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TV / movies 📺 Monty Python

I was a high-school nerd who used to get together with nerd friends to watch Monty Python (back in in the early '90s), so yes, this resonates with me. We have have development review meetings where we got talking about "shrubbery" and a board member snuck in "something nice, but not too expensive." Half the room laughed and the other half was clueless.

I have my skits that I like and that don't do much for me, but more importantly, Python was probably my first introduction into any sort of counterculture at all. Churches wanted to ban Life of Brian. Teachers didn't like us throwing around Meaning of life Quotes. Our weird physics teacher who everybody thought was cool peppered his teaching with Holy Grail quotes.

So, while it's not always the funniest stuff ever or movies I want to re-watch again and again, it has a sentimental place in my heart. I knew about Python before Hitchhiker's Guide, before Rocky Horror, before They Might be Giants. (I probably knew about Dr. Demento and Weird Al before Monty Python, but that's a different story for another time).
 
Faust_Motel said:
I was a high-school nerd who used to get together with nerd friends to watch Monty Python (back in in the early '90s), so yes, this resonates with me. We have have development review meetings where we got talking about "shrubbery" and a board member snuck in "something nice, but not too expensive." Half the room laughed and the other half was clueless.

I have my skits that I like and that don't do much for me, but more importantly, Python was probably my first introduction into any sort of counterculture at all. Churches wanted to ban Life of Brian. Teachers didn't like us throwing around Meaning of life Quotes. Our weird physics teacher who everybody thought was cool peppered his teaching with Holy Grail quotes.

So, while it's not always the funniest stuff ever or movies I want to re-watch again and again, it has a sentimental place in my heart. I knew about Python before Hitchhiker's Guide, before Rocky Horror, before They Might be Giants. (I probably knew about Dr. Demento and Weird Al before Monty Python, but that's a different story for another time).
Click to expand...
Dittos for me.

Though replace Rocky Horror with MST3K.
__________________________________________________________

Bovril: Morning, squadron leader.

Squadron Leader: What-ho, Squiffy.

Bovril: >How was it?

Squadron Leader: Top hole. Bally Jerry pranged his kite right in the how's your father. Hairy blighter, dicky-birdied, feathered back on his Sammy, took a waspy, flipped over on his Betty Harper's and caught his can in the Bertie.

Bovril: Er, I'm afraid I don't quite follow you, squadron leader.

Squadron Leader: It's perfectly ordinary banter, Squiffy. Bally Jerry ... pranged his kite right in the how's yer father ... hairy blighter, dicky-birdied, feathered back on his Sammy, took a waspy, flipped over on his Betty Harper's and caught his can in the Bertie.

Bovril: No, I'm just not understanding banter at all well today. Give us it slower.

Squadron Leader: Banter's not the same if you say it slower, Squiffy.

And so on and so on...
 
I had told her about Monty Python & she had seen a few Flying Circus skits...The first time Mrs. P watched the Holy Grail was great. I was mouthing the words (because I've seen it thousands of times I'm sure) & she was just stunned at the Black Knight Sketch, the Bring Out Your Dead sketch and such. I fell asleep about 2/3 through.

I am then awakened by an elbow in the ribs & her saying "Is that the end!?" I didn't open my eyes and asked "Did the police arrest the Knights?" & she replied yes. I told that was the end. Her reply was "That's the stupidest thing I've ever seen!" - 20 years on, she appreciates it much more.
 
Planit said:
Her reply was "That's the stupidest thing I've ever seen!"
Click to expand...
Planit then was all like:
chuck todd maybe that's the point GIF

Planit said:
20 years on, she appreciates it much more.
Click to expand...
Planit now be all like:
So Excited Reaction GIF
 
I'm a big fan of the moment when the Python crew unexpectedly takes a crack at broaching the actual meaning of life in their film The Meaning of Life

For those wanting a more prosaic explanation, however, there is always the end of the film (also linked by mendelman above)
 
mendelman said:
The meaning of life is really quite prosaic.
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Only for those who don't seek to transcend their current state of being and end up getting endlessly distracted by minutia. Speaking of which, did you know that Monty Python's Flying Circus only ran 45 episodes? They had a rather outsized influence considering, wouldn't you say
 
My greatest professional moment was leading a skit based on constitutional peasants in front of the entire firm leadership of principals and executives, which featured us referring to our Chief Strategy Officer as a watery tart and moistened bink. I thought for sure I was ending my career.
 
ARTHUR
You don't vote for kings.
WOMAN
Well, 'ow did you become king then?
ARTHUR:
The Lady of the Lake,
[angels sing]
her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water signifying by Divine Providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur.
[singing stops]
That is why I am your king!
DENNIS
Listen -- strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
ARTHUR
Be quiet!
DENNIS
Well you can't expect to wield supreme executive power just 'cause some watery tart threw a sword at you!
ARTHUR: Shut up!
DENNIS: I mean, if I went around sayin' I was an emperor just because some moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me they'd put me away!
genius.com

Monty Python (Ft. Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam & Terry Jones) – Monty Python and the Holy Grail - I'm Being Repressed

MORTICIAN / Who's that then? / CUSTOMER / I don't know. / MORTICIAN / Must be a king. / CUSTOMER / Why? / MORTICIAN / He hasn't got shit all over him. / [clop clop] / ARTHUR: / Old
genius.com genius.com

I Am Your King - Monty Python And The Holy Grail.
 
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