Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974) User Reviews (91)

even when you think you know all of what the show is about, a surprise comes round the bend

[Quinoa1984 · 10/10 · 24 November 2006]

I still need to see more of Monty Python's Flying Circus to make my un-official official declamatory mandated professional amateurish stated opinion on this, but this is quite the nifty little show they put on back in merry old England. A lame joke I tried for at Python humor, but really, once you see the show, and see at least a few episodes, you'll know whether it's the right kind of intelligently un-hinged absurdity for you. I didn't warm up to it at first, I thought it was maybe too smart, in a way, through its silliness to be taken much seriously, as the jokes are not of the common kind. But after getting in through the films, and seeing many a varied skit with the guys, I'm looking forward to seeing (and being able to quote to other people) the best they got.

It's partly a stream-of-consciousness style show thanks to Terry Gilliam's spectacularly crude animations (through cut-outs mostly, and spoofing either classical paintings, architecture, movies, and of course dancing teeth), part social satire through various skits of people going into shops (Parrot), jobs, arguments (want to argue about an argument), the police, criminals, movies, sports, old ladies, politics, and other sorts of good diddies on all things in life. There's also the most random bits of comedy ever to come out of the 20th century, and I can only think of the basic things that might have you wanting to check it out. I love short skits, like the classic fish-slapping bit (there comes the BIG fish, heh), and over-the-top voices (Michael Palin, I think, does some of the best ones, like an introduction he does to a skit that reminded me of one of the voices in the Holy Grail trailer), and deranged costumes, and the richness of the silly dialog. Sure a skit might not hit the mark, but then I could them come back to it days later and be laughing about things not laughed at the first time around.

There aren't too many, if much at all, conventional punchlines- the brilliant stuff comes in the random barbs that shoot up in the lines and the deliver, in a look that Cleese or Chapman might give at one point or another, or the lack of something that ends up coming around later in the bit, or maybe not. There's absolutely no shame in how tasteless some of this can get, be it with topical issues or just the little things everyday we tend to take for granted, but a tasteless sensibility without any net to fall on that's appealing. And, of course, the Lumberjack song and ministry of silly walks and . Bottom line, if there could ever be one with Flying Circus, if you think it's just stupid little goofy gags and skits going on, watch out for how rich the words fly out (err, in Circus-like fashion) the mouths of the Pythons. It's the mightiest heap of the inspiration-turned-ludicrous comedy to be found on any TV show. Other favorite skits: 'Most Awful Family in Britain', 'Self-Defence Class', 'Word Problem', and 'Kilimanjaro Expedition' among others.

The First 'Alternative Comedy' Show?

[ShadeGrenade · 10/10 · 10 September 2006]

I loved 'Monty Python's Flying Circus' as a youngster, even though, strange as it may seem now, I used to be frightened by it. Unlike say 'The Frost Report', the show was not actually about anything. Each episode had the look and feel of a nightmare; we saw terrible sights such as heads lopped off with razors, people puking their guts out, ten-ton weights falling on people, and human brains consumed with spoons. It was a brave person who stayed up late to watch this show. Characters would often cross over into different sketches, such a knight who kept hitting people with a rubber chicken, and 'The Colonel' who demanded items be terminated if they were too silly.

The Pythons, as if you did not know, were John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, and Eric Idle. It was an inspired collection for a comedy team; Cleese and Chapman were good at sketches in which there was lots of verbal abuse, Palin and Jones excelled at items which sent up film genres, Gilliam provided some disturbing animations, while Idle contributed well-written skits involving word play.

In the first season, each episode opened with a bedraggled Palin emerging either from the sea or jungle to issue the following warning: "Its...". Flowers would then climb the screen, their petals opening to reveal the name of the show, to the strains of 'Liberty Bell' by Souza. The very first show kicked off with a sketch in which a city gent ( Jones ) asks a Yokel farmer ( Chapman ) just what his sheep are doing up in the trees. The farmer says that they have realised that their lives consist of standing around and waiting to be eaten, so they have decided to do something about it. We then cut to two Frenchmen ( Palin and Cleese ) in berets who demonstrate the commercial possibilities of flying sheep. From the reaction of the audience, its clear they are baffled rather than amused. 'Python' took time to catch on, but when it did, the public could not get enough of it.

