May 05, 2008

DIGITALLY RE-MASTERED EPISODES OF CULT COMEDY CLASSIC, MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS

BBC AMERICA propels cult comedy classic Monty Python’s Flying Circus into the 21st Century, with the U.S. premiere of digitally re-mastered episodes. Monty Python changed the face of comedy and these lovingly adapted episodes update the ‘70s phenomenon for a whole new generation. Monty Python’s Flying Circus marathon premieres Memorial Day - Monday, May 26, 9:00 a.m. ET/6:00 a.m. PT. Two digitallyre-mastered episodes will premiere each week from Friday, May 30, 8:00p.m. ET/PT.

The ‘60s satire boom opened up the way for a fresh, inventive generation of young comedy writer-performers to flourish on television, and to take comedy in a new and exciting direction. Monty Python’s Flying Circus is the sketch show that introduced the world to the now infamous cult British comedy troupe.

It was in 1970 that the Pythons - Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin - introduced the world to the ‘Joy of Spam’, demonstrated the fundamentals of ‘Silly Walks’ and taught us how to always expect the ‘Spanish Inquisition’.

Join the masters of lighthearted mayhem as they explode penguins, explore lifeboat cannibalism and interview a filing cabinet. Meet the plethora of weird and eccentric characters who inhabit the Flying Circus including Mr. Teabag and the Minister of Silly Walks (John Cleese), A Snivelling Little Rat-Faced Git (Terry Jones), Mr. Smoke-Too-Much (Eric Idle) and Cardinal Ximinez of the Spanish Inquisition (Michael Palin).

Since they first landed on TV screens, the Pythons have been widely credited as one of the most influential comedy teams of their generation, thanks to their distinctive brand of satirical humor. With the premiere of re-mastered episodes BBC AMERICA breathes new life into this cult phenomenon, making it more accessible to both new viewers and devoted Python fans alike.