Michael Palin to Appear as God in London's Spamalot!

Michael Palin to play God: from 26th August 2013

Herewith a Missive: Michael Palin edges Eric Idle out of Spamalot to play the role of God

Michael Palin to appear in person at the curtain call of Monday 26th August's performance

Spamalot extends its current booking period at The Playhouse Theatre to 8th February 2014

Monty Python legend, Michael Palin, has decided to ‘fart in the general direction’ of fellow Python legend, Eric Idle, when he appears as God on stage (on screen) in Monty Python’s Spamalot, for one week, from 26th August 2013 at The Playhouse Theatre to raise money for charity. At the same time, the show has now announced that it is extending its current run until 8th February 2014.

Palin steps into the heavenly robes previously worn by Hugh Bonneville (they actually got the chap from Downton Abbey), Barbara Windsor, Bradley Walsh, Simon Callow and Christopher Biggins, who have also  appeared as God in the show.  They in turn have sent Eric Idle off down the pub throughout the warmer months, as he usually plays the role on screen (and will pop up from time to time when the other Gods are off inventing America).

‘The Summer of Spamalot Charity Gods’ has been created to raise-a-lot of shillings for several charities including Headley Court Rehabilitation Centre, The Make A Wish Foundation, the Great Ormond Street Hospital, Scene & Heard, Stage For Age and Keats Community Library which are supported by the actors who are playing God.

Absolutely Hilarious: Monty Python's Spamalot

Michael Palin took time out of his busy schedule (of travelling through a large and extensive forest- or is that a large and expensive forest? - for some TV show or other) to film the part of God, which will be shown during each performance of Spamalot from Monday 26th August until Saturday 31st August. His nominated charity is Action for Stammering Children.

The role of God features in Spamalot when King Arthur and the Knights of The Round Table are given their quest to find The Holy Grail.

Sir Howard Panter (says he’s a real Knight! as if), producer of Spamalot for Ambassador Theatre Group, said; “It is a wonderful opportunity to be able to bring friends of the show in to the role of God in this way, so that we can help such deserving causes while making audiences laugh at the same time.”

Comedian and actor Les Dennis is currently playing King Arthur, while musical theatre legend and TV star Bonnie Langford plays The Lady of The Lake. Other stars who have appeared as King Arthur include Joe Pasquale, Stephen Tompkinson, Jon Culshaw and Marcus Brigstocke. Warwick Davis joins the cast as Patsy from 23rd September through to 19th October 2013.

Lovingly ripped off from the classic film comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Spamalot is a kind-of new musical with a book by Eric Idle and an entirely new score for the new production, (well, almost) created by Eric Idle and John Du Prez.

Spamalot tells the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and features a bevy (or possibly a brace) of beautiful show girls, witch burnings (cancelled due to health and safety) not to mention cows, killer rabbits and French people. The show features fantastic tunes more magical than a Camelot convention, including He Is Not Dead Yet, Knights of the Round Table, Find Your Grail and of course the Nation’s Favourite Comedy Song (Reader’s Digest Poll 2010 - before it went bust), Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.

The new season at The Playhouse, which is directed by Christopher Luscombe, follows Eric Idle’s acclaimed performance of ‘Always Look On The Bright Side of Life’ at the 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony – the world sang along, and Spamalot audiences get the opportunity to do so too! During the run, there have been 18 onstage moustache incidents, three suspected cases of swine flu (French pigs!), one outbreak of nits and 87 pairs of coconuts used.

Ni!

What the press have said about the new West End production:

“Former Python Eric Idle has come up with a simpler, shorter and zingier version, which in Christopher Luscombe’s fresh-as-paint production, recalls Monty Python’s roots in undergraduate review. The lady sitting next to me spent most of the show physically helpless with laugher. BOOK YOURSELF A TICKET TO SPAMALOT - IN THESE DARK DAYS IT WILL HELP YOU LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE” – Charles Spencer, The Daily Telegraph

“Just give way to your inner child and laugh a lot!” – The Times

"4 stars & Critics Choice" – Time Out London

“Gloriously British, Eric Idle’s musical returns for a triumphant run” 4 stars & Critics Choice – Evening Standard

“I honestly haven’t laughed so hard and so many times in years” 5 stars - Daily Star Sunday

“A lovely pudding of British silliness topped off with Eric Idle's hilarious songs!” - Magic 105.4

“Lovingly reformed from the classic film, the new Spamalot had the audience in stitches” – Mail on Sunday 

“Spamalot is really great. If you haven’t seen it, go, GO” - Chris Tarrant, BBC Radio 2

Produced by Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group

Listings Information

Spamalot recently started a new performance schedule, which includes two shows on Fridays at 6pm and 9pm.

