"When you're stupid, there's nothing that can be done." ... as we all know, YouTube is famed for having the worst comments on the internet. In this SLYT, Eric Idle responds to some of them.
posted by memebake on Sep 24, 2009 - 49 comments

Henri Bergson's "On Comedy"
Helene Cixous's "The Laugh of the Medusa"
David Chalmer's Philosophical Humour
Monty Python's "Philosopher's World Cup" [more inside]
posted by anotherpanacea on Feb 16, 2008 - 21 comments

Dreams: The Terry Gilliam Fanzine Or, if you prefer, here is his Official Site
posted by psmealey on Jan 24, 2008 - 15 comments

For the past 50 years, The British have made some of the funniest Comedy TV Shows. Come inside for A Video Chronology of The History of British TV Comedy. [more inside]
posted by Foci for Analysis on Jan 24, 2008 - 96 comments

150 Python (Monty) sketches collected. via Open Culture. Also previously.
posted by Webbster on Nov 15, 2007 - 32 comments

In 1967, before "Monty Python", before "The Goodies", and before "Marty", John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Marty Feldman teamed up to create a groundbreaking show that influenced (and provided sketch material and dialog for) much of what we know today as British Comedy. Most of the material was erased when its owner, Rediffusion London, disappeared in England's 1967 TV franchise reshuffle. Here is almost all of what survives of "At Last, the 1948 Show".
posted by ubiquity on Oct 10, 2007 - 17 comments

Storytime is a 1968 animated short film which marks the directorial debut of Terry Gilliam. It is not to be confused with Storytime, a famous sketch from Monty Python's Flying Circus (aka Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus) — the British TV show for which Gilliam created surreal animations that segued between sketches (or not). In 1974, he followed that up with another animated short film called The Miracle of Flight. The next year, he set off in a different direction, leading Monty Python's quest for The Holy Grail [LEGO]. That path eventually led to Brazil, which brings us to where we are today.
posted by Poolio on Aug 19, 2007 - 17 comments

Monty Python's Dead Parrot Sketch, Scammer-Style. (YouTube, approx. 7 mins.) The video was created by a Nigerian email scammer who thought he was producing a video for a victim he tried to scam. The victim fought back. Read the whole story (it's a long story, with many tangents, but fascinating) in two parts from 419 Eater: Part 1, Part 2. For reference, here's the original Monty Python Dead Parrot Sketch.
posted by amyms on Feb 17, 2007 - 72 comments

Halo meets Monty Python (youtube). Monty Python's "How not to be seen" done in Halo. Or try, The Codex for more fun with the Halo engine. Previous Halo machinima post.
posted by papakwanz on Nov 29, 2006 - 8 comments

Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus is a two part film oddity from 1971-72; two episodes of the legendary British sketch comedy show with all new material performed entirely in German, despite the cast's inability to speak German. Well... not 100% new material, as the Lumberjack Song did get its own German version. Here's a brief interview with Michael Palin about phonetically learning the words to the song. via
posted by jonson on Sep 25, 2006 - 19 comments

The cast of Star Trek (TOS) sings Camelot, from The Holy Grail and my inner nerd explodes
posted by jonson on Jul 18, 2006 - 68 comments

What is the meaning of life? Answers range from pithy pseudo-psychological to the annoyingly flash based AND pseudo-psychological, the Christian, Muslim, and Sikh and other. Other people think they've figured it out, and their answer is different at least. Some people's answers just get strange and pseudo-scientific. And of course we can't forget Monty Python .
posted by sotonohito on Apr 23, 2006 - 45 comments

Waste some time on a lazy Sunday with Monty Python's Silly Walks Generator.
posted by caddis on Mar 12, 2006 - 15 comments

You assured me that its total lack of movement was due to it bein' tired and shagged out following a prolonged squawk! The first case of the H5N1 strain of bird flu, which has already killed 61 people in the Far East, has been identified in Britain. Scientists confirmed last night that a parrot, imported from Surinam in South America, contracted and died from the disease while in a quarantine unit in southern England.
posted by Artifice_Eternity on Oct 23, 2005 - 34 comments

Monty Python meets Magic the Gathering.
posted by seanyboy on Apr 26, 2005 - 9 comments

