Michael Palin Page 3

Monty Python star Michael Palin has penned a moving post about his friend and colleague Terry Jones’ dementia diagnosis. Jones’ diagnosis was revealed earlier this week, with a spokesperson for the actor and writer saying he was no longer able to give interviews.

Michael Palin has written about his friend Terry Jones’ dementia diagnosis

In a Facebook post Palin shared a recent photo of the pair together and wrote: “Terry J has been my close friend and workmate for over fifty years. The progress of his dementia has been painful to watch and the news announced yesterday that he has a type of aphasia which is gradually depriving him of the ability to speak is about the cruellest thing that could befall someone to whom words, ideas, arguments, jokes and stories were once the stuff of life. Not that Terry is out of circulation."

Continue reading: Michael Palin Writes Moving Post After Terry Jones Reveals Dementia Diagnosis

After nearly twenty years of trying to get it off the ground, director Terry Gilliam claims that he’s finally getting the chance to make his Don Quixote movie – and apparently, the success of the Star Wars movie is to thank for it.

His latest proposal for the project, which has reportedly been unsuccessfully launched on seven separate occasions going back nearly two decades, involves Adam Driver portraying a character based on the Spanish adventurer’s loyal servant Sancho Panza, while Gilliam’s old ‘Monty Python’ colleague Michael Palin is to play Don Quixote himself.

Terry Gilliam at the Cannes Film Festival 2016

Continue reading: Terry Gilliam Confirms 'Don Quixote' Movie Will Finally Be Made This Year - With Adam Driver To Thank

Communications watchdog Ofcom is investigating the Monty Python live show after bad language was broadcast before the watershed. Many of the complaints about the farewell show on 'Gold' concerned offensive language though some fans had aired their dismay that other areas of swearing were cut.

The Monty Python live show has come in for criticism

An Ofcom spokesman said: "After receiving complaints about the broadcast of the most offensive language before the watershed, Ofcom is investigating a live performance of Monty Python on Gold."

Continue reading: They're Very Naughty Boys: Ofcom Probes Monty Python Swearing

Michael Palin, 70, has claimed that much of his pioneering comedy show Monty Python's Flying Circus was "crap". The comedian, writer and broadcaster conceded there had been some "gleaming moments" such as the Dead Parrot and Spanish Inquisition sketches but ultimately admitted that a lot of other material was "not really that good."

Michael Palin Has Called Much of Monty Python "Crap"

"People forgive you the things that don't work. A lot of Python was crap, it really was," he told The Daily Telegraph. "We put stuff in there that was not really that good, but fortunately there were a couple of gleaming things that everyone remembers while they've forgotten the dross."

Continue reading: Michael Palin: "A Lot Of Monty Python Was Crap, It Really Was"

Last November (2013) the famed British comedy group announced that they will be reuniting for a series of stage performances to take place this coming July.

Each performance will be held at London's O2 Arena, and will be the very last chance to see all the surviving members together as they have vowed to go their separate ways once it is over.

Even though they are considered one of Britain's most favourable comedy acts, with a career beginning in the 1960's, one of their key members isn't that fond of their own work.

Continue reading: Michael Palin Calls Monty Python "Crap" As Reunion Shows Loom

The eagerly-awaited Monty Python stage show has been extended from one to five days, scheduled for early July next year. The move to add more live dates to the list came as organisers announced that the first show at London's O2 Arena sold out in 43.5 seconds, according to Sky News, giving modern pop bands a run for their money.

Tickets For The Monty Python One-Off Show Sold Out Almost Instantly.

However, it's easy to see why there was so much clamouring for tickets when they went on sale early this morning; the shows at the O2 will be the first time the comedy unit have performed together since 2009 when they celebrated their 40th anniversary with a special show in New York.

Continue reading: Monty Python Live Tickets Sell Out In Just 43 Seconds, More Shows Announced

They say timing is everything when it comes to comedy, although that logic applies to more then a well-delivered joke, it would seem. The cast of Monty Python, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Eric Idle, and Michael Palin, 70 – otherwise known as Monty Python – are reuniting for a stage show, The Sun reports.

The announcement comes just before Christmas, with tickets no doubt going on sale in time for many dads to see an envelope under the tree come December 25th, but Jones isn’t coy about why he wants to get the gang back together for the show.

"We're getting together and putting on a show - it's real," Jones told the BBC. "I'm quite excited about it. I hope it makes us a lot of money. I hope to be able to pay off my mortgage!"

Continue reading: Monty Python Back Together For Stage Show - Just In Time For Christmas

Mark Forstater - the producer of the 1975 film Monty Python And The Holy Grail has – has triumphed over the Monty Python team in a battle over royalties. According to Forstater, he was entitled to more than £200,000 since a stage show version of the film kicked off in 2005.

The musical is still going strong

Python stars Eric Idle, Michael Palin and Terry Jones all gave evidence in the trial, which surrounded the multi Tony Award-winning musical. For "financial purposes" Forstater argued that he should be treated as "the seventh Python" – as per an agreement in 1975, the seventh Python is entitled to 50% of merchandise revenues and spin-off income. And considering the musical was described as "lovingly ripped off" from the 1975 film Holy Grail, it certainly falls under the latter category.

Continue reading: Mark Forstater Wins In Monty Python Royalty Court Case

Michael Palin will make his first television acting appearance in over two decades when he lines up alongside Ben Chaplin, Emilia Fox and Steve Oram in BBC Two's World War 1 drama The Wiper Times. The drama is based on the true story of a satirical newspaper produced by soldiers in the trenches.

