The 2011 Summer Re-Watch: Monty Python's Flying Circus "Untitled" Review

Throughout the untitled episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus, I realized more and more how scattered and loose the sketches were. The Pythons usually connect sketches and animated bits with more cohesion. Usually, there's an overarching theme in an episode. Several times, I thought I had developed a decent argument for what the theme of the untitled episode is only to have the argument dashed seconds later. Upon completion of the episode, I viewed the Useless Tidbits on the menu screen and learned that three of the sketches were meant for previous episodes in season one. Suddenly, it all made sense.

A tangible theme's not necessary for an enjoyable and entertaining episode of Flying Circus; a theme, though, helps when writing about the show on a weekly basis because it's an anchor amidst the silliness of the sketches. "Untitled" is loosely connected by the writers own commentary on the endings of various sketches. The endings are unexpected, slightly offensive and hilarious. The endings push the line of what's acceptable and unacceptable. The cat sketch concludes with a dark joke about animal cruelty. The Ron Obvious sketch ends with the character plunging to his death. The 'Strangers in the night' sketch concludes with the cuckolded husband in the bathroom with a beautiful girl, cheating on HIS wife. One character utters, "I thought that ending was a bit predictable" following the surprise ending.

Maybe the troupe felt like they'd become predictable only ten episodes into the series, though it's doubtful. The show's formula, though sometimes perceived as anti-formulaic, possibly became predictable. In every sketch of every episode, the boys reversed the expectations of what an audience should expect in a sketch. I don't think Chapman, Cleese, Palin, Jones, Idle or Gilliam responded directly to the audience's opinions about the show because the internet didn't exist in 1969, and most viewers were confused by the show throughout season one. Viewers felt comfortable with the show in the second season so much so that they urged the Pythons to not change a thing with the structure.

"Untitled" includes one of my favorite sketches--the chartered accountancy sketch. The sketch originally should've been part of the first episode (I'm unsure why it wasn't). Two other sketches borrow the basic concept of the accountancy sketch (Rob Obvious; Gorilla-as-librarian). Each sketch focuses on someone who wants to be someone other than who they are. For the accountant, he longs to be a lion tamer; for Ron Obvious, he wants to set world records and be famous; for the gorilla, he wants to be a librarian. And the gorilla has a great shot at being hired until he reveals that he's a librarian dressed in gorilla skin. The hiring committee turns out to be vicious murderers who hire savage beasts as librarians so that late returns are punished by death. Rob Obvious is exploited by organized crime Louis Vercotti for financial gain. The accountant ultimately realizes he fears lions because he mistakes the beast for an ant-eater.

Graham Chapman steals the librarian sketch when he reveals himself as a murderous man. His facial expressions as he describes what the savage beasts do to people is quintessential Graham Chapman. Any conversation about the most talented member of the troupe usually ignores Mr. Chapman but, in my opinion, he was the most talented member.

Overall, I don't have much else to write about the episode. The sketches are funny, madcap humor with brief flirtations of satire.

UP NEXT--"The Royal Philharmonic Goes to the Bathroom"--I'm posting the review on Monday because Man Vs. Wild moves to Friday nights beginning next Friday. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001O21390

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