Monty Python's Flying Circus - "Upper Class Twit of the Year"

[@MrMrMrprofessor]

"And Oliver has RUN HIMSELF OVER!!!!" That part just KILLS me every time!

[@Fredrockroll]

WHAT A GREAT TWIT!!!!

[@Zippsterman]

Subnautica moment

[@thegorn68]

My favorite: "Oh, there's Oliver. He's dead but not necessarily out of it!" LMAO!

[@CraftySouthpaw]

LOL, that's probably my favorite line too.

[@Profkol0rado]

I love how it randomly cuts to Oliver dead body before cutting back to the event

[@1958RBS]

We lived directly opposite Hurlingham Park, where this was filmed, and my dear late mother, a huge MP fan, watched as they filmed it.

[@Z-Mikes00]

i envy her so much

[@Funsho97]

That is so awesome!!!

[@aaronrabinowitz]

There's Oliver, he's dead; he's not necessarily out of it!

[@davidmeyer6908]

Did John Cleese record the entire commentary in one take? It never ceases to amaze me how he keeps up that level of vocal enthusiasm for the duration of the sketch.

[@louisemowder1454]

Yet here it is, 44 years later, and the upper class twits are still alive and flourishing better than ever.

[@mmedefarge]

Here in the States, they're not only flourishing but have taken over.

[@eliasmg9144]

Except for Oliver, he killed himself too early

[@mattp.3949]

Note: this segment originally aired on January 4, 1970 on episode #1.12 on 'Monty Python's Flying Circus'. The idea for the sketch 'The Upperclass Twit of the Year' came from the drunken patrons of a wine bar near John Cleese's Sloan Square home. The Sloan Ranger patrons kept Cleese up at nights with their comings and goings, loud drinking songs and crazy antics. According to Graham Chapman, this sketch was the Pythons' revenge against the drunken pub patrons.

[@GregJamesMusic]

John Cleese has also joked that this skit is the reason he hasn’t been knighted. (In reality, he turned down a CBE for political reasons.)

[@tessdurberville711]

Diana Spencer was a Sloane's Ranger.

[@jameswoodend6029]

Cleese is absolutely amazing at announcing surreal races/ the pace maintains is absolutely stunning

[@hcalmijebi]

I think Oliver is the real winner for running himself over

[@RS99FILMS]

Because he killed himself to early so was disqualified

[@MLaak86]

“He’s not necessarily out of it”

[@lpsp442]

In so many UCTotY competitions the contestants fail to shoot themselves accurately at all, so an early self-offing can be a foot in the door!

[@CraftySouthpaw]

I love that the one guy can't stop himself from kicking the beggar.

[@verve92]

What makes this so great is how dark it is.

[@lupodelupis3672]

I love the way they mocked the english estabilishment🤣🤣

[@redsquirrel1086]

I think it's the English aristocracy they're mocking.

[@6Shooter28]

​@@redsquirrel1086part and parcel

[@fionaskywalker7127]

This was the sketch that had me hooked on Python, about 12 years ago when I was only 13. Think I stopped breathing for a while I was laughing so much. They have become the most influential group in my life, I was at Not the Messiah at the Albert Hall in 2009 and went twice to MP Live in 2014, including the final night. Got to meet Eric last week and still buzzing. All because of this sketch. COMEDY GODS I LOVE THEM

[@granthurlburt4062]

That happened to me with the sketch of the Edwardians as directed by Sam Peckinpah. Arms coming off etc. I wrote a letter of (mock) complaint to the Edmonton Journal

[@littlebritain64]

I also appreciated a lot "Little Britain" in recent years. I am italian so I don't know when It was originally produced. But I found out a lot I love MP for....😄

[@DEROUGET]

Live in Australia now but strangely, how I miss those cold London overcast winter days!!

[@awesomepunk157]

Man I wish I was married to a very attractive table lamp

[@mh53j]

I was; it's not all it's cracked up to be

[@ELIQ2001]

Rest in peace Graham Chapman

[@drottercat]

I love that they have double-barreled last names.

