Greetings, my fellow port swillers and happy Mardi Gras!
Ol’ Robbo celebrated the evening by killing off his current box o’ wine (I’m giving up the grape for Lent – prayers appreciated) and watching some Monty Python.
I must say that, although said Python was a definite influence on my misspent yoot, the older I get, the more apparent becomes the distinction between the gold and the dross. At times, the Team still seem to me to be absolutely transcendent in terms of their humor, but the hackery of some of their other bits also becomes more apparent.
How lovely to possess the DVD technology to bleep right through the tedious bits and get on to the keepers.
Which are your favorite Python items? And, relatedly, which are your favorite presentations of them: TeeVee, film or record?
The Port Stands At Your Elbow 
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February 10, 2016 at 9:18 am
Don
The Pythons arrived after I had quit television, so I know them primarily from the two-volume collection of the show’s scripts. Most read pretty well, but some of the classics, such as the Ministry of Silly Walks and the fish slapping dance, are lame without the visuals.
Other favorite bits: joke warfare; the Spanish Inquisition; the Latin lesson; and, about half of Holy Grail.
February 10, 2016 at 9:39 am
captainned
TV/Film: Dead Parrot, both from the Circus and the Secret Policeman’s Ball.
LP: The entire “Contractual Obligation Album”
February 10, 2016 at 1:10 pm
nightfly
“Philosopher’s Football” cracks me up every time. Poor Franz Beckenbauer.
February 10, 2016 at 2:28 pm
rbj1
The Black Night. “It’s only a flesh wound.”
February 11, 2016 at 9:16 am
Elizabeth Maddrey
Hands down favorite is How Not to be Seen. Additional runners up are the Cheese Shop and Dead Parrot.
February 11, 2016 at 3:33 pm
Old Dominion Tory
From the TV show . . . “The Piranha Brothers.” “The Cycling Tour”. “Dead Parrot” “The Bishop”. “Election Night Special”. “Ministry of Silly Walks,” “Olympic Hide-and-Seek,” “Expedition to Lake Paho.” Etc. Etc.
February 11, 2016 at 10:27 pm
Robbo
Now the Piranha Brothers – as also the Spanish Inquisition – to me was much more effective on the record, rayther than on teevee. I think this had most to do with timing and subtlety of inflection.
The Fish License works pretty well both ways, but I prefer the teevee version. So does Dennis Moore, for that matter..
My two favorite Flying Circus episodes are two of the last ones: Michael Ellis and When Does A Dream Begin.
And let us not forget The Queen’s Own McKamikazee Highlanders. “The money’s guud!!” “And the wat’ter ski’in’!”
A college pal and I once did The Cheese Shop for open mic. I was Mr. Wensleydale, and didn’t fully appreciate his sly sadism until sitting down and working it up for myself.
February 13, 2016 at 8:42 am
Old Dominion Tory
Piranha Brothers . . . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJSxAgPmy2Y