Season 2 is generally thought of as the best. 'The Ministry Of Silly Walks', 'The Spanish Inquisition', 'The Piranha Brothers', and 'The Semaphore Version Of 'Wuthering Heights' originated here. Clips of the show were regularly requested on 'Ask Aspel', a children's show hosted by Michael Aspel.

After two excellent seasons and a movie, plus a couple of fun German specials, 'Python' went into decline, and John Cleese's departure was the final nail in the coffin. Season 4 was the last. Fortunately, the team reunited to make movies which, if anything, were funnier than the show, particularly 'Life Of Brian' ( 1979 ). The last one - 'The Meaning Of Life' ( 1983 ) ended with a clip of the title sequence of the very first television show, taking 'Python' full circle. Chapman's death in 1989 closed the door on Python for good. A brief reunion in 1999 - 'Python Night' - was a disaster, with Eddie Izzard unwisely trying to stand-in for the deceased star.

I must squeeze in a quick mention of lovely Carol Cleveland, with whom I was madly in love in the early '70's. Her bra coming off at the end of 'Scott Of The Sahara' had a profound impact on me!

A staged and carefully crafted presentation of absurdity and chaos

[BroadswordCallinDannyBoy · 10/10 · 30 September 2006]

The original sketch comedy show that has a very deserved cult following.

It's... hilarious. It's... absurd. It's... very hard to describe, because it is so freakin' random! Almost every little sketch takes such bizarre twists and turns into something completely else that you'll literally never see it coming. Terry Gilliam's innovative, and equally absurd, animations are no different in their appearances between sketches. Often serving as transitions, but really this is just one side-splittingly funny compilation of sheer absurdity.

Poking fun at just about everything that you could possibly imagine - talk shows, courts, daily life, the Spanish Inquisistion, the military, etc... - and it is all put together in a way no less random. Skits end unexpectedly, some shots are used many times, random characters appear only to speak one line, and all that makes for what is quite possibly the best crafted presentation of absurdity and chaos ever made. 10/10

Not Rated and suitable for most viewers, but very cautious parents will undoubtedly object to the crude humor.

Hilarious, strange, funny, peculiar........

[watto124 · 9 September 2001]

"Monty Python's Flying Circus" is a blast. Plain and simple. Seeing an episode will cause the following symptoms: Laughter, tears, jaw aches, voice-loss(all of above caused by laughter). Most will laugh, some will just sit there at its silliness. Well whoever you are, give it a try. You either love it or hate it. Me? I love it.

10/10

Brilliant, innovative comedy

[grantss · 10/10 · 30 January 2015]

Brilliant, innovative comedy. Possibly the greatest comedy series of all time. Certainly the most influential, iconic and quoted.

Season 1 was great, but not their best. Still experimenting and finding their feet, it had some great sketches, but nothing as iconic as what was to come.

Season 2 was where they really hit their straps. Most of their well-known sketches are from Season 2: Piranha Brothers, Ministry of Silly Walks, The Bruces, Spam, The Spanish Inquisition, Scott of the Antarctic.

Season 3 was more of the same.

Season 4 was where they tapered off. John Cleese had left and the creativity just wasn't anywhere near the levels of Seasons 2 and 3. No wonder it was only 6 episodes.

Timeless comedy that has become embedded in culture. It's that big, brilliant and important.

The masters of surreal sketch comedy

[minister_of_silly_walks · 10/10 · 19 May 2019]

The legendary Monty Python group present one of the most iconic and fondly remembered sketch shows ever. Silly and genius at the same time it has a unique sense of humor which at some places has a serious note addressing the modern problems that every society faces, but it is at it's core pure and silly fun! You have countless sketches that are beloved by audiences all around the world, which, it seems, get even more popular as the years go by. Hilarious, entertaining, surreal, cheeky, silly, absurd... It can be called all of the above, but one thing it can't for sure: boring.