[@paulsontag9233]

The only task where they weren’t hopeless was “kick the beggar”!

[@arimarianne7528]

Well, sir, this theory of yours appears to have hit the nail on the head!

[@CraftySouthpaw]

LMAO, one of the guys is named "Vivian Smith-Smythe-Smith."

[@cwtabbs1]

My favorite Python sketch of all time! 😘

[@joanknight2713]

Mine was the minister of silly walks

[@Turtle152]

I lost it when they started dismembering the mannequins.

[@johngora9123]

the part where they have to take off the brassiere is hilarious

[@hibob418]

More a documentary than a comedy sketch really...

[@cottagechskitty]

THE TWITS! My favorite sketch.

[@robertcornhole5197]

"If only his father could understand..."

[@hockey6408]

This is one of the most incredibly stupid concepts I've ever encountered, and yet I can't stop laughing.

[@CraftySouthpaw]

I nearly broke in half when Oliver fell into the table at 4:02.

[@FR-ty5vn]

This is a classic - the matchboxes and mannequins really got me back in the day 😂

[@Illegalpat]

This was a tough competition

[@davidgeorge5909]

In my mind, of all the funny things in Monty Python's Flying Circus, this is the funniest skit they ever did.

[@PuffyOne1898]

I love seeing Graham act like a doofus, because of the pythons he seemed to be the most dignified.

[@MallardGryph]

Here comes the tory cabinet!

[@A-small-amount-of-peas]

I love how you could tell John's voice was wrecked doing this as you can hear it break a few times

[@thefrecklepuny]

This lot could just as well be Cameron, Osborne, Johnson, Clegg and Letwin!

[@tommyt1971]

Best part: the tied-down rabbits.

[@thomaslauffenberger5795]

Kill da wabbit! Kill da wabbit!! KILL DA WABBIT!!!

[@mh53j]

tommyt1971 if you tried a sketch like that today,PETA would have a shit fit. And the anti-gun lobby. It is funny as hell though!!

[@georgebull-mclean3333]

There's 5 contestants, but only 4 mannequins Meaning they expected one to die before that point anyway.

[@MissezPremiseHello]

This Is A Bit Like Congress In Session, Only More Intelligent.

[@PuffyOne1898]

HA...

[@chrisweatherwax3721]

Even from the start their very names are hilarious, making fun of the fact of how incredibly long and pointless British names are. Every time I hear Nigel "Incubator" Jones I laugh insanely for days trying to figure out how he got that nickname. Every second of this piece is pure genius.

[@GregJamesMusic]

I always thought it was his actual name.

[@davidekstrand8544]

“And Oliver has RUN HIMSELF OVER! WHAT A GREAT TWIT!” 🤣

[@finnmccool]

Well done, nicely put old boy, see you next week at the Upper Class Twit Society meeting!!

[@slappy0077]

Sad how low comedy has sunk now in G.B. this was brilliant

[@tessdurberville711]

I must be too much of an Upper Class Twit to understand why this is supposed to be amusing. 🧐 Poor rabbits😢🐇.

[@mh53j]

5:29 Terry Jones' character tipping his hat to the "lady"

[@BMcCue7]

Also surprising from an American perspective is that no one is pretending that these are "self-made" men!

[@MrJimmyJim23]

The same competition Don Jr. and Eric participated in

[@stunnmuffin]

I lost it when they could not get over the wall

[@0zziefan]

i wonder if Cleese managed to do that Voiceover in one take!

[@dmittleman9757]

Love that there are 4 mannequins, meaning they knew one of the twits wouldn’t make it this far.

[@Terastas]

The two lines that, for me, are a million times funnier if you really think about it. #1: "His father uses him as a wastepaper basket." Worthless sack just sits there at his desk chewing on paper all day. #2: "Oh, if only his father could understand!" Which means somewhere in the stands is an elderly upper class twit, likely laughing and applauding, and looking at everyone and everything EXCEPT what's going on out on the field.

