montypython

The thing about this video made from clips of the original Star Trek crew singing and dancing to Monty Python and the Holy Grail's "Knights of the Round Table," is how many situations from the 60's scifi show fit perfectly into the absurd set-up.


We've got the space hippies, awesome George Takei's shirtless D'Artagnan moves, and of course, Kirk dolled-up in everything from Roman laurel leaves to faux Native American buckskin. Also, seems to have been much more finger-snapping and Irish-jigging in the original series than I recalled. Hilarious.

Video below the jump! [via The Island of Doubt]

In 1975, four of the cast members of Monty Python, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, and Graham Chapman, sat down for a live interview on Dallas' KERA-TV, allegedly the first PBS station to air Monty Python's Flying Circus. This footage, according to the introduction, has not been seen since it originally aired. Unfortunately, the clip cuts off after thirteen minutes, apparently because an engineer taped over it. Nevertheless, it's fascinating to watch as these young American's ask questions about a show all of us now know forward and backward, but that at the time was completely new to them. And, since it was filmed during pledge week, you get to hear the incessant ringing of phones in the background throughout the entire interview. It would have been nice if the rest of the troop had joined them, but at least it gives us another chance to hear from the late Graham Chapman, who passed away in 1989. Watch the video after the jump:

[via The Sound of Young America]

 

I sort-of grew up watching old Monty Python's Flying Circus shows, as rebroadcast in the States. I've got my own list of favorite sketches, and while I could sit here and talk about them all day, that'd be going off on a tagent and would be...something completely different.

Starting this Wednesday night on PBS, the five remaining Pythons (John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin and Terry Jones) will begin airing each their own favorite episodes within five specials, a sixth put together by them all, to honor the late Python, Graham Chapman. Any self respecting Python fan would not want to miss what's surely going to be a pleasant trip to the past.

What's even better news: PBS will begin rebroadcasting all 47 episodes, starting this Spring.

When I first started to really watch Monty Python in high school, it wasn't as if the iconic British comedy group was new to me. Like many Americans, my local PBS station ran episodes of Monty Python's Flying Circus in the 70s and 80s, but dry British wit peppered with the occasional flight of utter absurdity only confused my brain, so but a small hazy recollection remained until years later. Well, now American youngsters can become confused all over again, because PBS is making all forty-five episodes available to its stations starting next year. Also on tap for next year is a series of specials each focusing on one of the troupe members titled Monty Python's Personal Best.