15 Things You Didn’t Know About ‘Monty Python’s Flying Circus’

Through four seasons and forty-five classic episodes, the surreal comedy troop from Great Britain managed to become comedy legends with a cult following. Generations of fans since have found inspiration from this cracked collection of skits that skewer everything from modern politics to God to the everyday minutia that connect us all as human beings. In their four seasons on the air, Monty Python and their Flying Circus were a beautiful, absurd, avant garde, silly, awe-inspiring take on sketch comedy. Here, for your consideration, are some things you didn’t know about these unlikely comedy heroes.

1. Ever Heard of the Footlights?

The Cambridge University Footlights revue is the University’s improv group. Formed in 1883, it was at one point the breeding ground for what would become Monthy Python. During their years there, the group was host to Graham Chapman, John Cleese, and Eric Idle. Terry Jones and Michael Palin met at the Oxford Revue. American-born Terry Gilliam met Cleese in New York, and the rest is history.

2. The Group Were Bouncing Around Each Other

As most people now know, pretty much every member of Monty Python is a distinguished comedian in his own right. As such, each man had earned writing and performing gigs on their own merit, often performing on the same shows. Some of the troupe worked together on a kiddie show called Do Not Adjust Your Set. However, it’s The Frost Report that gets most of the credit for uniting the group.

3. Two Separate Shows

Before Flying Circus, ITV was about to offer a show to Terry Gilliam, Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin. Meanwhile, buddies Chapman and Cleese were offered their own show by the BBC. Cleese — wanting a third member of the team — invited Palin, who roped in all those other crazies, and a legend was born.