October 5th, 1969 changed the face of comedy history for it was the day the world was given Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

I honestly don’t know where comedy would be today without Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, John Cleese, Terry Jones and Michael Palin.  These six men pushed the boundaries of taste, logic and even the basic structure of comedy to limits people couldn’t have even dreamed of.  If you ask just about any person working in comedy today, they will list Monty Python as one of their key influences, and rightly so.

For just as many people who love them, they’re are those who don’t “get it”, and I can honestly respect that, their particular brand of humor wasn’t for everyone.

I honestly can’t remember which skit I saw first, I just know it was in the late 1970’s and I was dumbstruck at the insanity of it even at the young age.  (remember, I was born in ‘71)  I had already been watching Saturday Night Live since it debuted in ‘75, and even at those young ages I could see how wildly different this British comedy was.  You weren’t sure if you were supposed to laugh or scratch your head, but in those early years I just laughed myself silly.

Over the years as I saw every sketch 50 times or more, I came to appreciate the show on so many more levels, and I also came to realize how it influenced just about everything we see around us today when it comes to comedy.  These men were, and are, brilliant (R.I.P. Graham), and comedy lovers everywhere owe them a debt of gratitude.

I’ve gathered up a few of my favorite skits from the Official Monty Python YouTube Channel, but I always encourage you to check out the source material.  Sadly the channel doesn’t have nearly all of my favorites (Dead Parrot, Upper Class Twit of the Year, Spam, Spanish Inquisition and so on).  After the BS I have been dealing with all day over the FTC, this was a welcome post to write, as I found I still laughed and smiled at every sketch I have posted below.

Every Sperm is Sacred (from The Meaning of Life)

Ministry of Silly Walks

Lumberjack Song

Stoning (from Life of Brian)

Black Knight (from The Holy Grail)

Always Look On The Bright Side of Life (from Life of Brian)