‘South Park’ Celebrate 50 Years Of Monty Python With Their Own ‘Dead Parrot’ Sketch

The creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, have paid tribute to the legendary British comedy group Monty Python for their 50th anniversary.

Their sketch show Monty Python’s Flying Circus premiered on the BBC on October 5, 1969. They made a profound impact on comedy as we understand it – spawning films, musicals, touring shows, books and albums. And without them, we wouldn’t have Eric Idle’s turn in Casper.

We're officially 50 today, & what a 50 years it's been. No better way to celebrate than making a world record of the largest gathering of people dressed as Gumbys with @TerryGilliam & @TVSanjeev!

What's been your favourite Monty Python moment from the past 50 years? #Python50 pic.twitter.com/H8sXGiihE0

— Monty Python (@montypython) October 5, 2019

Monty Python’s Flying Circus premiered on the BBC, 50 years ago today. The Times review of the "childlike yet sophisticated, surrealist and simple-miinded" series: https://t.co/8f2Bn80FQR pic.twitter.com/oGn2Gvftem

— NYT Archives (@NYTArchives) October 5, 2019

The American cartoon – currently in its 23rd season – sent up the work of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam by reimagining their iconic ‘Dead Parrot’ sketch, using South Park‘s best known running gag: dead Kenny.

It condenses the scene into a neat minute, Cartman trying to return his dead Kenny to Kyle at the Friend Store. There’s nothing like hearing Cartman say, “I wish to complain about the friend I purchased not half an hour ago from this very boutique.”

Of course, there’s a South Park flavour to it – Cartman offers Kenny $10 to wake up, and is liberal with the word “asshole”. The clip finishes with an homage to Terry Gilliam’s animations, which interrupt the sketch, as Cartman tries to take back his own show. “Oh, it’s you! Oi buddy, you stop that right now, this is our show.” But the South Park Gilliam is having too much fun with Cartman catchphrases to let go.

It’s really quite a sweet way to give a nod to TV comedy’s forebears and their absurd style.

Watch the clip below:

And for comparison the 1969 original: