Monty Python's Flying Circus, Episodes 1–26

An Utterly Complete, Thoroughly Unillustrated, Absolutely Unauthorized Guide to Possibly All the References from Arthur "Two Sheds" Jackson to Zambesi, Volume 1

Darl Larsen

In 1969, the BBC aired the first episode of a new comedy series titled Monty Python's Flying Circus, and the rest, as they say, is history. An instant success, the show ran until 1974, producing a total of 45 episodes. Despite the show's very English humor and allusions to many things British, the series developed a cult following outside the United Kingdom, particularly in the United States. Known for its outrageous humor, occasionally controversial content, and often silly spirit, Monty Python's Flying Circus poked fun at nearly all institutions—domestic or foreign, grand or intimate, sacred or not. Indeed, many of the allusions and references in the program were uniquely British and routinely obscure, and therefore not always understood or even noticed outside the British Isles.

This exhaustive reference identifies and explains the plethora of cultural, historical, and topical allusions of this landmark series. In this volume, virtually every allusion and reference that appeared in episodes from the last two seasons—whether stated by a character, depicted in the mise-en-scène, or mentioned in the printed scripts—is identified and explained. Organized chronologically by episode, each entry is listed alphabetically, indicates what sketch it appeared in, and is cross-referenced between episodes. Entries cover literary and metaphoric allusions, symbolisms, names, peoples, and places as well as myriad social, cultural, and historical elements (photos, songs, slogans, caricatures) that populate and inform these episodes. See volume 2 for the third and fourth seasons (episodes 27–45).
Volume 1 Entries Include:

“Arabella Plunkett”
Group of famous characters from famous paintings
"Hell's Grannies"
“Kandinsky”
“Spanish Inquisition”
“total cashectomy”
“Two-Sheds”
Vicar sitting thin and unhappy in a pot
“What's all this then?”
Raymond Baxter type

Scarecrow Press

Pages: 492 • Trim: 8½ x 11

978-1-58979-712-3 • Paperback • April 2013 • $24.95 • (£18.99)

Subjects: Performing Arts / Television / Reference, Performing Arts / Film / Reference, Performing Arts / Television / Guides & Reviews

Monty Python's Flying Circus, Episodes 1–26

An Utterly Complete, Thoroughly Unillustrated, Absolutely Unauthorized Guide to Possibly All the References from Arthur "Two Sheds" Jackson to Zambesi, Volume 1

Paperback

Summary

In 1969, the BBC aired the first episode of a new comedy series titled Monty Python's Flying Circus, and the rest, as they say, is history. An instant success, the show ran until 1974, producing a total of 45 episodes. Despite the show's very English humor and allusions to many things British, the series developed a cult following outside the United Kingdom, particularly in the United States. Known for its outrageous humor, occasionally controversial content, and often silly spirit, Monty Python's Flying Circus poked fun at nearly all institutions—domestic or foreign, grand or intimate, sacred or not. Indeed, many of the allusions and references in the program were uniquely British and routinely obscure, and therefore not always understood or even noticed outside the British Isles.

This exhaustive reference identifies and explains the plethora of cultural, historical, and topical allusions of this landmark series. In this volume, virtually every allusion and reference that appeared in episodes from the last two seasons—whether stated by a character, depicted in the mise-en-scène, or mentioned in the printed scripts—is identified and explained. Organized chronologically by episode, each entry is listed alphabetically, indicates what sketch it appeared in, and is cross-referenced between episodes. Entries cover literary and metaphoric allusions, symbolisms, names, peoples, and places as well as myriad social, cultural, and historical elements (photos, songs, slogans, caricatures) that populate and inform these episodes. See volume 2 for the third and fourth seasons (episodes 27–45).
Volume 1 Entries Include:
- “Arabella Plunkett”
- Group of famous characters from famous paintings
- "Hell's Grannies"
- “Kandinsky”
- “Spanish Inquisition”
- “total cashectomy”
- “Two-Sheds”
- Vicar sitting thin and unhappy in a pot
- “What's all this then?”
- Raymond Baxter type

