5 Great Sketch Comedies: Monty Python's Flying Circus

As we celebrate the tenth anniversary of Chappelle's Show (OK, so we're like a week late), Popculturology is here to give its own look back on the iconic show. While it didn't last long on TV, every episode gave us something to talk about ... or rather mimic constantly. (C'mon, people, we can't be Rick James ... bitch.) As we honor Chappelle's Show, we'll take a look back at other legendary comedy shows. In addition to Chappelle's Show, this series will focus on Upright Citizens Brigade, SCTV, Saturday Night Live and Monty Python's Flying Circus. Sit back and enjoy.

The granddaddy of them all. Monty Python's Flying Circus was the brilliant work of five Brits and one American who could find a ton of uses for a Xerox machine. The show was a hard sell, as the troupe vowed to never have a punchline and the show never had a predictable ending. Whenever you heard Sousa’s Liberty Bell March, you never knew of the show was starting or ending, but in between, it was a laugh a second.

Being the original bad boy of British television, Monty Python took every stab they could at the current state of television, the British Monarchy and, worst of all, the upperclass. There was a lack of punchlines, the names were in awful taste and the cast was OK with dressing as women (unless they needed the woman to be convincing, which is when they'd bring Carol Cleveland in). They ragged on Biggles, Queen Elizabeth and gynocologists. There were songs, dances and exploding Strauss tunes. This show had it all, and it was never the same show twice. It wasn’t long until American audiences were exposed to this group of "zany mad cap" humorists, thanks to PBS stations broadcasting the four series.

Once the Python’s did their damage on the small screen, they focused their efforts on the silver screen, giving us The Holy Grail, Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life. In circular fashion, those movies helped introduce the show to Americans.

John Cleese (Fawlty Towers, A Fish Called Wanda, The World Is Not Enough), Eric Idle (Spamalot, One Foot In The Grave theme), Terry Gilliam (12 Monkeys, Time Bandits, Brazil, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas), Michael Palin (A Fish Called Wanda, Fierce Creatures, Time Bandits), Terry Jones (The Wind In the Willows, Labyrinth) and Graham Chapman (Yellowbeard) made up Monty Python's Flying Circus.

Notable sketches



The Dead Parrot Sketch
I think this is the most famous of them all (like you could rank these?), and Cleese does his best to complain about buying a "late parrot" to the unconcerned shop owner played by Palin. From there, it just gets crazy only the way Python could.



The Upper Class Twit of the Year
Cleese wrote this as a response to his late-night wake-up calls from his loud, well-to-do neighbors in Kensington. So the Pythons, donning their best casual upperclass tweeds, hit the pitch showcasing that despite limited intelligence their unrelenting zeal and energy to twit themselves leads to a hilarious close.



Spam
The song that probably helps move more Spam than Hormel would like to admit to. A pepperpot (played by Chapman) is stuck in a restaurant with a load of Vikings and everything has a little bit of Spam in it. The only problem is, "I DON’T LIKE SPAM!"



The Spanish Inquisition
Palin, Jones and Gilliam play the inept Cardinals looking to punish anyone committing crimes against the church. Whether it’s bringing the wrong rack or using the "comfy cushions," these guys cannot do anything right for Cardinal Ximinex.



The Chemist Sketch
Semprini, that’s all I have to say.

Seth’s Personal Favorite



The Election Night Special
There is nothing more enjoyable than seeing the Python clan just make fun of political broadcasts and the politicians themselves. The sensible party took many hits that night, and can I just say that this is the very first time I've ever been on television?