Comedy Series Review: Monty Python

Monty Python in 1969

This legendary English group are experts in surreal comedy. They started a revolution in comedy and inspired countless other comedians and humorous acts in Europe and the Americas alike. There is much too much to say about these legends, so we'll keep this to a short introduction and go in to specific parts in later posts.

Monty Python were formed my John Cleese, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones. Perhaps their most famous work is the television series Monty Python's Flying Circus which first aired in 1969. Now, over 40 year later, the series has been rerun on different stations countless times translated or subtitled in many different languages, the troupe has won numerous awards and have been quoted by hundreds if not thousands of artists and comedians as major inspiration. Their influence on comedy has been compared to the Beatles' influence on popular music and pythonesque is now an officialy recognized word in British English.

Pythonesque (ˌpaɪθəˈnɛsk)

adj

1.                        denoting a kind of humour that is absurd and unpredictable; zany; surreal

Nobody ever does...

Besides Monty Python's Flying Circus Monty Python is known for their films. Some films they have made as a troube include Monty Python's The Meaning of Life; Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Monty Python's Life of Brian. Notably two of these films ridicule Christianity. Life of Brian is a parody of the story of Jesus Christ, and The Holy Grail is a parody of the classic legend of King Arthur going on his holy quest to search for the Holy Grail.

Recurring factors in both the Flying Circus and the films is the fact that nearly all female roles are played by the (male) members of Monty Python. Generally this results in a badly-disguised man in a dress with little to no make-up and an exaggerated high-pitch female voice. This is used to comic effect as well as to eliminate the need to hire female actresses for minor roles.

Besides their on-stage work and their films and television series, Monty Python have also recorded several albums with humorous songs. Some of these songs were derived from, or later used in, their sketches or films.

Monty Python are among the most legendary comedians in history, along with the likes of Charlie Chaplin and Laurel&Hardy. Why this is completely justified will be looked at in later posts. Don't go away!