As we reported yesterday, the zany and unconventional British comedy ensemble Monty Python was holding a press conference today with a grand announcement of the surviving members reuniting. In that press conference, it was revealed that the legendary funnymen, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, and Michael Palin are going to do a one-off live performance at London’s O2 arena next July.

Promising, in the inimitable Pythonian fashion, that the live show will be chock full of “a little comedy, a lot of pathos, some music and a tiny bit of ancient sex,” this will be the first time this quartet have performed live for an audience (with the sixth member of the group, the late Graham Chapman) since they did stints that included The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles back in 1980.

A highlight of the press conference included Gilliam letting slip that the reason for the reunion was because they’d be doing it on stage “in front of 15,000 people all listening to every word we say, unlike our home life, which is lonely and sad.” There was certainly lots of clowning prevalent as well, as confusion abounded by them sitting at their right place cards on the long table, or answering questions that had been directed at someone else. They also made light of their “advancing ages,” promising that medical care will be closely available during the show. A reference to Chapman’s death was made in the blackest of black comedic ways, and one in which only Python could get away with, in the working title name of the upcoming O2 show, which is titled “One Down, Five To Go.”

But above all, the group promised that the lucky members who will be in the audience will get to see in essence, a “Python’s Greatest Hits,” which undoubtedly will include classic sketches like “Parrot Sketch,” the confections gone wrong and to hell “Crunchy Frog” and “Argument.” The icing on the dilapidated cake that is Monty Python is the promise of performances of material that have never been performed live before and of course, Gilliam’s surreal and side-splitting animation.

No word if Spam will be served at the concession stands at the 02 Arena.

[Source: ABC News]