New Performance Schedule:
Monday – Thursday at 8.00pm, Friday at 6pm and 9pm, Saturday at 2.30pm and 8.00pm (no Wednesday matinee). Running time: 2 hours – this one doesn’t drag on!

Spamalot has now extended its run until 8th February 2013

THE PLAYHOUSE THEATRE
Northumberland Avenue
London
WC2N 5DE

Tickets: £15 - £64.50.  ON SALE NOW
Box Office: 0844 871 7627 | www.spamalotwestend.co.uk

SPAMALOT CHARITY GODS SCHEDULE

15th July 2013 – Hugh Bonneville
22nd July 2013 – Bradley Walsh
29th July 2013 – Eric Idle
5th August 2013 – Barbara Windsor
12th August 2013 – Simon Callow
19th August 2013 – Christopher Biggins
26th August 2013 – Michael Palin
2nd September 2013 – Larry Lamb

(More weeks to be announced soon)

You Can Watch Terry Gilliam's The Wholly Family Here

Maverick filmmaker and former Monty Python member Terry Gilliam and the Scottish online distributor Distrify asked bloggers like me to take part in a unique experiment to help distribute Gilliam’s latest film via the Internet.

Although this unique auteur is at an age when many men think of golf and slippers, Terry Gilliam is embracing new technologies and forward-thinking methods of distribution to ensure his latest film THE WHOLLY FAMILY, winner of the 2011 European Short Film Award, is seen by his fans worldwide. (Running time approx 17 mins)

No old school cinema, DVD or TV, with the supply roads controlled by faceless bureaucrats, for this wild man of film! With the help of Distrify and bloggers (particularly Python fan blogs like this one) all over the world, he is carrying out a new method of engaging with his fans known as D2F- direct to fan.

For the first time in film history, a fan of Terry Gilliam will be able to buy the film directly from the man himself. Using the Distrify player, Terry is able to simply and effectively sell the film direct to those who want to see it without having to persuade a cinema to book it; a retailer to put it on their shelves or a broadcaster to license and schedule it. Terry can offer the film for sale from his own site. This blog is acting as conduit to Terry himself and has, therefore, become a Gilliam elf working away at the grindstone making like fans aware of what is going on.

Anyone can now simply watch the trailer on this blog and then without leaving the page, they can purchase the THE WHOLLY FAMILY straight away for the price of a cup of tea (cold tea, without milk, or sugar, or tea!) and watch it for 5 times over 30 days on their computer, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or internet-enabled TV.

"I just sit in a comfy chair and get you guys to do all my work,” said Gilliam from his home in Highgate North London. "Of course gone are the days when I could exploit my helpers for a crust of bread and a cup of sour milk. Unfortunately, you will also earn money from the selling of the film, which is another first. It is the way forward for filmmakers like me. Distrify means that more of the money made from exploiting a film goes to the people who made and financed it. This in turn means that the money can be reinvested and more films will be made, thus creating more jobs. Distrify has made a small step for The Wholly Family but a giant leap forward for the film industry.”

Here are some stills from the movie that are supposed to encourage you to watch the movie, obviously:

Distrify's Contact Details:

+44 (0)782 891 8152

andy.green+blog@distrify.com

http://www.distrify.com

http://www.terrygilliamweb.com

Monty Python team set for film reunion with Absolutely Anything

Terry Jones, the Python who oversaw Life of Brian, to direct 'sci-fi farce' in which remaining comics voice a group of aliens

Full Monty … the remaining Pythons in 2009 (l-r): Michael Palin, John Cleese, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam and Eric Idle. Photograph: Peter Foley/EPA

The Monty Python team is set to reunite for the cinema screen for the first time since 1983, according to a report in Variety magazine.

Terry Jones, director of Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life, as well as co-director (with Terry Gilliam) of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, is to helm a "sci-fi farce" called Absolutely Anything. The other Pythons are being lined up to voice the roles of a group of aliens who endow an earthling with the power to do "absolutely anything".

Sporadic attempts at a Python film reunion have been made since their cinema career as a group ended. All surviving Pythons bar Eric Idle participated in the recent A Liar's Autobiography, an adaptation of the book by former Python Graham Chapman, who died in 1989, and his long-term partner, David Sherlock.

But in a recent interview for the Guardian, Terry Gilliam cast doubt on whether a reunion would ever be successfully achieved. "We all have our own careers now … the BBC put us on 10 years ago, and it was an hour of mediocrity … the work wasn't what it should be."

Jones's directorial career hit the buffers after 1996's The Wind in the Willows with Steve Coogan; he was reportedly upset at its treatment by its distributors in the UK and US and decided to concentrate on TV, writing and opera instead.

From: http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/jan/27/monty-python-film-reunion-absolutely-anything

No Naughty Bits is playing at the Hampstead Theatre

In the ABC boardroom: Terry Gilliam (Sam Alexander), Nancy Lewis-Jones (Charity Wakefield), Howard Myers (Joseph May), Lee Franklin (Issy van Randwyck), Robert Osterberg (Clive Rowe) and Michael Palin (Harry Hadden-Paton)

It's on until 15th October. Go and see it - it's wonderful!

Excerpted from Broadway World:

London's Hampstead Theatre just opened NO NAUGHTY BITS by Steve Thompson and directed by Edward Hall. Check out photos from press night below!

Thrill to the excitement of a night emission over Germany when the pilot Jennifer has to choose between his secret love for Louis, the bisexual navigator and Andy, the rear gunner..."
Edward Hall will direct award- winning Steve Thompson's hilarious new play No Naughty Bits; a witty and bold re-imagining based on a real-life event.

As a series of Monty Python airs on American Network television for the first time, it emerges that all the naughty bits have been cut. Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin take on the networks and the American courts, as they try to explain English humour and keep the rude bits in.

Steve Thompson is one of Britain's most acclaimed writers. His work for theatre includes his award-winning debut Damages (Bush), Whipping It Up (Bush and New Ambassadors), Roaring Trade (Paines Plough/Soho) and Song of The City (Soho). His writing credits for television include Sherlock, Doctor Who, Mutual Friends and Whistleblower.

Book Online: www.hampsteadtheatre.com

Read more: http://westend.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Flash-Emma-Thompson-Simon-Jones-et-al-Attend-NO-NAUGTY-BITS-Opening-20110914#ixzz1YDV3PSgR

I've seen Spamalot 8 times now! Aylesbury, 1 April 2011

Spamalot, Aylesbury, 1 April 2011

Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

This brass statue of Ronnie Barker, unveiled in September 2010 by his widow Joy, David Jason and Ronnie Corbett, keeps watch over the theatre's entrance. In the 1940s, Ronnie Barker joined the Manchester Repertory Company, based in Aylesbury.

The ticket office

My Guest, William Souvatzoglou, founder of the Aylesbury firm GT Recycling, surrounded by Spamalot merchandise

The show is about to begin!

Me with King Arthur (Phill Jupitus @jupitusphillip). He was the 6th actor I've seen playing the part of King Arthur. He played the role very well I thought.

Me with the Lady of the Lake (Julie Prenger @musicalmissy) who is the most hyperactive Lady of the Lake I've ever witnessed and I told her so! Wonderful voice!

Me with the very talented Graham MacDuff whom Harry (son) and I met back in 2007 backstage at the Palace Theatre when Spamalot was doing a run there. He recognised me immediately to my astonishment and asked how Harry was doing! In 2007, he was playing the part of Sir Galahad but now he is playing Sir Lancelot. He must be the longest serving member of the Spamalot team!

Washington Post raves over Monty Python’s Camelot Smashalot

Camelot Smashalot

by Rob Crossley

Zattikka game a higher flier than those Angry Birds, says national paper

A Monty Python game based on the same premise as Angry Birds has been touted by The Washington Post as one to watch for 2011.

The Flash-based title, entitled Camelot Smashalot, tasks players with the familiar concept of hurtling projectiles at makeshift castles.

Camelot Smashalot’s mix of a popular gameplay concept with the iconic British TV comedy series has already proved a popular formula. The game has made the Washington Post’s annual In/Out list for 2011.

The title is likely to be one of the numerous minigames to feature in The Ministry of Silly Games – a fully-fledged Monty Python game to be released this year by social games firm Zattikka.

