History ReferencedBy / MontyPythonsFlyingCircus

[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/python_simpsons_foot_1240.png]]]]

As one of the most influential, popular and groundbreaking comedy teams, sketch series and film franchise of all time Creator/MontyPython has had its fair share of shout-outs. We list both references to the TV series, as well as the films, songs, albums and individual sketches here.

!! References:

[[AC: ComicStrips]]
* In the ''Magazine/DoctorWhoMagazine'' "Comics Assassins" parody of "The Curse of Fenric" the Viking curse is "Your mother was an elk and your father smells of smorgasbord".

[[AC:Film - Live-Action]]
* ''Film/AsGoodAsItGets'': Jack Nicholson plays "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" on the piano and sings along with it.

[[AC:Film - Animation]]
* ''Franchise/{{Shrek}}'': Both Creator/JohnCleese and Creator/EricIdle have voiced characters in these films. In ''Shrek the Third'' the coconuts gag from ''Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail'' is used. The makers intended it as a {{Homage}}, but Idle sued because he wasn't told beforehand about this and correctly assumed it to be more akin to plagiarism.
* In ''WesternAnimation/IceAge3DawnOfTheDinosaurs'', Manny asks Buck why [[FluffyTheTerrible Rudy]] doesn't have a more scary name, like Sheldon, or [[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail Tim]].

[[AC:Literature]]
* Creator/DouglasAdams and John Lloyd published a book named ''The Meaning of Liff'' around the same time ''Film/MontyPythonsTheMeaningOfLife'' was in theaters. According to an interview with Lloyd, they chose the title on purpose, the idea was that the potential confusion with the film's script would help to sell more copies of the book.[[note]]Presumably among the proportion of the population who would mistake a very small 191 page paperback for the script to a 90-minute film written in a really small font[[/note]] In fact, in the beginning of the Monty Python film the gravestone with the title "The Meaning of Liff" appears before a lightning bolt strikes the last F and converts it to an E. However, according to ''Don't Panic'', Neil Gaimain's Adams biography, this was a coincidence that Adams and the Pythons found out about too late to change anything.

[[AC:Live-Action]]
* ''Series/NotTheNineOClockNews'': One sketch had the cast parody the controversy surrounding ''Film/MontyPythonsLifeOfBrian'' by having a bishop complain that this Bible film mocks Monty Python and especially its Messiah Our Lord John Cleese.
* ''Series/TheYoungOnes'': In the episode "Time" Alexei Sayle's character runs into a shop, performing a silly walk in the process, and asks the owner whether this is a cheese shop? When the man replies: "No sir." Sayle answers: "Well that's that sketch knackered then, innit?''
* ''Series/SpittingImage'': A RunningGag on the series was that everybody confused Liberal Party politician David Owen with Creator/JohnCleese, because they were both tall people who spoke with a silly, self-important voice. In one sketch, accompanied by the ''Monty Python'' Theme, Owen visits a pet shop where he complains about his party being dead for several years, a reference to the "Dead Parrot" sketch. In another sketch he talks to Creator/JohnCleese about the Liberal Party [[note]] Cleese- who wore a beard in the 1980s- did a few advertisements supporting the Liberal Party back then. [[/note]]. After comforting him Cleese suddenly rings the bell and says, "Good morning", and tries to leave by doing the Silly Walk. Owen then snaps back, "That was never five minutes!", to which Cleese replies, "It bloody well was." [[note]] A reference to the "Argument Sketch"[[/note]].
* ''Series/TheGoodies'': Mr. Gumby was referenced in the episodes "Scatty Safari" and "The Goodies Rule- O.K.?". Creator/JohnCleese appears at the end of the {{Panto}} ChristmasEpisode "The Goodies and the Beanstalk" as a genie and says "And now for something completely different", at which Tim tells him to push off.

