Jump to content

Monty Python...and the BBC's attitude to it at the time!


shoeshine

Recommended Posts

I revelled in Monty Python's Flying Circus when it hit our TV screens in the early 1970's. Seeing it for the first time today it seems a bit dated, but at the time it was revolutionary comedy, and quite infectious viewing.

 

The "Stiff Upper Lip" Brigade running the BBC didn't think so though.

 

today's Telegraph Online

 

It was at the peak of its popularity, pulling in 10 million viewers each show. But new documents reveal that BBC bosses were shocked by the content of Monty Python's Flying Circus, describing it as "sadistic" and "disgusting".

 

The documents disclose that the corporation's senior management believed that the six stars had developed a "death wish" and no longer knew what was acceptable in terms of taste and decency.

 

What did you think of Monty Python at the time?

 

If you didn't see it the first time round, what do you think of it in the light of the modern comedy programes?

 

Full Story Here

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The humour was perfect for the times. It was the ancestor of all modern comedy, and a follow on from The Goons and Round the Horne.

The three funniest ones were Michael Palin, John Cleese and Eric Idle.

In the film 'The Life of Brian' those three were brilliant.

And the 'parrot' sketch with John Cleese and Michael Palin was an all time classic. :thumbsup:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well my son was asked to do a presentation (talk or whatever) in his PSHE lesson, they had recently been covering sex ed. So he and his 11 yr old friend, stood up and sang the penis song from Meaning of Life... :hihi:

 

Apparantly the teacher was in stitches and the other kids just looked quizzicle and asked if they had made that up themselves. :rolleyes:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We used to do the catchphrases at school after it had been shown the previous night such as "we were 'appy when we 'ad nowt", "ee's snuffed it", "nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition" etc. They weren't written to be catchphrases at the time though unlike to offerings today such as Little Britain, that terrible Tate woman etc who repeat them show after show, month in month out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well my son was asked to do a presentation (talk or whatever) in his PSHE lesson, they had recently been covering sex ed. So he and his 11 yr old friend, stood up and sang the penis song from Meaning of Life... :hihi:

 

Apparantly the teacher was in stitches and the other kids just looked quizzicle and asked if they had made that up themselves. :rolleyes:

Oooooh thankyou very much.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Told you once.

 

No you didn't, anyway this isn't an argument, it's contradiction. An argument is a set of statements intended to establish a proposition, contradiction is the automatic gainsaying of anything the other person says.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.