Following on from the recent O2 stage shows, the Monty Python team have been much on my mind, and I wanted to bring some of my favourite sketches of theirs to your attention. I don’t expect everyone to agree with me, but here are my picks. No ranking (that’s FAR too hard), but these are the moments I would not want to see wiped from the archives.
Sharing links only to spread the joy, copyrights remain with the creators, etc, etc. You can buy the series episodes, the films, and the German specials on DVD, as well as the other programmes referenced here.
- The Wood Party (series 1, 1969) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWRr3-Bnxis
- The Mouse Problem (series 1, 1969) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK92NYwBMts
- Mr Hilter in Minehead (series 1, 1969) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKgHUrKZiXA
- Anne Elk (series 3, 1972) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6zWjUhfj-M
- Biggus Dickus (The Life of Brian, 1979) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K8_jgiNqUc
- Silly Job Interview (series 1, 1969, previously used in How To Irritate People) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP0sqRMzkwo, and original at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4iFzweRf3E
- The Happy Valley (German episode #2) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVNjJghgfuc
- Sit on My Face (Hollywood Bowl, and also at Concert for George) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKeQpeDkoGc and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKV3GC0RERs
- Gas Cooker (series 2, 1970) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dVkdCQCAS0
- Spanish Inquisition (series 2, 1970) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ixgc_FGam3s
- Part 7: Death (The Meaning of Life, 1983) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tIg2nK67LQ
- Four Yorkshiremen (At Last The 1948 Show, bit of a cheat but does include two Pythons) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAtSw3daGoo
- Llamas (series 1, 1969) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBaUmx5s6iE
- Summarize Proust (series 3, 1972) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwAOc4g3K-g
- Beethoven and Colin Mozart (series 2, 1970) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXfKBByOiRE
- Bavarian Restaurant (German episode #1) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdPMSd7xA7U
- Death of Mary, Queen of Scots (series 2, 1970) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmMD4ij8GHk
- The Visitors (series 1, 1969 – my gosh, look at Terry G in this! – 5.41) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GH7pfVvCII
- Dennis Moore (series 3, 1972) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLkhx0eqK5w
- Hamlet (series 4, 1974) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsXKT5RhJf8
- The Black Knight (Monty Python and the Holy Grail, 1974) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhRUe-gz690
- Woody and Tinny Words (series 4, 1974) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gwXJsWHupg
- The Poet McTeagle (series 2, 1970) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4W9p_NFm6qk
- Scotsmen and Blancmanges (series 1, 1969) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oXpc-59Cdo
- Poets (series 2, 1970) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAobK3fyGDI
- Oscar Wilde (series 3, 1972) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXZJF0-d_M8
- Swamp Castle (Monty Python and the Holy Grail, 1974) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNaXdLWt17A
- Always Look on the Bright Side of Life (Life of Brian, 1979) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlBiLNN1NhQ
- Every Sperm is Sacred (The Meaning of Life, 1983) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUspLVStPbk
- Bicycle Repairman (series 1, 1969, filmed locally!) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U01xasUtlvw
- The Care Salesman (How To Irritate People, and inspiration for the Parrot Sketch) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9igQ18GIqvc
- Hearing Aid (German episode #2) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7UqhDs8zj4
- Marriage Counsellor (series 1, 1969) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7JxlX6tbeg
- Dirty Fork (series 1, 1969 – but I prefer the version in And Now For Something Completely Different, which I couldn’t find on YT) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9VLwV48OHs
- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Goes to the Bathroom (series 1, 1969) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc9gGwt4eAU
- Tchaikovsky Escapologist (series 3, 1972) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvpALlP_7lE
- Whicker’s World (series 2, 1970) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFp3H8dnJps
- Blackmail (series 2, 1970) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZgwNutwK0Y
- Most Awful Family in Britain (series 4, 1974) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZB20bXhMDE
- Top of the Form (Secret Policeman’s Other Ball, originally At Last The 1948 Show) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-Ta4XbRRj4 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a-DsIo81e8
Enjoy!