"How did you discover 'Monty Python'?" Topic

I'm wondering how did you guys initially discover 'Monty Python's Flying Circus'?

1. Serendipitously on tv
2. Word of mouth
3. "Ni!"
4. Monty who?

For me, it's 1. Around '74 or '75, my Mom and I were invited to stay as long as we desired at my brother's apartment, as he went out of town for a week with his then-girlfriend to her home state of Tennessee. One Sunday evening, we were trying to find something interesting to watch on tv, so we thumbed through our local television guide to see what we could find.

Suddenly, one particular listing jumped out at me, and it looked like it would be fun to watch: 'Monty Python's Flying Circus'! I had mental images of clowns, circus animals, and acrobats, and since the term "flying circus" was part of the title, I anticipated something very, very different from the ol' run-of-the-mill, ordinary circuses that I'd personally seen in the past.

Well, the time came, and my Mom changed the channel. Not more than five minutes into the program I could hear her jaw hit the floor behind me (as I used to have a childish habit of sitting too close to the tv). All I can say is that I had an immediate schooling in female human anatomy, with saucer-shaped eyes and mouth agape. The shock didn't wear off for another ten minutes before Mom changed the channel. Too late, as I was hooked!

So, who's next up?

Grew up with the show and its predecessors.

PBS.

Really, really hate this answer, HOWEVER:

"One summer in Band Camp…"

PBS

1. PBS, 1975 I think.

PBS

Yeap PBS as an alternative to Saturday night midnight special, bad 70s music, and poor Saturday Night Live lame jokes. That and massive amount of beer my step brother and I would drink as kids down in the basement family room with a fully stocked bar.

VR
James Mattes

On TV. The series in the 70ies.

pphalen 16 Oct 2011 7:57 p.m. PST wrote:
"One summer in Band Camp…"

Next thing you know you will be telling us you came out of the closet after an episode of "Designing Woman!" too too funny. I got a kick out of our post. I sent summers in youth work camps, then Christain (AWANA) youth camps so you are one up from both of those.

VR
James Mattes

2

Diplomacy fanzines.
Then, the movie "And Now For Something Completely Different" was playing off campus.
I collected the albums, including the 3-sided one. 8^)
Only much later did I catch the TV show on PBS.
Of course, as soon as I pledged for "More Monty Python on Channel 44!", they dropped it, so I haven't pledged anything since! That'll show them…

PBS for me too.

Option #1 Sometime in the early 70's. I grew up in Michigan not to far from Sarina Canada, we could pick up there CBC station at our house and they run the show once and awhile on the weekends.

It had to be before 1974, since I was already a fan of the show by time "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" was first released in the Theaters, and I had to bribe my older brother to let me go with him to see it.

I saw it when it first aired , in the 70s..I was a schoolboy..

At Last the 1948 Show was the gateway drug.

Only Brits of a certain age and humour will know what the hell I'm on about…

1. On TV.

Raised on Monty Python by my father… most of the 70s I was pre school.. :-P

1

On LP's lent by a mate back in my childhood days of the 80's.

I'm British. Grew up with it on the telly….

I think the wireless programme "I'm sorry I'll Read That Again" was my introduction to that type of humour, with "At Last the 1948 Show" and "Do Not Adjust Your Set" fixing it.

x42

What Cerdic said.

And now for something completely different…

Had seen their first effort, a TV documentary "The Battle of Colloden" and was already familiar with John Cleese's work.

I just turned on the telly, and there it was.

I was trying to find Benny Hill…

And now for something completely different. Hobby outreach efforts should be focused on Monty Python watchers rather then those interested in military history – just think how many new gamers we could find at a Monty Python convention!

The Internet, mid-90s. After that I remember The Holy Grail ran once at night-time on either PBS or TVO in the late 90s. Comedy Network did help with its early programing. Or was it Bravo that aired "And now for something completely different" and "Meaning of Life"?

I actually have no idea. I don't remember a time when I didn't know about it.

PBS

@ Dynaman8789- That's the spirit. It who you wargame with that counts.

Most have been 75 or 76, A friend of the family was into it and he was one of the people in the commune- I kid you not.

most of the 70s I was pre school.. :-P

James, so many jokes, so little time.

As a teen,mid to late-1970's,local PBS station. And the records too.

2.5 Buddy rented it for us to watch.

PBS in the 70's

PBS or Channel 11 as it is known in Chicago.

PBS showed Holy Grail when I was in Highschool.
Never liked them then or since.

IMO, overrated and not funny, IMO…

BBC 2. Repeated on Friday nights in the early 90's.

Dear ricarDisney:
the question was : I'm wondering how did you guys initially discover 'Monty Python's Flying Circus'?

He did not ask nor require your opinion whether you like it or not. And frankly,IMO, I would think very few would need to your position,IMO, IMO, IMO

1, via PBS

Doug

My mother took me to Holy Grail when it was in the theaters as I had an interest in King Arthur (we knew it was a spoof). I think I was 11.

Thereafter would sometimes find Flying Circus on local TV.

Once I started hanging with D&D players of course, everyone was always quoting Python.

pphalen wrote:

"One summer in Band Camp…"

That's a good answer, and one I have no objection to, on the sole condition that you do not tell us what you did with your flute.

I'm not sure if I caught the first ever broadcast of Monty Python's Flying Circus, but it must have been a close thing.

I am reasonably confident that if I am not the only quarter-Welsh member of TMP who had his PhD viva precisely on the 30th anniversary of the first transmission of Monty Python's Flying Circus, then at least I'm the only one such who can speak Russian.

All the best,

John.

PBS early 70's, loved them

I was exposed by college friends, drama majors, performing the skits at parties and social events. I had never seen the TV shows, but my friends were enthusiastic and funny. Later, when exposed to the videos, I was underwhelmed…spoiled by the theatrics I guess.

Watched it on the BBC when it was first broadcast in the early 70s.

"Now that's what I call a dead parrot."

My dad.

Saw the "Holy Grail" in 1972, maybe? Then sought out the show.

Playing poker New Years Eve with a bunch of other teenage boys as the decade changed from the 70's to the 80's. During the night, PBS ran "The Holy Grail". I had never seen anything like it in my life, laughed by butt off.

Saw the "Holy Grail" in 1972, maybe?

MPatHG was 1974.

I think the first thing I heard from them was the album "Contractual Obligations" which was played on a local radio station in Toronto (Q107). They had a comedy album night that I tried to listen to as much as I could. I think this is also the place I first heard Weird Al and Fluke of the Universe from the National Lampoon. I especially appreciated the brief snippet "The Sound of John Denver Being Strangled" I later learned they were sued for it. After that it was Quest for the Holy Grail on late night tv.

David S.

mid to late 80's on tv for me. I didn't know enough English before, and translation sucks