We're Knights of the Round Table
We dance whene'er we're able.
We do routines and chorus scenes
With footwork impeccable.
We dine well here in Camelot.
We eat ham and jam and Spam a lot.
We're Knights of the Round Table.
Our shows are formidable,
But many times we're given rhymes
That are quite unsingable.
We're opera mad in Camelot.
We sing from the diaphragm a lot.
In war we're tough and able,
Quite indefatigable.
Between our quests we sequin vests and impersonate Clark Gable.
It's a busy life in Camelot.
posted by terrapin on Mar 11, 2005 - 43 comments

Being in touch with the absurdity of life got to lead to the absurdity of form. Dave Eggers discusses the Monty Pythons’ brand of comedy.
posted by semmi on Dec 23, 2004 - 22 comments

"Here's a little song [3.1 MB MP3] I wrote the other day while I was out duck hunting with a judge . . . It's a new song, it's dedicated to the FCC and if they broadcast it, it will cost a quarter of a million dollars." Eric Idle responds to the FCC's crackdown on the F-word. NSFW without headphones. Via Ceejbot.
posted by mcwetboy on May 28, 2004 - 17 comments

Classic films being re-released aren't normally news. Except, of course, when you are referring to films that were controversial when they were initially released. As a counterpoint to Mel Gibson's box-office smash, The Passion of the Christ, Monty Python will re-release The Life of Brian on Good Friday. This is more fun than a box of Peeps any day. Don't like CNN? Try the BBC or CBC coverage
posted by ilsa on Mar 24, 2004 - 25 comments

Confuse-A-Cat Ltd. "Have you confused your cat recently? Chances are you have not. Most people don't realise that they must confuse their cats regularly."
posted by mr_crash_davis on Mar 12, 2004 - 31 comments

Around the States in Eighty Days. Monty Python's Eric Idle is three quarters of the way through a North American tour and keeping an extensive online diary as he goes. "I would never be sitting at home writing my memoirs like this. There's just something about the time available and the different places we visit that invites introspection."
posted by rory on Dec 5, 2003 - 17 comments

The Late Graham Chapman and the curse of Yellowbeard. Yar, don't be making fun of a pirate captain, even a fictional one. The curse of the film eventually claimed the lives of actors Graham Chapman, Madeline Kahn, Peter Cook, James Mason, Spike Milligan and Marty Feldman - the only one of them who died while filming the actual movie. Harry Nilsson wrote an unused ditty for the flick and soon visited Davy Jones' locker. It didn't exactly do wonders for the careers of Cheech and Chong or Martin Hewitt, who played Yellowbeard's son. Watch it and feel like you too have been cursed. (More Inside, Yar!)
posted by Joey Michaels on Sep 19, 2003 - 22 comments

Palin's Travels includes pictures, video, text and audio from Pole To Pole, Around the World in 80 Days, Full Circle (with Sahara, Hemingway Adventure and Great Railway Journey coming soon) - BBC TV series featuring Michael Palin of Monty Python fame wandering around the planet and being puckish and amusing. Great TV, and a great site, particularly if (like me) you're a travel addict. "No bombarding with ads, no spam on toast, just the Palin product, taken apart and put together again, for you to use however you want." [via the always excellent and recently-resurrected wood_s_lot]
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken on Oct 4, 2002 - 27 comments

a silly place... either someone has waaaaay to much time on their hands or this is the coolest thing i've seen for ages. For those of you who want more explanation think Monty Python but in Lego. it's a movie - so time taken to view this movie is depending on whether your connection to the interweb is butane or coal fired. I've searched the archives and not found this particuar link - but it is a few months old, so apologies to any who have seen it before. I've not been accused of anything for a while.
posted by Spoon on Dec 5, 2001 - 13 comments

Lego meets Monty Python & The Holy Grail : a scary synthesis of geek culture from Tim Drage and Tony Mines of Spite Your Face Productions.
posted by nathan_teske on Aug 21, 2001 - 7 comments

Run away! Run away!
this is so monty python-esque. once again life imitates art.
posted by bwg on Jul 19, 2001 - 11 comments

Lobbest thou the Holy Hand Grenade - Monty Python dolls^H^H^H^H^Haction figures to go on sale. As noted before I have a penchant for obscure toys. Clearly, they've nailed my demographic. Wish I had the cash to spend on them, though. [via Fark]
posted by plinth on Jun 15, 2001 - 13 comments

Monty Python and the Holy Grail is being released in theaters this summer. "Come and see the violence inherent in the system! 'Elp, 'elp, I'm being repressed!"
posted by jennaratrix on May 17, 2001 - 31 comments