Camelot Smashalot will be released for free across Facebook.

You can play the game for yourself here.

excerpted from: http://www.casualgaming.biz/news/30865/Washington-Post-raves-over-Monty-Pythons-Camelot-Smashalot

Are you the biggest Monty Python fan of your country?

Two Gumbies
(image: Rightee)

By 'biggest', I''m not referring to your physical size. 'biggest' here simply means 'most dedicated, devoted or fanatical' (but let's not get too weird about it).

I'm compiling the definitive list of the biggest Monty Python fans around the world, by country. I want to show (and get to know) that band of people who are totally obsessed with Python and whose lives have basically been taken over by it (like mine!). A global family of Monty Python devotees.

If you think you deserve to be included in the list, drop me a line at almondwhirl@gmail.com with "Biggest Monty Python Fan" as the subject line, telling me why you think you qualify. Include photos, links to videos, sites, blogs, Twitter accounts, Facebook Pages or anything else you want to send over - plus, of course, whichever country you'd like to represent (country of birth or where you live - that's up to you, whatever you feel is right). I'll then add your story to The Biggest Monty Python Fans in the World.

Here's a made up example of the sort of thing I'm after:

"Was in the audience of one of the original TV shows, aged 18, and have been a fan ever since. Got John Cleese's autograph at the premiere of Life of Brian and have the complete collection of all the Python TV shows, movies, books and albums."
.

The Biggest Monty Python Fans in the World

...by country.
If you feel you deserve to be included in this list, click here.

Australia

Afghanistan

Albania

Algeria

American Samoa

Andorra

Angola

Anguilla

Antigua and Barbuda

Argentina

• Paula Alvarez has a large collection of DVDs (including all 45 TV shows) and books, and she runs this Monty Python-focused YouTube channel

Armenia

Aruba

Austria

Azerbaijan

Bahamas

Bahrain

Bangladesh

Barbados

Belarus

Belgium

Belize

Benin

Bermuda

Bhutan

Bolivia

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Botswana

Brazil

British Virgin Islands

Brunei

Bulgaria

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Cambodia

Cameroon
Canada

• Robert Steele: I grew up in the 70z, when Monty Python was in their heyday, so I grew up with these guys! My "sense of humour" definitely leans towards Monty Python! @bobsteele777 http://facebook.com/bob.steele1

Cape Verde

Cayman Islands

Central African Republic

Chad

Chile

China

Christmas Island

Cocos Islands

Colombia

Comoros

Congo

Cook Islands

Costa Rica

Cote d'Ivoire

Croatia

Cuba

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Djibouti

Dominica

Dominican Republic

East Timor

Ecuador

Egypt

El Salvador

Equitorial Guinea

Eritrea

Estonia

Ethiopia

Falkland Islands

Faroe Islands

Fiji

Finland

France

French Guyana

French Polynesia

Gabon

Gambia

Georgia

Germany

Ghana

Gibraltar

Greece

• Ina Alba: I am 17 years old (as at 17/06/10) and I believe I am the biggest Python fan in my country, if not in the world! I live in Greece where Python is relatively unknown because of the dictatorship during the 60s and early 70s. Pythons have changed my life for the best. I live for their films, shows etc almost every moment and I laugh without people knowing the reason! I have every Terry Gilliam film, the whole flying circus, fawlty towers, the human face, medieval lives. The 1948 Show, how to irritate people, do not adjust your set, full python films, 3 lives and mike's documentaries...oh and two books! The Pythons' autobiography by the Pythons and Michael's diaries, volume 1! I had to travel to London so as to buy these because no python books are available here! I am a dedicated fan, celebrating their anniversary each october and I think I am the only Greek on Pythonline.com and palinstravels.com Hmm I said too much so I'll shut up now!

• Annie Terz: I own loads of Python merchandise (posters, books, DVD's etc), and I have seen every single thing Monty Python and the Pythons on their own have made. I haven't met any one of them (as at 24/07/11), not even indirectly but we live and hope! Monty Python urged me to grow up and formed not only my personality but my lifestyle too. It helped me through a few unpleasant years and is still making my world go round! We all find our motivation to live through different forces, and there's always someone we turn to when we are in a dead end. Monty Python is my God; and what if this is offensive, Monty wouldn't really care now would he?

