Editing Monty Python (section)

===After ''Python'' reunions===

[[File:Monty Python O2 Arena.jpg|thumb|Left to right: Palin, Gilliam, Jones, Idle, Cleese (pictured in 2014).]]
Since ''The Meaning of Life'', their last project as a team, the Pythons have often been the subject of reunion rumours.<ref name="ParkerO'Shea2006" /> In 1988 Monty Python won the [[British Academy Film Awards|BAFTA Award]] for Outstanding British Contribution To Cinema, with four of the six Pythons (Jones, Palin, Gilliam and Chapman) collecting the award.<ref>{{cite news |title=Outstanding British Contribution To Cinema in 1988 |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1988/film/outstanding-british-contribution-to-cinema |access-date=25 August 2019 |website=BAFTA.org}}</ref> The final appearance of all six together occurred during the 1989 ''[[Parrot Sketch Not Included – 20 Years of Monty Python]]'' TV special.<ref name="Reunions"/><ref>McCall, Douglas (2013). Monty Python: A Chronology, 1969–2012, 2d ed. McFarland. {{ISBN|9780786478118}}.</ref> The death of Chapman in October 1989 put an end to the speculation of any further reunions. However, there were several occasions after 1989 when the remaining five members gathered together for appearances — albeit not formal reunions. In 1996 Jones, Idle, Cleese, and Palin were featured in a film adaptation of ''The Wind in the Willows'', which was later renamed ''[[Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (film)|Mr. Toad's Wild Ride]]''.<ref name="TJones">Nathan Bevan (5 March 2011). [http://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and-lifestyle/arts-in-wales/2011/03/05/the-life-and-times-of-monty-python-s-terry-jones-91466-28274298/ "The life and times of Monty Python’s Terry Jones"]. ''Western Mail''. Wales Online. Retrieved 19 August 2019</ref> In 1997, Palin and Cleese rolled out a new version of the "[[Dead Parrot sketch]]" for ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''.<ref name="Reunions"/>

Monty Python were the inaugural recipients of the [[Empire Inspiration Award]] in 1997. Palin, Jones and Gilliam received the award on stage in London from [[Elton John]] while Cleese and Idle appeared via satellite from Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite book |last1=McCall |first1=Douglas |title=Monty Python: A Chronology, 1969–2012, 2d ed. |date=2013 |publisher=McFarland |page=181}}</ref> In 1998, during the [[The Comedy Festival|US Comedy Arts Festival]], where the troupe were awarded the AFI Star Award by the [[American Film Institute]], the five remaining members, along with what was purported to be Chapman's ashes, were reunited on stage for the first time in 18 years.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Alleen Pace Nilsen|author2=Don Lee Fred Nilsen|title=Encyclopedia of 20th-century American humor|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0ufWAAAAMAAJ|access-date=29 September 2010|year=2000|publisher=Oryx Press|isbn=978-1-57356-218-8|page=86}}</ref> The occasion was in the form of an interview called ''[[Monty Python Live at Aspen]]'', (hosted by [[Robert Klein]], with an appearance by [[Eddie Izzard]]) in which the team looked back at some of their work and performed a few new sketches. On 9 October 1999, to commemorate 30 years since the first ''Flying Circus'' television broadcast, [[BBC Two|BBC2]] devoted an evening to Python programmes, including a documentary charting the history of the team, interspersed with new sketches by the Monty Python team filmed especially for the event.<ref name="Reunions"/>

The surviving Pythons had agreed in principle to perform a live tour of America in 1999. Several shows were to be linked with Q&A meetings in various cities. Although all had said yes, Palin later changed his mind, much to the annoyance of Idle, who had begun work organising the tour. This led to Idle refusing to take part in the new material shot for the BBC anniversary evening. In 2002, four of the surviving members, bar Cleese, performed "The Lumberjack Song" and "[[Sit on My Face]]" for [[Concert for George|George Harrison's memorial concert]]. The reunion also included regular supporting contributors Neil Innes and Carol Cleveland, with a special appearance from [[Tom Hanks]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/all-star-george-harrison-tribute-concert-gets-vinyl-reissue-w515522|title=All-Star George Harrison Tribute Concert Gets Massive Vinyl Reissue|first=Daniel|last=Kreps|date=17 January 2018|access-date=19 August 2019|magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> In an interview to publicise the DVD release of ''The Meaning of Life'', Cleese said a further reunion was unlikely. "It is absolutely impossible to get even a majority of us together in a room, and I'm not joking," Cleese said. He said that the problem was one of busyness rather than one of bad feelings.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3093564.stm Monty Python reunion 'unlikely'], [[BBC News]], 9 September 2003</ref> A sketch appears on the same DVD spoofing the impossibility of a full reunion, bringing the members "together" in a deliberately unconvincing fashion with modern bluescreen/greenscreen techniques.

