly kept as a pet in north america is actually a hybrid breed of algerian (atelerix algirus) and the white-bellied (a. albiventris) hedgehogs of northern and central africa.

"Spiny Norman?"? Don't they teach the Classics in school these days?

"Spiny Norman" was the 50 ft HedgeHog whom one of the Piranha Brothers was hallucinating (or not, it's always hard to tell in a Monty Python sketch). The Piranha Brothers were the subjects of a Monty Python "Investigative Journalism" report and were based on the actual lives of two real identical-twin gangsters whose lives were only occasionally less daft than their Python dopplegangers. Picture The Engineer and his brother as crime-lords.

To quote: "...at this time Dynsdale Piranha became increasingly erratic and convinced that he was being persecuted by a 50-foot high HedgeHog whom he called 'Spiny Norman'."

Latter on in the show, during a seemingly unrelated Terry Gilham cartoon, an enormous HedgeHog pops in from around the corner of a skyscraper. He menacingly intones "Dynsdale!" and starts chewing up the scenery.

/Spectrum@ca.inter.net