Americans are a funny lot. (Of course, I AM one so I ought to be careful.) Avoiding the generalization ALL, I’ll say that MOST of them have no idea how to process the things that are truly funny. Give them a prat fall or the sound of someone farting and they will laugh hysterically (these being the same people who sit around watching sports or go to country bars), but if you throw something at them a little more cerebral (ie; requires thought), they generally deadpan with their best ‘deer-caught-in-headlights’ face. There’s something about British humor that eludes most of these folks (sad for them) but allows me to feel a little superior when faced with their less than 85 I.Q. (happy for me). Living in a small town outside of Dallas, Texas (where the collective intelligence is only slightly that of topsoil) one can only imagine how my family throws the neighborhood curve into a tizzy whenever the poll takers try and figure out the average ‘brain rate.’

Since my level of humor scores a bit higher on the scale, I can appreciate the comedic geniuses known as Monty Python’s Flying Circus. In order to have intelligent conversations about said comedy geniuses, I always have to limit them to my immediate family or friends that visit from other parts of town. Trying to discuss the hilarious opening credits and subtitles to “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” with my redneck neighbor would undoubtedly elicit that aforementioned deadpan look (though in an effort to actually sound smart, he’d probably say, “Monty Python? I love that guy…!” – ‘nuff said…)

That said, what has impressed me about the members of Monty Python goes much farther than their ability to make me laugh. It is their ability to continue to create a huge income on a British series that lasted a mere 4 seasons back in the 70’s. Over the years they’ve reunited to make a handful of highly successful movies, the most famous being, of course, “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”, which has recently been recreated as the hugely popular Broadway Musical “Spamalot” (now in the works to become ‘The Movie… of the Broadway Musical… of The Movie’).

A few years ago, A&E Home Entertainment released a huge 14-disc set, covering the entire run of Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Yes, every single stinking episode of Monty Python’s Flying Circus condensed to fit on 14 discs. Did I happen to mention there were 14 discs? As you might imagine, the price was a little high… and understandably so because there were (repeat after me) 14… discs. This particular little set sat on my DVD ‘wish list’ since the day it appeared on store shelves. How I wanted to find a scrabble up the dough so I could sit back in the comfort of my own home (or break into someone else’s home if the had a better TV) and watch the lunacy that is the humor of the Monty Python troupe.

I imagined myself laughing hysterically at John Cleese’s nearly acrobatic turn in the “Ministry of Funny Walks” sketch. Or seeing Cleese and Michael Palin in their endless customer vs shopowner sketches, such as Cleese trying to return an ‘ex-parrot’ to a pet store, buy cheese from a cheese shop that seemingly has no cheese, or simply trying to buy a book from a book shop. These three in particular are perfect examples of the Python ‘style’ of humor.

I hoped I would have the opportunity to scroll through discs at my leisure to find Graham Chapman teaching a class on self-defense…if you’re attacked by someone wielding fresh fruit. Or even better, watching him do an impression of Marcel Marceau doing an impression of a man walking against the wind… then doing an impression of a man being struck about the head by a 16-ton weight.

Of course I would have to skip around in order to locate the brilliant Eric Idle as he attempts to communicate as the ‘Man Who Speaks in Anagrams.’ (As in this famous quote from “Hamlet,” Be ot or bot ne ot, tath is the nestquoi.) Idle has the uncanny ability to present himself a well-spoken announcer for the most ridiculous of situations as easily as he can be a milkman who happens to be a psychiatrist. I also understand he hold the power of invisibility (this claim being highly scrutinized as no one has ever actually ‘seen’ him be invisible…)

Then there is the genius that is Terry Jones. Though each of the members of the group did their fair share of the writing, it was Jones who had the knack for directing. Being totally at ease with himself, he could demonstrate the art of the artsy French film or play a piano totally naked (Jones… not the piano). And speaking of directing, there was the only American member of the troupe, Terry Gilliam (also the only other Terry of the troupe). During the first couple of seasons of the series, he only appeared onscreen as various guards and background characters. His forte was animation, and though he was rarely seen at first, his animations set the tone of the series. Made from cut out pictures and fractured sound effects, Gilliam’s animation style had a hallucinatory feel. At any given time, a little animated character could be trod upon by a gigantic disembodied foot or a giant head could grow a hand. There were no boundaries in Gilliam’s world… a talent he took with him into the area of feature film directing. With films like “Time Bandits”, “Brazil” and “The Fisher King”, Gilliam became one of the most creative directors in Hollywood.

Fearing I would never be able to enjoy the episodes of Monty Python’s Flying Circus as the price of the 14-disc set kept it just out of range for me, I was surprised… nay… SHOCKED when I heard a loud crash outside my door a couple of weeks ago. The entire house trembled at the sound and I spent nearly an hour picking up stray bits of memorabilia that had fallen off of my shelves. I looked out the door and to my amazement saw a small box. I tried to pick it up, but I couldn’t budge the thing. It felt like it weighed 16 tons. So I pulled my forklift out of the garage and carefully moved the box into my living room (nearly running over the cat in the process). I opened the box and what did I find but a BRAND NEW set of the Monty Python’s Flying Circus DVD set. It seems that A&E Home Entertainment opted to release a newly packaged version of the set, aptly named “The 16-Ton Megaset” (which explained the weight). But something was different. The set appeared to hold not 14… but 16 discs. Yet as a whole the packaging was smaller. The discs had been repackaged in slimmer cases (which are all the rage), allowing for a smaller box to hold all of the cases.

The contents of the discs were the same as far as I could tell, but the 2 additional discs contained live Python performances and specials. One had “Monty Python: Live at the Hollywood Bowl”, while the other had 1998’s “Live at Aspen” performance. Unfortunately, this second live show was performed after the passing the Graham Chapman, but true to Python form he still appeared on stage… though not quite in the same shape as when he was alive. It also includes a clip show hosted by Steve Martin and a hilarious ‘German’ episode of the series.

Throughout the discs of the series itself, you’ll find any number of little extra features. Everything from trivia games to character bios. The one thing this set doesn’t have, which was a little distressing, was a list of all the sketches and where you would find them. Each case has the title of the episodes that are on it, but in almost every title has absolutely nothing to do with the content of that particular episode. Fortunately I did find a list online that I found useful, http://orangecow.org/pythonet/sketches/ , feel free to check it out.

Now, I’m sure those of you who already have the original set that was released are wondering if there is any reason to buy the new one. Admittedly… no. The discs with the episode of the series are the same, and the additional discs are available separately. HOWEVER, if you have never made the commitment to purchase that set, then THIS is the one to get. You couldn’t possibly find a more fulfilling collection of Monty Python wit and wisdom anywhere. This set may be pricey, but you learn that you leave the bones in Crunchy Frog Treat or they wouldn’t BE crunchy, that SPAM is the favored food of Vikings, and that nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition. Just make sure to bring your forklift along when you go to pick it up.

Now that I finally have the definitive collection of Monty Python materials, I’m hoping I can introduce it to my clueless neighbors, in the hopes it will unlock some dormant ‘intelligence gene’ thereby allowing me at least one person I can converse with around here about something other than Nascar (which I don’t get) and hunting (which I don’t WANT to get…)

Starring: John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Graham Chapman
Extras: Meet the Chaps, Pythonisms Glossary, Gillianimations, Art Gallery, Troupe Career Highlights, Trivial Quest, Useless Tidbits, Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus: German Episode #1, Post-Python Troupe Highlights, Pythonisms, Bleeding Critics, Confusing Musings
Specifications: Full Screen
Studio: A&E
Release Date: 9/27/2005
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Monty Python's 16 Megaton Collection an A+.