[@nedludd7622]

The actors probably had a great time sending up the upper-class twits.

[@chrisweatherwax3721]

This is the most amazing video ever created. If you know people like this it's totally true.

[@gamewithadam7235]

2:48 - 360 kicks on that beggar lol.

[@cullenmayes3370]

No scope

[@Kaiquintos]

"He's dead but not necessarily OUT!"

[@AndersJohansson]

Excellent!

[@HAMA-he5co]

Oliver is a hero

[@fairhurst101films]

so these are the people who show up for the oxford boat race

[@61Slughi]

5:32 Just noticed the gun wrangler in the background picking up all the shotguns.

[@mh53j]

"My God this is exciting...."

[@TheChugg11]

Ah-our fabulous members of parliament...

[@USMarineRifleman0311]

This is literally how the world sees Brits

[@northeden8661]

Funniest skit ever.

[@kimyenchu]

Where is Terry Gilliam? He's not in many sketches.

[@elsinorebrewing3841]

The only way this skit could have been better is if the whole crew of TWITS had been wired for sound to hear comments as they made their way through the obstacle course....good example "Oh bums!!!! dratted matchbox wall is holding me back....I was never good at sport"

[@jonathangwynne1917]

The British make fun of their upper-class twits. The Americans elect them President.

[@Revan2908]

Some of us do. The rest of us make fun of them, as well lol

[@iamhungey12345]

Indeed.

[@lpsp442]

>Trump "upper class" >Hillary Clinton, McCain, Romney and Obama "not upper class"

[@vrinda5303]

Like everyone in the British government is working class? 😂

[@FireEyedMaidOfWar]

@finnmccool: Nope, as the fox hunts mostly occur in autumn and as the weather becomes then bad in France, too the usual trips to England take place, as one’s relatives are a gift of fate, though in this case they maybe a Greek gift indeed. Besides you should consider addressing me as an old boy for some very obvious reasons.

[@FireEyedMaidOfWar]

@Noodles37UK: So you have not typed in the words “Monty Python” and “Italian class” into the search function yet?

[@FireEyedMaidOfWar]

@Mazza4Azza: What means this scene of rude impatience?

[@tonyhancock3284]

5:49 Love that!

[@anthonyklecha6002]

Is it just me or does the commentator mis-identify some of the twits towards the end?

[@milesvorkosigan3187]

Every Republican Presidential primary debate reminds me of this sketch.

[@D3nchanter]

diongwi aaaaand you probably voted for bush twice... somehow your credibility isn't what it should be.

[@golden-63]

diongwi Biden? Biden has been middle class his whole life. He's worth $500,000 at most.

[@richmotroni]

Darn! I had big money on Oliver!

[@waffleless]

-wait, Why is there only 4 manikins? I know one of them died, but did they really plan for that?

[@CraftySouthpaw]

Between the cars and the guns, they must've figured it was a good likelihood, LOL.

[@Launchpad05]

Clownfish TV sent me here.

[@FireEyedMaidOfWar]

@Noodles37UK: Oh, he shouldn't be saying that, we haven't done comparatives yet.

[@FireEyedMaidOfWar]

@Mazza4Azza: M'lud, and my other lud, the prosecution will endeavour to show m'lud, that m'lud - ah, not you m'lud, that m'lud, m'lud, while passing sentence at the Central Criminal Court blotted his copy book. Call exhibit Q.

[@SuliskThorn]

Mega

[@FireEyedMaidOfWar]

@Mazza4Azza: Worse I had to endure some of those; and except for the limb movement even the dumb visages and the mindset is to be found in real life rather vividly.

[@richardlaversuch9460]

What were the Pythons thinking?

[@FireEyedMaidOfWar]

@Noodles37UK: So you are trying to speak some Italian? For doing so you can reward yourself by typing in the words “Monty Python” and “Italian lesson”, which will certainly boost your mastery of the Italian language.

