by Klaus Kinski

A few nights ago I had a dream that my personal favorite Monty Python cast member Michael Palin approached me after I had finished a speaking engagement and asked me to join a reunited Python cast for a world tour. I declined the offer because I was apparently about to head out on tour with Radiohead as their new drummer. Alas, that was only a dream and my, our, only opportunity to see the entire reunited Python cast in the flesh will be Thursday October 15th at the Ziegfeld Theater (full details below). Limited tickets for this Monty Python 40 Anniversary Reunion and presentation of a BAFTA Special Award went on sale and cost $150. If you would like to purchase tickets, shoot an e-mail to Screening@baftaeastcoast.com. If successful, you'll be e-mailed a link to a ticket registration site and you can proceed from there. Good luck!

There will almost certainly be squabbling at the reunion. "They love getting angry and shouting at each other," Ben Timlett, a director and producer of the documentary, said recently. There were (and are) genuine differences among the Pythons, which they sometimes exaggerate for comic effect now, and there have been so many books, articles and previous documentaries that there is no truly reliable account of practically anything associated with the group. Partly for this reason, a number of the Pythons were initially reluctant to take part in the documentary.

"I was very dubious about it," Mr. Cleese said. "I thought we had flogged this horse to death -- way past death, in fact." [NY Times]

On October 18th, a few days after the BAFTA event, you can catch the premiere of the 6-party documentary series Monty Python: Almost The Truth: The Lawyer's Cut on IFC. With rare archival footage, new interviews with all living cast members, wonderful archival interview footage of the late Graham Chapman, as well as insights by comedy 'experts', the series, which runs from October 18th - October 23rd, is as thorough as can be. I've seen the first three episodes so far and am amazed at how truly engaging and informative the documentary is. If you can't see it when it airs on IFC, keep in mind that you can get it on DVD and BluRay on October 27th.

And if that's not enough, in addition to the documentary, showings of Python film classics Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python's Life of Brian, and Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl, IFC will also be showing episodes of Monty Python's Flying Circus. Monty Python's Flying Circus will air @ 11:30 PM ET/PT throughout the Network's Python-A-Thon beginning Sunday, October 18, and Every Monday at 7:30 p.m. and Friday at 11:00 p.m. thereafter

In other somewhat Monty Python related news, there's a show happening at Town Hall from October 6th - October 10th called An Evening Without Monty Python. Directed by original Python cast member Eric Idle, these shows consist of contemporary comedians and actors performing classic Python skits. I've read many positive reviews of the LA shows, but as a fan I don't think I'm alone in being a LITTLE skeptical about this. I feel like it'd be like seeing a cover band. Though, the Australian Pink Floyd is a cover band and they consistently sell out gigantic theaters all over the world. Maybe people don't mind a decent forgery? Anyhow, if you're feeling adventurous tickets are currently on sale. Video below.

Continue reading "Monty Python reunion almost here, on IFC... & at Town Hall?"

by Klaus Kinski

How do you get some of the Tri-State area's biggest nerds to yell "Holy shit!", drop their Xbox 360 controllers and head for the door at record speeds? Tell them that IFC and BAFTA are reuniting the entire MONTY PYTHON troupe for one night only in NYC in celebration of their outstanding contributions to television and film. On October 15th, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and even the late Graham Chapman will be at the Ziegfeld Theater in NYC to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the creation of comedy troupe Monty Python. The reunion event includes a screening of the theatrical version of the new IFC original documentary Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut), a Q&A with the cast, as well as a special BAFTA Award presentation.

Right now ticket info for this event is scarce but word on the street is that SOME tickets will be available at www.ifc.com in mid-September.

The version of Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut) that will be shown at this preposterously awesome event is actually a condensed version of the larger 6-hour Monty Python documentary of the same name that will be shown in 1-hour installments on IFC from October 18 - October 23 at 9:00pm ET. It is part of IFC's Python-a-thon, a week long Monty Python celebration that also includes showings of Python film classics Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python's Life of Brian, and Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl. The episode guide for this 6-part series is below.

Continue reading "Monty Python troupe reuniting in NYC (@ Ziegfeld, on IFC) "