Monty Python's Flying Circus

Watch Monty Python's Flying Circus

  • TV-14
  • 1969
  • 4 Seasons
  • 8.8  (78,267)

Monty Python's Flying Circus is a classic British sketch comedy show that aired on the BBC from 1969 to 1974, created and written by its six main cast members: John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, and Terry Gilliam. The show's irreverent humor and absurdist style have become legendary, influencing generations of comedians and spawning numerous spin-offs and films.

The show's format revolved around a series of loosely connected sketches, with a mix of live-action and animated segments, often featuring surreal and satirical themes. The sketches were often linked together with a stream-of-consciousness style narration, provided by various members of the cast, which added to the show's distinctive style and humor.

The cast members played a wide range of characters, from bumbling bureaucrats and uptight businessmen to surreal creations like the Ministry of Silly Walks and the Killer Joke. They also frequently broke the fourth wall, addressing the audience directly or commenting on the sketches themselves, which added to the show's anarchic energy and irreverent tone.

One of the show's most iconic elements was its opening sequence, featuring a group of elderly men in bowler hats performing a choreographed dance routine to the tune of "The Liberty Bell" march. This was accompanied by a voiceover proclaiming "And now for something completely different", which became a catchphrase for the show and captured its unique blend of absurdist humor and social commentary.

Over its five-year run, Monty Python's Flying Circus became a cultural phenomenon, popularizing a new style of comedy that blended satire, absurdity, and wit. The show's legacy has continued to this day, with its influence seen in everything from The Simpsons to South Park and beyond. It remains a beloved classic of British television, and an enduring example of the power of comedy to challenge and entertain in equal measure.

In addition to its talented cast, the show also featured a number of guest stars, including the versatile actress Carol Cleveland, who appeared in over 30 episodes and became known as the "Seventh Python". Other notable guests included Connolly, Spike Milligan, Peter Cook, and Dudley Moore, among others, who added to the show's diverse range of comedic styles and personalities.

In terms of style, Monty Python's Flying Circus was known for its distinctive use of animation and visual effects, thanks to the talents of Terry Gilliam, who developed an innovative style of cut-out animation using photographs and illustrations, as well as his own surreal drawings. The show also featured innovative camera work and editing techniques, which added to its fast-paced, punchy comedy style.

Ultimately, Monty Python's Flying Circus is a show that defies easy categorization, blending a range of genres and styles into a unique and unforgettable form of comedy. With its quick wit, sharp satire, and boundless creativity, it remains as fresh and funny today as it was over 50 years ago.

Monty Python's Flying Circus is a series that is currently running and has 4 seasons (45 episodes). The series first aired on January 1, 1969.

Monty Python's Flying Circus
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Seasons
Party Political Broadcast
6. Party Political Broadcast
January 1, 1972
A spoof of British political-party broadcasts includes the finals of "the worst family in Britain" contest, a violent cricket match and a housewife who revolutionized beekeeping.
Mr. Neutron
5. Mr. Neutron
January 1, 1972
The search for Mr. Neutron, who plans to dominate the world, stretches from a London suburb to the Yukon, and results in the destruction of earthly civilization.
Hamlet
4. Hamlet
January 1, 1972
Hamlet undergoes psychoanalysis; eight Queen Victorias compete in the Queen Victoria handicap race; a boxing contender gets his head knocked off.
The Light Entertainment War
3. The Light Entertainment War
January 1, 1972
A parody of war includes the invasion of Norway by tutu-clad commandos and a plea to the public to treat the war seriously.
Michael Ellis
2. Michael Ellis
January 1, 1972
A shopper tries to determine the identity of a man being paged in a bizarre department store; a poetry reading is disrupted by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
The Golden Age of Ballooning
1. The Golden Age of Ballooning
January 1, 1972
The Montgolfier brothers prepare for the first balloon flight. Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam.
Description
Where to Watch Monty Python's Flying Circus
Monty Python's Flying Circus is available for streaming on the Sony Pictures Home Entertainment website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Monty Python's Flying Circus on demand at Netflix, Amazon and Apple TV.
  • Premiere Date
    January 1, 1969
  • IMDB Rating
    8.8  (78,267)
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