Holy Flying Circus

In 1979, the Monty Python comedy team returned to England after filming "Monty Python's Life of Brian" in Tunisia. The film sparked controversy in America among ultra-right religious groups, who criticized its depiction of Christ. In England, a copy of the script was found in a dustbin by the Popular Peoples' Church of St Sophia, who then lobbied the British censor to ban the film. Local councils banned the screening, and the Pythons received death threats. Michael Palin, who was dubbed "the nicest man in Britain," had his effigy burned on his front lawn. The Pythons appeared on a late-night chat show to defend the film against the Bishop of Southwark and Malcolm Muggeridge, and thanks to John Cleese's reasoning, they won over the Popular Peoples' Church.