The best comedy franchise ever

[nickenchuggets · 10/10 · 20 May 2021]

It should come as no surprise that I've selected this show as the most influential and well known comedy series to ever be released, and how could I choose it as anything but? Even if you're one of the rare people that doesn't care at all about this show, you know about it either way. Monty Python would later spawn some of the most acclaimed comedy movies ever made, such as Holy Grail and Life of Brian, but before all that, there was the original cast of zany entertainers whose comedic style is so unique you really can't criticize it. Fans pick this show apart in great detail and talk about their favorite sketches, and which ones ought to be people's favorites but don't get the recognition they deserve (there's a lot of those). Pretty much everybody is aware of the spam skit, where a group of vikings are sitting in a cafe eating breakfast and a man and his wife want to order something, but the only thing for sale is spam or some variation of it. What makes it so funny is due to many reasons, but for one thing, the waitress is played by a man even though the character is clearly supposed to be a girl. The group of vikings dining in the cafe doesn't make any sense either, and only adds to the hilarity because the viewer can't make sense of anything. It's also interesting to note that the internet term for messages being repeated again and again (spam) came from this skit, because the repetitive use of the word inspired it. That's the influence this show has. This show is overflowing with moments like that, where you can't help but laugh because they're so well written. Even though Monty Python is easily the most recognizable comedy series of all time, it's not an exception to the low points. The show enjoyed a huge following with many dedicated fans, but like all good things it came to an end. The episodes undergo a dramatic drop in quality once John Cleese leaves, and this seems like a no brainer. Despite this, the show still remains funny to this day, and good jokes are as timeless as good writing. So while Monty Python no longer has the hype it once had 50 years ago, the hilarious skits and fine performances mean that it's not ready to be forgotten just yet.

"MONTY PYTHON" successful in the U.K.; but, "How well will it do in "The States"? They feared the worst, but well, we know now, don't we?

[redryan64 · 10/10 · 27 December 2007]

The Brits are a stuffy, haughty and quite socially conservative. Their taste in own a entertainment is strictly high brow. They are quite reserved in their socializing, and always maintain the most highly dignified behaviour. They never miss their afternoon Tea Time.

WHAT?!?!?!?! Well, these qualifications seem to be rampant, far-flung and long lasting. It is very hard to dispel and correct any untruth (Lie!) after it has been spoken, printed, published, recorded or transmitted over any medium, be it Smoke Signals, Carrier Pigeon, Drums or even by casting "SEND HELP" bottled-notes into the Oceanic System.

If there were any true believers out there, they surely haven't seen any of the ½ Hour episodes of MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS. All it would take would be one show to dispel and negate any of these ridiculous stereotypes. Two Shows would get a viewer sort of interested; Three and you're starting to get the general idea; Four qualifies you as a Fledgling Anglophile and Five Show, you're hooked.

Seriously though, we would never attempt to tell you or anyone else that X is funny,Y is not and unless you agree with me, there must be something wrong with you. Judging comedy is a most subjective art and too much analyzing of a Comedy, can be harmful in rendering it no longer as being funny. Either it makes us laugh or it doesn't There's certainly not any special brain power to it; and certainly, Rocket Scientists would have no advantages in judging what is funny. Some have a great sense of humor, in others their sense of humor is greatly and there are those in every walk of life who are completely devoid of any funny bone at all.

When the folks at the BBC, like Ian MacNaughton, made the overtures to bring 5 of their top writers together under the umbrella of a TV Series to be patterned along the lines of THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS, or just TW3 for short. The roll call read like a true All-Star Dream Team of scribes. The list read as follows: The team of Graham Chapman & John Cleese, Writing Partners Terry Jones & Michael Palin and Solo Act, Eric Idle. The addition of the Popular Animator, the American, Terry Gilliam just acted as the final touch needed. It was like a butter cream frosting being put on a 5 layer German Chocolate Cake.