[[AC:Music]]
* Music/TheSexPistols: Guitarist Steve Jones often performed with a hanky on the head, as a tribute to Mr. Gumby.
* Music/HarryNilsson covered "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" as early as 1980 on his album ''Flash Harry''. Art Garfunkel (Music/SimonAndGarfunkel) has covered it too.
* The sketch "Rock Notes" from ''AudioPlay/MontyPythonsContractualObligationAlbum'' inspired the band name of Music/ToadTheWetSprocket.
* On ''Music/{{Californication}}'' by Music/RedHotChiliPeppers during "Purple Stain" this line is sang:
--> ''Python power straight from Monty''
* Music/IronMaiden typically have "Always Look On the Bright Side of Life" playing on the speaker systems when their gig is done and they have no more encores to do. Music/BruceDickinson was also involved in a documentary about them, singing the opening song for an episode.
* Music/{{Madness}} have dressed up in drag similarly to the show's "Pepperpot" characters several times, especially in the video to "House of Fun". The video for "Our House" features certain band members dressed as "Gumbies".

[[AC: PuppetShows]]
* In the 1990s, ''Series/SesameStreet'' had a character called Monty who was portrayed as a Muppet version of a John Cleese character, his surrealist logic constantly aggravating the sensible Prairie Dawn. At different points he had a python and a group of flying circles.

[[AC:{{Radio}}]]
* In the ReunionShow of ''Radio/ImSorryIllReadThatAgain'', Creator/JohnCleese does some AdamWesting as being completely obsessed with silly walks.

[[AC:TabletopGames]]
* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'':
** The Black Templars use a Holy Hand Grenade...carried by Brother Maynard.
** One of the Ork psychic powers, the Foot of Gork (or Mork) is basically the GiantFootOfStomping from the show's intro.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Munchkin}}''
** One of the monster cards is a Perfectly Ordinary Bunny Rabbit, which may turn out to be That Rabbit From That Movie.
** The card "Laugh at DM's Monty Python Rougine" Lampshades this, while showing a recreation of the Dead Parrot sketch.
** The card "Budget Steed" is a picture of a man banging two coconuts together.
** ''Munchkin Impossible'' has Fruit Combat Training, referring to the Self-Defence Against Fresh Fruit sketch.

[[AC:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/FlightRising'' has two ''Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail'' references in its item pool. The Black Knight (as in, a chess piece) has the description "Keeps fighting no matter what." while the Newt's description is "It's said evil magic can turn dragons into newts. If that's true of this one, it never got better."
* ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII'': Several StopPokingMe quotes are from ''Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail''.
* The ''VideoGame/{{Worms}}'' series has consistently had a reference to the ''Holy Grail'' with the "Holy Hand Grenade" showing up as a weapon in many of the games.
* ''VideoGame/OhSirTheInsultSimulator'' has so many references that it might as well be an unofficial fangame.
* The online trailer for the "Dark Ages" level of ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies2'' had a knight zombie being followed by an Imp banging two coconuts together.

[[AC:Webcomic]]
* In [[http://www.the-whiteboard.com/autotwb1464.html this]] ''Webcomic/TheWhiteboard'' strip, in regards to a destroyed paintball gun Doc paraphrases the "this is an ex-parrot" speech from the parrot skit.
* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' strip "[[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0136.html It's Not a Gaming Session Until Someone Quotes Monty Python]]" is an extended reference to the "Cheese Shop" sketch.
* The ''Webcomic/{{xkcd}}'' strip "[[https://xkcd.com/16/ Monty Python - Enough]]" says that the way to honour surrealists whose sketches never went where you expected is ''not'' to quote said sketches verbatim.
* ''Webcomic/DarthsAndDroids''. Because, as mentioned above, it's not a gaming session until...
** Episode titles "Is This the Right Room for an Argument?"; "He's a Freighter Pilot and He's Okay"; "It Was Also Full of Space Eels" (referring to a hovercar); "Spang, Corroded Beams, Spang, Spang, Metal Shards, Spang, Rusty Springs, and Spang"; "See the Violence Inherent in the System"; "The Popular People's Liberation Front of Naboo"; and "He's not the Messiah, He's a Dreadnoughty Boy".
** When GM makes an attempt at taking in beeps for R4, R2 translates it as "[[http://www.darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0279.html What? Your hovercraft is full of eels?]]"
** Count Dooku (who talks with a terrible French accent because the GM isn't good at voices) taunts Obi-Wan with "[[http://www.darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0392.html Your mother was a womp rat and your father smells of sweesonberries!]]"
** Luke, in his fight with the AT-AT shouts "[[http://www.darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0979.html Come back, you coward! I'll chop your legs off!]]"
* ''Webcomic/ArthurKingOfTimeAndSpace''
** An [[http://www.arthurkingoftimeandspace.com/0101.htm early strip]] had "dialog that will never occur in ''Arthur, King of Time and Space''", which were all quotes from ''Holy Grail''.
** During the ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'' parody, [[http://www.arthurkingoftimeandspace.com/0150.htm Merlin translates]] the runes in Moria as "Beware the Drums of uuuh", resulting in a familiar conversation in which Merlin is Brother Meynard, Bedivere, Lancelot and Arthur are themselves and Gawaine stands in for Galahad. In TheRant Paul claims to have never seen this gag anywhere else.
* In ''WebComic/TheNonAdventuresOfWonderella'' Satan made a [[CirclesOfHell circle of hell]] specifically for Monty Python fans, where their punishment is to quote lines at each other for all eternity. Ironically, it's ''everyone else'' that gets tormented; the fans think they're in ''Heaven''.

[[AC:Web Original]]
* WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic: Doug enjoys using clips from both the show and the films here and there.
* WebVideo/TheCinemaSnob: While reviewing the Bible movie porn parody ''Sodom and Gomorrah'' Brad calls it at one point: "Worst Python film ever!"
* Wiki/TVTropes has named several of their articles after sketches from Monty Python, including UpperClassTwit, MyHovercraftIsFullOfEels and SillyWalk.
* The name of the Swedish [=YouTube=] channel WebVideo/MonteFjanton originally meant to evoke "Monty Python" while having a silly twist to it, as "fjant" is a Swedish term for a silly person.

[[AC:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
** In "Principal Charming" Hans Moleman is named "Ralph Melish", a reference to "The Adventures Of Ralph Melish: Hot Dog and Knickers" sketch from the Monty Python album ''AudioPlay/TheMontyPythonMatchingTieAndHandkerchief''.
** When the animatronic Mount Rushmore cut-out is lowered at the end of the school play in "I Love Lisa" the heads of the presidents ''sing'' by only having the lower jaw move, which bears an uncanny resemblance to Creator/TerryGilliam's cut-and-paste animations.
** In the couch gag of "Homer Goes To College" (repeated for the episodes "Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy", "Another Simpsons Clip Show" and "The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular"), the Simpsons are squashed by the huge pink foot from the intro of ''Monty Python's Flying Circus''.
*** In the same episode Benjamin, Doug and Gary claim to know "the worst Monty Python joke" and quote from the "Knights Who Say 'Ni'" sketch from ''Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail''.
** In the opening credits of "Treehouse Of Horror IV" Colin Lewis is credited as Colin "Two Sheds" Lewis, in reference to the "Arthur 'Two Sheds' Jackson" sketch from the TV series.
** On the DVD audio commentary of "Bart VS Australia" the makers claimed that some of the stereotypes about Australia used in this episode were inspired by ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'' "Bruces" sketch.
** The game ''Angus Podgorny's Caber Toss'' in "Marge Be Not Proud" is a reference to the character "Angus Podgorny" who was seen in various episodes of ''Monty Python's Flying Circus''.
** While playing ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' in "Marge Gamer" Bart plays a character named "The Black 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.
* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'': As huge Python fans Creator/TreyParker and Creator/MattStone has referenced the show a few times in their work too.
** They created a short homage in 1999 with Cartman and Stan recreating the "Dead Parrot" sketch with Kenny in place of the dead parrot. In the end Creator/TerryGilliam intervenes, only to be squashed by a giant foot. Creator/EricIdle was even a guest voice in ''WesternAnimation/SouthParkBiggerLongerAndUncut''.
** In "The Return Of Chef" the children visit a business meeting where a man explains how they are going to climb "the two peaks of the Kilimanjaro". This is a reference to the "Kilimanjaro Expedition" sketch from the first series, which was also featured in ''Film/AndNowForSomethingCompletelyDifferent''.
* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'':
** In "Fish Out of Water" a man with elongated arms appears wondering "where the fish has gone?" This is a reference to a similar sequence in ''Film/MontyPythonsTheMeaningOfLife''.
** The opening sequence of "Space Cadet" parodies the opening credits of ''Monty Python's Flying Circus''.
** The episode "The Former Life of Brian" is a PunBasedTitle on ''Film/MontyPythonsLifeOfBrian''. In the same episode Dylan tortures Meg by making her watch 178 hours of all the unfunny and unmemorable Monty Python sketches compiled together.
--> '''TV''': I have a pet hedgehog named Zippy, and I shall walk her to town. And each time my foot hits the ground, I shall say "Boing! Boing! Boing!"
--> '''Meg''': I'm a girl! I don't even like the ''good'' Monty Python sketches!

