2014-03-31

Wikipedia wrote:

Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus (Monty Python's Flying Circus) consisted of two 45-minute Monty Python German television comedy specials produced by WDR for West German television. The two episodes were first broadcast in January and December 1972 and were shot entirely on film and mostly on location in Bavaria, with the first episode recorded in German and the second recorded in English and then dubbed into German.

While visiting the UK in the early 1970s, German entertainer and TV producer Alfred Biolek caught notice of the Pythons and, excited by their innovative and absurd sketches, he invited them to Germany in 1971 and 1972 to write two special German episodes of their Monty Python's Flying Circus show and to act in them. The result, Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus, was produced by Biolek in co-production with Westdeutscher Rundfunk. Eric Idle has described the conception of the specials as "The Germans came to us and said 'Look, we haven't got a sense of humour, but we understand you do. Can we use yours?'"

The second episode was recorded in English because of issues with the German accents of some of the members; only John Cleese and Michael Palin delivered their lines in German well enough to be easily understood by native speakers. The other Python performers all had very thick accents (particularly Terry Jones), making them difficult to understand. In some cases the episode was broadcast with German subtitles.

The Australian DVD company Rainbow Entertainment also released both episodes on one DVD.

Both episodes have been shown on the Paramount Comedy Channel in the UK.

Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus - Episode 2

ZDF; Monday 18th December 1972; 9:00 pm - 10:00 pm CET

Finally! Here is the famous "lost" German episode, the "Schnapps with Everything" second Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus episode filmed for a German audience. Features completely original Python material including target practice with William Tell, chicken panning, the Philosophers International Football Match as well as Graham Chapman in the now-classic Colin Bomber-Harris self-wrestling match.

Yes, Monty Python is funny in German! Unfortunately this programme is in English.

In English with optional English subtitles *** Staff Approved ***

General

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