Greenland

Grenada

Guadeloupe

Guam

Guatemala

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Guyana

Haiti

Honduras

Hong Kong

Hungary

Iceland

India

Indonesia

• Annisa Alina Putri: Hi, my name is Annisa Alina Putri, my internet name is Ade Siregar. Well, Ade is my nickname and i like my nickname because it sounds so cool heheh. Anyway i'm a girl who is crazy about Monty Python. Why do i call myself the Biggest Python Fan in my country? (i live in Indonesia, know where that is? no one knows where that is heheh) Because i think i am the only 15-year-old girl in my country who would drool over Michael Palin and not Justin Bieber. And my friends know nothing about Monty Python before i tell em about how awesome and influential Monty Python is to the world. I tell em about how the junk messages were named after their sketch, and their reactions were 'oh..' And i'm always mumbling about Monty Python on twitter, without no one responding it, that's how lonely i am as a fan. My favorite pythons are John or Graham. and Michael, and The Terrys... Did i miss someone? oh yeah, EWIC. heheh. Which Terry is the first one? Maybe Jones, or Gilliam, or Jones, or Gilliam, anyway i love em. Anyway i hope you can post my name on your blog so people know that there is a country named Indonesia, kiss kiss.

Iran

Iraq

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Jamaica

Japan

• Shuji Tohyama: (although he lives in the UK now, just because he's such a dedicated Python fan!)

Jordan

Kazakhstan

Kenya

Kiribati

Kuwait

Kyrgyzstan

Laos

Latvia

Lebanon

Lesotho

Liberia

Libya

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Macau

Macedonia

Madagascar

Malawi

Malaysia

Maldives

Mali

Malta

Marshall Islands

Martinique

Mauritania

Mauritius

Mayotte

Mexico

Micronesia

Moldova

Monaco

Mongolia

Montenegro

Montserrat

Morocco

Mozambique

Myanmar

Namibia

Nauru

Nepal

Netherlands

Netherlands Antilles

New Caledonia

New Zealand

Nicaragua

Niger

Nigeria

Niue

Norfolk Island

North Korea

Northern Mariana Islands

Norway

• My name is Henning, I am 23 years old at the moment (March 2012) and if you want to make contact leave a comment on my blog (the link is further down). I am not only the finest breeder of the Norwegian Blue parrot (which I feed exclusively with Norwegian Jarlsberg, whenever its in stock at my local cheese shop (not often)), but also quite a fan of Monty Python, though with no more personal experience then the series, the movies, the documentaries, and whatever the hell Not the Messiah was. I also guvern a blog with an iron fist, www.DetMagiskeKongeriket.blogg.no (primarily in Norwegian), which sporadically mentions Monty Python. Photo caption: This is a friend and myself outside of the Norwegian Parliament, clowns on the inside, clowns on the outside.

Oman

Pakistan

Palau

Panama

Papua New Guinea

Paraguay

Peru

Philippines

Pitcairn Islands

Poland

Portugal

Puerto Rico

Qatar

Reunion

Romania

Russia

• Kate: (don't know her surname) who lives in St Petersberg

Rwanda

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Lucia

Saint Vincent and Grenadines

Samoa

San Marino

Sao Tome and Principe

Saudi Arabia

Senegal

Serbia and Montenegro

Seychelles

Sierra Leone

Singapore

Slovakia

Slovenia

Solomon Islands

Somalia

South Africa

South Korea

Spain

Sri Lanka

St Helena

St Pierre and Miquelon

Sudan

Suriname

Swaziland

Sweden

• Thina Hederstedt: Can blabber a whole bunch of useless information or recite holy grail from beginning to end - became a python fan at the age of 10 (the first time I saw a grown up man in full frontal, that might be the reason I went gay. haha) then a fan of neil when I was about 14, but with youtube at our fingertips I have become a HUGE-neil-fan. I have been known to break out in hysterical giggling over random things like tennis on the tv, someone saying "burma", someone bragging over how rich he/she is, liberty bell being played on the radio and ANYONE in a kilt. I am also one of those people who makes odd references that no one gets all the time, or just say "lemon curry?" (or in swedish "citron curry?") now and again just to see the looks on people's faces. favourite sketch: penguin on the televison. favourite movie: holy grail. favourite song: at the moment "eric the half a bee" favourite python: depends on when you ask me. but most of the time, I would say graham or eric. who is the 7th?: I have decided there were 9! so neil, carol AND connie count! ME: thina hederstedt twitter: @thina82 pythonline: the_thina youtube: kyrastube msn: estet_kikka@hotmail.com (but say "python" in the subject line)

