History of the World, Part I/YMMV

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


  • Acceptable Targets: The Spanish Inquisition are on the mission to convert the Jews, who are constantly abused and tortured for laughs. (Bonus points for Torquemada who is played by a Jew.)
  • Bowdlerization: AMC censorship ruins two of the film's best jokes.
    • Original joke:

Dole Office Clerk: Occupation?
Comicus: Stand-up philosopher.
Dole Office Clerk: What?
Comicus: Stand-up philosopher. I coalesce the vapors of human experience into a viable and meaningful comprehension.
Dole Office Clerk: Oh, a *bullshit* artist!
Comicus: *Grumble*...
Dole Office Clerk: Did you bullshit last week?
Comicus: No.
Dole Office Clerk: Did you *try* to bullshit last week?
Comicus: Yes!

    • TV version:

Dole Office Clerk: Oh, a *bull-
Comicus: *Grumbles*...
Dole Office Clerk: Did you bull- last week?
Comicus: No.
Dole Office Clerk: Did you *try* to bull- last week?
Comicus: Yes!

    • Original joke:

Leader of Senate: All fellow members of the Roman senate hear me. Shall we continue to build palace after palace for the rich? Or shall we aspire to a more noble purpose and build decent housing for the poor? How does the senate vote?
Entire Senate: FUCK THE POOR!
Leader of Senate: Good.

    • TV version:

Leader of Senate: All fellow members of the Roman senate hear me. Shall we continue to build palace after palace for the rich? Or shall we aspire to a more noble purpose and build decent housing for the poor? How does the senate vote?
Entire Senate: (raise arms and grumble to themselves)
Leader of Senate: Good.

  • Arguably, Bowlderization actually makes one moment funnier:
    • Original version:

Roman Soldier: Moooove that miserable piece of SHIT!

    • TV version:

Roman Soldier: Moooove that miserable piece of SHOOOIIIT!