# Best Monty Python Sketch **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 12, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-monty-python-sketch/513593 "2009-10-12T22:08:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-monty-python-sketch/513593/1 "2009-10-12T22:08:48Z")
Here are [twenty Monty Python sketches](http://gnews.com/entertainment/The-Life-of-Python-20-Greatest-Monty-Python-Sketches-110424014489.html). Which is the best? Take your time. ---
**Author:** ![ianjohnson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a3d4f5/32.png) [@ianjohnson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianjohnson)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-monty-python-sketch/513593/2 "2009-10-12T22:23:33Z")
I think you have to give the edge to a skit with a song, because it can be enjoyed beyond watching it, in singing the song with friends, in the shower, etc. I still know most of the words to the philosopher song in spite of not having heard it in years. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-monty-python-sketch/513593/3 "2009-10-12T22:27:25Z")
I never understood why the Dead Parrot sketch was funny. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-monty-python-sketch/513593/4 "2009-10-12T22:36:47Z")
My favorite is not on the list - it’s the Dirty Vicar Sketch. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-monty-python-sketch/513593/5 "2009-10-12T22:44:48Z")
Put me down for Spam Deus ex machina at the wrong end of the skit, a living history lesson a la Holy Grail, a literal breaking of the fourth wall, dialogue that gets more and more simple as the sketch deconstructs, the dirty Hungarian wandering in from another sketch, and a catchy tune with truly memorable lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-monty-python-sketch/513593/6 "2009-10-12T22:50:15Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > My favorite is not on the list - it’s the Dirty Vicar Sketch. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7s9SYX7TSJ0/hqdefault.jpg "Monty Python - Dirty Vicar") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s9SYX7TSJ0) I think I’ll go post that link over in the “[Bishop negotiates child sex settlement, and then . . .](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=534283)” thread. ---
**Author:** ![UncaStuart](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncastuart/32/404_2.png) [@UncaStuart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncaStuart)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-monty-python-sketch/513593/7 "2009-10-12T22:58:08Z")
For me, the frosting on the cake that is the Argument Clinic is the perfect timing of the infinite ending. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-monty-python-sketch/513593/8 "2009-10-12T23:01:25Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > I never understood why the Dead Parrot sketch was funny. I find the delivery of the rant leading up to “This is an EX parrot!” describing the many and varried ways of a parrot being dead to be hillarious. I wish I could be as verbally rapier like when dealing with my phone company. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-monty-python-sketch/513593/9 "2009-10-12T23:06:30Z")
> [@UncaStuart](#): > > For me, the frosting on the cake that is the Argument Clinic is the perfect timing of the infinite ending. Kids, this is what we used to do before there was the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-monty-python-sketch/513593/10 "2009-10-12T23:14:24Z")
A good list. I went with Argument Clinic. But that’s only because these were not listed: Upperclass Twit of the Year Contest Ken Cleanairsystem Scott of the Sahara Pirahna Brothers ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-monty-python-sketch/513593/11 "2009-10-12T23:31:48Z")
I love the play on class distinction in “A Man wth Three Buttocks.” [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqosS6DBwhA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqosS6DBwhA) ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-monty-python-sketch/513593/12 "2009-10-12T23:33:30Z")
As noted at the gnews link, “Four Yorkshiremen” predates Python. Cleese, Chapman, Tim Brooke-Taylor, and Marty Feldman wrote and performed it for the 1967 series _At Last the 1948 Show_. ---
**Author:** ![emjaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f475e1/32.png) [@emjaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emjaya)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-monty-python-sketch/513593/13 "2009-10-12T23:46:30Z")
The Fish-Slapping Dance. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/IhJQp-q1Y1s/hqdefault.jpg "Monty Python, The Fish Slapping Dance") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhJQp-q1Y1s) ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-monty-python-sketch/513593/14 "2009-10-13T00:08:38Z")
Looks like “Ministry of Silly Walks” is doing well in the poll. If you liked that, you might get at kick out of the Pakistan/India Border Closing Ceremony at Wagha, Punjab. [Here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC9NeJh1NhI&feature=channel), Sanjeev Bhaskar makes mention of the Ministry of Silly Walks. [Here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9y2qtaopbE&feature=fvw), the ceremony is observed by none other than Michael Palin, of Python fame. I wonder how often these felllows kick off their own helmet crests? ---
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-monty-python-sketch/513593/15 "2009-10-13T00:48:02Z")
I always liked Olympic Hide and Seek, and Dennis Moore, and Bicycle Repairman, but not seeing any of those I went with Cheese Shop, which has me chuckling as I think about it. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-monty-python-sketch/513593/16 "2009-10-13T01:16:59Z")
Don’t forget the [Blackmail](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZgwNutwK0Y) sketch. One of my favs. Also, I love the one where the announcers are battling over control of the microphone. And when the robbers storm the studio and steal Cleese and his newsdesk, then toss it into the Thames. Gah! There’s just so many! ---
**Author:** ![Claire\_Beauchamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@Claire\_Beauchamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire_Beauchamp)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-monty-python-sketch/513593/17 "2009-10-13T01:29:20Z")
Hard to choose, indeed. Some I’ve seen so very many times it’s hard to evaluate with a fresh eye. I voted for Spanish Inquisition – it’s what made me absolutely fall in love with Python rather than just like them a lot. But it’s not really a _sketch_ … it runs through the entire episode. This is an odd list, though. As already mentioned, Four Yorkshiremen is pre-Python. Silly Olympics is from their German episode. Isn’t “How to Contradict People” from some side project? Silly Walks is funny enough and very popular I know, but it doesn’t make my top 20 I don’t think. I really like Fish License and Vocational Guidance Counselor, a LOT. Also the one where John Cleese interviews Graham Chapman for a job and makes him freak out. The entire Michael Ellis episode. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-monty-python-sketch/513593/18 "2009-10-13T01:45:11Z")
They’re all great, but only one sent me to the ground rolling in uncontrollable laughter. Yes, that’s the “Self Defense” sketch. Okay, maybe it wasn’t the ONLY one, but it’s the one freshest in my mind, so there! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-monty-python-sketch/513593/19 "2009-10-13T03:44:02Z")
Moving thread from IMHO to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Algorithm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/algorithm/32/12204_2.png) [@Algorithm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algorithm)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-monty-python-sketch/513593/20 "2009-10-13T03:47:50Z")
> [@Claire\_Beauchamp](#): > > Also the one where John Cleese interviews Graham Chapman for a job and makes him freak out. Silly Job Interview is totally underrated. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-monty-python-sketch/513593.md?page=2)