QI | They Say Of The Acropolis Where The Parthenon Is...

[@OneHundredPercentAus]

I love how Bill Bailey just starts randomly chanting "Fight fight fight fight" about halfway through!

[@volo870]

Шайбу, шайбу, шайбу!!!

[@tselengbotlhole750]

OneHundredPercentAus this is precisely why I love the British 🤣🤣

[@davecrupel2817]

That bit had me dying 😂

[@NewhamMatt]

I was wondering if Bill momentarily confused the Acropolis with the Colosseum, but that doesn't sound like the kind of mistake Bill would make.

[@FaeAngst]

@@NewhamMatt I might be incorrect but I believe he was Imitating a football chant

[@saltytrey]

Bloody hell, Stephen. This better be good.

[@lisajade2961]

This made me die hahahahah Alan is the best

[@DaedalusCommunity]

@i like rice cakes He looks JUST LIKE the Italian prime minister. Just, with longer hair.

[@DaedalusCommunity]

@i like rice cakes upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/Giuseppe_Conte_Official.jpg

[@stevevasta]

🤣🤣🤣

[@itsmephil2255]

This is what made Q.I. the best

[@rhysepoos]

This is actually a very good way of teaching people. I don't think I'll ever forget what they say about the acropolis (where the Parthenon is).

[@joemurrell2099]

What do they say? What do they say?

[@AlanCanon2222]

Why? What do they say of the Acropolis where the Parthenon is?

[@Saladassu]

whaaaaat dooooo theeeeeey saaaaaay?

[@Kaine_Gardner]

About the acropolisss

[@charliesmithdrummer]

Where the parthenon iiiiiiiiiissssssss

[@charliew9353]

"I can't breathe... My tummy hurts!" Bless you, Stephen Fry.

[@L1b3rta]

It almost immediately makes you want go into mommy mode, make some hot cocoa for lil Stephen, and wrap him in a blanket.

[@ishashka]

@@L1b3rta Berent's Cocoa?

[@matthewhood7844]

with nature's added store of barbiturates?

[@meridamcgonagall-snape]

Describes me watching this vid! Even if I watch it again and again in a row it always kills me! (Or nearly)

[@JimmySteller]

I thought he says “No, please… my tummy hurts!”

[@jarnomiedema]

I love how, at 1:50, the camera shakes a little.. Everybody was having a good laugh, including the cameraman..

[@FringePrincess]

jarnomiedema Nice catch! I didn't see that.

[@knightad33]

There's one at 1:08 as well.

[@John_Ridley]

Apparently the scene in Young Frankenstein where Kahn shows up at the castle they did dozens of takes because someone always laughed, sometimes the cameraman was laughing so hard the take was unusable.

[@pottedaloe9160]

I think Stephen Fry's weep-laughing throughout his panel bullying him is the thing that really lifts this to the next level :D

[@rosemorris7912]

His laugh is just adorable, and at the end he admits, "Damn, that hurt!"

[@davecrupel2817]

Stephen's such a champ 😂 took this comic abuse like one! 😂❤

[@ProducShuns]

Bill Bailey's laugh at 0:10 is fuckin gold He knows Fry is about to get ripped to shreds

[@ironcladnomad5639]

I love how that's basically what sets the whole thing off. You can see Alan start to duck his head and later sit up, and the audience just rolls right into laughter. Point of no return has been reached :D

[@ileolai]

they hunger for blood. You can see it in their eyes

[@brmbkl]

nah, he was incredulous; "are we seriously just going to sit by...?"

[@SJPace1776]

My parents came back from Greece and the first thing I asked was "What did they say about the Acropolis where the Parthenon is?"

[@samarvora7185]

Well, what _did_ they say of the Acropolis where the Parthenon is?

[@ProfessorYana]

@@samarvora7185 What doooo they saaaaaaaay?

[@Kachompsky]

@@ProfessorYana About the Acropoliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis~

[@ProfessorYana]

@@Kachompsky Where the Parthenon iiiiiiiiiiiis~

[@ryanford5387]

What do they say what do they say?

[@NP-zl7dz]

I come here when I feel sad

[@seallofapproval]

*pats you on head* good puck buddy, hope you feel better soon

[@lonmar0612]

Nikesh Patel I do the exact same thing. Always cheers me up

[@g.moeller308]

I lost my job today but this still makes me laugh

[@Gooberpatrol66]

I come here to watch Stephen Fry feel sad

[@AntiPeach]

Same reason for me

[@lpsp442]

It's so strange seeing Rob Brydon as one of the quieter and more background members of a given panel

[@dean1039]

0:09 You can see the moment when a group of comedians collectively realise this is comedy gold and simply can't be passed up.

