Argument Clinic From Monty Python's Flying Circus

Argument Clinic From Monty Python's Flying Circus.SPOILERS: Palin pays to have an argument. The receptionist directs him to Chapman's room, but Chapman's job is simply to shout abuse at Palin. After Chapman realises the mistake, he directs Palin to Cleese's room. Initially, Cleese simply gainsays (def'n: to oppose via contradiction) everything that Palin says. This frustrates Palin, who asserts that "an argument's not the same as contradiction" until he realises that Cleese is engaging him in a sort of meta-argument about what constitutes an argument. He is ultimately unsatisfied with the argument, however, and goes to complain—only to find that the complaints department (staffed by Eric Idle) is where customers go to listen to a professional complainer. Finally, he stumbles into a room where he is struck on the head with a mallet by Terry Jones, who gives being-hit-on-the-head-lessons, which Palin proclaims to be a "stupid concept".

In typical Python fashion, the sketch ends when Palin and Jones are arrested by Inspector Fox (Graham Chapman) for violating the Strange Sketch Act, before the entire show is arrested by Inspector Thompson's Gazelle (Eric Idle) for violating both the Not-in-Front-of-the-Children Act and the Getting-Out-of-Sketches-Without-Using-a-­Proper-Punch-Line Act, viz. "simply ending every bleeding sketch by just having a policeman come in" (this had been a running joke throughout the whole episode). Right on cue, another inspector (Cleese) appears and puts his hand on Thompson's Gazelle's shoulder, who says "It's a fair cop!" Cleese's inspector has an unidentified inspector's arm put on him as well, and the sketch and episode end abruptly.

• Category

  Comedy

[Alex Turko]

John Cleese is the master troll.

[MarcusSLazarus]

"You are hereby charged that you did willfully take part in a strange sketch, that is, a skit, spoof or humorous vignette of an unconventional nature with intent to cause grievous mental confusion to the Great British Public."

God, that line is BRILLIANT!

[moOswe]

This is exactly like youtube debates ^^

[Michelle Smith]

being hit on the head lessons LOL!

[rangerS2H]

this is how people got into pointless arguments before the internet

[jim102010]

Allow me to introduce my self. I'm ........ from the Yard. Lite entertainment division.  Too funny !

[jim102010]

That was an illegal attempt at ending a sketch without a proper punch line.

[coolgamer1677]

I think it would. I think a lot of people would pay for it. People who have strong political/religious views but are afraid to express them in public, people in bad relationships... no end of clients.

[henshinman]

oh would that be therapeutic

[klstehn]

Eric Idle is my idol <3