Nine episodes still exist of a 27 episode programme. Sad, but British television (ITV not the BBC in this case) had the habit of 'wiping' episodes and reusing the video tape to record another show, so it's just nice to have what we do and thank goodness we have Monty Python's Flying Circus in it's entirety. The show is a quirky fare as we would expect. The show was however designed as a kid's show and if you don't mind the film quality it's a good show to present to people who like Monty Python but want to avoid The Meaning Of Life and Life Of Brian in front of sensitive company. What it has in each episode is David Jason and Denise Coffey doing the Captain Fantastic sketches (a little weak for my taste at times mainly because the poor budget hinders its potential if it does have any) and also a fantastic treat to me the weekly Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band song (of course your opinion of these two features could be the exact opposite). Songs Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band use in the show include the cult classic "Death Cab For Cutie" used in the Beatles film Magical Mystery Tour. I can say this is a great deal because I bought the nine episode two disc set for 5 bucks at a great used DVD store. Reasons that make this set so enjoyable is first off just seeing Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin have so much control to do the humor they wanted particularly Terry and Michael is good enough for the 5 bucks I spent and as mention the songs are wonderful. Good bits abound with Eric and Michael's "Two Of Us" bit and a long list of sketches involving mock lessons. Eric Idle teaching about gravity, Denis going to safety expert (scam artist) David Jason on how to protect her valuables, David Jason and Michael Palin teaching proper eating etiquette. Denis and David do a fortune teller mugging a customer bit and David goes a mock suite commercial with Palin (naturally) as the voice over. David Jason tries to buy a tin of shoe polish from Palin, but Terry gets it instead. Another sketch involves undercover cops with Palin at his finest and a traveling insurance man (David Jason) selling to a reluctant Michael Palin. In the end there's probably at best a dozen sketches that really make you laugh and all the others are just a joy but no riots. A half dozen or dozen legendary sketches (depending on how critical you are) in a nine episode set isn't a Flying Circus but better than your run of the mill sketch show like the 1980's Saturday Night Live.
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