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Monty Python 40 Years Old Today!

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the nobody-expects-the-spanish-inquisition dept.

cheros was one of several readers to note that today, Oct 5, in 1969 was the very first airing of Monty Python. Although not every sketch has aged particularly well, you'd be hard pressed to find a more influential and funny show. Heck, look at the Icon we use here to indicate humorous stories! Who among us can't claim to have viewed the Holy Grail at least somewhere in the double digits.

5 of 298 comments (clear)

  1. I'm actually a heretic. by Dr.+Manhattan · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Holy Grail is great and all, but I think "Life Of Brian" is the best Monty Python movie. It's the only one where they maintained a coherent plot thread through the whole proceedings, and still had drop-dead-funny stuff.

    "It says 'Romans Go Home'." "No it doesn't!"

    "He has a wife, you know..."

    Oh, heck, just see here.

    --
    PHEM - party like it's 1997-2003!
    1. Re:I'm actually a heretic. by Foobar+of+Borg · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Holy Grail is great and all, but I think "Life Of Brian" is the best Monty Python movie.

      Actually, in an interview about a year ago, John Clease mentioned that, in his experience, Americans tended to favor Holy Grail and Britons tended to favour Life of Brian. He thought it had something to do with the way in which both countries tend to enjoy their humo(u)r. Life of Brian has a continuous plot, whereas Holy Grail is more of a connected series of sketches.

      --
      Similar to the upcoming US election results
  2. The essence of Python... by Stone+Rhino · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Monty Python, when it started, was about doing something different, absurd, and rebellious. Humo(u)r was stale and repetitive at the time. The devolution of their innovative comedy into a mine for endlessly repeated quotes is antithetical to its spirit. That's why my favorite Monty Python sketch is their performance of the Dead Parrot Sketch at the Secret Policeman's Ball: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTV3lQc4AmQ

    --


    Remember, there were no nuclear weapons before women were allowed to vote.
  3. Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition by jacksdl · · Score: 3, Interesting

    One of today's Nobel Prize winners (Carol W. Greider) was quoted in the New York Times:

    People might make predictions of who might win, but one never expects it, she said, adding that ''It's like the Monty Python sketch, 'Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!'''

  4. Re:so successful, yet never remade - why? by Threni · · Score: 3, Interesting

    > Considering what an effect and what a huge fanbase the programmes have, I can't help wondering why no-one has ever tried to make any more.

    And why don't people make some more Beatles songs while they're at it?