# Monty Python humour **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 10, 2002, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-humour/108320 "2002-05-10T17:46:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Oblong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c0e974/32.png) [@Oblong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblong)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-humour/108320/1 "2002-05-10T17:46:10Z")
I’m thinking of getting a Monty Python DVD. I’ve never seen their work except for a sketch they did on SNL that I assume was a recreation, the parrot sketch. I thought it was hilarious. It’s not that I didn’t think they were funny, I just was never exposed to it. They used to be on, I think MTV, when I was younger but I never watched. I know I could just rent one first but I like to buy them. I like sketch comedy and improv. Just off the top of my head, some of my favorite comedies are: Spinal Tap, Raising Arizona, Fargo, anything with Christopher Guest, and of course the slapstick stuff like Airplane and Naked Gun movies. I like Who’s Line Is it Anyway (both the British and US versions). What’s the best one to get? I saw a special anniversary edition. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-humour/108320/2 "2002-05-10T18:00:32Z")
I’m not sure what’s available, but I always liked “The Cycling Tour.” The one with “The Spanish Inquisition” is up there, too. However, you can pick any one at random and find a classic bit in them. Take them from the second or third season and you can’t go wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-humour/108320/3 "2002-05-10T18:13:18Z")
I agree. The first season was where they were getting into form, but the second and third seasons are the classics. If you’re a purist, go ahead and get the fourth season to round out the collection, but that stuff was tremendously weak. ---
**Author:** ![Ferrous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Ferrous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferrous)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-humour/108320/4 "2002-05-10T18:16:03Z")
If you liked the SNL version, you’re probably gonna _love_ the real thing. I saw the SNL version too, and frankly, thought it was pretty tired. They’ve been doing that sketch for like 20 years now, and they just don’t put much into it any more. Of course, I can see how you would have liked it if it was the first time you’ve seen it, but trust me, the older versions are better. You should check out the feature films, too. _Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Life of Brian,_ and _The Meaning of Life_ are all absolutely hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Oblong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c0e974/32.png) [@Oblong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblong)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-humour/108320/5 "2002-05-10T18:25:07Z")
What about the Holy Grail movie? Thanks for the other feedback. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Harvey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@Max\_Harvey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Harvey)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-humour/108320/6 "2002-05-10T18:29:09Z")
The entire series is available on DVD for about $150, and there are also single discs with (I think) 3 episodes each. I always thought Python was kinda “eh” too until MTV started airing it, and then I was hooked. Lately it’s harder to watch the more well-known stuff because it’s quoted to death, but it all still holds up IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Sphinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Sphinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sphinx)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-humour/108320/7 "2002-05-10T18:38:16Z")
I think the “Holy Grail” is probably their best movie, with the “Life of Brian” running a close second. Not only are they funny, but I love the sacrilegious overtones. They are both that rarest type of film that you can watch over-and-over again and find something new each time. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-humour/108320/8 "2002-05-10T18:54:10Z")
The _MP & the Holy Grail_ DVD is fantastic. Two sets of commentaries from the 5 survining members, good behind-the-scenes material, a piece where Jones & Palin revisit the old locations, perhaps the funniest trailer I’ve ever seen in my life, and even one of the musical numbers recreated by LEGOs. A brilliant treatment of their very best film. Also, you might want to look up _And Now For Something Completely Different_. It was sort of a “greatest hits” of their sketch stuff (on a slightly higher budget). It’s a good assortment of material and may give you an idea of which sketches you’d prefer to own. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-humour/108320/9 "2002-05-10T19:49:26Z")
No, not the “Cycling Tour” – IMO, the third season of _Monty Python_ was a pale shadow of their former selves; John Cleese’s departure definitely hurt. I’d vote for something from the second season. Just pick one, they’re all good. 🙂 Alternately, either _Monty Python and the Holy Grail_ or _The Life of Brian_ are sure-fire winners. Just avoid _The Meaning of Life._ ---
