Monty Python

Monty Python, or The Pythons, were the creators and stars of Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy series which first aired on October 5, 1969 with the first episode Whither Canada?. As a television series it consisted of 45 episodes over 4 seasons. However, the Python phenomenon was much greater, spawning stage tours, four films, numerous audio recordings, several computer games and books, as well as launching the members to individual stardom.

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Star - Monty Python's Flying Circus - British - Television - Comedy - October 5 - 1969 - Whither Canada? - Television series - Film - Audio recording - Computer game - Book

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The television series, broadcast by the BBC from 1969 to 1974, was conceived, written and performed by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin. Loosely structured as a sketch show, but with an innovative stream-of-consciousness approach (aided by Terry Gilliam's animations), it pushed the boundaries of what was then considered acceptable, both in terms of style and content.

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Broadcast - BBC - 1969 - 1974 - Graham Chapman - John Cleese - Terry Gilliam - Eric Idle - Terry Jones - Michael Palin - Sketch show - Stream-of-consciousness - Animation

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The group's influence upon comedy has been compared to that which the Beatles had on music. While their influence all over the British comedic spectrum has been apparent for years, in America it is especially evident in much recent absurdist television programming like Adult Swim, South Park, and bits from Late Night with Conan O'Brien.

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The Beatles - Music - Absurdist - Adult Swim - South Park - Late Night with Conan O'Brien

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The name was chosen because they thought it was funny. In 1998's Live at Aspen documentary of the Monty Python team, the team revealed how the name for their group was chosen. 'Monty' was chosen as a tribute to Field Marshal Lord Montgomery, a legendary British general of the 2nd world war, and the team agreed that they wanted a 'slippery' sounding name as well. The word 'Python' fit the bill.

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Field Marshal - Lord Montgomery

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In a 2005 poll to find The Comedian's Comedian, three of the six members were voted amongst the top 50 greatest comedy acts ever by fellow comedians and comedy insiders. Michael Palin was at number 30, Eric Idle was voted to number 21 and John Cleese was at number 2, just beaten to the top by Peter Cook.

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2005 - The Comedian's Comedian - Peter Cook

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