Switzerland

Syria

Taiwan

Tajikistan

Tanzania

Thailand

Togo

Tokelau

Tonga

Trinidad and Tobago

Tunisia

Turkey

• Hi my name is Selcuk Umur from Turkey .
  i a wared of Pythons first with 'Philosophy Football' .Then i searched of them and watched 'The Holly Grail'' that was the absurd type of humor which i was looking for all my life . Following days i watched 'Life Of Brain' and that was the second shock for me .I think that they were still PERFECT ..then i dedicated myself to inform people who didn't meet Pythons yet.I can say that i am little bit failed because many people who watches the Python films with me they never can laugh because i start to laugh to the scenes a minute before it starts forwhy i watched films so many times plus in my spare time i read the scripts of the films on internet .However i have success on internet to inform people .In september 2007 i opened the first ''MONTY PYTHON'' named and dedicated group on facebook and that group reached 4.879 members.In that group me and other members say to each others 'Nİ''many times and dignify The Pythons all around the world.Unfortunately Facebook Admins Migrated the group to the archive now there is 17 members but i believe that i will reach bigger numbers of people to inform again. In all these things i watch 'The Flying Circus' sketches on youtube and following Michael Palins 'New Europa' documentary on BBC HD,collecting Python members Personal Best DVD s ,and i am waiting for the day that i will avert my eyes from GOD:) at he end in of a life which is full with PYTHON knowledge.
  
  P.S. I still watch the series of Suddenly Susan Tv series to see Eric Idle as Ian Maxtone-Graham :)

Turkmenistan

Turks and Caicos Islands

Tuvalu

Uganda

Ukraine

United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom

• Becky Freeman: I've been a big Monty Python fan for about 2 years now (as at 15/06/10) and have collected nearly 100 Python or Python-related things which have come to the sum of over £500, which is a lot for me as I'm only 16 years old! I love Monty Python so much and Michael Palin is my favourite. I must have seen/heard/read everything he has ever done (almost) and I have written to him too! For my 16th birthday, I had a Python costume party. That's me (above) dressed as a Gumby with the Monty Python Live book I got for my birthday. I think I am a huge Monty Python and I would like to be included within the United Kingdom as that is my home and the birthplace of Python. Thank you very much :)

• Dan from Scotland

• John Wood

• Lynda-Louise

United States

• Laura Vorgias: can quote most of the sketches and movies word for word... not like anyone would want to hear that. @lvorgias

• Holly Perry: My name is Holly Perry, I've loved Monty Python for about 15 years (as at 17/06/10). In the past few years, I've come to love them even more. Not a day goes by where something doesn't happen that reminds me of something Python related. I recently had a silly walk tattooed on my shoulder and I'd love to get more python tattoos. I own every movie, have a couple posters, have the collector's box set on Flying Circus, and if you ask my seven year old son what rule #1 one is on any random occasion, he'll tell you "No Pooftahs". I'm on Facebook as Holly Johnston Perry and I'm a member of Pythonline.com as "Holly" I like to think I'm one of the biggest fans in America, and if I'm not, well, then I'm the biggest fan in Florida.

• TheRealGilliamFan: Hi! Here's my story. I'm American. Too young to have grown up watching Monty Python's Flying Circus when it was broadcast, but I love it now! I own the Monty Python's Flying Circus complete box set and all of the Monty Python films on DVD. The Meaning of Life is my favorite Python film.I'm a member of Pythonline. And while I must admit Terry Gilliam is my favorite Python alumnus… http://therealgilliamfan.blogspot.com, http://www.youtube.com/therealgilliamfan, @realgilliamfan… I do love ALL the guys :)

Virgin Islands

Uruguay

Uzbekistan

Vanuatu

Vatican City

Venezuela

Vietnam

Wallis and Futuna

Yemen

Zambia

Zimbabwe
.

Neil Innes in concert in London

A good time was had by all as you can see:

More info: http://uptone.blogspot.com/2010/06/neil-innes-live-at-half-moon-putney-1.html

Happy Birthday Eric

Eric Idle, born 29 March 1943

"My name is Eric Idle. If you've come to see Billy Idol, you can bugger off now."