Details

Scarecrow Press

Pages: 492 • Trim: 8½ x 11

978-1-58979-712-3 • Paperback • April 2013 • $24.95 • (£18.99)

Subjects: Performing Arts / Television / Reference, Performing Arts / Film / Reference, Performing Arts / Television / Guides & Reviews

Author

Darl Larsen is professor of media arts and animation at Brigham Young University, where he teaches film and popular culture studies. He is the author of Monty Python, Shakespeare and English Renaissance Drama.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Season One
Episode 1: “Whither Canada?”
Episode 2: “Sex & Violence”
Episode 3: “How to Recognize Different Types of Tree From Quite a Long Way Away”
Episode 4: “Owl-Stretching Time”
Episode 5: “Man’s Crisis of Identity in the Latter Half of the Twentieth Century”
Episode 6: “Crunchy Frog”
Episode 7: “Science Fiction Sketch”
Episode 8: “Full Frontal Nudity”
Episode 9: “The Ant, An Introduction”
Episode 10: “The League for Fighting Chartered Accountancy”
Episode 11: “Eighteenth-Century Social Legislation”
Episode 12: “Upperclass Twit of the Year”
Episode 13: “A History of Irish Agriculture”
Season Two
Episode 14: “Ethel the Frog”
Episode 15: “The Spanish Inquisition”
Episode 16: “Déjà Vu”
Episode 17: “The Bishop”
Episode 18: “The Linkman”
Episode 19: “Election Night Special”
Episode 20: “Killer Sheep”
Episode 21: “Archaeology Today”
Episode 22: “How to Recognize Different Parts of the Body”
Episode 23: “Fish Licence”
Episode 24: “How Not to be Seen”
Episode 25: “Art Gallery Strike”
Episode 26: “The Queen will be Watching”
Appendix A
Appendix B
Listing of Sketches, Animations, and Links in Monty Python’s Flying Circus
Bibliography
Comprehensive Index
About the Author

Reviews

By assembling his massive guide to every TV episode of the seminal British cult favorite Monty Python's Flying Circus, Professor Darl Larsen gives casual admirers who only know the Pythons from the musical Spamalot or more famous sketches a much larger perspective. . . . Blessed with an academic's attention to detail and a fan's enthusiasm for the troupe's comic achievements, Larsen hopes his comprehensive study will delight fans new and old.
— Kirkus

Monty Python enthusiasts will appreciate this companion to Monty Python's Flying Circus. . . . Casual fans will enjoy browsing through the book.

— Booklist

Larsen is a devoted fan who exhaustively analyzes the series without ever obscuring its unique brand of humor. . . . This one-of-a-kind homage to Monty Python, meticulously researched and well written throughout, deserves a place in all popular culture collections.

— Library Journal, Starred Review

Darl Larsen is well versed in his material. . . . Well documented and comprehensive, if not exhaustive, this is an informative and entertaining deconstruction of all things Flying Circus.

— Salem Press

This book provides not just a simple explanation of who the frequently referenced Reginald Maulding was, but also what made him such an attractive target for the show's humor....This book likely will interest libraries supporting television and popular culture studies. Recommended.

— Choice Reviews

. . . [P]ossibly the most useful book ever written for American Anglophiles. . . . Larsen’s work is, as the title promises, truly comprehensive . . . simply a must-have for any fan of the Pythons.
— Author Magazine

Darl Larsen (Professor of Media Arts, Brigham Young University) presents Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 1: Episodes 1-26, an unauthorized but exactingly thorough and in-depth guide to the famous British comedy series "Monty Python's Flying Circus". The wildly successful show, which developed a devoted cult following outside of the United Kingdom, lasted for 45 episodes. This gigantic first volume covers the first 26 episodes; the forthcoming second volume is slated to cover episodes 27-45. Featuring a unique format in which the section for each episode has all its entries catalogued alphabetically, Monty Python's Flying Circus discusses everything from literary and metaphoric allusions and symbolisms, to the names of people and places, social and cultural in-jokes, historical elements, and much more. A bibliography and exhaustive index round out this definitive reference for fans and pop culture students of the show!

— Midwest Book Review