Monty Python's Flying Circus was a British alternative sketch comedy series, broadcast between 1969 and 1974. It was groundbreaking for featuring surreal, sometimes silly, often intellectual sketches, full with anti-comedy and sometimes lacking punchlines. The main writers and performers were John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam and Graham Chapman. Actress Carol Cleveland played most of the recurring female roles, if the comedians didn't perform in drag themselves. The show also spawned five movies, of which "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" (1975) and "Monty Python's Life of Brian" (1979) are the most popular. Monty Python has often been referenced in The Simpsons. Matt Groening and many of the show's writers are Python fans.
References to Monty Python in The Simpsons
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Season
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Episode number
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Episode name
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Reference
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2
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27
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"Principal Charming"
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Hans Moleman's character is originally called "Ralph Melish" in this episode, a reference to "The Adventures of Ralph Melish: Hot Dog and Knickers" sketch from the Monty Python album "Matching Tie and Handkerchief."
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4
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69
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"Lisa's First Word"
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While Homer watches the Olympic Games on TV, the 100-meter butterfly swim is shown. Half of the contestants drown "because they come from countries that don't have swimming pools." This is very similar to the Silly Olympics sketch, originally made for a German-language version of the show, Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus (1972), and later shown with English-language voice-over in their concert film Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982). In this Python sketch a 2000 meter breast crawl is organized for people who can't swim. Just like in The Simpsons sketch they all drown.
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| 250px
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4
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74
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"I Love Lisa"
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The animatronic Mount Rushmore cut-out that appears at the end of the school play has the heads of the presidents sing by having only the lower jaw move. This bears a canny resemblance to the way Terry Gilliam's cut-and-paste animations in "Monty Python's Flying Circus" moved.
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5
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84
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"Homer Goes to College"
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In the couch gag The Simpsons are squashed by a huge pink foot. This is a reference to the iconic crushing foot that appeared at the end of the intro of every Monty Python's Flying Circus episode. This couch gag would later be re-used in the episodes Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy, Another Simpsons Clip Show and The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular.
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Homer's college room mates claim to know the words to every Monty Python sketch, then quote from the "Knights who say "ni" sketch" from the film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail".
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86
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"Treehouse of Horror IV"
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In the closing credits Colin Lewis is credited as Colin "Two Sheds" Lewis. This is a reference to the Monty Python sketch "Arthur "Two Sheds" Jackson" from the first season of the TV series.
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6
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119
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"Bart vs. Australia"
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On the DVD audio commentary it is claimed that some of the stereotypes about Australia used in this episode were inspired by the "Bruces" sketch from Monty Python's Flying Circus. In this particular Python sketch a bunch of Australian philosophers appear, all talking with an Aussie accent, wearing bushwacker uniforms and being very obsessed with beer.
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7
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139
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"Marge Be Not Proud"
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The game Angus Podgorny's Caper Toss is a reference to the character "Angus Podgorny" who was seen in various episodes of "Monty Python's Flying Circus".
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7
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146
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"The Day the Violence Died"
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The Itchy and Scratchy cartoon appearing near the end of the episode features God's foot crushing Scratchy and covering most of the screen in the process. This is very similar to the giant foot crushing down at the end of the opening credits of every Monty Python episode.
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18
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395
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"Marge Gamer"
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While playing World Of Warcraft Bart plays a character named "The Shadow Knight". Near the end of the game both his arms and legs have been decapitated, causing him to resemble the Black Knight character from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail", whose limbs are also cut off in a very famous scene.
The character was also released on The Simpsons: Tapped Out in the Clash of Clones event.
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24
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526
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"Pulpit Friction"
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Moe Syzlak yells "bring out your beds!" to inform townspeople to throw their bug infested mattresses out. This is a reference to the Bring out your dead scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
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28
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597
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"Monty Burns' Fleeing Circus"
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The title of the episode is a parody of Monty Python's Flying Circus.
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600
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"Treehouse of Horror XXVII"
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The music that was used in 600 closely resembles "Brian Song" from Monty Python's The Life of Brian.
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References to Monty Python in Simpsons Comics
References to Monty Python in Simpsons books
Common cast members
External links
