Monty Python and the Article

Monty Python: The legend lives on

By Jason Wagner

Monty Python, a legendary group, once synonymous with "British Comedy," considered other names like “Owl Stretching Time,” “The Toad Elevating Moment,” “A Horse, a Spoon, and a Bucket,” and “Bun, Wackett, Buzzard, Stubble, and Boot,”  but ultimately all others were shot down. 

But what was Monty Python?

English comedy troupe Monty Python was formed on May 11, 1969. After a taping of the comedy show “Do not adjust your sets," of which four Pythons were involved,  six blossoming comedians:  Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, and Terry Gilliam, met at an Indian diner in North London. The six had known each other for quite a while. Chapman, Cleanse, and Idle attended Cambridge University together. While Palin and Terry Jones were at Oxford University, Cleese had met Gilliam in New York while on a college comedy tour. In the diner, they discussed comedy, the shows they were working on, and what was occurring in their lives, but the biggest topic of discussion was them -- What could they do? They began to talk about forming their own club, a comedy club that broke the established rules, one that pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable on television, one that intentionally poked at sensitive subjects.

Shortly after a television deal was reached, Monty Python would have its show. Monty Python’s Flying Circus first aired on October 5, 1969 and was met with a substantial amount of late-night viewers and strong critical acclaim the series went on for five years and consisted of the six Pythons doing sketch comedy, some of the most famous being:  "The Ministry of Silly Walks," "The Spanish Inquisition," "The Parrot Sketch," and "The Golden Age of Ballooning." The show garnered much fame and attraction for its unique style, which translated into a dedicated late night audience and critical acclaim. Part of this fame was due to the animations from Terry Gilliam who drew uniquely designed characters, monsters, and scenes to fit into the show and Eric Idle who masterfully delivered and wrote songs such as "The LumberJack Song," "The Galaxy Song," "Henry Kissinger," and "I like Chinese." These songs entertained and even informed their audience. In 1974 after Flying Circus ended The Pythons set their sights on something bigger, the movies. A long and tedious filming process began in Scotland, it was plagued by rain. The film, Monty Python and The Holy Grail, was ultimately successful and ended up being the start of a very successful film career. While Holy Grail was an objectively good film, 1979's Monty Python’s Life of Brian was an artistic film that highlighted religion and its absurdities. These two films are massively acclaimed and financially successful, their third film Monty Python’s Meaning of Life was also massively successful but received less of an audience than its predecessors. After 1983’s Meaning of Life the group went on a break and did world tours throughout the 80’s. After that though? Chapman Died at 48 in 89. The Pythons now without their frontman would not tour again for years. In 2014 they performed for the last time. Monty Python’s Meaning of Live was a smashing success, it featured their best sketches, fan favorite songs, and a tribute to Graham Chapman. The remaining 5 Pythons would never tour again as Terry Jones died in 2020. 

The legacy of the Pythons has affected comedy and comedians since its inception and when students were asked about them they had this to say:  

“My friend showed me Holy Grail. I loved the whole movie, it was silly, funny, and pretty entertaining. The whole movie sets up for a large-scale medieval battle that never happens. Instead King Arthur and The Knights of The Round Table are arrested. I was irritated but couldn’t stop laughing.” - Sophomore Cullin Schantz

“I’ve watched Holy Grail 135 times in one week during the summer.” - Sophomore Jason Wagner

“I think Monty Python was the best comedy troupe ever and I’m proud to be a Pythonite.” - Senior Seth Trisoline

“I have a vinyl of Python; best one I own.” - Senior Trevor Mogle