There are plenty of seventies (and earlier) shows where the comedy is still fresh.
With the transgressive novelty value removed a lot of Python just does not work as comedy. A lot does of course.
Monty Python's Flying Circus Page 3
Only a little joke.
I'm a huge fan of Python but I understand the TV series is a little hit 'n' miss. You have to remember two things:
1. The period. This kind of stuff was so new and fresh and funny back then - nothing like it before, except maybe the Goons and Milligan's always been a point of praise from the Pythons. And nothing like it since, except maybe my personal epiphany The Young Ones. But while The Young Ones had an exploding fridge - an exploding fatso? And while Vyv had his head knocked off by a train - getting your liver ripped out in the name of science? Love it.
2. The sheer amount of material they were knocking out. I love shows like League of Gentlemen and Little Britain but they're essentially the same characters repeated (that's not criticism, it's a fact): Flying Circus was always new, always different. Rik Mayall said he loved their ability to not necessarily shock, but to surprise - and that's the key element he wanted to bring to sitcom with The Young Ones. You'd watch it and it could turn into a sketch, song, animation, anything.
So yeah, I'm a fan.
I think the Gumbys were the only recurring characters in MP?
And it wasn't that often either
The pepperpots, Mr Puty, the stop being silly army officer, the continuity announcer, the "It's" man.....
The giant hedgehog ("Dinsdale!") had more than one appearance...
NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition! http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=uprjmoSMJ-o
Carole Cleveland is even hotter in this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrTBlV-FGbc
Sure, but the recurrent characters were essentially call-back gags. My point is that the Pythons were producing a hell of a lot of material and it was rarely reliant on repetition. They still get an unequivocal thumbs-up from me.
Upper Class Twit of the Year.
That no way to talk about Michael
I'm not upper class.
I wish I was. Were?
Quote: lofthouse @ December 7 2012, 7:13 PM GMTI think the Gumbys were the only recurring characters in MP?
And it wasn't that often either
The pepper pots, the announcer, the Bruces, there were loads!
But yeh the material was less repetitive.
Best quote?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/comedy/comedy-news/10463680/Monty-Pythons-25-funniest-quotes.html
What about "Lemon curry"?