Career highlights:

• 1967: Do Not Adjust Your Set
• 1969: Monty Python's Flying Circus
• 1975: Rutland Weekend Television
• 1978: The Rutles
• 1989: Terry Gilliam's The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
• 1990: Nuns on the Run
• 2003: The Greedy Bastard Tour
• 2005: Monty Python's Spamalot
• 2007: Shrek the Third
• 2008: Not the Messiah

Not the Messiah's cinema showing last night

Here's a collection of links about this very special occasion:

• Not the Messiah in the cinema
• This much I know: Eric Idle
• Eric’s Messiah of mirth
• The secrets of my success: Eric Idle
• Eric Idle up for Spamalot movie
• Eric: No controversy for Messiah
• And now for something completely different!
• /Film UK - Britain’s Bigelow, Frankie Boyle Does Superheroes, Reel Music and More

Five Minutes With: Michael Palin

.

Five Minutes With: Michael Palin

Celebrities and news-makers are grilled by Matthew Stadlen in precisely five minutes in a series for the BBC News website.

This week, comedian and broadcaster Michael Palin talks to Matt about his career with Monty Python, his take on modern comedy, favourite countries that he's visited for his travel documentaries and squeezes in a couple of classic Python moments.

Sketches Michael refers to:

• Summarize Proust Competition
• The Knights who say Ni!  
• No one expects the Spanish Inquisition

An interesting word Michael uses:

• Whimsical - definition care of Wordnik.com: adjective - Erratic in behavior or degree of unpredictability

By the way, I would love to hear from anyone who was in the audience for the recording of any of the original 45 Monty Python TV shows.  Please comment below, e-mail me or contact me via Twitter
.

Graham Chapman was born today in 1941

.Happy 69th Birthday Graham!

One of my biggest regrets is that I never met you before you exited, stage left, in 1989. Sending you birthday wishes via this blog post is a shoddy substitute but it's the best I can do under the circumstances. So I wanted to tell you my personal, top 10 favourite Graham Chapman moments (in no particular order because you are equally brilliant in all of them):

1. There's nowt wrong with gala lunches. lad!
   
2. Don't I say anymore? No fear!
3. King Arthur: "A duck"
   
4. UFO moment: You lucky bastard!
   
5. The Reverend Arthur Belling, vicar of St. Looney up the Cream Bun and Jam
6. Do you want peanut butter or sandwich spread for your tea?
7. Fred, I think we've got an eater
8. The executive version of this record
   
9. I don't know what to do when you do that
   
10. Llamas are larger than frogs
    

Thanks for over 40 years of so much laughter Graham. Really miss you but hope you are happy wherever you are.
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Why is the Monty Python story so interesting?

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image credit: pythonline.net

Arguably the most famous comedy 'troupe' of all time, more than 40 years after its first TV broadcast, Monty Python still commands respect and fanaticism over its millions of fans. Discuss...

There are obviously many reasons, so I am going to be pretentious enough to put forward a few ideas of my own:

• They were born at just the right time. Just watch any British Pathé or Movietone News from the 40s and 50s and you will be able to see, straight away, how stiff, pompous and stuffy society was at that time. Perfect fodder to point out and ridicule. For example, the Royal Society for Putting Things on Top of Other Things sketch (episode 18 of Monty Python's Flying Circus - The Complete Boxset [DVD] [1969]),
  

Royal Society for Putting Things on Top of Other Things sketch (4:18-6:40)

• They never realised they were changing the face of British comedy (make that, Global comedy) forever. They were just college students having a laugh and getting some things off their collective chests. They had no idea that they would be called iconoclasts and that what they were doing then, would make it impossible for sketch show writers to ever come up with anything original.

• Their style is a unique and peculiar mix of smutty school boy humour involving a lot of burping and farting and jokes about botties and people's private parts (for example, Are You Embarrassed Easily? on Another Monty Python Record) with highbrow, intellectual thought about about history, art, philosophy and countless other disciplines (for example, the whole movie Monty Python's 'Meaning of Life' [DVD] [1983])
  
  

I could go on but I think that will do for now.

To be continued...

Would love to get your feedback so do comment won't you? And please follow me on Twitter (or add me to one of your Twitter Lists, as you wish). My Twitter username is @python_esque
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