Monty Python is a British comedy troupe that was formed in 1969. The group consisted of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin. They gained popularity for their sketch comedy series called Monty Pythons Flying Circus, which aired from 1969 to 1974. The show was known for its innovative stream-of-consciousness approach and Gilliams animation skills, which pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable in style and content. The Pythons had creative control, which allowed them to experiment with form and content, discarding rules of television comedy. They followed their television work by making several films, including Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), Life of Brian (1979), and The Meaning of Life (1983) .

Monty Pythons Flying Circus was unlike anything that had appeared on television before, and in many ways, it was both a symbol and a product of the social upheaval and youth-oriented counterculture of the late 1960s. The shows humor could be simultaneously sarcastic, scatological, and intellectual. Monty Pythons free-form sketches seldom adhered to any particular theme and were alike only in their raucous disregard for convention. The shows influence on television is difficult to overstate, and it is considered one of the most influential comedy shows of all time.

In summary, Monty Python is a British comedy troupe that gained popularity for their sketch comedy series called Monty Pythons Flying Circus, which aired from 1969 to 1974. They were known for their innovative and unconventional approach to comedy, and their influence on television is significant.