[@jen6879]

Yeah Stephen momentarily gets away with it and then Bill sets everyone off again 😂

[@GiftedMonster]

Funny how Stephen says there are no straight line when he can't seem to deliver one either!

[@annother3350]

He's not straight

[@AlanCanon2222]

Yes, I love that resonance too.

[@jcortese3300]

@@dsdelboy86 That woosh was Ann Other's going over yours actually ... O:-)

[@logandarklighter]

@@jcortese3300 "Nothing goes over my head. My reflexes are too fast. I would catch it!" (Who knew that the funniest guy in GOTG was going to be the wrestler who'd never acted before? :D )

[@Gooberpatrol66]

Heh

[@Cthulhuarts95]

I love unplanned moments like that, the way they took it off Stephen, and bill started to sing, then jimmy then finally rob and Alan, I can say this is in my top 5 favorite moments of QI

[@justincronkright5025]

I think you mean Jimmy then Bill... But yeah, Alan was last because he was burying his face in the table laughing to himself!

[@jacquelinedavis6607]

Put Gyles Brandeth in the mix with his knowledge and entertaining factor you have stories to tell of your own.

[@EA.....]

I'm replying to this solely so this you'll receive a comment notification and come back and watch again for a laugh.

[@charlie7mason]

@@EA..... Hopefully, they got the message.

[@EA.....]

@@charlie7mason I'll take my own advice, and use your comment as a reason to rewatch. I mean, it has been 2 months after all. Tyty xD

[@Stbricechannel]

the amount of times I've watched this and it still makes me laugh

[@catwoe5707]

+SamShuffla Brice That amount must be just under 92.3k times.

[@clairee4939]

+SamShuffla Brice Same here!!! :-D

[@damarh]

why are British comedians so naturally funny, they don't even try, they're like bloody kids.

[@annother3350]

It's the weather

[@benjeffrey1389]

We tend to have a pretty decent sense of humour as a nation, so anyone who is then a comedian has to be extra funny to stand out😂

[@LordBaktor]

It's the self deprecation and friendly banter. They can mock whoever and whatever they want without it feeling mean because they routinely mock themselves even harder. At least I believe that plays a part in it.

[@douglasphillips5870]

It's the accent. It sounds authoritative, so when they get silly the accent sounds out of place and it compounds the silliness.

[@goodlord370]

Douglas Phillips well it’s still hilarious to me but the accent isn’t out of place at all for me because I have that accent. The accent probably only funny to you because you don’t have it.... like I find Australian, Irish and especially NewZealand accents hilarious for comedians. But it’s funny because it’s unfamiliar. That’s not to say that they wouldn’t be funny without their accents obviously..... and the comedians on this episode of Qi are all fuck!ng hilarious! Lol

[@StarWarrior91]

The kind of comedy you can’t create in a writers room. Genuine chemistry between everyone. One of the many reasons that when Qi makes me laugh, I absolutely roar 😂

[@Reversefilms]

This is one of the best QI moments ever

[@perishcouncil]

Watch the clip "ver is your license" it's so funny

[@stiimuli]

sero sero sero..... two....

[@NormanJR18]

I will issue you with a license... 5 marks!

[@English_Thespian]

Best episode and moment of any QI ever, I watched it on the bus on my phone and someone thought I had had a mental breakdown because I was crying with laughter.

[@cheekybum1513]

MusketWalrus i know that feeling

[@TheMelbournelad]

I think it’s something about the wind..

[@blueluny]

What about the moment where Stephen tells about Peter Cushing calling Christopher Lee?

[@JackLongbridge]

This and Stephen's prep school tailor are my favorite bits.

[@nocalsteve]

And “Why aren’t there more women on QI?

[@craigmccullough7333]

What about Stephen's plans for a child-buffing workshop?

[@Ward1706]

"We're making Stephen's pants!" _"I can't wear these, he has a mole on his face."_

[@rosemorris7912]

And the one about the giant tortoises

[@Tao_Tology]

"A smalllllll sherrrryyyy?"

[@dannyboy12357]

the perfect cast

[@avinotion]

@Chris Darby do you honestly think he was going to take part of any of this? With SINGING?

[@AlanCanon2222]

Last week I was talking to a complete stranger at a pub in my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, very far from London, and mentioned Qi. My new friend said "I LOVE Qi!" and immediately launched into the Acropolis Where the Parthenon Is song, with me coming in only a quarter second behind.