[[AC:Real Life]]
* UsefulNotes/MargaretThatcher once compared the bird symbol of the Liberal Party to a "dead parrot" and declared it an "ex-party" and time for "something completely different". It generated a huge laughter from the crowd, though the reference was a suggestion by her advisors. She herself had never watched the show before and wondered whether "that Monty Python - is he one of us?" (''i.e.'', a Conservative supporter) and feared that the audience wouldn't understand the reference. She herself didn't anyway, because her crew showed her the Dead Parrot sketch on video and she was the only one who didn't get what was so funny about it.
* During the Falklands War (1982) both the ''HMS Sheffield'' and the ''HMS Coventry'' were struck by a cruise missile. As their crews waited to be rescued from their sinking ship they sang: "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life".
* The expression "nudge nudge, wink wink" has entered the English lexicon as an idiomatic phrase implying sexual innuendo. The words themselves already existed, by the way.
* The word "spam" for unwanted emails is a direct reference to the Python sketch of the same name.
* The computer language Python is also a shout-out to the show.
* Creator/TerryPratchett was quoted in a fanzine as saying the first realisation he had that he was doing quite well was when he was trying to decide between two videos and realised he could get them both. When he wrote in to clarify that these were video ''cassettes'', not video ''recorders'', he signed off as Terry "Two Videos" Pratchett.
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* Music/{{Madness}} have dressed up in drag similarly to the show's "Pepperpot" characters several times, especially in the video to "House of Fun".

** In "Fish Out of Water" a man with elongated arms appears wondering "where the fish has gone?" This is a reference to a similar sequence in ''Film/MontyPythonstheMeaningOfLife''.

** During the ''Franchise/LordOfTheRings'' parody, [[http://www.arthurkingoftimeandspace.com/0150.htm Merlin translates]] the runes in Moria as "Beware the Drums of uuuh", resulting in a familiar conversation in which Merlin is Brother Meynard, Bedivere, Lancelot and Arthur are themselves and Gawaine stands in for Galahad. In TheRant Paul claims to have never seen this gag anywhere else.

* The card "Laugh at DM's Monty Python Rougine" Lampshades this, while showing a recreation of the Dead Parrot sketch.
* The card "Budget Steed" is a picture of a man banging two coconuts together.

* The name of the Swedish [[=YouTube=] channel ''WebVideo/MonteFjanton'' originally meant to evoke ''Monty Python'' while having a silly twist to it, as "fjant" is a Swedish term for a silly person.