Monty Pythons Flying Circus
Monty Python's Flying Circus, the greatest comedy show to come out of England. Fuck it, the greatest comedy show in the world.
Just The Facts
- Monty Python is made of five people: John Cleese, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones and Michael Palin
- Their show, Monty Python's Flying Circus consists of sketches, songs, animations and men dressed as women
- There isn't really a circus that flies during the show, but the title they went with is better than "The Toad Elevating Moment"
- Actually, we'd pay to watch a show about elevating toads. It sounds zany.
- No, seriously, we would
The Flying Circus prepares for departure
It all started in 1969. The group had worked together before, in a manner of speaking, either at university, on their own shows or as sketch writers for The Frost Report. The group decided to do a sketch show together, since they recognised eachothers talent and love of retarded randomocity (is that a word? Who gives a fuck?). It all started after a sketch show called Do Not Adjust Your Set, which Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam were involved in, became extremely popular. The four were offered their own show by the broadcasting company ITV. At the same time, John Cleese and Graham Chapman, following the success of The Frost Report, were offered a show of THEIR own by the BBC. Cleese felt unsure of working on a two man show, and remembered how much fun it was working with Palin. Palin ageed to join in, but only if he could bring Jones, Idle and Gilliam. Sort of like when someone brings their friends to your house for beer. Only there was a job at stake.
Luckily, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam and Eric Idle were fucking funny!
After a meeting with the BBC, during which the team had no premise, concept or idea, they were given a series (that's british broadcasting control for you!). From then on, comedy would never be the same again, since beforehand, it was a rather dull world, with very few breast jokes and absolutely no lumberjack songs.
Take-off and in-flight entertainment
The show consisted of 45 episodes, and lasted for three and a half seasons (we'll explain later). Initially slow to start, the show gained more and more viewers, eventually becoming extremely popular. We at cracked.com feel it's about time we had some good old fashioned video, so we'll be listing the most popular sketches or rather the funniest sketches from each series, starting, of course, with series one.
Series One
The Funniest Joke In The World
Ah yes, the joke sketch. This one is from the first episode, Whither Canada?, and involves graphic scenes of death, violence and joke warfare.
Self Defence Against Fresh Fruit
Many times we've asked ourselves "What happens if someone tries to attack us with a mango?". Well, Monty Python got there first!
The Dead Parrot Sketch
If you've never heard of the dead parrot sketch, why are you looking at a topic about Monty Python? You have clearly been sleeping under a rock.
Series Two
The Ministry Of Silly Walks
Our English department (read: Members) informs us that The Ministry Of Silly Walks has become more successful due to this short sketch/advertisement.
Dirty Hungarian Phrasebook
"Do you WANT to come back to my place, bouncy bouncy?"
Series Three
Cheese Shop
Pretty much all the cheese shops in the West Midlands
Gumby Brain Specialist
This was before mentally deranged people started writing blogs
Series Four
Woody or Tinny Words (or The Only Funny Sketch In Series Four)
GORRRRN! ENGORGED! RECIDIVIST!
Landing
At the end of Series Two, John Cleese had considered leaving the series. At the end of Series Three, he'd made a definate decision. This was a shame, since once he left, it didn't feel the same at all, even with the remaining members still paticipating. Of course, the feature films also needed to be contributed to, since pre-production of The Holy Grail took place betweens Series Three and Four. Still, it was a bally good flight while it lasted, what?
Plus, the drugs were getting to them at that point
Just to give this article a little perspective... Python are quite frequently given more credit than they deserve, especially outside the UK where their work is seen in isolation rather than as part of a comic tradition that stretches back as far as you want to look, and continues to this day. Palin and Jones were directly influenced by Spike Milligan, as they have frequently admitted, and Cleese was so enamoured of his hero, Peter Cook, that he freely resorted to imitations of Cook's EL Wisty character. Neither was their show markedly different from their contempories', such as The Goodies and Marty Feldman, who all ploughed the same absurdist furrow, arguably to better effect. The difference is that circumstances contrived to make Python more succesful: the fact that the show was in colour; the success of subsequent solo projects; and perhaps most importantly, falling in with Charisma records which not only launched them in the US, but also introduced them to the cash-rich recording artists who would fund their movies. I like Python, I really do, but what annoys me is the fanatical following they have which refuses to recognise what came before them and brands their contemporaries and successors as pale imitations. And anyway, when are they going to stop flogging stuff they did 40 years ago and start being funny again.
ReplyI am from the UK and it's all a matter of opinion.
Hello, fellow Diggers and members of this, and similar sites. Monty Phyton`s Flying Circus was, and still is, one of the most intelligent and crazy set of jokes, in scenes and production. John Cleese became the front figour fast, mostly because of his acting skills, intelligence, and a face/bodylanguage built to fulfill many different roles.
ReplyAll of them have performed on a high level for many Years. Through different decades,like Hippy-60-ties etc. Ruled by a very Conservative English Government, Queen and TV-producers.
They got better competition, and some groups stole their primetime, by licking the Boss`back and a...
Thank You Crackpeople, for having and giving so mush memories, cool apps and great videoquality. I loved the bit of new Historical facts from the 2. Wourld war. I love foolish humour and cartoons, but it has to speek to my heart, fantasy and intellect..
I recon there are many similar feelings and opinions amongst all You Humour/action/fairytale etc Movie-addicts, love for old music bands movies, like The Blues Brothers...
Have a nice and warm Christmas, and a HAPPY new Year!!!
What about the Piranha Brothers? I loved that one
ReplyI was told not to put that on the list, as risk of having my head nailed to the floor.
what?? no spanish inquisition?? thats bollocks! even rowan atkinson and the " aint 9 o'clock news" made a reference of it. it was epic. never the less its a good article, i just have to b***h from time to time.
Reply Hide All See All 3 RepliesAH! SHIT! I knew I forgot one, I was rackin my brains trying to remember! Damn, thanks man, I'll update when I get the chance.
maybe its because no one expects the spanish inquisition, so he didn't bother putting it there
Ah, damn you ElliottDinan, you win best comment!