Favorite Monty Python's Flying Circus sketch?

[pokerfan]

[Xipe Totec]

1. Oh, Shit! It's Mr Creosote! n/t

[pokerfan]

5. It's just a wafer thin mint! n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. I'm especially fond of the Hungarian Phrasebook sketch.

"My hovercraft is full of eels."
"Drop your panties, Sir William; I cannot wait til lunchtime."

But there's also the Angus Podgorny sketch, the one about the Scotsman who defeats an alien blancmange at Wimbledon. Classic.

[pokerfan]

4. And the Australian Philosophers

Fourth Bruce: Goodday, Bruce, Hello Bruce, how are you, Bruce? Gentlemen, I'd like to introduce a chap from pommie land... who'll be joining us this year here in the Philosophy Department of the University of Woolamaloo.
All: Goodday.
Fourth Bruce: Michael Baldwin - this is Bruce. Michael Baldwin - this is Bruce. Michael Baldwin - this is Bruce.
First Bruce: Is your name not Bruce, then?
Michael: No, it's Michael.
Second Bruce: That's going to cause a little confusion.
Third Bruce: Mind if we call you 'Bruce' to keep it clear?

[appal_jack]

29. Angus Podgorny, What Dooooooooo You Mean?

I love that one. My sister and I would say that to each other a lot back when we were in High School.

-app

Edit: I didn't even vote for a favorite though. The Python gang created so many gems...

[MorningGlow]

3. You can't be serious!

That's like being asked to pick your favorite child! Can't be done. I'd vote for all of the options in the poll as well as the dinosaur sketch (Anne Elk's theory of dinosaurs), the mountain climbing expedition, and dead bishop on the landing. And and and...!

[WinkyDink]

6. Cheddar?

[Mendocino]

7. Whats on the the Telly?

Looks like a penguin.

[madeline_con]

11. My fave, too! n/t

[Rabrrrrrr]

8. Flying Lessons is one of my favorites

[NewJeffCT]

9. Is your wife a goer?

eh, know what I mean? know what I mean? wink wink, nudge nudge. say no more...

I love so many, though, that it's hard to just limit it to this list.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

10. There's too many, how about 'upper-class twit of the year'

[flvegan]

18. That's mine as well.

Dead Parrot a close second.

[Awsi Dooger]

23. "Oliver's dead but he's not necessarily out of it either..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCyr1ugzxXM

That's probably my favorite. Another one, IMO underrated, is the documentary on a boxer:

Trainer: "I used to wake Ken up with a crowbar on the back of the head. But I recently found that this was too far from his brain and I wasn't getting through to him anymore. So I now wake him up with a steel peg driven into his skull with a mallet."

<snip>

Manager: "Well, he's having a lot of mental difficulties with his breakfasts, but this is temperament, caused by a small particle of brain in his skull, and once we've removed that he'll be perfectly all right."

:rofl:

[kedrys]

12. Mongoose!!!

I panicked. :P

[pscot]

13. The fish dance

Thirty seconds of comic genius. (Oh noes. The dreaded 13th reply.)

[nolabear]

14. Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, extraor

dinary.

[nolabear]

15. Eric the Half a Bee!

You really can't choose.

(semi-carnally....)

[surrealAmerican]

16. Bicycle touring with the man with amnesia ...

... who thinks he's Trotski, or Cloda Rodgers.

[deucemagnet]

17. The mattress salesman who can't hear "mattress", summarizing Proust...

...they're all classics.

[Capn Sunshine]

19. The Argument Clinic

I voted for Dead Parrot, but this isn't on the list.
Q: WHAT DO YOU WANT?
M: Well, I was told outside that...
Q: Don't give me that, you snotty-faced heap of parrot droppings!
M: What?
Q: Shut your festering gob, you tit! Your type really makes me puke, you vacuous, coffee-nosed, maloderous, pervert!!!
M: Look, I CAME HERE FOR AN ARGUMENT, I'm not going to just stand...!!
Q: OH, oh I'm sorry, but this is abuse.
M: Oh, I see, well, that explains it.
Q: Ah yes, you want room 12A, Just along the corridor.
M: Oh, Thank you very much. Sorry.
Q: Not at all.
M: Thank You.
(Under his breath) Stupid git!!