[@bindon4]

Jacob Rees-Mogg vs Jacob Rees-Mogg vs Jacob Rees-Mogg vs Jacob Rees-Mogg vs Jacob Rees-Mogg

[@FireEyedMaidOfWar]

Many folks think this to be a highly exaggerated satire of the higher classes, mocking the fact that some are born into wealth; but to those, who are born rich and suffer under a heredity membership in the Rotary Club and have to attend the social gatherings of the upper classes like fox hunts, think that the only thing which is satire here is the clumsy gait and the silly talk but not the stupidity; since many people seem to spend their wit getting rich and have none left to bequeath.

[@menschkeit1]

they left out Jacob Rees-Mogg

[@PlanetaryThoughts9861]

We here in the colonies should replace our current system of voting with this competition. It couldn't be any worse than it is now!

[@Noodles37UK]

Si! Si!

[@mitchc9167]

You know, whenever I see American High School students completely mess up the name of an African country, I think of this sketch.

[@trevormillar1576]

Just an average Conservative Party Annual Conference.

[@BMcCue7]

When I first saw this, I was a little surprised. It's not something that we do here in the United States. Unfortunately, we revere wealthy people, not make fun of them.

[@margaritam.9118]

Buddy McCue Britain is still a very classist place, but at least they aren’t scared to mock the old money people.

[@vrinda5303]

I've seen plenty of US comedy sketches, movies, and episodes of TV shows that make fun of rich people.

[@paolozak3014]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@FireEyedMaidOfWar]

@Mazza4Azza: Sorry did I say Q? I meant A. Sorry, call exhibit A. xhibit A m'lud, Miss Rita Thang, an artist's model, Swedish accordion teacher and cane-chair sales lady, was found guilty under the Rude Behaviour Act in the accused's court. The accused, m'iud, sentenced her 'to be taken from this place and brought round to his place'.

[@ufonut1593]

Boris Johnson springs to mind.... and most of the aristocracy 👍

[@TheNakedWombat]

This looks like the Annual Conference of the Liberal Party of Australia.

[@rebeccatompkins]

LOL.You're not wrong, Narelle. Sorry, Charlene

[@talk2me.]

Hurlingham park

[@CWiederwald]

looks like the Chequers-Brexit-Negotiations

[@akira3287]

😂😂 British aristocracy is actually like this.

[@FireEyedMaidOfWar]

@Noodles37UK: Sono Inglese di Gerrard's Cross

[@FireEyedMaidOfWar]

“The Greeks are going mad, the Greeks are going mad. Socrates scores, got a beautiful cross from Archimedes. The Germans are disputing it. Hegel is arguing that the reality is merely an a priori adjunct of non-naturalistic ethics, Kant via the categorical imperative is holding that ontologically it exists only in the imagination” @ethelmurmur: Can jesters, who dream up such lines, be called simple?

[@thomaslauffenberger5795]

And which of the Germans argued that Socrates was offside?

[@RagingKarma2]

America.

[@quinn6014]

I reckon gervais didn't deserve the win, he never undid the bra!

[@thomaslauffenberger5795]

Trying to make sense of a nonsensical position... WHAT IS YOUR MAJOR MALFUNCTION??!?!? (lol...)

[@FireEyedMaidOfWar]

@ethelmurmur: I suppose this is because now one does believe that the said jesters are plain after they have called Aristotle the sweeper and very much the man in form, when they staged a football match between Greek and German philosophers, even admitting that the Germans have beaten the English team around Hobbes and Locke in the semi-final. So either the Pythons are ignorant fools or they are unsounded yet and full of deep deceit (as Shakespeare would say).

[@countiblis1246]

At least Lady Sarah Pencil Farthing Vivian Steamroller Adams Pie Biscuit Aftershave Gore Stringbottom Smith could run for parliament as one of the Very Silly Party Candidates.