Idle responded to queries about a Python reunion by adapting a line used by George Harrison in response to queries about a possible Beatles reunion. When asked about such a possibility in November 1989, Harrison responded: "As far as I'm concerned, there won't be a Beatles reunion as long as [[John Lennon]] remains dead."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/01/arts/no-3-beatle-reunion-george-harrison-says.html|title=No 3-Beatle Reunion, George Harrison Says|work=The New York Times|date=December 1989 |access-date=6 March 2013}}</ref> Idle's version of this was that he expected to see a proper Python reunion, "just as soon as Graham Chapman comes back from the dead", but added, "we're talking to his agent about terms."<ref>{{cite book|first1=Graham|last1=Chapman|first2=John|last2=Cleese|first3=Terry|last3=Gilliam|first4=Eric|last4=Idle|title=The Pythons Autobiography by the Pythons|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Q-XD02f4oQC&pg=PT328|access-date=29 September 2010|date=2005|publisher=Macmillan|isbn=978-0-312-31145-2|page=328}}</ref>

[[File:Shubert Theatre NYC from Shubert Alley.jpg|thumb|''[[Spamalot]]'' at the [[Shubert Theatre (New York City)|Shubert Theatre]], New York in 2006. Winning the 2005 [[Tony Award for Best Musical]], Idle's musical opened in London's [[West End theatre|West End]] a year later. The original Broadway cast included [[Tim Curry]] as King Arthur, [[Hank Azaria]] as Sir Lancelot, and Cleese as the (recorded) voice of God.]]
''[[The Pythons Autobiography by The Pythons]]'' (2003), compiled from interviews with the surviving members, reveals that a series of disputes in 1998, over a possible sequel to ''Holy Grail'' that had been conceived by Idle, may have resulted in the group's split. Cleese's feeling was that ''The Meaning of Life'' had been personally difficult and ultimately mediocre, and did not wish to be involved in another Python project for a variety of reasons (not least amongst them was the absence of Chapman, whose straight man-like central roles in the ''Grail'' and ''Brian'' films had been considered to be an essential anchoring performance). The book also reveals that Cleese saw Chapman as his "greatest sounding board. If Graham thought something was funny, then it almost certainly was funny. You cannot believe how invaluable that is.'<ref>{{cite news |title=The full Monty |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2003/oct/05/tvandradio |access-date=21 August 2019 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> Ultimately it was Cleese who ended the possibility of another Python movie.<ref>{{cite news |title=And now for something completely difficult ... |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2006/sep/13/theatre |access-date=21 August 2019 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>

A full, if nonperforming, reunion of the surviving Python members appeared at the March 2005 premiere of Idle's musical ''[[Spamalot]]''. Based on ''Monty Python and the Holy Grail'', it also spoofs popular musicals, including those of [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Monty Python lose Spamalot court battle |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23195478 |access-date=22 November 2023 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> It opened in Chicago and has since played in New York on Broadway, London, and numerous other major cities across the world. In 2004, ''Spamalot'' was nominated for 14 [[Tony Awards]] and won three: Best Musical, Best Direction of a Musical for [[Mike Nichols]], and Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for [[Sara Ramirez]], who played the [[Lady of the Lake]], a character specially added for the musical.  The original Broadway cast included [[Tim Curry]] as King Arthur, [[Michael McGrath (actor)|Michael McGrath]] as Patsy, [[David Hyde Pierce]] as Sir Robin, [[Hank Azaria]] as [[Sir Lancelot]] and other roles (e.g., the French Taunter, [[Knights who say Ni|Knight of Ni]], and Tim the Enchanter), [[Christopher Sieber]] as [[Sir Galahad]] and other roles (e.g., the Black Knight and Prince Herbert's Father).<ref>{{cite news |title=Look Back at Tim Curry, Hank Azaria, Sara Ramirez, and More in Spamalot on Broadway |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/look-back-at-tim-curry-hank-azaria-sara-ramirez-and-more-in-spamalot-on-broadway |access-date=20 August 2019 |work=Playbill}}</ref> Cleese played the voice of God, a role played in the film by Chapman.<ref>{{cite news |title=Monty Python's John Cleese and Eric Idle Have a Message for You |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/monty-pythons-john-cleese-and-eric-idle-have-a-message-for-you |access-date=20 August 2019 |work=Playbill}}</ref>

Owing in part to the success of ''Spamalot'', [[PBS]] announced on 13 July 2005 that it would begin to re-air the entire run of ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'' and new one-hour specials focusing on each member of the group, called ''[[Monty Python's Personal Best]]''.<ref>[https://www.pbs.org/aboutpbs/news/20050713_montypython.html Exclusive new ''Monty Python'' specials slated to premiere in 2006], ''[[PBS]]'', 13 July 2005</ref> Each episode was written and produced by the individual being honoured, with the five remaining Pythons collaborating on Chapman's programme, the only one of the editions to take on a serious tone with its new material.<ref>{{cite news |title=Monty Python's Personal Best |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/ddmcvg/monty-pythons-personal-best-episode-guide/ |access-date=23 August 2019 |website=Radio Times |archive-date=24 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824055522/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/ddmcvg/monty-pythons-personal-best-episode-guide/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:Neil Innes by Luke Ford adjust.jpg|alt=Innes in a hat|thumb|upright|Long-time collaborator [[Neil Innes]] at the premiere of ''The Seventh Python'' in 2009]]
In 2009, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the first episode of ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'', a six-part documentary entitled ''[[Monty Python: Almost the Truth (Lawyers Cut)]]'' was released, featuring interviews with the surviving members of the team, as well as archive interviews with Graham Chapman and numerous excerpts from the television series and films.<ref>[http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f41900824ff54750b45be1f4972b1f5c "Monty Python – Almost the Truth: the BBC Lawyers' Cut"]. BBC. Retrieved 22 August 2019</ref> Each episode opens with a different re-recording of the [[Brian Song|theme song from ''Life of Brian'']], with [[Iron Maiden]] vocalist and Python fan [[Bruce Dickinson]] performing the sixth.<ref>{{cite news |title=Monty Python reunite to tell life stories |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/5062514/Monty-Python-reunite-to-tell-life-stories.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/5062514/Monty-Python-reunite-to-tell-life-stories.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=22 August 2019 |work=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Also in commemoration of the 40th anniversary, Idle, Palin, Jones, and Gilliam appeared in a production of ''[[Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy)|Not the Messiah]]'' at the [[Royal Albert Hall]]. The European premiere was held on 23 October 2009.<ref>{{cite news|agency=Press Association|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/monty-python-stars-to-stage-reunion-1733638.html|title=Monty Python stars to stage reunion|work=The Independent|location=UK|date=11 July 2009|access-date=19 August 2009}}</ref> An official 40th anniversary Monty Python reunion event took place in New York City on 15 October 2009, where the team received a Special Award from the [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bafta.org/access-all-areas/videos/monty-python-special-award,877,BA.html|title=Pythons receive BAFTA Special Award|publisher=Bafta.org|date=18 October 2009|access-date=18 October 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091108103158/http://www.bafta.org/access-all-areas/videos/monty-python-special-award%2C877%2CBA.html|archive-date=8 November 2009}}</ref>

In June 2011, it was announced that ''[[A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman]]'', an animated 3D movie based on the [[A Liar's Autobiography|memoir of Graham Chapman]], was in the making. The memoir ''A Liar's Autobiography'' was published in 1980 and details Chapman's journey through medical school, alcoholism, acknowledgement of his gay identity, and the tolls of surreal comedy. Asked what was true in a deliberately fanciful account by Chapman of his life, Terry Jones joked: "Nothing&nbsp;... it's all a downright, absolute, blackguardly lie." The film uses Chapman's own voice—from a reading of his autobiography shortly before he died of cancer—and entertainment channel [[Epix (TV channel)|Epix]] announced the film's release in early 2012 in both 2D and 3D formats. Produced and directed by London-based Bill Jones, Ben Timlett, and Jeff Simpson, the new film has 15 animation companies working on chapters that will range from three to 12 minutes in length, each in a different style. John Cleese recorded dialogue which was matched with Chapman's voice. Michael Palin voiced Chapman's father and Terry Jones voiced his mother. Terry Gilliam voiced Graham's psychiatrist.  They all play various other roles. Among the original Python group, only Eric Idle was not involved.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/8602765/Monty-Python-back-for-3D-animated-film.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/8602765/Monty-Python-back-for-3D-animated-film.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|location=London|work=The Daily Telegraph|title=Monty Python back for 3D animated film|date=28 June 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On 26 January 2012, Terry Jones announced that the five surviving Pythons would reunite in a [[science fiction|sci-fi]] comedy film called ''[[Absolutely Anything]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/pic-reunites-monty-python-members-1118049265/|title=Pic reunites Monty Python members|first=Dave|last=McNary|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=26 January 2012}}</ref> The film would combine [[computer-generated imagery]] and live action. It would be directed by Jones based on a script by Jones and [[Gavin Scott]], and in addition to the Python members it would also star [[Simon Pegg]], [[Kate Beckinsale]] and [[Robin Williams]] (in his final film role).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://downriversundaytimes.com/2014/08/24/celebrity-extra-265|title=Celebrity Extra|last=Elavsky|first=Cindy|publisher=[[King Features]]|date=24 August 2014|work = Downriver Sunday Times}}</ref> The plot revolves around a teacher who discovers aliens (voiced by the Pythons) have given him magical powers to do "absolutely anything".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/monty-python-members-to-star-in-new-film-absolutely-anything/|title=Monty Python members to star in new film 'Absolutely Anything'|work=CBS News|date=6 February 2013}}</ref> Eric Idle responded via Twitter that he would not, in fact, be participating,<ref>{{cite tweet|number=299587521350864896|author=Idle, Eric|user=EricIdle|date=7 February 2013|title=I'm not "Not in a Python film". I'm not in a Terry Jones film. If you can't see the difference then you should probably lie down for a bit}}</ref> although he was later added to the cast.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gfmfilms.co.uk/news/eric-idle/|title=Eric Idle|website=GFM Films|access-date=20 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819084020/http://www.gfmfilms.co.uk/news/eric-idle/|archive-date=19 August 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>