I was discussing with The-Woman-To-Whom-I-Am-Related-By-Marriage the matter of Christmas presents.
“What do you want for Christmas?” she asked, all wide-eyed and innocent.
“Why do you ask that?” I responded. “I know you’ve already gotten me several things. We promised not to go overboard again this year.”
“I know,” she said. “It’s just that you never seem to want anything in particular and I’d like you to get something unexpected.”
“Unexpected? You mean like the Spanish Inquisition?” I said, referring to one of my favorite Monty Python sketches.
“No,” she said, picking up on the inside joke, “nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition.”
Which leads me to share with you — and especially those of you who are not familiar with this classic bit of buffoonery — a selection of the famous performances. That’s Michael Palin as the lead inquisitor, the one with the math problem:
No. 1
No. 2
Of course, if you want to take the Inquisition more seriously, you can try this version:
No. 4
(Posted 12/08/07)
William M. Dowd is a Capital Region writer and photographer who specializes in food, drink and destinations at Dowd’s Guides.