It's not for lack of trying, either. I've seen the reruns on PBS, listened to the CDs, even watched the films. I laughed once during Life of Brian. Once. I've never found slapsticky, physical humor funny, in fact it kind of makes me embarrassed and uncomfortable. Combine that with pasty British men with bad haircuts, Eric Idle's screechy falsetto, and how the 1970s were so ugly aesthetically and well, I just find the whole mess hard to watch. I do, however, love the Terry Gilliam animations.
Mike thinks it's all hysterical, of course, and during our marriage I've discovered (much to my dismay) that there seems to be a Python sketch suitable for any situation because he'll quote them at any opportunity. I've since warned him that if he ever calls the reference desk asking for a "Sale of Two Titties" or "Carnaby Fudge" his personal librarian will not find it very amusing. The cheese case at Whole Foods is irresistible, though, and at that point I give up and pretend I don't know him.
Anyway, it seems Monty Python's comedy isn't quite as fantastically original as all you
21 comments:
Maybe it is a guy thing but there is something funny about watching the Life of Brian on Good Friday. . . .
Did that in High School, my girl friend of the time flipped when she realized what day it was. . .
= )
I remember a long time ago talking with some friends about the gender gap in finding Python funny.
Must be a men are from mars deal...
There are always exceptions Mad, because I have a friend that could probably quote all of the Holy Grail movie and SHE even got her son hooked on it. . .
I LOVE Monty Python, even went as far as having some of it on tape (the famous bar scene where the bartender says "Twist of Lemming sir?". and you here this "Squeek Squeek Squeek!" still cracks me up.
May well be a guy thing. But I like the 3 Stooges as well.
and I HATE shopping. . but am most definitely a girl.
B.
II think the funniest thing I ever saw the Pythons do was a round-table they did on the occasion of a memorial to Graham Chapman. They just sat there and ad libbed. At one point, one of them picked up an urn with Chapman's ashes in it (I sure hope it was a prop), and dumped it all over the table. Side-splitting. You hadda been there.
But you're right: it's like the Bible. There is a Python sketch for every occasion.
M
You are not alone. I've tried to see the comic brilliance that my friends swear is contained within Monty Python and the Holy Grail, but I just don't see it. Oh, there's a few gags that make me giggle, but that's about it. I even bought the DVD in an attempt to understand, but I can't sit through the whole thing without my mind wandering.
On the other hand, the Three Stooges are comedy gold. It might simply be a throwback to my childhood, but they still crack me up. They're also well-suited to the short attention span that comes with watching that type of physical comedy.
I'm willing to bet that Mike has asked if the library carries a good English-Hungarian tranlation phrase book.
OK, now I can't get "Always look on the Bright Side of Life" out of my head. . . .
Thanks. . . . It's been over an hour now. . . I may have to seek help. . .
I adore Monty Python and the 3 Stooges and Mel Brooks. I love all things slapstick, so maybe that's why. I am also a librarian who just discovered this blog.
Ky Person
Breda doesn't like Monty Python???
I'm all verklempt. Talk amongst yourselves...
I never found Monty Python to be particularly funny. Guess it's the dry British humor. Never got into it and don't think I ever will. Reminds of the t.v. show Moonlighting with Bruce Willis and Cybil Shepherd - never thought it was funny but my brother loved it. I just couldn't get into it.
Nooooobody doesn’t like Monty Python!!!
My three favorite sketches are:
The Railroad Timetables Murder
The Ministry of Silly Walks
The Piranha Brothers
And . . .
My FOUR, FOUR favorite sketches, in addition to those I have disclosed in my previous utterance, are:
The Argument Clinic
And . . .
Oh, bugger.
Guess what? This Brit chap isn't too keen on Monty Python either. A couple of the films were okay (Brian and Holy Grail) but most of the tv series were rubbish IMHO.
Backadder on the other hand .....
If you change the words to "Every COW Is Sacred"... It is kind of funny. (kids were listening)
Python is very hit-or-miss with me. I enjoy wordplay and absurdist humor, but I hate slapstick and silly voices. So I LOVE some of the sketches and bits of the movies and just HATE others.
Love John Cleese in general, though, who just seems to secrete humor like other people do sweat and saliva. The rest of the Pythons, not so much.
I love Python, Blackadder, and most anything with Hugh Laurie or Stephen Fry in it - to include House. I've never seen why people think the 3 Stooges are funny.
Note to self: Do not EVER! do my Bogart Impression in the presence of Lauren Bacall. AAAnnnnddddd Curb my Monty Python references in front of Breda...
You see, I have a slightly different version of the 'pants-less in public' embarrassing dream,
Csptcha=gediste. real bad star wars reach
Eh, the parrot was never alive, whereas the slave just died after it was sold. Which really makes it the first record of a 'lemon'.
The article talks about "Philogelos" Stand Up Philosopher of the 4th Century.
I found a website with some of his material.
"Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen,
A charlatan prophet cast a client’s horoscope and told him he could never have children. "But I’ve already got seven!" "Then you’d better take good care of them!"
Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week. Please Try The Veal and remember to tip your Servants"
http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/jod/apuleius/renberg/PHILOGELOS.HTML
It's ok, my mother could never "get" Gary Larson's THE FAR SIDE either, and would look at me like I was a weirdo when it would make me double over with laughter.
I grew up on Benny Hill and Monty Python...but I also like Black Adder and Red Dwarf. I've always been a sucker good BritComs...
It's not the age of the joke, it's the delivery.
Yeah, I like Python (well, mostly), but I was an adolescent when I was introduced to it. Maybe that's the common thread?
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