Monty Python (Comedy troupe)

Jones, who died Jan. 21, co-founded the British comedy troupe in 1969, and went on to direct and co-star in the 1979 Python film Life of Brian. Originally broadcast in 1987.

A new six-hour documentary about Monty Python's Flying Circus commemorates the show's 40th anniversary. Reviewer David Bianculli calls it entertaining and "completely different."

His Beatles-parody mockumentary The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch comes out on DVD next month. He's also written the book for the Monty Python farce Spamalot on Broadway.

Monty Python's Life of Brian — a biblical satire — is being re-released in theatres, 25 years after its first release. We feature archive interviews with four of the players from Monty Python's Flying Circus, starting with Graham Chapman. He was the straight man in the Monty Python troupe, who would come in and break up the skits. A physician by training, he was a writer and activist for gay rights. He died in 1989. (Rebroadcast from July 2, 1987.)

Idle was one of the six original members of Monty Python. He wrote many of the songs from the show, including "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," and he produced a CD, Eric Idle Sings Monty Python, Live in concert. (Big Monkey Records). Idle has also written a number of books, including a comic science-fiction thriller, The Road to Mars: A Post-Modem Novel. (Rebroadcast from Oct. 6, 1999.)

Palin recreated the journey Jules Verne described in Around the World in 80 Days and turned his journey into a successful eight-part BBC television series. He is, of course, also known for his tenure as a member of Monthy Python and his appearances in The Missionary and A Fish Called Wanda. (Rebroadcast from April 17, 1990.)

Post-Python, Cleese is best known for Fawlty Towers and a number of movies, including his 1988 comedy, A Fish Called Wanda. He's also written a book called Families and How to Survive Them with therapist Robyn Skinner, and he makes training films for corporations. (Rebroadcast from Sept. 22, 1990.)

He recreated the journey Jules Verne described in Around the World in 80 Days. Michael Palin turned his journey into a very successful eight-part TV BBC series. He is of course also known for his tenure as a member of Monthy Python's Flying Circus and his appearances in The Missionary and A Fish Called Wanda.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail is being re-released in theatres this summer in anticipation of a new DVD release this Fall. Idle has also written a number of books. His latest is a comic science-fiction thriller, The Road to Mars: A Post-Modem Novel.