Local weather forecaster Sue Serio mentions that today is the fortieth anniversary of Monty Python's Flying Circus. I'll have to take her word for it - they started the show in '69, so let's assume she's probably correct.
Python took comedy to a new level. When it first started airing in the U.S. (on PBS in the mid '70s), that kind of absurdist humor had never been seen here before. The original series stands alone as one of the great milestones of comedy. I enjoy watching it whenever it airs these days (which is rare) - even though I can recite most of the sketches from memory, and own all the episodes and movies on DVD.
Here's a good example of Python at its best - Graham Chapman as an abusive instructor giving "flying lessons" to Terry Jones.
Update: Today is the fortieth anniversary of the day the Python teamed was "formed" (according to Sue), not of the show - which started airing in October, 1969. Not sure what we're actually celebrating here, but enjoy the clip anyway.
