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'''Monty Python''' was a [[Great Britain|British]] comedy troupe. They created the sketch show "[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]," a comedy series commissioned by the [[BBC]] (British Broadcasting Corporation). It ran from October 5, 1969 to December 5, 1974 on BBC One, completing four seasons, with 45 episodes in total.

'''Monty Python''' was a [[Great Britain|British]] comedy troupe. They created the sketch show ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]'', a comedy series commissioned by the [[BBC]] (British Broadcasting Corporation). It ran from October 5, 1969, to December 5, 1974, on BBC One, completing four seasons, with 45 episodes in total.

== Humor ==

== Humor ==

==Notable sketches==

==Notable sketches==

===The Spanish Inquisition===

===The Spanish Inquisition===

This consisted of the recurring entrance of three characters dressed in ecclesiastical attire, in response to the denouement of previous sketches where one of the characters, becoming frustrated by repeated questioning, erupts: "I didn't expect a kind of Spanish Inquisition!"  

This consisted of the recurring entrance of three characters dressed in ecclesiastical attire, in response to the denouement of previous sketches where one of the characters, becoming frustrated by repeated questioning, erupts: "I didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition!"  

At this point the ensemble of the Inquisition—consisting of Cardinals Ximinez (Michael Palin), Biggles (Terry Jones), and Fang (Terry Gilliam)—would burst into the room, with Ximinez declaring: "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our main weapon is surprise... and fear! Our two main weapons... etc." The only instrument of torture to have been deployed by Ximinez, Biggles and Fang was the 'comfy chair'.

At this point the ensemble of the Inquisition—consisting of Cardinals Ximinez (Michael Palin), Biggles (Terry Jones), and Fang (Terry Gilliam)—would burst into the room, with Ximinez declaring: "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our main weapon is surprise... and fear! Our two main weapons... etc." The only instrument of torture to have been deployed by Ximinez, Biggles and Fang was the "comfy chair".

This phrase has now passed down into common usage, so that when someone is being questioned, they might reply "I didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition".

This phrase has now passed down into common usage, so that when someone is being questioned, they might reply, "I didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition."

===The Parrot Shop Sketch===

===The Parrot Shop Sketch===

Sometimes known as the '''Dead Parrot Sketch''', this is one of the most popular sketches and is arguably one of the most famous in the history of British television comedy [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4052641.stm].

Sometimes known as the "Dead Parrot Sketch", this is one of the most popular sketches and is arguably one of the most famous in the history of British television comedy [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4052641.stm].

In it a customer, played by Cleese, and a shopkeeper (Palin), are discussing the earthly status of a parrot sold previously in the shop. Pain is arguing that the parrot is alive, but  merely "having a kip" (sleeping), or is "shagged out after a long squark". Cleese is not convinced and argues vociferously that the parrot, is, in fact, completely dead.

In it a customer, played by Cleese, and a shopkeeper (Palin), are discussing the earthly status of a parrot sold previously in the shop. Palin is arguing that the parrot is alive, but  merely "having a kip" (sleeping), or is "shagged out after a long squark". Cleese is not convinced and argues vociferously that the parrot, is, in fact, completely dead.

Soon after Palin claims that the parrot's lack of movement is due to the parrot "pining for the fjords", the sketch builds to a climax with a diatribe from Cleese who in the following excerpt, uses almost every available [[euphemism]] for death in the English language:  

Soon after Palin claims that the parrot's lack of movement is due to the parrot "pining for the fjords", the sketch builds to a climax with a diatribe from Cleese who in the following excerpt, uses almost every available [[euphemism]] for death in the English language:  

===Cheese Shop===

===Cheese Shop===

This consists of a customer (Cleese) wishing to purchase "some cheesy comestibles" from the "stout yeoman" or cheese shop proprietor (Palin). The humour of the sketch rests upon the frustration that Cleese encounters as he asks Palin about the availablility of different kinds of cheeses. In every case, Palin comes up with excuses as to why that particular variety of chees is not in stock. Excuses range from: "The van only comes on a Thursday", "It's too runny" to  "The cat's got it". Cleese tries every known type of cheese including Venezuelan beaver cheese, finally giving up and asking for [[Cheddar]]. Of course, Palin does not have this in stock, saying "There's no call for it".

This consists of a customer (Cleese) wishing to purchase "some cheesy comestibles" from the "stout yeoman" or cheese shop proprietor (Palin). The humor of the sketch rests upon the frustration that Cleese encounters as he asks Palin about the availablility of different kinds of cheeses. In every case, Palin comes up with excuses as to why that particular variety of chees is not in stock. Excuses range from: "The van only comes on a Thursday", "It's too runny" to  "The cat's got it". Cleese tries every known type of cheese including Venezuelan beaver cheese, finally giving up and asking for [[Cheddar]]. Of course, Palin does not have this in stock, saying "There's no call for it".

The denouement of the sketch is that Cleese gets so frustrated that he shoots Palin, saying "What a futile waste of human life."

The denouement of the sketch is that Cleese gets so frustrated that he shoots Palin, saying "What a futile waste of human life."

The team produced three feature length cinema releases between 1975 and 1983. These were:

The team produced three feature length cinema releases between 1975 and 1983. These were:

* [[Monty Python and the Holy Grail]] (1975).

* ''[[Monty Python and the Holy Grail]]'' (1975).

* [[The Life of Brian]] (or Monty Python's Life of Brian) (1979).

* ''[[Life of Brian]]'' (or ''Monty Python's Life of Brian'') (1979).

* [[The Meaning of Life]] (1983).

* ''[[The Meaning of Life]]'' (1983).

The Life of Brian caused much controversy, including allegations of [[blasphemy]] by [[Christian]]s, when it was originally released as it depicts the life and subsequent [[crucifixion]] of a young Judean called Brian of [[Nazareth]].

''Life of Brian'' caused much controversy, including allegations of [[blasphemy]] by [[Christian]]s, when it was originally released as it depicts the life and subsequent [[crucifixion]] of a young Judean called Brian of [[Nazareth]].

==External Links==

==External Links==