OH, and Mrs. Premise and Mrs Conclusion visit Sartre- another personal favorite

[pokerfan]

21. video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQFKtI6gn9Y

[Norrin Radd]

20. Other: Dennis Moore

[Art_from_Ark]

22. Well, the Dead Parrot and Cheese Shop sketches are certainly classics

not to mention the Spam/Viking and Penguin-on-the-telly sketches, but I have a bunch of other favorites as well, such as

the London Hospital sketch (run like an army boot camp)
the Eric Njold sketch (an Icelandic Viking makes an epic voyage to North Malden and ends up being put on trial as a mummy)
the sketch with Oscar Wilde, Herman McNeil Whistler and George Bernard Shaw "complimenting" the Prince of Wales ("Your Majesty is like a stream of bat's piss")

and maybe my all-time favorite, the Boring Day in the Life of an Accountant, especially when he walks into a shop to buy a newspaper :evilgrin:

[MilesColtrane]

24. Dinsdale!

Presenter: Good evening. On 'Ethel the Frog' tonight we look at violence: the violence of British Gangland. Last Tuesday a reign of terror was ended when the notorious Piranha brothers, Doug and Dinsdale, after one of the most extraordinary trials in British legal history, were sentenced to 400 years imprisonment for crimes of violence. We examined the rise to power of the Piranhas, the methods they used to subjugate rival gangs and their subsequent tracking down and capture by the brilliant Superintendent Harry 'Snapper' Organs of Q Division. Doug and Dinsdale Piranha were born, on probation, in this small house in Kipling Road, Southwark, the eldest sons in a family of sixteen. Their father Arthur Piranha, a scrap metal dealer and TV quizmaster, was well known to the police, and a devout Catholic. In 1928 he had married Kitty Malone, an up-and-coming East End boxer. Doug was born in February 1929 and Dinsdale two weeks later; and again a week after that. Someone who remembers them well was their next door neighbor, Mrs. April Simnel.

Mrs. Simmel: Oh yes Kipling Road was a typical East End Street, people were in and out of each other's houses with each other's property all day. They were a cheery lot.

Interviewer: Was it a terribly violent area?

Mrs. Simmel: Oh no......yes. Cheerful and violent. I remember Doug was very keen on boxing, but when he learned to walk he took up putting the boot in the groin. He was very interested in that. His mother had a terrible job getting him to come in for tea. Putting his little boot in he'd be, bless him. All the kids were like that then, they didn't have their heads stuffed with all this Cartesian dualism.

Presenter: At the age of fifteen Doug and Dinsdale started attending the Ernest Pythagoras Primary School in Clerkenwell. When the Piranhas left school they were called up but were found by an Army Board to be too unstable even for National Service. Denied the opportunity to use their talents in the service of their country, they began to operate what they called 'The Operation'... They would select a victim and then threaten to beat him up if he paid the so-called protection money. Four months later they started another operation which the called 'The Other Operation'. In this racket they selected another victim and threatened not to beat him up if he didn't pay them. One month later they hit upon 'The Other Other Operation'. In this the victim was threatened that if he didn't pay them, they would beat him up. This for the Piranha brothers was the turning point.

(Cut to Superintendent Organs - Subtitle: Harry 'Snapper' Organs)

Organs: Doug and Dinsdale Piranha now formed a gang, which the called 'The Gang' and used terror to take over night clubs, billiard halls, gaming casinos and race tracks. When they tried to take over the MCC they were for the only time in their lives, slit up a treat. As their empire spread however, we in Q Division were keeping tabs on their every move by reading the color supplements.

Presenter: One small-time operator who fell foul of Dinsdale Piranha was Vince Snetterton-Lewis.

Vince: Well one day I was at home threatening the kids when I looks out through the hole in the wall and sees this tank pull up and out gets one of Dinsdale's boys, so he comes in nice and friendly and says Dinsdale wants to have a word with me, so he chains me to the back of the tank and takes me for a scrape round to Dinsdale's place and Dinsdale's there in the conversation pit with Doug and Charles Paisley, the baby crusher, and two film producers and a man they called 'Kierkegaard', who just sat there biting the heads of whippets and Dinsdale says 'I hear you've been a naughty boy Clement' and he splits me nostrils open and saws me leg off and pulls me liver out and I tell him my name's not Clement and then... he loses his temper and nails me head to the floor.

Interviewer: He nailed your head to the floor?

Vince: At first yeah

Presenter: Another man who had his head nailed to the floor was Stig O' Tracy.

Interviewer: I've been told Dinsdale Piranha nailed your head to the floor.

Stig: No. Never. He was a smashing bloke. He used to buy his mother flowers and that. He was like a brother to me.

Interviewer: But the police have film of Dinsdale actually nailing your head to the floor.

Stig: (pause) Oh yeah, he did that.

Interviewer: Why?

Stig: Well he had to, didn't he? I mean there was nothing else he could do, be fair. I had transgressed the unwritten law.

Interviewer: What had you done?

Stig: Er... well he didn't tell me that, but he gave me his word that it was the case, and that's good enough for me with old Dinsy. I mean, he didn't *want* to nail my head to the floor. I had to insist. He wanted to let me off. He'd do anything for you, Dinsdale would.

Interviewer: And you don't bear him a grudge?

Stig: A grudge! Old Dinsy. He was a real darling.