**Author:** ![mailman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@mailman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mailman)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-humour/108320/10 "2002-05-10T19:57:53Z")
“The Killer Joke” is one of my favorites, but I haven’t seen it in years. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-humour/108320/11 "2002-05-10T20:18:49Z")
Also, if you like John Cleese’s humor, you might be into _Fawlty Towers_ a 12 episode (I think) comedy that he did which has a more unified plot as opposed to individual sketches. One of the funniest shows ever, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Morgainelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Morgainelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgainelf)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-humour/108320/12 "2002-05-10T20:19:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > \*\*No, not the “Cycling Tour” – IMO, the third season of _Monty Python_ was a pale shadow of their former selves; John Cleese’s departure definitely hurt. > > I’d vote for something from the second season. Just pick one, they’re all good. 🙂 Alternately, either _Monty Python and the Holy Grail_ or _The Life of Brian_ are sure-fire winners. Just avoid _The Meaning of Life._ \*\* Oh, I disagree! There are some real classics in _The Meaning of Life_! The salmon mousse? Every sperm is sacred? Liver donors? It can be slow at times, but I wouldn’t skip it. Just see _Holy Grail_ and _Life of Brian_ first. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-humour/108320/13 "2002-05-10T20:28:01Z")
**MEANING OF LIFE** is by far the best!! Texan: Well honey what should we talk about??? waiter(John Cleese): Well hows about I give you a conversation…lets start with Nietzsche shall we… Texan: whats Nietzsche? Some kind of fish…😃 ---
**Author:** ![zeldarae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/f14d63/32.png) [@zeldarae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zeldarae)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-humour/108320/14 "2002-05-10T21:04:13Z")
“You Americans, you’re all alike with your ‘Let me tell you…’ and ‘I just want to say…’. Well, you’re dead now, so shut up!” ‘As a matter of fact, today I think I’ll have a French Ticker because I am a Protestant.’ I loved “The Meaning of Life”. But my favorite by far was “Life of Brian” (being the good Catholic that I am). "Did he say ‘blessed are the cheesemakers?’ “I don’t think he meant cheesemakers per say but makers of all dairy products.” ---
**Author:** ![Kalashnikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@Kalashnikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalashnikov)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-humour/108320/15 "2002-05-10T22:00:19Z")
I’d also avoid “The Meaning of Life”. “The Holy Grail” is the most popular of the movies, but “The Life of Brian” was good too. As for the TV show, there are great skits and not so great ones in almost every episode, so don’t worry about which one you get first. ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2002, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-humour/108320/16 "2002-05-11T01:21:33Z")
“The Life of Brian” is my favorite, far and away. “The Holy Gourd of Jerusalem!” ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2002, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-humour/108320/17 "2002-05-11T01:46:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ArchiveGuy \* > \*\*The _MP & the Holy Grail_ DVD is fantastic. Two sets of commentaries from the 5 survining members, good behind-the-scenes material, a piece where Jones & Palin revisit the old locations, perhaps the funniest trailer I’ve ever seen in my life, and even one of the musical numbers recreated by LEGOs. A brilliant treatment of their very best film. \*\* Did they ever fix the glitch on the DVD that caused the subtitles to pop up at each chapter stop on certiain Toshiba and Sony DVD players? I had to take my copy back to the store… ---
**Author:** ![Semp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Semp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Semp)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2002, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-humour/108320/18 "2002-05-11T02:06:56Z")
I’d just like to throw in a good word for _Live At The Hollywood Bowl_, which is a concert film from when they went on tour in the early 80s. It is made up as a greatest-hits-live type of show that has the parrot sketch, the argument clinic, the dead vicar on the landing (featuring Terry Jones in drag losing his wig and everyone else having to cover), and many other popular bits from MPFC. My favorite part is the lecture on slapstick wherein Terry Gilliam (acting, not just animating!) gets to lay the wood on Michael Palin and Terry Jones. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2002, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-humour/108320/19 "2002-05-11T03:01:07Z")
Well… it also depends on your latin grammar… ---
**Author:** ![Stinkum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Stinkum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stinkum)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2002, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-humour/108320/20 "2002-05-11T04:46:34Z")
Oh yes, _Live at the Hollywood Bowl_ is great. Wear your Depends undergarments when watching this one. But it might not be out on DVD yet. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-humour/108320.md?page=2)