Monty Python Live at Aspen

Monty Python Live at Aspen
Starring John Cleese
Terry Gilliam
Eric Idle
Terry Jones
Michael Palin
Robert Klein
Country of origin United States
Production
Running time 58 minutes
Production company(s) Python (Monty) Pictures
Release
Original network HBO
Original release 21 March 1998
Chronology
Preceded by Parrot Sketch Not Included - 20 Years of Monty Python
Followed by Python Night - 30 Years of Monty Python

Monty Python Live at Aspen was a reunion show featuring the surviving members of the Monty Python team: John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin, appearing on stage together for the first time since their Hollywood Bowl shows in 1980. Filmed on 7 March 1998 at the Wheeler Opera House in Colorado[1] as part of The US Comedy Arts Festival, it featured the five Pythons in an interview with host Robert Klein. The late Graham Chapman was also allegedly in attendance as his "ashes" were brought out in an urn, only to be knocked over by Terry Gilliam.

The Pythons initially appear with an uninvited Eddie Izzard, who is quickly made to leave the stage. The team and Klein then discuss their work and answer questions from fans on the internet. At the end of the evening they are presented with an American Film Institute Star Award, which is handed to John Cleese, who goes into a mock rant about how they never received any recognition when they were doing Monty Python, before the award is dropped into Chapman's urn. The show ends with Eric Idle leading a singalong of "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life".

The one-off reunion led to plans for a 30th anniversary tour for the following year which, due to disagreements within the group, failed to materialise.[2]

The special was broadcast in the US on HBO on 21 March 1998.[3] In the UK it was released on VHS in 1999 as part of the BBC box set The Best Of Monty Python's Flying Circus. A DVD version of the set was later released in 2004. In the US the show was released on DVD in 2001 by A&E Home Entertainment as part of their Monty Python Live box set.

Cast

Credits

  • John Moffitt, Pat Tourk Lee, Stu Smiley - Executive Producers
  • Nancy Kurshner - Supervising Producer
  • Phil Savenick - Co-producer
  • Paul Miller - Director
  • Peter Crabbe - Writer

References

  1. ↑ Palin, Michael: Travelling to Work - Diaries 1988-98, 2014, p.478, Weidenfeld & Nicolson
  2. ↑ The Pythons Autobiography by The Pythons, 2003, p.345, Orion
  3. ↑ McCall, Douglas (2013-11-12). Monty Python: A Chronology, 1969-2012, 2d ed. McFarland. ISBN 9780786478118.
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