Interviewer: I understand he also nailed your wife's head to a coffee table. Isn't that true Mrs. O' Tracy?

Mrs. O' Tracy: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Stig: Well he did do that, yeah. He was a hard man. Vicious but fair

(Cut back to Vince)

Interviewer: Vince, after he nailed your head to the floor, did you ever see him again

Vince: Yeah.....after that I used to go round his flat every Sunday lunchtime to apologize and we'd shake hands and then he'd nail my head to the floor

Interviewer: Every Sunday?

Vince: Yeah but he was very reasonable. Once, one Sunday, when my parents were coming round for tea I asked him if he'd mind very much not nailing my head to the floor that week and he agreed and just screwed my pelvis to a cake stand.

Presenter: Clearly Dinsdale inspired tremendous fear among his business associates. But what was he really like?

Gloria: I walked out with Dinsdale on many occasions and found him a charming and erudite companion. He was wont to introduce one to eminent celebrities, celebrated American singers, members of the aristocracy and other gang leaders,

Interviewer (off screen): How had he met them?

Gloria: Through his work for charities. He took a warm interest in Boys' Clubs, Sailors' Homes, Choristers' Associations and the Grenadier Guards.

Interviewer: Was there anything unusual about him?

Gloria: I should say not. Except, that Dinsdale was convinced that he was being watched by a giant hedgehog whom he referred to as 'Spiny Norman'.

Interviewer: How big was Norman supposed to be?

Gloria: Normally Spiny Norman was wont to be about twelve feet from snout to tail, but when Dinsdale was depressed Norman could be anything up to eight hundred yards long. When Norman was about Dinsdale would go very quiet and start wobbling and his nose would swell up and his teeth would move about and he'd get very violent and claim that he'd laid Stanley Baldwin.

Interviewer: Did it worry you that he, for example, stitched people's legs together?

Gloria: Well it's better than bottling it up isn't it. He was a gentleman, Dinsdale, and what's more he knew how to treat a female impersonator.

[Art_from_Ark]

26. The funniest part about that sketch

is later in the program when Spiny Norman makes a guest appearance in a Terry Gilliam cartoon.

[BrklynLiberal]

25. There is no way to choose......

[A HERETIC I AM]

27. R.A.F. Banter

Bovril: Morning, Squadron Leader.
Squadron Leader: What-ho, Squiffy.
Bovril: How was it?
Squadron Leader: Top-hole. Bally Jerry, pranged his kite right in the how's your father. Hairy blighter, dicky-birdied, feathered back on his Sammy, took a waspy, flipped over on his Betty Harper's and caught his can in the Bertie.
Bovril: Er, I'm afraid I don't quite follow you, Squadron Leader.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rKYL0tW-Ek

[mikeSchmuckabee]

28. Been shopping? No, been shopping!

that one slays me

[malmapus]

30. Why is it, the world never remembered the name of..

Johann Gambolputty de von Ausfern Schplenden Schlitter Crasscrenbon Fried Digger Dangle Dungle Burstein von Knacker Thrasher Apple Banger Horowitz Ticolensic Grander Knotty Spelltinkle Grandlich Grumblemeyer Spelterwasser Kürstlich Himbleeisen Bahnwagen Gutenabend Bitte Eine Nürnburger Bratwustle Gerspurten Mit Zweimache Luber Hundsfut Gumberaber Shönendanker Halbsfleisch Mittler Raucher von Hautkopft of Ulm.

[joeybee12]

31. Can't decide...I know it's not the Parrot Sketch, although, for reasons that

escape me, it's the most popular. You should watch the Amnesty International benefits they did to see the version they did of it there....now THAT's hilarious.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

32. The Restaurant Sketch.

Lady It's nice here, isn't it?

Man Oh, very good restaurant, three stars you know.

Lady Really?

Man Mmm...

Waiter Good evening, sir! Good evening, madam! And may I say what a pleasure it is to see you here again, sir!

Man Oh thank you. Well there you are dear. Have a look there, anything you like. The boeuf en croute is fantastic.

Waiter Oh if I may suggest, sir ... the pheasant à la reine, the sauce is one of the chefs most famous creations.

Man Em... that sounds good. Anyway just have a look... take your time. Oh, er by the way - got a bit of a dirty fork, could you ... er.. get me another one?

Waiter I beg your pardon.

Man Oh it's nothing ... er, I've got a fork a little bit dirty. Could you get me another one? Thank you.

Waiter Oh ... sir, I do apologize.

Man Oh, no need to apologize, it doesn't worry me.

Waiter Oh no, no, no, I do apologize. I will fetch the head waiter immediatement.

Man Oh, there's no need to do that!

Waiter Oh, no no... I'm sure the head waiter, he will want to apologize to you himself. I will fetch him at once.

Lady Well, you certainly get good service here.