With a all of the resources of the British Broadcasting Corporation at available and what certainly appears to have been a more than adequate budget at their disposal, the series was launched. Like any young undertaking, It took a little while to shake down the loose ends and see what adjustments would be needed.

One difficulty that they had was in choosing the Title of their new enterprise. All sorts of ideas were kicked around; for they were dealing with the outputs from six very fertile, creative minds. "OWL STRETCHING TIME" was a finalist in the big sweepstakes and the title does indeed appear in the closing of at least one episode.

As for describing MONTY PYTHON, it is really no easy task. The sketch humor is full of such off the wall material, the likes of which, have never seen the light of day before. Additionally, the Episodes are so tightly edited and quickly and without warning, they can end one bit abruptly, only to return to the first and eventually mix them both or even start another skit.

Various occupations are often targets for their razzing, as well as any and every of the old established British Institutions. The Parliament, The Royal Family, The World Wars, The British Class system, Sports, Politicos,etc. You name it and they've kidded it.

They also maintain a close relationship with British Drama of years gone by. That is accomplished with their often used recurring of the nonsensical idiot character of "Mr. Gumby".

As for picking a "favourite" episode, we can only offer those which contain some particular routines and sketches. That being the case, let us consider the following, outrageous skits, such as: "The Ministery of Silly Walks.", "Dennis Moore (the Highwayman)", "Inspector Dimm in Court", "The Dead Parrot Sketch" and of course, last but not least "The Lumberjack Song." As for any disappointments, there have been very few and they were of little consequence. But there is one nasty fault that does make a big difference to the Series as a whole. In its last season, the line-up did not include John Cleese. Apparently his schedule at that time did not allow his presence. He was committed to some other project, like "FAWLTY TOWERS", for example. While there was probably much of his writing in that last season's product, THE PYTHONS greatly missed Mr. Cleese.

The Pythons have been translated into other languages and they made a number of rather successful Theatrical Films. They continue to captivate those of new Generations, as well as the 30+Years viewer, just like yours truly. They even have that successful Broadway Show, SPAMELOT.

God Bless Them for their successes in making us laugh and think at the same time; and obviously, he already has. But for all of the Films, The Broadway Show and other Live Appearances; it is on "the old Tube" that they are truly on their best.

Looney Circus

[hellraiser7 · 10/10 · 27 November 2017]

Skit comedies have always been my favorite kind of comedies because in them you just have unlimited creative freedom to not just be about anything but even to do anything you want.

This show is one of my favorite TV shows of all time as well as favorite skit and comedy show of all time. It was revolutionary for it's time before skit comedy shows were even common, but what really revolutionized it was in it's execution of comedy where it dared to not play it safe and actually go the extra mile. To this day I'm still surprised they were able to get away with what they did; it's a little more common place now with the shows on the "Adult Swim" block on Cartoon Network but this was one of the first and still the best.

The ensemble is great each of them are memorable comedic actors though my favorite one is John Clease he always had this infectious uptight manic mannerism to him. Each of them look as though their really into what their doing and having fun.

I really like those brief animated segments which are beautiful but really odd art style, much like you would see in a surrealist painting as well as Mad Magazine. From the clouds, tiny men, giant feet, at times I wondered if the artists were on something. Even the pacing and editing is crisp, from how it quickly transitions and cuts to the next skit or the animated segment in between the skits, it really feels like a live action Mad Magazine as if were flipping between the pages.

However what powers this show are the skits which are great and memorable. I'll just say a few that I really loved. Each of the skits are really colorful, creative, weird and may'be even a little risqué with the amount of absurdity and behavior they were really pulling all the stops out; for some of them I still wonder where the hell they came up with the ideas or what when through they heads when they made them.

Their rich with both verbal and visual humor, there is just a lot of memorable quotes and dialog in the skits which I can't always say for all of them which is cool. The verbal humor is smart and clever but not to the point of being boring, they just go simply for doing one task and one only delivering the humor which most good skit shows should do.

I won't say too much my words can't do them justice their the kind of things you have to see for yourself to laugh.

The Deadly Joke: This just cracks me up because of how absurd an idea this is; instead of chem warfare it's punchline warfare.

Race of the Twits: It's one of the most bizarre races I've seen in history. Each of the competitors are just idiots to the core and each of the obstacles they do are even more absurd and stupidly easy.

The Spanish Inquisition: This is my favorite one of all where it is just absurdity at it's best; it's a Inquisition platoon that's not just out of place but out of time, as they are still operating on outdated laws. But most of all each of them are complete morons.

Overall if your a fan of skit shows this classic is worth checking out, this circus flies high.

Rating: 4 stars

groundbreaking

[dragokin · 10/10 · 18 April 2014]

I've talked to a gentleman from the UK who witnessed the original TV broadcast of Monty Python's Flying Circus. It has been a mind blowing experience. Although i've discovered it a couple of decades after the gentleman above, i can only share his feelings.

There is no need to underline the importance of Monty Python's Flying Circus for today's comedy. After all, it has spawned several movies and innumerable copycats. It followed in the footsteps of the Marx brothers and absurdist comedy, for example Hellzaappopin' (1941) and unleashed talent in the comedy world and opened new fields of entertainment.

The only criticism i might have is that it created a safe haven for semi-talented individuals who make whatever they want a name it comedy, in the similar way that surrealism influenced mainstream art of the twentieth century.

and now for something completely hilarious

[lee_eisenberg · 10/10 · 29 March 2011]

England's most famous comedy team made its name on its eponymous TV show, spoofing anything that could get spoofed, and has maintained a cult following ever since. John Cleese, Terry Gilliam (the only American member of Monty Python), Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, Eric Idle and Michael Palin depicted every possible wacky thing during their five years on TV -- namely the dead parrot and the Ministry of Silly Walks -- and in several movies since then.

During the 2008 presidential election, there was an Internet meme saying that the wrong Palin got chosen as John McCain's running mate: it should have been Michael Palin because he's tough on terrorism ("No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!") All in all, a great show! Aside from "A Fish Called Wanda" and "Fierce Creatures", another movie featuring multiple members of the team is "Splitting Heirs".

Before SNL there was Monty Python

[shelbythuylinh · 10/10 · 10 November 2021]

Started to love this show as a 14-year old kid in 1989 with skits like the "Ministry of Silly Walks, Nudge Nudge, Lumberjack, Salad Days" just to name a few.

As it had the late Graham Chapman playing authority figures, John Cleese doing the "Now for Something Completely Different", Terry Gilliam Animations, Eric Idle with Nudge Nude,, the late Terry Jones in drag, and Michael Palin portraying innocent and at times perverted characters.

Really this is what got into comedy and the real inspiration IMHO for skits and SNL! A classic team that were the Beatles of comedy!

Sometimes Very Funny But Could Also Be Very Bad

[bigverybadtom · 7/10 · 3 December 2011]

The series was a landmark in television history and broke a number of taboos and boundaries. And there are scenes which have been and continue to be laugh-inducing, such as "Ypres 1914", "The Ministry Of Silly Walks", and "The Spanish Inquisition".

But what really made Monty Python work was mainly not the jokes but the performances. If the actors hadn't been able to play everything straight, the whole thing would have fallen apart. The series depended not just on wit but on silliness and absurdity, which in itself isn't automatically funny. And many of the scenes are dated or funny only to Britons...and some of them are genuinely not funny. But not everything Charlie Chaplin was good either (and I'm talking about his early silent films as well as his late talkies.)

Not 'The Beatles of Comedy'

[ygwerin1 · 5/10 · 30 October 2018]

Monty Python is considered as a landmark TV comedy and in its way I suppose it is. It's a show that I never got into the habit of watching even though I have an acute sense of comic absurdity.

I tried watching occasional episodes but in all honesty I found it a bit hit and miss. Sketches started okay as original and off beat, and then fell flat, that's my impression of them.

As an example of this I cite a strange reaction I had to a Monty Python sketch, one of the most famous the Dead Parrot sketch. During this I made a cardinal sin of actually wondering why I was laughing, approximately half way through it. Once I'd got the notion in my bonce I couldn't dislodge it from my mind.

This was the only time I was stupid enough to make this mistake. But the overall effect on me was to put me off the show.

This attitude towards the TV program persisted regarding the Python films. Until their film Life of Brian, which is now my favourite film comedy. Why did I change my mind over that film? Because there was so much stupid ill informed comment about it, that I had to watch it to see what all the fuss was about. I have now seen this film more times than any other film.

Monty Python has however managed to achieve something that British comedies have in general failed, and that is to acquire cult status in the USA. This has had a knock on effect of an unwarranted assumption that esoteric comedy emanates from this show. I say this as any reference to Monty Python online elicits copious comments, that illustrate this point. A typical example being to declare of Monty Python, that they are 'The Beatles of Comedy'. Even this side of the pond the same feeling has permeated, that any originality in comedy emanated via Monty Python. If your knowledge of comedy is so restricted then that may seem to be the case. But for my part I'm not surprised that Spike Milligan got put out after watching Monty Python, when he declared "They've nicked my stuff"

A letter of complaint

[sngbrd39 · 17 February 2006]

Dear Sir,

I am writing to complain about the silliness known as Monty Python's Flying Circus which plagues my television. The "jokes" are silly and pointless, and the sketches never have proper endings. I demand that this programme be removed from telly at once and replaced with programmes that are truly representative of the glories of British humour, such as Keeping Up Appearances and the BBC World News.

Sincerely, Col. Arthur von Gambolputty-Dinsdale of Ulm (deceased)

(Warning: This letter does not reflect the true feelings of the reviewer, who is a huge fan of Python and thinks that the above-mentioned gripes are the very reason that the show is awesome. The comedy still holds up after over 35 years, though several of the costumes and haircuts do not, and the mixture of zany oddball non sequiters, intellectual references and satires, and ingenious physical comedy makes Python something very special and unique. Viva Python! And remember, !las llamas son mas grande que las ranas!)

Stop That Review, It's Getting Silly!

[classicalsteve · 10/10 · 23 August 2007]

We interrupt the Internet Movie Database because it's gotten too silly! I've noticed a tendency for the IMDb to get rather silly. Now I do my best to keep things moving along, but I'm not having things getting silly. So, we present to you this exposé on the greatest comedy sketch show of all time! In it you will see: mosquito and ant safari hunters, the funniest joke ever written in which people die laughing and later used to attack the Germans during WWII, mountain climbers that see double, "The Institute of Silly Walks", hospitals that treat their patients like soldiers in boot camp, a world in which everyone is dressed like Superman except for the greatest hero "Bicycle Repairman", and of course the Spanish Inquisition that shows up when least expected! And like the existence of God, Monty Python was, is and ever shall be the Messiah of television comedy. All must genuflect at the altar of John Cleese's desk when he finishes his phone conversation at the beach and says "And now for something completely different."

Sketch comedy shows on television existed long before Monty Python. In the US, the early sketch comedy shows, like "The Milton Berle Show", "The Caesar Hour" and "Your Show of Shows" were essentially vaudeville acts that were broadcast nation-wide, and often upon a stage. However, Monty Python may have been the earliest of the sketch comedy shows to utilize the fact that it was being broadcast on television which pushed sketch comedy out of the constraints of the fading sensibility of Sid Caesar and Ed Sullivan.

In addition to their sketches which were filmed like little movies rather than on stages (and probably were not improvised), Monty Python's Flying Circus is filled with fake news broadcasts, fake commercial interruptions, spliced sequences of stock footage, and of course, the outrageously irreverent cartoons that spoofed the great art of Europe and created a surrealist python world where portraits of distinguished old men eat up the Venus de Milo -- whole! Monty Python spoofed everything, from their own BBC News, World War II to Queen Victoria who is shown in one sketch walking into a poetry reading with the coffin containing the remains of her husband saying "My late husband and me..."

Almost every zany aspect of modern society were taken prisoner and held in custody by the Pythons, including courtrooms, shopping malls, and even little old ladies who have decided to form violent street gangs! And of course the French and the Scots seem to get a little more airtime than other groups! And the final aspect I will relate is that most of these zany sketches were presented with absolutely straight faces as if the actors were seriously engaged in their ludicrous exploits. There is very little I can add about Monty Python that hasn't already been said, except, that if you have never seen it, it is almost impossible to describe. So, for God's sake, see it! We now return you to the Internet Movie Database with its regularly scheduled programming.

A masterpiece of contemporary western comedy.

[gazface · 10/10 · 16 August 2010]

For me as well as for a great many other semi nerdy and amateur intellectual kids, Monty Python's Flying Circus was more than just another comedy show. It was a part of our academic and intellectual development, because mind you, Monty Python is by no means your everyday slap stick/fart/pie in the face humor (although they do feature an advanced and hilarious pie in the face sketch!) and is definitely not enjoyed by "the masses". They have served as an inspiration to many comedians and been copied by numerous others and will continue to be watched and enjoyed forever, in spite of the fact that the show is from 1969!

Endearing

[isagondim · 10/10 · 18 July 2018]

Absolutely fascinating, this humour is peculiar and never gets old or boring. I watch it now when I'm 18 and my uncle who's 50 years old watched it too. Very innovative and creative

The Beatles of sketch comedy

[thatsweetbird · 10/10 · 10 July 2019]

I remember as a boy seeing episodes of this running late on Sunday nights on PBS. Like to so many other people it stood out to me as the greatest, funniest thing I'd ever seen. And really I still haven't seen anything funnier or greater decades later.

I can't imagine they did these with any idea they'd still be watched and beloved some fifty years later. Yet that's whats happened.

And As influential as their sense of comedy has been I think it's proven somewhat inimitable- A testament to their uniqueness .

Legends

[chinesexiaomin · 10/10 · 14 January 2018]

No more I can say. Should be studied and learnt by all actors in the world.

Llamas Certainly ARE Larger Than Frogs

[fieldofhats · 10/10 · 4 August 2008]

Never before had there been such a show that had broken as many conventions on television as "Monty Python's Flying Circus." Looking at American television during the '60s, it seemed obvious which country was coming up with better comedy material. With shows like "Not Only...But Also," "That Was the Week That Was," "Q," "At Last the 1948 Show," and "Do Not Adjust Your Set" already in tow, it was Python that served as the true breakthrough for British television. Shows such as "Saturday Night Live," "Mr. Show," "Mad TV," "Family Guy," and "South Park" owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to "Monty Python's Flying Circus." The main strength of the show is that it mainly doesn't side too much with making topical comedy. Of course, there are moments where they satirize certain British figures (many of them I would have to look up to get the joke), but on the whole, it seems as if they start with a clean slate every time they make a sketch. There are absolutely no boundaries and no levels of expectation. It could be safe to say that they were at a complete advantage considering that they had free license to make sketches out of literally whatever came to mind at any given moment. With that, the possibilities were endless. The most unique factor of the show is the fluidity of each episode due to the stream-of-consciousness approach magnified by anti-climactic sketches that abandoned the pigeon-holing punchline and the innovative animation by Terry Gilliam. Each episode was as much a mind-trip as it was a comedy revue. Characters would sabotage sketches to make way for new ones, or a piece of animation would appear in a background and be zoomed in for a link to another sketch. It was all very cerebral and extremely innovative. Another important factor is the level of intelligence on the show. You don't feel like you're being dumbed down at all when you watch the show. At times, I actually learned something new from watching the show. I'd do a little research to better understand a sketch and find something very interesting that I would have never known about otherwise. Overall, the show is absolutely brilliant and it should been watched by more people, even though that will never happen. Monty Python is a comedy troupe that has more of a cult following than established fanfare. A lot of people can be put off by the genuine silliness of the show. As a whole, British comedy is actually much sillier than American comedy. Others find it just too strange and abstract. Of course, there are moments when one would be singled out because the humor is directed at British audiences a little too much. Nevertheless, there is usually one sketch at least that will get one laughing, and with that, its a good program to at least try out.

The Mother of all comedy!

[Skruttan · 10/10 · 11 January 2010]

I remember when I was 9 and my mom bought me "Life of Brian". I had no idea what it was and who the people in it were. But I have never laughed so hard at a movie before and even if I didn't understand all the jokes I loved it from the start.

After that I started looking for more movies by Monty Python including "Meaning of Life" and "The Holy Grail". Then, my dad bought me the film "And Now For Something Completely Different" which is when I realized that they had made a TV-show. I didn't know where to get a hold of it since it wasn't for sale and was never aired on television(in Sweden).

Then a few years ago they released it on DVD and I got it. What can I say, there are no words except for Brilliant! Fantastic! Hilarious! Spam! Unbelievable! and Awesome! The only complaint I have is for the fourth season in which John Cleese decided not to take part in. It's just not the same if someone's missing.

It's a real shame that Graham Chapman died, otherwise I think they would have made some more films.

R.I.P Graham Chapman and R.I.P. Monty Python.

Beating everything out of the meaninglessness of everything.

[piedera · 10/10 · 31 March 2014]

It is hard to put into words how much I like the "Flying Circus". Born just some years after it was produced, I can still remember how my whole class at school watched a replay of it on German TV at the end of the 80s (it was fortunately not dubbed, just subtitled) and we were always re-enacting the jokes the day after... Fortunately we had teachers who were also into Monty Python, including our English teacher who let us watch their movies. Now, almost 25 years later, they continue to make me laugh. But having grown up and having become a little bit more educated now allows me to produce an even sillier interpretation of their work. The thought underlying everything they did was basically that 99,9% of the things we humans do is practically meaningless. May it be starting or following a religion (Brian), undergoing expert treatment (Confuse-a-Cat Ltd. - a brilliant sketch), politics (Silly Walks) etc. And what made them even better is that they also took on the past with WW2 (the deadly joke, Hilter in England) and their medium TV/cinema in itself. Brian kidnapped by aliens - an early parody of science-fiction, isn't it? All this combined with to-the-point acting, sharp observations and top-notch writing - they were decades ahead of their time. If this did not deserve a 10/10 rating, I would not know what else.

Classic, influential, ingenious - and wildly uneven

[gridoon2024 · 7/10 · 27 April 2018]

It's....."Monty Python's Flying Circus". This show has too many memorable, priceless bits to count - and not a few duds. At their best, the Pythons invented a new language for comedy (and TV): anything goes, anything can happen, at any time and any place. It bends the mind. Perhaps as good a summary of their primary purpose as any can be found in a Graham Chapman line: " we need to cure people of their sanity". But sometimes they take an idea that's not very funny in the first place, and they stretch it out too long. The first two seasons are generally the strongest; the third is also good but more uneven; the fourth is by far the weakest (though it still has its moments) - their hearts and minds were more in the upcoming "Holy Grail" by that time. Objectively speaking, an episode like "Mr. Neutron" is as awful as "The Spanish Inquisition" is brilliant. But my single favorite episode has to be the early "Ant - An Introduction" - don't miss it! *** out of 4 as a whole. P.S. Carol Cleveland - what a WOMAN!

Silliness to the extreme!

[bat-5 · 30 May 1999]

Any episode of Monty Python will reduce one to fits of laughing that will produce bouts of tears that will render the viewer on the ground. Great physical comedy on all parts, but especially John Cleese in the Ministry of Silly Walks sketch, which is his least favorite sketch. Great writing that walks that fine line between genius and silly, and meshes the two. These guys also knew when and how to start end a sketch. Still funny thirty years later, wish the same could be said about Saturday Night Live. Too bad there wasn't some knight who could hit Lorne Michaels with a chicken.