It should come as no surprise that I've selected this show as the most influential and well known comedy series to ever be released, and how could I choose it as anything but? Even if you're one of the rare people that doesn't care at all about this show, you know about it either way. Monty Python would later spawn some of the most acclaimed comedy movies ever made, such as Holy Grail and Life of Brian, but before all that, there was the original cast of zany entertainers whose comedic style is so unique you really can't criticize it. Fans pick this show apart in great detail and talk about their favorite sketches, and which ones ought to be people's favorites but don't get the recognition they deserve (there's a lot of those). Pretty much everybody is aware of the spam skit, where a group of vikings are sitting in a cafe eating breakfast and a man and his wife want to order something, but the only thing for sale is spam or some variation of it. What makes it so funny is due to many reasons, but for one thing, the waitress is played by a man even though the character is clearly supposed to be a girl. The group of vikings dining in the cafe doesn't make any sense either, and only adds to the hilarity because the viewer can't make sense of anything. It's also interesting to note that the internet term for messages being repeated again and again (spam) came from this skit, because the repetitive use of the word inspired it. That's the influence this show has. This show is overflowing with moments like that, where you can't help but laugh because they're so well written. Even though Monty Python is easily the most recognizable comedy series of all time, it's not an exception to the low points. The show enjoyed a huge following with many dedicated fans, but like all good things it came to an end. The episodes undergo a dramatic drop in quality once John Cleese leaves, and this seems like a no brainer. Despite this, the show still remains funny to this day, and good jokes are as timeless as good writing. So while Monty Python no longer has the hype it once had 50 years ago, the hilarious skits and fine performances mean that it's not ready to be forgotten just yet.
Review of Monty Python's Flying Circus