Man They really look after you... yes.

Head Waiter Excuse me monsieur and madame. (examines the fork) It's filthy, Gaston ... find out who washed this up, and give them their cards immediately.

Man Oh, no, no.

Head Waiter Better still, we can't afford to take any chances, sack the entire washing-up staff.

Man No, look I don't want to make any trouble.

Head Waiter Oh, no please, no trouble. It's quite right that you should point these kind of things out. Gaston, tell the manager what has happened immediately! (The Waiter runs off)

Man Oh, no I don't want to cause any fuss.

Head Waiter Please, it's no fuss. I quite simply wish to ensure that nothing interferes with your complete enjoyment of the meal.

Man Oh I'm sure it won't, it was only a dirty fork.

Head Waiter I know. And I'm sorry, bitterly sorry, but I know that... no apologies I can make can alter the fact that in our restaurant you have been given a dirty, filthy, smelly piece of cutlery...

Man It wasn't smelly.

Head Waiter It was smelly, and obscene and disgusting and I hate it, I hate it ,.. nasty, grubby, dirty, mingy, scrubby little fork. Oh ... oh . . . oh . . . (runs off in a passion as the manager comes to the table)

Manager Good evening, sir, good evening, madam. I am the manager. I've only just heard . .. may I sit down?

Man Yes, of course.

Manager I want to apologize, humbly, deeply, and sincerely about the fork.

Man Oh please, it's only a tiny bit... I couldn't see it.

Manager Ah you're good kind fine people, for saying that, but I can see it.., to me it's like a mountain, a vast bowl of pus.

Man It's not as bad as that.

Manager It gets me here. I can't give you any excuses for it - there are no excuses. I've been meaning to spend more time in the restaurant recently, but I haven't been too well... (emotionally) things aren't going very well back there. The poor cook's son has been put away again, and poor old Mrs Dalrymple who does the washing up can hardly move her poor fingers, and then there's Gilberto's war wound - but they're good people, and they're kind people, and together we were beginning to get over this dark patch ... there was light at the end of the tunnel . .. now this . .. now this...

Man Can I get you some water?

Manager (in tears) It's the end of the road!!

The cook comes in; he is very big and comes a meat cleaver.

Cook (shouting) You bastards! You vicious, heartless bastards! Look what you've done to him! He's worked his fingers to the bone to make this place what it is, and you come in with your petty feeble quibbling and you grind him into the dirt, this fine, honourable man, whose boots you are not worthy to kiss. Oh... it makes me mad... mad! (slams cleaver into the table)

The head waiter comes in and tries to restrain him.

Head Waiter Easy, Mungo, easy... Mungo... (clutches his head in agony) the war wound!... the wound... the wound...

Manager This is the end! The end! Aaargh!! (stabs himself with the fork)

Cook They've destroyed him! He's dead!! They killed him!!! (goes completely mad)

Head Waiter (trying to restrain him) No Mungo... never kill a customer. (in pain) Oh . .. the wound! The wound! (he and the cook fight furiously and fall over the table)

CAPTION: 'AND NOW THE PUNCH-LINE'

Man Lucky we didn't say anything about the dirty knife.

Boos of disgust from off-screen. Cut back to seaside.

[blogslut]

33. Other

This one, mostly because of the lead-in. Love me some Gumbys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo18D-qHAYE

[Liberal_in_LA]

34. What about the house infested with sheep? Big sheep hole behind the couch. lol

[Amerigo Vespucci]

35. Episode 34, the "Cycling Tour" sketch, followed by "Biggles Dictates A Letter" and "Lifeboat"

The fact "The Cycling Tour" ran for the entire episode may make it bigger than a "sketch," but it is my single favorite bit from their entire career.

"Clodagh?"

:rofl:

Second favorite: Episode 33: "Biggles Dictates A Letter"... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdCQwigh6H8

and from the SAME episode, "Lifeboat"... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVYjS8r7b_w

Mrs Neves: Hello, two dozen fruit cakes and half a dozen macaroons.
Mrs Edwards: Sorry love, no macaroons. How about a nice vanilla sponge?
Mrs Neves: Yes, that'll be lovely.
Mrs Edwards: Right ho. (sound of a ship's horn; they both look) There's that nice herring trawler come for their Kup Kakes. Excuse me. (she produces a loudhailer) Hello, Captain Smith?
Voice: Hallooooo!

Mrs Edwards hurls a box of Kup Kakes off deck.

Mrs Edwards: Kup Kakes to starboard.
Voice: Coming.
Mrs Neves: I'll pay you at the end of the week, all right?
Mrs Edwards: OK, right ho.

:toast:

[nytemare]

36. Silly Olympics, Self Defense, and How Not to be Seen!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmyz_f8Sx14

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bCyIAsSid8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltmMJntSfQI