Monty Python

     Monty Python is one of those rare phenomenons. Six guys who found eachother and realized simultaneously that they had a knack for writing perfect comedy, albeit aimed at the male gender. The planets must have aligned when their show Monty Python's Flying Circus first aired on BBC back in 1969.
    British people were taken aback by the offbeat, random, satirical and dark comedic themes these Silly Six often used. Their jokes almost never had punchlines, the skits could either be very sophisticated or very simple in humor and nobody can forget the crossdressing most of them would do.
     The Monty Python troupe consisted of Graham Chapman(may he rest in peace), John Cleese(easily my favorite), Terry Gilliam(the creator of the iconic cheapo animations on the show and in the movies), Eric Idle(sang and songwrote in addition to writing and performing), Terry Jones(the notorious crossdresser) and Michael Palin(the most diverse Python).
      In 1974, the show went off the air and this is where my favorite part of the story is. All six had been writing a movie for the last two years that was approved for filming by EMI studios in the UK. Everybody knows how it goes with most TV stars trying to make it on the big screen. Usually it goes horribly wrong. Not these guys.
      Monty Python and the Holy Grail is one of the funniest movies ever made. I defy any Male to tell me they saw that movie and didn't laugh all the way through. The greatest thing about Monty Python is everything is written by the six guys. No staff, no creators, only them. Top that SNL!!!
      In spite of a very modest budget of 175,000 pounds(325,000 dollars) the movie did incredibly well. The Holy Grail proved once and for all that cheap comedy is the best comedy. Too bad Will Ferrell didn't realize that when he did Land of the Lost.
      It seems the best tend to come out of England. What a talented country. The Beatles are the greatest BAND ever and Monty Python is the most talented comedy troupe ever. While making The Dark Side of the Moon, members of Pink Floyd would often laugh their hides off at Flying Circus after recording all day. Pink Floyd helped fund The Holy Grail they loved Monty Python so much.
      Holy Grail wasn't enough. Oh no. The Life of brian came out in 1979 and was a smash. A lot of controversy with the christians, but it was a smash. I personally think Life of Brian is my favorite Monty Python film. It's incredibly well made and the story is shockingly straightforward for MP. The song at the end will have you humming for decades.
     Monty Python were about to break up so they decided to do one last comedy performance Live at the Hollywood Bowl. I've never seen it all the way through but I know they perfromned some of their most famous skits along with their own personal favorites. Like any true comedy troupe, they'd been performing live together for a long time.
     The Meaning of Life happened in 1983. Various gross out gags, random non sequiturs, and mindless violence didn't turn me off in the least. In fact it made that movie all the more addictive. Even the three or four elaborate musical numbers entertained me to no end.
     Along with the show Friends and Linkin Park, Monty Python is the best half dozen human beings working together in the history of Western Civilization. For goodness sake, they met the Knights who say Ni in 930 AD, I think the Python players have outlived that history.