The various Monty Python box sets available have made it easy to be a fan of the greatest sketch comedy troupe of all time. But if you want to impress your friends with some ultra-hip proto-Python humor, check out How to Irritate People. Featuring Michael Palin and Graham Chapman, with John Cleese at the helm, this pre-Python mockumentary about how to piss everyone off is a lost gem. Cleese writes the material here, and without the off-the-wall wackiness of the other Pythons influencing and moderating his style, his legendary rage, bitterness, and misanthropy are almost completely unfettered, only thinly filtered by sketch comedy. Watch for the Car Salesman sketch; if you’re sick and tired of people quoting the Dead Parrot sketch at you, point them in the direction of the superior original version.
Input your search keywords and press Enter.
The Rumpus needs your help. We need to raise $25,000 $3,100 to fill our funding gap for 2024.
Our home base is Asheville, NC and Hurricane Helene severely impacted our ability to host events, launch new initiatives, and caused other significant financial setbacks this fall.
Can you support us at any level by Dec. 31? Every dollar counts and is a sign that our readers collectively value creative labor and independent publishing.
Sign up for the weekly Rumpus
Once a week, we'll send you a roundup of what's new on the magazine, invites to upcoming events, open calls for submissions, and more!