Black Knights and Bananas: 40 Years of Monty Python

Sparkler CoffinMaker has converted us. We're downloading Life of Brian now! —SparkNotes editors

For those who don't know, Monty Python was a group of five British actors and one American animator that blew up penguins on top of the world's television sets from 1969 to 1983 and were to comedy what the Beatles were to music.

From their show Monty Python's Flying Circus to their movies And Now For Something Completely Different, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python's Life of Brian, and Monty Python's Meaning of Life, they had Europe and the Americas laughing so hard that many died.

October 5th was the 40th anniversary of the first show of Monty Python's Flying Circus, and thus, this month is Monty Python Month (declared by nobody in particular). To celebrate there's going to be a whole big documentary that I am most certainly getting, but that's not important.

What's important is that you, the reader, should be a Monty Python fan.
Why? Here's a few reasons:

1. The shows and movies are some of the most random things on earth.

From llamas to parrots to exploding old women, you can always reference a Python skit. Say you're hanging out with friends and you see a bowl of bananas. All you do is grab one and say, "Now! How to defend yourself against a man armed with a banana!" As long as they're Python fans, they'll laugh. If they're not, well... they may need a self-defense course.

2. The actors are all amazing and recur in all the material.

Most of the characters with speaking parts in every movie and show are played by one of the six Pythons—so it's like seeing Ewan McGregor over and over again and playing a different role every time (and we all know we can't get enough of his acting). It gets so intense that you start laughing right when you see which Python is playing what role.

3. It flies by the seat of its pants.

If you have a fast mind that is really easily distracted (like me), or you're ADD, you will never be bored with Monty Python. For one thing, you never know whether a character is going to shoot somebody or float away. Additionally, much Monty Python work has a stream-of-consciousness format. You'll be watching something about a barber one minute, and the next there's lumberjacks singing.

If you like a good, well-developed plot, you're not going to find much to please you in the movies; however, there are some really well-developed jokes. I often walk up to random people and ask,"What is the air velocity of a laden swallow?"

4. There's a lot of semi-old pop culture references.

Middle-agers and baby boomers will go nuts. Want to suck up to your English teacher? Show them your ability to quote the Black Knight scene from the Holy Grail. Just don't let them get too into it and chop off your arms and legs.

4 1/2. They've even got a musical.

Spamalot! The Fish Slapping Dance is not one to miss.

So don't just stand their gawking like you've never seen the hand of God before! Get out and watch some sketches, rent some DVDs, and celebrate the 40th Anniversary!

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