Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974)

The original surreal sketch comedy showcase for the Monty Python troupe.

Creators:

Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin

Stars:

Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam

3 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Graham Chapman	...	Various (46 episodes, 1969-1974)
Eric Idle	...	Various (46 episodes, 1969-1974)
Terry Jones	...	Various (46 episodes, 1969-1974)
Michael Palin	...	It's Man (46 episodes, 1969-1974)
Terry Gilliam	...	Various (45 episodes, 1969-1974)
John Cleese	...	Announcer (40 episodes, 1969-1973)
Carol Cleveland	...	Various (32 episodes, 1969-1974)

Storyline

The irreverent Monty Python comedy troupe present a series of skits which are often surreal, baudy, uncompromising, tasteless, but inevitably hilarious.

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Plot Keywords:

monty python | comedy troupe | sketch comedy | television | animal in title | 

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Taglines:

And now for something completely digital...

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Genres:

Comedy | Music

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Official Sites:

PythOnline.com

Country:

UK

Language:

English Arabic French German Italian Mandarin Spanish

Release Date:

5 October 1969 (UK)

Also Known As:

Gwen Dibley's Flying Circus

Filming Locations:

BBC Television Centre, Wood Lane, Shepherd's Bush, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Python (Monty) Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 30 min (45 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The head of comedy at the BBC said that the title had to include the word "Circus", because the people at the BBC had referred to the six cast members wandering around the BBC offices as a circus, so they added "Flying" to make it sound less like a real circus and more like something out of the first world war. And in front of that, added "Monty Python" because it sounded like a really bad theatrical agent, and also that the large, constricting snake was appropriate imagery.

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Quotes

Customer: Hello? I wish to register a complaint. Hello, miss?
Pet Shop Owner: [coming up from the desk] What do you mean, "miss"?
Customer: I'm sorry, I have a cold.

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Crazy Credits

Several episodes go on for several minutes following the closing credits. Some closing credits even incorporate the BBC "rolling earth" logo that was used at the time between programs.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Jack Frost (1997)

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Soundtracks

"The Liberty Bell"
(1893) (uncredited)
Music by John Philip Sousa
Performed by the Coldstream Guards
(opening theme music)

User Reviews

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

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.