Y'know, what's weird about this is that I always thought Idle was the one who's been trying to milk Python the most. Didn't he develop SpamALot or whatver that show was called, as well as those PC games?
Not that I'm judging him for that, God knows. I just woulda always pegged Cleese as the last guy to come on board for a reunion.
Chapman would be second-to-last.

Christ, has it really been 17 years since Chapman passed? It seem like just a few years ago.

he may develop stuff based on python but the other guys have to sign off on it

Sure, lots of people hated you Eric, but you know what?
You know what kind of people they were?
Normal people.
And the normal people lost.

He also had the Eric Idle Exploits Monty Python tour.

Anyway, it's just as well. Everyone knows it would only be a pale recreation. Now if they would get together and create something totally new (a la the movies Cleese made with Palin) that might be worthwhile.

oh well. there is a great big collection of flying circus and films, the world will survive without a reunion. it wouldn't be right without chapman anyhow

Agreed. I suspect that's part of the reason Idle's against it. I mean, think of it, how shitty has it got to be that you're celebrated for shit you did over half your life ago? At least SpamALot, while derivative, has new elements to it. The Dead Parrot Sketch was a throwaway gag, a goddamned thesaurus joke, designed just to fill out the extra time for a show. Yeah, it's funny, but from their perspective, it's also without much value - they didn't have to do much for it.

So yeah, while I love Python and its derivations and solo works (and oh, how I wish I could get The Wind in the Willows), there is something intrinsically depressing about old men doing the exact same shit they did thirty-plus years back. Let it be new, or let it be.

well said Signon

Yes, that would be quite terrible.

I'm reminded of Chris Farley's joke-interview of Paul McCartney, where every single question begins, "Remember when you were in the Beatles...?"

I'm all for artistic groups where a significant member has died to move on to other things. For instance, 90% of classic rock bands (and I love classic rock). I mean, a Thin Lizzy tour without Phil Lynott, for instance, and it has happened... pretty worthless stuff.
I think the remaining key members can/ should collaborate, but call it something else, do something else, risk something for creativity.

personally i think it was a great help that chapman passed on 17 years ago. no offense intended to the guy but he was the LEAST funny person i've ever watched on television. thats including little britain, bo! selecta, and lee evans.

If they had any inspiration to do something together, I'm sure they'd do it. Trying to force a reunion would be exactly that, forced, like the 2nd through 214th "It's Pat!" sketches.

Being a former Python must be like having told a good joke early in the party, and the rest of the night drunken idiots keep asking you to tell it again.

Lets also not forget to mention the greatest musical of all time (well maybe not quite)

SPamalot!

I can't blame him. A Python-esque movie may not work as well today. Though, like starblood said, maybe a movie w/the Pythons IN it could be funny if the script was solid.

-TM

All together now
"We're knights of the round table!!!!"