Did Hormel mind the reference to SPAM in the TV series?
Hormel never gave permission to use the SPAM reference. However, they never bothered the Pythons, even as the episodes gained American popularity. They were good sports about it, and even offered to send the Pythons a few free tins of the stuff, which they politely refused. It is guessed, though not known, that they did so knowing the references boosted their sales. The sketch may be the sole reason that SPAM T-shirts etc. are so popular. Nor did the Pythons have any trouble with DC Comics for the early sketch “Bicycle Repairman.” Q: Who is that military fellow who stops the show and two of the movies for being too silly? A: He is Graham Chapman’s Colonel. No other name has been given, though John Cleese has suggested Colonel Muriel Volestrangler. He first appeared in a few early episodes of the Flying Circus and didn’t do much, but in the episode “Full Frontal Nudity,” which also featured the Parrot sketch, he got angry at the silly sketches being offered him and took military control
