Six-Episode Original Documentary "Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer’s Cut)"
To Premiere on IFC October 4-10, 2009
"Python Week" on IFC Will Also Include Python Film Classics: Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python’s Life of Brian, and Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
New York, NY & London, UK – March 30, 2009 – IFC and Eagle Rock Entertainment sinks its teeth further into comedy, announcing today that the legendary British comedy troupe Monty Python will get in front of the camera one last time in an original documentary series that will retell the entire Python phenomenon start to finish. Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer’s Cut) is scheduled to air exclusively in the U.S. on IFC October 4-10, 2009. Additional cutting room floor footage and teasers will be available on demand on IFC Free and online at www.IFC.com prior to the series premiere. Following IFC’s U.S. television premiere, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release the documentary series worldwide on DVD.
The Monty Python troupe includes John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Graham Chapman. This six-part series will feature interviews with the surviving Python members, along with archive representation for the late Graham Chapman. The Pythons will tell their life story and reveal deeper truths alongside the more tried and tested Python history lessons.
"This is the documentary I always hoped that would be made – something so complete and so faithful to the truth that I don’t need to watch it," said Terry Jones.
This series will study the Pythons up close and in some cases against their contemporaries: rock stars, comedians, actors, politicians, writers, broadcasters, religious groups, Python-haters and potential axe murderers. Every opinion on Monty Python will be brought to life on-screen for the first time with never-before-seen material. Dozens of featured guest interviews will include Jimmy Fallon, Lorne Michaels, Hugh Hefner, Eddie Izzard, Olivia Harrison, Steven Merchant, Dan Aykroyd, Tim Roth, Seth Green, among many others.
"Monty Python: Almost the Truth will be the grand finale of an entire year of original comedy on IFC-from The Whitest Kids U’Know, to Z Rock to Bollywood Hero," said Jennifer Caserta, executive vice president and general manager of IFC. "The Pythons changed the face of comedy, and continue to inspire new generations of comedians. This series will appeal to the entire IFC audience spectrum-our young, tech-savvy, content-hungry viewers to our audience of influencers. This series will capture the Python’s larger social impact and influence on comedy, as well as mainstream Python fascination, all uncensored and uncut."
IFC is making brave strides in the comedy genre, creating and airing unconventional original series that have made comedy a pillar of the network’s brand. IFC is currently airing a third season of sketches from its award-winning debauched sketch comedy troupe The Whitest Kids U’ Know. Last fall IFC premiered its hit semi-scripted original comedy Z Rock about a struggling band’s double life-rock band by night, kids’ band by day-and is gearing up for another season this June. Later this year IFC will be testing its comedy mettle in Mumbai, India with Bollywood Hero starring Chris Kattan, a fish-out-of-water comedy in which Hollywood will meet Bollywood.
"The network’s commitment to comedy, and our audience’s appetite for this genre will give the Python’s a warm welcome back to the small screen," continued Caserta.
This six-hour docu-series will be told in six parts, airing one-hour each night during IFC’s Python Week, scheduled for early October 2009. During Python Week, IFC will also air Python feature films including Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python’s Life of Brian, and Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl.
"This is the first time the Pythons have come together for a project since 1983’s Monty Python’s Meaning of Life," said George Lentz, senior vice president of acquisitions, scheduling and operations for IFC and Sundance Channel. "This documentary series is a final opportunity for them to chronicle the Python phenomenon on record as they approach their 40th anniversary, and leave it at that."
"Monty Python broke new ground 40 years ago and re-shaped comedy forever. Its influence continues to resonate today across all popular culture and we are proud to be working alongside the Monty Python team to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the birth of Monty Python," said Andrew Winter, Supervising Producer of Eagle Rock.
Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer’s Cut) is an Eagle Rock Entertainment production in association with IFC and is produced by UK production company Bill & Ben Productions. IFC’s executive producers include George Lentz, senior vice president of programming acquisitions, scheduling and operations for IFC and Sundance Channel, Harold Gronenthal, senior vice president and general manager of programming acquisitions and international development for Rainbow Media, Jennifer Caserta, executive vice president and general manager of IFC, and Evan Shapiro, president of IFC and Sundance Channel. Eagle Rock Entertainment Executive Producers are Geoff Kempin and Terry Shand, Supervising Producer Andrew Winter.
About Eagle Rock Entertainment
Eagle Rock Entertainment is an international media production and distribution company operating across audio visual entertainment programming. Eagle Rock Entertainment works directly alongside talent to produce the highest quality programming output covering film, general entertainment and musical performance. Eagle Rock Entertainment has offices based in London, New York, Germany & France.
ABOUT IFC
Operating under the mantra "always, uncut," IFC (The Independent Film Channel) recommends and creates genre-bending content that indulges the alternative culture obsessions of our influential audience and makes it available across multiple platforms: on-air, online and On Demand. In pursuit of what’s new, next and relevant, IFC creates original non-traditional comedies like The Whitest Kids U’ Know and Z Rock and irreverent non-fiction such as The IFC Media Project. IFC’s original programming airs alongside a comprehensive independent film library of award-winning titles and cult classics, as well as content inspired by Music, Web, Gaming, Animation, News & Culture and more. IFC broadens the audience for independent culture through its exclusive live coverage of notable film and music events like the Independent Spirit Awards and South by Southwest. The network’s on demand offering, IFC Free, gives audiences the opportunity to watch premieres of all of IFC’s original series before they air on the linear network. IFC Media Lab offers financing, professional development and distribution opportunities for aspiring film makers. IFC is a subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC.