Timeline

• Oct: Eric’s Sortabiography “Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life” is released!

• Eric begins writing his Sortabiography.

• Nov – Dec: Eric Idle and John Cleese continue their “Together Again At Last…For The Very First Time” tour from California through the Southwest, ending in New Orleans Dec. 3rd.
• Oct: Eric Idle and John Cleese continue their “Together Again At Last…For The Very First Time” tour in Canada and the West Coast, U.S.
• Sept 18: Rehearsals begin for “Eric Idle’s The Entire Universe” in London.
• Feb – April: Eric Idle and John Cleese continue their “Together Again At Last…For The Very First Time” tour in Australia & New Zealand.

• Oct 2-31: Eric Idle and John Cleese will kick off their World Tour of Florida as they appear in “Together Again At Last…For The Very First Time”.
• Oct 5: Novel, The Writer’s Cut digitally released.
• Sep 18: What About Dick released on iTunes
• Jul 31 – Aug 2: Appears as The Historian in the smash hit production of Spamalot at The Hollywood Bowl, three nights sold out 18,000 seat venue. Rave reviews call it The Best Show at the Bowl in ten years!
• Cast: Kevin Chamberlin, Merle Dandridge, Warwick Davis, Tom Deckman, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Rick Holmes, Eric Idle, Craig Robinson, Christian Slater. Directed by BT McNicholl and Conducted by Todd Ellison.
• May 31: Spamalot Gala performance for Eric and John Du Prez in Budapest at the Madach Theatre.
• May 29: Eric Idle’s guest appearance as Bob Dylan in Not The Messiah premiere in Budapest. 150 Chorus, 80 piece Symphony Orchestra, attended by the composer John Du Prez.
• Apr 25: Pythons appear at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York for the premiere of “Monty Python — The Meaning of Live”, Directed by Roger Graef and James Rogan, a documentary that offers unprecedented access to the preparations and staging of the Python’s 2014 reunion shows at The O2 in London and examines the personalities, relationships, and circumstances that made the Pythons into a global phenomenon.
• Apr 24: Pythons appear at New York’s Tribeca Film Festival to join the audience in watching the Holy Grail screening on the 40th Anniversary of the film’s release.
• Apr 23: Pythons appear on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, taking over the hosting desk from Jimmy and causing chaos and mayhem to celebrate a special 40th anniversary screening of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
• Apr 18: Monty Python releases a limited edition single on vinyl of Stephen Hawking singing The Galaxy Song.
• Mar: Infinite Monkey Cage in America with Brian Cox.

2014

• Dec 15 & 16: Eric appears in Not the Messiah. At Carnegie Hall. Conducted by Ted Sperling featuring the Collegiate Chorale, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, the New York Metro Pipe Band and Soloists Victoria Clark, Marc Kudisch, Lauren Worsham and William Ferguson.
• Sep 27: Robin Williams memorial. Eric sings, with Lily “Goodnight Robin.”
• Jul 20: The closing night of Monty Python at the O2 was filmed and broadcast live around the world and featured a surprise guest appearance by Mike Meyers.
• Jul 1-5 & Jul 15-20: The Pythons perform Monty Python Live (mostly) at the O2 to sold out crows of 16,000 for each of the 10 nights.
• Jun 29: Alan Yentob’s documentary “Monty Python: And Now For Something Rather Similar” airs on the BBC, documenting the Python’s preparations for their O2 show.
• Jun 13: Eric filming the Galaxy Song gag at Cambridge with Professor Brian Cox and Stephen Hawking.
• Python’s re-release Always Look On The Bright Side, for the World Cup.
• Recording and releasing a new Python single with John Du Prez. The Silly Walk Song.

• Spamalot Paris Opens at the Theatre de Paris
• Nov 13: Dick Day – What About Dick? release day
• Nov 12: Spamalot reopens in London’s West End for the 3rd time at the Playhouse Theatre
• Oct 2013 thru Jun 2014: Writing & Directing Monty Python Live (mostly) O2 show with Composer John Du Prez and Choreographer Arlene Phillips.
• Oct: Pythons Press Conference in London announcing the O2 shows.
• The tickets for O2 go on sale. The show sells out in 34 seconds. They put up 5 more shows which go in half an hour. Pythons asked to consider five more shows at O2, making 10 in all.
• Sept 27: Spamalot Opens at the Theatre de Paris, France. Eric visits PEF the Director, translator and star.
• Sept 20: Spamalot opens, Oslo Norway at the Folketeateret
• Sept: Reading of One Down Five to Go, with all the Pythons in London. Small changes made to the script but everyone is up for the Musical!
• Sept: Eric writes the first draft of the Monty Python reunion show. He decides it should be a Musical! He invites John Du Prez to compose and conduct and Arlene Phillips to Choreograph.
• Aug: Important Python meeting to discuss the Law suit situation. Eric asks Jim Beach for advice. Jim suggests a night at O2 would clear the legal bills. Everyone agrees. Amazement everywhere.
• Jul 23: Spamalot opens in London’s West End at the Harold Pinter theatre
• June 10 & 11: Pirates of Penzance in Central Park. Eric plays The Police Sergeant in a charity production for New York Shakespeare, with Martin Short, Glenn Close and Kevin Klein.
• May 19: Lily, Eric’s daughter, graduates from Whitman College. Eric makes commencement speech. Is awarded a Doctorate in Humanities.

• Aug 12: Eric performs “Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life” live at the London Olympic Games Closing Ceremony with 550 assorted weirdos. Broadcast live around the world to approximately 1 Billion people
• Sept 15: Spamalot opens Stockholm, Sweden at the Oscarsteatern Theatre
• Jul: Spamalot opens in Mexico City
• May: UK tour plays Trieste
• Apr 25-29: What About Dick? runs at the Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles, filmed in front of a live audience for four nights. Cast: Russell Brand, Billy Connolly, Tim Curry, Eric Idle, Eddie Izzard, Jane Leeves, Jim Piddock, Tracey Ullman, Sophie Winkleman.

• Feb: Spamalot opens in Belgium and Holland
• Nov: Spamalot opens in Seoul, South Korea.
• Oct: Spamalot Second US Tour commences.
• Sept: Spamalot opens in Malmo, Sweden.
• Jun: Spamalot UK Tour commences. Scheduled for a year.

• Feb: Spamalot opens in Paris.
• May 29: Spamalot begins touring the UK, opening at the New Wimbledon Theatre.
• Sept: Stage Show – Montalban Theater LA, and Town Hall in NY. An Evening Without Monty Python. Creator, Writer and Director
• Sept: Monty Python Live! Book Editor and Author. USA and UK publication.
• Nov: Spamalot opens in Madrid.

• Oct 3-4: The 6-part Monty Python Documentary “Monty Python: Almost The Truth (Lawyers Cut)” airs on the BBC covering the Python member’s childhoods into current day.
• Oct 15: Monty Python accept the BAFTA Lifetime Achievement Award on the 40th Anniversary of Monty Python in New York.
• Oct 23: Not The Messiah filmed at The Royal Albert Hall, London, with guest stars Michael Palin, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Monty Python.
• Nov: Spamalot opens in Barcelona.

• Rutlemania! The Tribute Concert. Writer and Director at The Montalban Theater, LA and at Blender Theatre NY.
• Nov: Spamalot opens in Melbourne, Australia.
• Nov 12: Eric performs Swan Lake with the English National Ballet into Always Look on the Bright Side of Life for the We Are Most Amused Gala event held at the New Wimbledon Theatre in honour of the 60th birthday of Charles, Prince of Wales, in aid of The Prince’s Trust.
• Dec: Not The Messiah tour of Brisbane, Sydney Opera House, Perth & Auckland.
• What About Dick? Actor, Writer, Director. A new play tries out at The Montalban Theater, Los Angeles with Eddie Izzard, Tracey Ullman, Jane Leeves, and Tim Curry.

• Jun: Not The Messiah, He’s a Very Naughty Boy, a Comic Oratorio for Orchestra and Sheep written with John Du Prez premieres at The first Luminato Festival, Toronto, Canada. Writer and Baritone.
• Spamalot opens at The Wynn Hotel Las Vegas (16 months)

• Mar: Spamalot US Tour starts Boston, runs for 3 years
• Spring: The North American tour of Spamalot kicks off in Boston going on to win three Touring Broadway Awards, including Best New Musical.
• Oct 17: Spamalot opens in London at the famous Palace Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue.
• Spamalot Cast Album Grammy winner. Best Broadway show.

• Feb 14: Spamalot Previews in NYC
• Mar 17: Spamalot Opening night in NYC. Winner Three Tony Awards including Best Musical 2005. Drama Desk Award for Best Lyrics.
• Nov: Spamalot opens to a total sell out for three months in Chicago.

• The Greedy Bastard Diary. Author. Harper Collins. (US)

• The Greedy Bastard Show a rock and roll bus tour of North America with John Du Prez. 3 months, 15,000 miles and a blog.

• Can’t Buy Me Lunch. Rutles 2. Writer, Actor, Director. With Garry Shandling, Tom Hanks, James Taylor, etc.

• Seussical. Creator and writer of the treatment with Lyn Ahrens and Steven Flaherty.

• Eric Idle Exploits Monty Python. North American Tour, Carnegie Hall, Universal Amphitheater LA, Chicago Theater, San Fran, Boston, Vancouver, Toronto, Seattle, Portland, etc.
• South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut. Animated Movie. Voice of Dr. Vosknocker. Director: Trey Parker (Paramount).
• Live at The Getty! Two nights Concert with John Du Prez and friends recorded and released by Restless Records as Eric Idle Sings Monty Python.
• Suddenly Susan Final Season NBC TV Series 4.

• The Road To Mars. A post modem novel. Author. Pantheon (US & UK).
• Ella Enchanted (Miramax) movie with Anne Hathaway.
• A Lifetime Achievement Award and a TV show.

• Monty Python re-union at HBO’s Aspen Comedy Festival.
• Burn Hollywood Burn as Allan Smithee.
• Pirates in 4D, writer and actor with Lesley Nielsen.

• Dudley Do-Right, movie with Brendan Fraser.
• Co-producer of The Holy Grail, the CD Rom Game with 7th Level.
• Creates PythOnline the Official Python website at 7th Level.

• The Quite Remarkable Adventures of The Owl and the Pussycat Children’s Book. Dove Books and Audio. Writer & Performer

• The Wind In The Willows. Movie. Ratty. Director Terry Jones (released in the US as Mister Toad’s Wild Ride.)

• Casper. Movie. Amblin/Universal.
• President Prominent Features. Python Film Company.

• Missing Pieces (Orion). Movie.

• Too Much Sun. Movie with Robert Downey, father and son.
• “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”, Hit single in U.K. Appearance on Top of the Pops (BBC)
• Royal Variety Show. Sings “Always Look On The Bright Side of Life” for the Queen.

• Splitting Heirs. Movie. Actor, Writer and Producer – with Catherine Zeta Jones. Official British Entry for Cannes Film Festival.

• Nuns On The Run (20th Century Fox) Movie with Robbie Coltrane. Dir. Jonathan Lynn.
• Behind The Crease. BBC Radio Four. Musical with John Du Prez. Writer, Actor, Composer, Lyricist.
• Monty Python Sings. Composer, singer and Producer of this best seller.
• The Mikado Houston Grand Opera. As Koko. Director Jonathan Miller.

• Nearly Departed. NBC TV series. Lorimar. Starred as the Ghost.

• Around The World in 80 Days, Actor: Passepartout with Pierce Brosnan NBC TV mini series.

• The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. Movie. Dir. Terry Gilliam.

• The Mikado. Koko in Jonathan Miller’s classic black and white production at The English National Opera. The Coliseum, London.

• European Vacation. (Warner Bros.) Movie with Chevy Chase. Dir. Amy Heckerling.

• The Pied Piper. Faerie Tale Theater. As the eponymous Piper. Director Nicholas Meyer. In Toronto.
• Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life. (Universal) Cannes Jury Prize
• The Tale of the Frog Prince. The Premiere production of Faerie Tale Theater. Starring Robin Williams. Writer/Director. Cable Ace Award.

• Pass The Butler. Play. Author. UK Tour and 5 months in the West End at The Globe Theatre. Director: Jonathan Lynn.

• Yellowbeard. (Orion Pictures) with Peter Cook and Graham Chapman.

• Writing screenplays. The Road to Mars. The Rutland Isles. The Pirates of Penzance.

• Monty Python Live at The Hollywood Bowl. 4 day Concert and Movie
• Saturday Night Live. Host. Musical Guest – Bob Dylan.

• Monty Pythons Scrapbook. Editor and Writer.
• Saturday Night Live. Host. Musical Guest – Kate Bush.

• Monty Python’s Life of Brian (Warner Bros) 3rd Python Movie.
• Saturday Night Live. Host. Musical Guest – Alan Price.

• The Rutles in All You Need is Cash NBC TV Writer, Actor and Director
• Director two films for George Harrison, Crackerbox Palace and True Love for his album 33 1/3rd.
• Saturday Night Live. Host. Musical Guests – Joe Cocker and Stuff.
• The Rutland Dirty Weekend Book Author. Methuen (UK).

• Rutland Weekend Television 2nd Series with Neil Innes.
• Monty Python Live at City Center. NY stage show. 2 weeks.
• Hello Sailor. First Novel. Weidenfeld & Nicholson (UK).
• George Harrison cameo The Pirate Song.

• Rutland Weekend Television. Actor and Writer.
• Monty Python Live at Drury Lane. Stage.

• Monty Python and The Holy Grail. 2nd Python Movie.
• Monty Python’s Flying Circus 4th Series.

• Monty Python’s First Farewell Tour. UK and Canada.

• Monty Python’s Flying Circus. 3rd Series.

• Monty Python’s Flying Circus. 2nd Series. Actor and Writer And Now For Something Completely Different. (Columbia) First Python Movie.

• Do Not Adjust Your Set. 2nd Series. Actor and Writer Monty Python’s Flying Circus. 1st Series. Actor and Writer.

• Do Not Adjust Your Set. 1st Series. Actor and Writer

• Writing for I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again and The Frost Report.
• Appears as Death Chauffeur in Ken Russell’s Isadora and in Jonathan Miller’s Alice in Wonderland.

• Leicester Rep. Oh What A Lovely War. Dir. Richard Eyre.
• In Cabaret with John Cameron at The Blue Angel.

• My Girl Herbert. Annual Footlights Review. Tour & Lyric Hammersmith

• Footlights ’64 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Actor and Director.

• Footlights ’63. Edinburgh Festival Fringe – First TV appearance.

• Pembroke College Cambridge. President 64/5.

• The Royal School, Wolverhampton.

• Mar 29: First appearance. Harton Hospital, South Shields.