Michael Palin Will Make His First Dramatic Television Role For 22 Years

The project appears in good hands, with Private Eye editor and Have I Got News For You captain Ian Hislop teaming up with his My Dad's The Prime Minister writing partner Nick Newman on the script. Clearly, Palin is the real coup here and it represents the Monty Python star's first television role since Alan Bleasdale's GBH in 1991, in which he played a school headmaster intimidated by a newly-elected city council leader, played by Robert Lindsay. 

Continue reading: Michael Palin To Star In WW1 Drama, His First Television Role In 22 Years

Michael Palin will be honoured at next month's BAFTA awards with the highest honour the guild gives out; the fellowship. The Sunday 12 May ceremony will see Palin receive recognition for his decades-long work on television, that has seen him both amuse and educate us with his numerous projects.

The veteran comedian, actor, writer and presenter, 69, found fame almost immediately after leaving Oxford University, first achieving prominence on The Frost Report and Do Not Adjust Your Set before achieving worldwide fame as one of the stars and writers of Monty Python. Following an illustrious comedy career and as well as venturing into film, Palin began to front a traveloge series that have seen him travel to the North and South Poles, the Sahara Desert, the Himalayas, Eastern Europe and, most recently, Brazil.

Michael Palin thoroughly deserves his award.

Continue reading: Michael Palin To Be Honoured With BAFTA's Highest Honour At May's Ceremony

'The seventh Python' looks like he’s on the way to getting his comeuppance after Monty Python man Michael Palin completely rejected the notion that the producer, Mark Forstater, of the famous 1975 film Monty Python And The Holy Grail was ever in agreement with his co-stars to get any share of future profits relating to it.

Reuters reports that a decidedly terse affair (this is real life guys, they’re not going to burst out into a rendition of ‘Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life’ in court … though they might should they wish to rub it in Forstater’s face if they win), the veteran actor, comic and TV presenter Palin took to the stand and said that no agreement had been in place with Forstater beyond the Python film. The trouble has arisen after Forstater said that he was owed royalties from the profits of the play Spamalot, a spin-off from The Holy Grail that hit Broadway in 2005 and has enjoyed subsequent success on both sides of the Atlantic.

Speaking at the stand - and with two of the other Pythons watching on – Palin commented "It might have been what he was seeking, but it was never going to be accepted by the Pythons. The idea of a seventh Python just doesn't happen ... I don't think there was ever any suggestion this man was going to be a 'seventh Python'." Though admitting he couldn’t remember all the negotiations that took place around the film over 35 years ago – which is fair enough really – he did insist: "He was not the creator of the film. The film had been created by the Python team entirely. Mark was not part of our team." Forstater think he’s owed $400,000 from the play. Good luck with that.

An enigmatic, mysterious man dubbed the 'seventh Python' is suing the stars of Monty Python for the cash they made while performing in the musical, Spamalot, a spin off from Monty Python And The Holy Grail, Sky News reports. 

Mark Forstater - who is much less enigmatic now we know his name - is the man behind the case, which is to be heard over 5 days. He - the producer of the 1975 comedy hit - claims that he is due more money from the musical spin off. The court heard that "for financial purposes" Mr Forstater should be treated as "the seventh Python". Posters for the musical call it "a new musical lovingly ripped off from the motion picture," and due to its fantastic success, the brand has been subject to numerous merchandising opportunities, which has boosted the Python's finances considerable, with Michael Palin describing it as his "pension plan". Mr Forstater is suing all five Pythons but John Cleese and Terry Gilliam, who live abroad are not expected to give evidence. The sixth member of the team, Graham Chapman, died in 1989.

The suit will cite an agreement made back in 1974, which will entitle Forstater to a great deal more money from the recent success of the brand. This enlarged figure is thought to be able to swell to £1m. 

The producer of Monty Python and the Holy Grail – Mark Forstater - is suing the remaining members of Monty Python over royalty rights to the stage show Spamalot. Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin are all due to give evidence at London’s High Court over the next few days. Terry Gilliam and John Cleese will most likely not attend the five-day court case, as they're based overseas. Graham Chapman passed away in 1989.

The popular stage musical Spamalot is described as being “lovingly ripped off” from the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail and currently Forstater receives one fourteenth of a share of 50% of merchandising revenues. His lawyer, Tom Weisselberg, is arguing that his client should be considered as the ‘seventh Python’ and should therefore receive one seventh of the income. The Pythons are accused of “failing to pay Mr Forstater monies he says are owed to him under an agreement reached with PMP back in 1974.”

Mr Forstater was declared bankrupt in June, though last month, his bankruptcy was annulled and according to the BBC, “he entered an independent voluntary arrangement (IVA) to deal with his debts.” Spamalot was written by Eric Idle and premiered on Broadway in 2005. The show has won three Tony awards and took $1 million in its opening week on Broadway.

Monty Python star Michael Palin looks set to be tempted out of retirement with a role starring alongside Hollywood actor Johnny Depp.
The British comedian is reportedly in talks with director Terry Gilliam to star in his much-delayed movie The Man Who Killed Don Quixote.
Production was originally halted on the film in 2000 after lead actor Jean Rochefort fell ill and part of the set was lost in a flood.
However, Gilliam is due to restart production next year (09), with Depp reprising his role.
And the moviemaker has now reportedly turned to Palin to take on Rochefort's character.
A source tells British newspaper the Daily Express, "Terry passionately believes that Michael should get back into films and feels he would make an excellent Don Quixote."
Palin announced earlier this year (Feb08) that he was retiring from the movie business as he has had "his fill of acting".