[@Orpheelover]

This will never get boring. It will never fail to make me laugh until I have tears in my eyes.

[@itsmephil2255]

Just saying it makes me smile

[@pauloldfield8378]

I know right? This is my most favouritist thing of ever, I swear to god no matter how many times I watch this it NEVER gets old.

[@godofcrap42]

I love how 'they say of the acropolis where the parthenon is' is a top result for 'they s' on this site XD

[@puppetsock]

This show makes me think that at any moment within British society, a panto could spontaneously start. And if not a panto, then a musical.

[@AutomaticDuck300]

puppetsock When I was at school, we had a supply teacher and nobody in the classroom was behaving so the teacher got so frustrated that she just shouted out "Calm down, this is not a pantomime!!" and one kid at the back of the class said "Oh yes it is!" and there was much laughter.

[@qwertyTRiG]

LemonZeppelin There was a similar incident when I was in school. The teacher was arguing with a student about whether a particular bit of homework had been set. Much "yes it was" and "no it wasn't" until another student sang out "It's behind you!"

[@ninjabluefyre3815]

LemonZeppelin I wish I lived in Britain just to do this.

[@liamwalsh4008]

That's why whenever I'm out and about in British society (...) and somebody asks me where the impetus for sudden spontaneous pantomime could arise from, I always call back, "It's within you!"

[@explosiveramennoodles]

And just think, if Stephen managed to say the line right the first time, we wouldn't have had this glorious moment. Think about that

[@Noukz37]

Haha, that was exactly what I was thinking of! How amazingly life works, doesn't it? :-)

[@helenaren]

Imagine how many other glorious moments we missed all because someone said their line right

[@MichaelTavares]

I’m thinking about that

[@davecrupel2817]

Sometimes when we make mistakes, the world is better for it!

[@WarrenKSmith]

Best Qi moment ever. Still leaves me in stitches. Every. Single. Time

[@Yonkage]

1:19 the repeated "He's going to say!" is like from monty python and the holy grail.

[@LowryYT]

Ni!

[@DennisMoore664]

@@LowryYT "Oh, what sad times are these when passing ruffians can say Ni at will to old ladies. There is a pestilence upon this land, nothing is sacred. Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress in this period in history." --Roger the Shrubber

[@almattei88]

"He's going to tell! He's going to tell!"

[@BlindDweller]

@@almattei88 Not like that! NOT LIKE THAT!

[@Alcagaur1]

Truly, one of comedy's greatest jazz moments ever recorded. I imagine "They say of the Acropolis where the Parthenon is..." may well be the valedictory/recessional line of Stephen's memorial service.

[@andrerenault]

He may well be buried at the Acropolis, where the Parthenon is, at this rate.

[@ZesPak]

Almost everything in this video is good. Starting with Jimmy joining in the 4th time he starts the statement, Bill picking up on it and changing the chant to "Fight Fight Fight" halfway, Alan saying "bloody hell Stephen, this better be good" XD

[@NormanMatchem]

First time I seen this, I CRIED laughing! I had friggin tears! That was months ago, if not a year, and even now, my jaw hurts now from smiling. EPIC STUFF!

[@parthschannel]

I feel this so hard

[@volodyanarchist]

You mean you managed to watch it and not crack up laughing? You are god!

[@fallensway855]

Haha this is now one of my happy places I can't help but feel better when I hear Steven Fry exclaim "oh my tummy hurts", just instant smiles.

[@TheTurkishLinguist]

I love how they turn it into a musical :D

[@that-guy-pearce]

"You're all rotters and I hate you"

[@ianjones9961]

You beast, you beast, you utter, utter beast!

[@vickiep4217]

Just watching something that mentioned the Acropolis. Had to watch again. Making a ballad out of a question? Genius.

[@stratosphere969]

This is one of my favourite 3 moments on tv, all three british. 1. Lee mack on WILTY about getting invited for Royal wedding 2. This one 3. First Carrot in the box Sean Lock

[@dm3on]

Missing one more; Russell Brand & Noel Fielding big fat quiz wrecking show

[@markwilliams1290]

You should look up 'Private Browsing' on Mock The Week.

[@gaia7240]

I'm proud to say that despite not being British I know those moments too. You have good television over there

[@ironwhy]

What about "I once accidentaly bought a horse" (Kevin Bridges on WILTY)? I always have to laugh so hard again and again, when I replay that...

[@annapashley6143]

I would also like to add any Bob Mortimer story on WILTY.

[@2charliep]

I'll just leave this here, the collective noun for comedians = riot. A riot of comedians.

[@lukerogers151]

The lone "they..." by Stephen will forever make me laugh.

[@eyedeasneverdie3348]

Love these moments on panel shows where there is a slight slip up and everyone just runs with it, always leads to the most memorable parts.

[@adamgill]

This is THE most entertaining British interaction that I will ever hear. And I am happy for that - I can die peacefully.

[@Technodreamer]

The classic, the absolute classic!

[@chrishowland6062]

This has to be one of the funniest QI moments ever. I’ve watched it very many times and I’m always a happier person for doing so. Long live QI

[@donach9]

I feel this should be a Noel Coward song, "They say of the Acropolis where the Parthenon is, No lines are straight, do you know why that is?"

[@rehanmemon3969]

well done

[@joogiewatkins1519]

Yes!

[@JimC]

To me, it has a similar meter to a line of a song in Gershwin's "Of Thee I Sing". Wiki: 'The musical lampoons American politics; the story concerns John P. Wintergreen, who runs for President of the United States on the "love" platform. When he falls in love with the sensible Mary Turner instead of Diana Devereaux, the beautiful pageant winner selected for him, he gets into political hot water." The French ambassador unexpectedly arrives and says jilting Diana is a great offense to France because she's a distant relative of Napoleon! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYq3opJmrLmrqc0 She's the illegitimate daughter (They say of the Acropolis) Of an illegitimate son (Where the Parthenon is) Of an illegitimate nephew (Tha-at there are no) Of Napoleon. (Straight lines)

[@Septimus_ii]

You rhymed 'is' with 'is'...

[@andrewpill4602]

They say of the Acropolis where the Parthenon is; It's really not that obvious, it really is a quiz; The locals, they don't care that much, the Brits get in a fizz: there simply is not one straight line: that's honest, not a swizz!

[@deborahgerber2894]

This my favorite all time QI moment. Thank you all for making me laugh til my sides hurt! Wherever I'm down, I play this clip to get out of my head 🤣😇🥰

[@rockyblacksmith]

Damm. They managed to create a running joke in less than 30 seconds. That's impressive.

[@EduardQualls]

And, to top it off, they don't say that about the Acropolis ("where the Parthenon is"), but about the Parthenon, itself! So much for that classical education, Stephen!

[@jmalmsten]

Just the other day, I was watching Jeopardy. The prompt was about the location of the Parthenon. So, on instinct I blurted out Acropolis. The others watching wondered how I knew that. And all I had in my head was Bill Bailey singing his song.

[@myhappydae]

I post this on some form of social media at least once a year. It's my absolute favorite moment from the show.

[@AdamNair]

The most classic moment of all the classic moments lol

[@jenkinseric2]

I have watched this many times since I first saw it when it was first available in Canada. such a mundane bit of information became one of the best comedy skits ever.

[@beth-eileenwalker8579]

This has to be my fav bit from the program and it is a wonderful memory of Stephen and some of my fav comedians that he had on the program. Love it!

[@heyysimone]

they almost broke stephen haha

[@markharrington8988]

not the first time LOL

[@Megan6945]

I can watch this over and over and it is still just as funny.

[@MSam-li7zr]

Whenever you're a bit down and don't know what to do you can watch this video and it' will cheer you up! Guaranteed!

[@enidkapelsen3694]

One of my all time favourite clips, never gets tired.

[@EirikHasALife]

The purest form of humour

[@Ameliemichelle]

I’m currently reading Mythos by Stephen Fry and when I came to this part, I just had to come watch this again. Always makes me laugh. Stephen Fry is a world treasure.

[@matthewkemmer]

"Bloody hell, Stephen, this better be good" is one of the funniest things ever spoken

[@mitchweiner]

Poor Stephen always got so easily flustered! Part of his charm and what makes him so wonderful to watch!

[@bacul165]

Just came here to say i was there last week. Early morning, beautiful day, such a majestic view... And you all know the soundtrack that was playing in my head

[@tvdan1043]

Today I was feeling sad, stressed out, and anxious all at once. Then I came here to watch this and laugh my face off! Gods I needed that!

[@suficer7827]

Always brings a tear to my eyes when watching this, so hilarious and superb for the comedians.

