Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus

Watch Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus

  • TV-MA
  • 1969
  • 4 Seasons
  • 8.1  (2,266)

Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus is a German television series that features the classic comedic troupe Monty Python. The show originally aired in 1972 on BBC One and starred Connie Booth, Carol Cleveland, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin.

The show is composed of two 45-minute episodes, each with a distinctly different theme, but both maintaining the classic Python humor that fans have come to love. The first episode, "Bavarian Film of the Flying Circus," is a surreal and hilarious take on German culture. The second episode, "The Lost German Episode," is a collection of sketches filmed shortly after the completion of the first episode, but which were left unused until the show's famous rerun on German television in 1974.

As always, the humor present in Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus can be described as absurdist, fast-paced, and incredibly intelligent. The show's comedy ranges from slapstick physical humor to highly intellectual jokes and references that require a deep knowledge of history, literature, and culture.

Throughout the series, the members of Monty Python play a variety of different characters, including politicians, soldiers, scientists, and everyday citizens. The group's improvisational skills are on full display, as they frequently break the fourth wall and comment on the absurdity of the scenarios they find themselves in.

One of the show's defining features is its use of animation, which was created by Terry Gilliam. Gilliam's animations are strange, surreal, and often borderline disturbing, but they perfectly complement Monty Python's unique brand of humor.

In addition to the core group of Monty Python members, several guest stars appear throughout the series. These include musicians like Neil Innes and Klaus Voormann, as well as actor and comedian Connie Booth, who would later go on to star in the classic series Fawlty Towers.

Overall, Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus is a must-watch for fans of British comedy. The show's unique blend of surrealism, intellectual humor, and absurdist comedy is sure to leave viewers laughing out loud. While it may be over forty years old, the humor present in Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus is still as fresh and funny as it was when it first aired on BBC One in 1972.

Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus is a series that is currently running and has 4 seasons (45 episodes). The series first aired on October 5, 1969.

Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus
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Seasons
Party Political Broadcast
6. Party Political Broadcast
December 5, 1974
A Party Political Broadcast on Behalf of the Liberal Party; A woman ironing appliances, a laxative cereals, `I run out of beans!', Yes it's the Most Awful Family in Britain Contest for 1974; Icelandic Honey week; a man stabbed by a nurse has to fill out a form for the Doctor to treat him as he bleeds to death; brigadier dictates a letter of protest; animation- opera singer and cannon; an appeal on behalf of rich people who have nothing wrong with them; a woman who can't finish sentences; the quest for the walking tree of Dahomie; the legendary batsmen of the Kalahari; credits; the news.
Mr. Neutron
5. Mr. Neutron
November 28, 1974
Credits; man collecting small arms; a new postal box dedicated in several languages; Mr. Neutron arrives; animation- Neutron credits; Mr. Neutron has tea; headquarters of F.E.A.R. set out to locate Neutron; Mr. Neutron works in garden; F.E.A.R. sets out to locate Teddy Salad the only man who can locate Neutron in the Yukon; Mr. Neutron puts up wall paper; Agent Carpenter tries to locate Salad at an outpost, finds him later in disguise pulling a dog sled; at No. 10 the Prime Minister and his aide confer about Neutron; F.E.A.R. bombs the world; Mr. Neutron falls in love with Mrs. S.C.U.M.; Salad tells where Neutron is after `Walkies'; F.E.A.R. blows up; the new Gobi desert box blows up; Mr. Neutron turns Mrs. S.C.U.M. into a beautiful woman they leave as bomb explodes; animation- has Mr. Neutron survived; announcer tells of lavish and expensive ending to show that will occur after credits; Conjuring Today; man struck on head by hammer.
Hamlet
4. Hamlet
November 21, 1974
Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Act One; Hamlet pulls up in car; Hamlet on couch being interviewed by several different psychiatrists `You've got this great looking bird, her legs are up on the mantle piece...'; Dr. Bruce Genuine comments; computer psychiatrist interviews Hamlet; computer is launched and blown up; Nationwide looks at comfortable chairs, policemen accosts Nationwide reporter & others and talks about helmets, couple making love on the street; couple in bed with her father; credits; group of people in bed watching Hamlet; animation- paratroopers; a decapitated boxer's locker room; hospital workers listen to fight on radio; Mrs. Gorilla & Mrs. Non-Gorilla talk about piston engines; Mrs. Non-Smoker feeds the birds large quantities of food and talks to Mrs. Smoker about piston engines; Act Two- A Room in Polonius's House; live from Epsom, The Queen Victoria's Handicap; Several Queen Victoria's talk about soccer; animation- boy flying with balloons; Act Five- A Ham in the Cast
The Light Entertainment War
3. The Light Entertainment War
November 14, 1974
TV preview of Up Your Pavement and others shows featuring Alex Diamond and other famous people; RAF banter sketch; report of invasion by angels, enemy is not taking war seriously, court martial of soldier for using a wet towel as a weapon, features the skating vicar; invasion of tutu laden soldiers; coming soon- wartime romances; credits; Indian used as a TV remote control, Mrs. Elizabeth III proves she's an idiot; meeting of program heads discussing showing the M4 and other roads in England when a security guard reports the court martial sketch isn't serious anymore; animation- man complaining about everything; squire tries out `woody' sounding words; Hindu remote control, show jumping featuring The Sound of Music, Oklahoma, The Black & White Minstrel Show, and Ben-Hur; late breaking bulletin: World War II has entered romantic phase song- When Does a Dream Begin; credits.
Michael Ellis
2. Michael Ellis
November 7, 1974
Credits with rolling coin; end credits; a doorman is abused in front of very odd department store (much like Harrod's); a lady buys a flamethrower; some salesclerks make faces at man who wishes to buy an ant (the staff thinks this man is Michael Ellis); man takes ant home to mother; watches BBC lecture on ants; returns defective ant to store; finds Victorian poetry reading about ants; toupee fitting room; manager's office; end of the show department featuring a summing up from the panel, happy ending, long slow fade, two lone figures walking into the sunset, a chase and...
The Golden Age of Ballooning
1. The Golden Age of Ballooning
October 31, 1974
The Golden Age of Ballooning: Ep. 1 The Beginnings, The Montgolfier brothers pioneer hot air flight, try to wash, Mr. Bartlett comes to visit; animation- brothers washing; Ep. 2 The Montgolfier Brothers in Love, Louis the ?'teenth comes to visit and steal the balloon plans; Ep. 3 The Great Day for France, court of George the Third; end credits; Norwegian party political broadcast; Ep. 6 Count Ferdinand Von Zeppelin shows his balloon to dignitaries `It's not a balloon! It's a Zeppelin!'; the drawing and sitting rooms of a small German house; Golden Age of Colonic Irrigation; The Mill on the Floss: Part 1 Ballooning.
Description
Where to Watch Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus
Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus is available for streaming on the BBC One website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus on demand at Netflix.
  • Premiere Date
    October 5, 1969
  • IMDB Rating
    8.1  (2,266)