Monthly Archives: July 2014

Time Out for Terry!

In the midst of all of the hoopla over Monty Python Live, let us not forget that Terry Gilliam has a new film coming out in the U.S. in August. Here’s the latest trailer for The Zero Theorum:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PuSJX5Lo-o

The First Half of the Last Shows…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1UxbUv4flc&list=PL-Qryc-SVnnsBVTHuQizOlK-E8ElzTARB

Here’s a tantalizingly brief clip from the first week of #montypythonlive

This will excite those who were there, and those who will be there for the second and final week. It will please those who will be seeing the Last Night of Monty Python at their local theatres on July 20. It will undoubtedly irritate those who haven’t gone, aren’t going, and live in remote areas inaccessible to theatres. Those poor sods will simply have to wait for the DVD.

The First Half of the Last Shows…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1UxbUv4flc&list=PL-Qryc-SVnnsBVTHuQizOlK-E8ElzTARB

Here’s a tantalizingly brief clip from the first week of #montypythonlive

Python Cosplay…

The Pythons have a week off, but I’ll be filling your heads with all sorts of shiny Monty Python Live (mostly) objects, so that those who saw the show last week can re-live it, and those who are waiting to see the show (either live, in movie theatres, or, eventually, on DVD) can quiver in anticipation.

This show is starting to look a little bit like Comic Con (or at least the way the media views Comic Con), with dressing up almost compulsory. This video will show you what I mean–and also show you a few British celebs looking forward to a few silly walks…

Cleese on Critics …

Here’s one of the better reviews of Monty Python Live (mostly) from London. There have been a few very good reviews, and a few from critics who didn’t seem to “get” Python at all, and probably were not the best choice to review it. No matter.

It reminds me of something that John Cleese once told me about critics. He said that there are some good, knowledgeable critics who know their subject well, and seem to write very honestly, whether you agree with them or not. There are some rather terrible critics–often with the British tabloids–whose reviews feel as though they are dictated by an editorial mandate, which is often to build someone or something up until they decide it is better press to then tear them down. And, there is a third group, inept in a different way, who are apparently afraid to take a position on what they are supposed to be reviewing, and whose reviews consist primarily of describing the show in much detail, and not much more.

This review from The Express is worth reading–not as much for its insights (how much insight do you need with a live Python show, anyway?), but because it also includes brief clips from the show. A show that, by the way, seems to be critic-proof.

Don’t Hate Me For This Next Post…

… Though I know some of you will be happy to see this, I know that others of you will despise me.

You see, Monty Python has opened up an American online store loaded with all sorts of Monty Python Live merchandise, including T-shirts and such that, not long ago, you could only find at the O2 Arena in London.

I’ve already spent way more than I can afford on all of this, so I thought I’d see if you folks reading this have more willpower than I do. I’m rationalizing it by telling myself that the posters, hats, totes and coffee cups that I buy online is something I won’t have to buy at the show next week and carry back from London. What’s your excuse?

Silly Walking for Your Phone

Quick! If you act fast, you can play the new Ministry of Silly Walks app before John Cleese!

Okay, that wasn’t really fair. You could probably wait for ages and still play the Ministry of Silly Walks app before John Cleese. But why would you want to wait?

You can sample a bit right here…

Monty Python Sings: Bow Down to Your British Remasters…

Just in time for the 25th anniversary of its initial release–and, coincidentally, the Monty Python Live (mostly) reunion show, which is under way this week in London–is the re-release of Monty Python Sings, the new re-mastered version of thew CD with bonus tracks. It’s even available with a bonus disc. Here’s a little taste…

Tweet of the Day

Happy Independence Day! As thousands of Americans flew to England to see ‪#‎montypythonlive‬ this week, the Brits obviously won in the long run

Python: Alive Again…

The boys are off and running (or silly walking, as the case may be), so I thought I’d share a few thoughts.

First of all, the running order of the show seems to be about what I expected: just about everything a Python fan would expect to see is there, including a few favorites (such as Spanish Inquisition) that have never been performed live. There are a requisite number of video clips and musical production numbers which fill the gaps during the time needed for them to change and get ready for the next sketch. I’m not going to list the running order here–it’s easily available in the internet for anyone who wants to see it–but it’s a very good mix.

The critics seem to love it, except, of course, for those that don’t care to see a bunch of 70-year-old Pythons doing 45-year-old sketches. Sorry, but that’s the best you’re going to get. And it’s plenty good enough, according to the fans who were there the first night. A few critics don’t seem to get it at all (and why they would be tapped to review a Python reunion show, I’ll never know), and have continued to get facts wrong, and haven’t cared enough to look up the readily-available names of some of these 45-year-old sketches. No matter–nothing they write is going to prevent a single fan from buying tickets and turning up. There are some pretty good, perceptive critics with some good reviews, including this one and this one.

Eric deserved HUGE credit for putting the script together and directing this massive enterprise. How massive, I’ll know for sure after I’ve seen it, but I have a feeling it’s pretty massive.

And I’m so glad to see that Graham starts and ends the show. I’m sure that he would be bemused by the whole idea of the reunion, but as eager as anyone to participate. The others did him right.

The boys are doing shows five days in a row this week. That would be a lot of men half their age. I think they’re going to need every day off to rest up for the second and final week. Fortunately, they’ll be doing two shows, with a day off before the final three shows. And I think some of them may be regretting that they agreed to meet and greets every night after the shows…

I’m planning to be there for the final three shows. Having seen them at the City Center in NYC in 1976, as well as the Hollywood Bowl in 1980, this has a momentous feel to it (probably because, in the world of modern comedy, it IS pretty momentous).

Stay tuned.