[@chrisso1029]

So after ten years, I think, by this point, I’ve watched this clip dozens, if not hundreds, of times. I’ve had career changes, relationship breakups, laughter, love, innumerable short holidays, and, most nebulously, a complete physical and mental breakdown after the loss of my eldest daughter right on the cusp of her adulthood. This clip is one of a very, very short list of constants. So I’m leaving this comment as a checkpoint for every time I return in the future. Likely, no one else will see this on an already-ancient video, but if you do, feel free to use it yourself as a checkpoint. 11.8.24

[@JackCliffordWilliams]

It's a cold and miserable Monday morning here in 2019 and I needed a little pick me up. Let's search for my favourite QI moment on KZbin... ahhhhhhh 😀

[@beansonbrains]

i’ve been watching this again and again for weeks and i’m still howling

[@blacktinibis7250]

This might be, genuinely, the funniest video on youtube by volume.

[@victorandresgarciaguardia3747]

When Stephen laughed at 0:53 he probably tore an abdominal muscle. This is so much fun... it never gets old!

[@justjane2070]

2 days after the 2024 US election I came looking for this. I needed it 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@MrAddsen]

The greatest 2 minutes in the history of television

[@joshkolchins7753]

I’ve watched this video dozens of times and never ever get tired of it.

[@timelesstravel1321]

I've never watched this show or this clip and won't be ever again.

[@DeniseF]

@@timelesstravel1321 lol you're fun

[@Sam-zz7gs]

@@timelesstravel1321 Ah yes Mr Fun _killing joy_

[@BogeyCDogRosey]

My favorite QI clip ever

[@h0lly_blue]

*[sad Stephen noises]* _oh, moving on!_

[@tvdan1043]

Sorry, quick question... What do they say about the Acropolis where the Parthenon is?

[@mgmoody42]

I never tire of watching this bit!

[@synthonaplinth5980]

Good heavens, Stephen was laughing so hard that he was practically CRYING.

[@l.peytonadams8570]

This made my entire day simply better in every way.

[@travisinthetrunk]

The best two minutes of QI ever.

[@madperson876]

The "They Say of the Acropolis where the Parthenon is" song should go to number one! 😂

[@kop363]

Teamwork at its best!

[@thomasedgerley7453]

I guarantee now that no one who's watched this will ever forget that there are no straight lines of the acropolis where the Parthenon is. QI is a brilliant show

[@rosemorris7912]

Oh, but there are straight lines! That's the whole setup: "they say"--but now with modern equipment, we know it's not true.

[@SimonMoon5]

I always forget the straight line part but I never forget that the Acropolis is where the Parthenon is.

[@albertobellido95]

I don't know why, but some of my favourite moments of this show involve Bill Bailey singing. The Acropolis moment, the time he started to sing A Night To Remember and everyone joined, the musical The Bathrooms are Coming...

[@CaptChrispy]

That was one of the strongest straight lines ever!

[@eggarts9158]

I think my favourite bit of it is at 1:34 when Jimmy and Bill are singing and you can hear Stephen wailing off camera

[@bodgeworld]

Stephen, you lovely man. Get well soon.

[@Thediamondduck11]

I love how Stephen tries to move on but Jimmy wants to know the answer

[@Bruce-1956]

I've watched this a dozen times and it still brings tears to my eyes!!!

[@dstarfire42]

Out of over 70 episodes, this is easily one of their best moments.

[@robertlange1772]

This is brilliant spontaneous comedy!

[@janneaalto3956]

One of the best moments of TV ever.

[@jessicathompson8365]

This clip never fails to make me laugh til I cry!

[@roninc.3465]

The best ever clip of QI

[@falsealaska]

The perfect mix of people for this. So good!

[@NickOwens]

I've seen this clip countless times and I just noticed Stephen saying "my tummy hurts" at 1:25

[@matthewfield2958]

If you watch closely, you can the main camera ( the one on Stephen) is shaking a little. This was due to the fact that the camera operator (and indeed the whole crew) were doing their utmost to not laugh out loud.

[@xnuntius]

Greatest bid of QI until today

[@FireWalkWithMe91]

Bill's confusion and then laughter at 0:11 is always the moment that breaks me

[@sw00natra]

Greatest moment in QI history

[@arpansarangi]

I love how Rob is banging the table, enjoying the moment like a kid.

[@georgecaplin9075]

Imagine if Stephen had not forgotten what he wanted to say here. The world would never have this gem.

[@Chewbecca101]

I just never tire of this, and it never stops cracking me up.

[@christ616]

This might be my favourite moment of any panel show of all time.

[@topofthecircle]

Why the eff did they not include this segment in the original episode? Comedy gold!