Who is Monty Python? The generation today may not be very familiar with the name Monty Python, but Monty Python is one of the most popular and influential comedy troupes in the history of television. Who are the members of Monty Python? Monty Python is composed of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin, and they gained prominence through their BBC sketch show Monty Python and The Flying Circus. Even though Monty Python was largely popular in the 70s and 80s, many fans of comedy still know who Monty Python is; a testament to Monty Python’s enduring contribution to comedy.
Monty Python’s members met as university students in performance groups at Cambridge (Cleese, Chapman and Idle) and Oxford (Palin and Jones). Cleese met Gillam later on. The future members of Monty Python were introduced to each other when they worked on the show The Frost Report.
Monty Python, known for their surreal and satirical style, also wrote and performed in movies. Monty Python’s list of films include And Now for Something Completely Different (1971), Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979), Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982), Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983).
Monty Python’s television show and movies were later performed on stage as Monty Python's Flying Circus, Monty Python's Spamalot and Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy). There are also a number of books on or inspired by Monty Python. These are Monty Python's Big Red Book (1971), The Brand New Monty Python Bok, Monty Python and The Holy Grail (book) – Mønti Pythøn ik den Hølie Gräilen (Bøk) (1977), MONTYPYTHONSCRAPBOOK/ The Life of Brian (1979), Monty Python's Flying Circus – Just The Words Volume 1 (1989), Monty Python's Flying Circus – Just The Words Volume 2, The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus Volumes 1 & 2, The Fairly Incomplete & Rather Badly Illustrated Monty Python Song Book (1994),
Michael Palin Diaries 1969–1979, The Pythons: Autobiography by the Pythons, and The Life of Brian/Jesus (2011). In addition, there are several games released based on Monty Python materials. These are Monty Python's Flying Circus (1990), Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time (1994), Monty Python & the Quest for the Holy Grail (1996), Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1997), Python-opoly (2007), Monty Python Fluxx (2008), and Blazing Dragons.
To answer the question, ‘who is Monty Python’, one could say that Monty Python is a comedy troupe from Britain. But that is not completely accurate because Monty Python, who through their genius is still being emulated by comedy programs today, a pop culture phenomenon whose influence has crossed boundaries and media.
