My pal Earl Kress and I went out to the TV Academy last night for a Pythonesque event. Remember that six-hour documentary that ran last year on IFC about the Monty P. boys? It was called Monty Python: Almost The Truth (Amazon link 4 purchase) and they ran the 90-minute abridged version of it for our inspection. This was followed by a panel discussion with the filmmakers (Bill Jones and Ben Timlett) plus Eric Idle and Terry Jones.
Eric and Terry kicked things off with a little speech about how though Python is hailed around the world, the body of work has garnered precious few Emmy Awards…like none. No nominations, either. The presentation was an unabashed effort to try and fill that void, rallying support for the documentary, and I must say they did it up well. There was the screening and the panel followed by loads of free food and drink, plus everyone got a free copy of the 6-hour DVD, and a good time was had by all. They probably got my vote, which is not to say they wouldn't have gotten it without throwing this lovely party. (But don't tell them that. There's nothing better than being bribed to do what you'd have done anyway…)
The two Python members talked about their past work and threw ice water on the suggestion that there might still be new, fresh Monty Python films and appearances. Terry Jones said they've gotten too old. Eric Idle said they're now getting along too well and that the proper climate for butting heads and arguing would not exist. He also repeated a little speech we'd just seen in the film about how those who demand a Python resurrection really don't want that. What they want, he said, is to feel young again…to be transported back to the age they were when new Python material was coming out. (I'm paraphrasing…)
There wasn't a lot of other news. Idle spoke briefly about his new musical endeavor, Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy), which, by the way, comes out on DVD and Blu-ray in a few weeks. Those are Amazon links also. Terry J. spoke of the sheer terror — "The most frightening moment of my life," he called it — of singing live to that large an audience with that large an orchestra backing him. At one point, Idle selected a young lady from the audience, handed her a cup and asked her to stand by the doorway when we exited and collect spare change for the John Cleese Divorce Fund.
The party was filled with funny people. Among the ones I chatted with were Toni Attell, Carl Gottlieb, Phil Proctor and Anne Beatts. There's something about Python that brings together folks of kindred spirits…or at least, kindred senses of humor.
Next week, Earl and I will travel back to the same room for an event that will reunite all of the surviving folks in front of and behind the camera for The Bob Newhart Show. I suspect we'll see many of the same people in attendance. End of report.