newsmakers

newsmakers

Python’s reunion show set for July in London

LONDON

And now for something completely different: a comeback show from the Monty Python gang, reuniting some four decades since they last performed on a British stage.

The veteran comedy group said Thursday it is staging a one-off show at London’s O2 arena in July, which it promised will include “a little comedy, a lot of pathos, some music and a tiny bit of ancient sex.”

Terry Gilliam joked that the five surviving Pythons — Terry Jones, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle and himself — decided to do the show “to try to remind ourselves that we are funny and important and famous.”

“The important thing is we are going to be in front of 15,000 people all listening to every word we say, unlike our home life, which is lonely and sad,” he told The Associated Press.

“That is the only reason we’re doing the show, because we’ve all become so depressed over the years that our wives don’t find us interesting, our children don’t even laugh at us anymore.”

The five delighted reporters with gags and jokes, sitting behind the wrong name cards and answering questions addressed to another member. They also made plenty of references to their advanced age, saying medical attendants will be present during the show, which has the working title “One down, five to go.”

That’s in reference to the sixth member, Graham Chapman, who died of cancer in 1989.

DiCaprio Foundation donates $3M to WWF

NEW YORK

Leonardo DiCaprio wants to help the tiger population of Nepal.

His Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation has awarded $3 million in grants to the World Wildlife Fund to work with the Nepal government on protecting the animals.

In a statement Wednesday, the actor and activist said he’s “hopeful” the money will help “exceed the goal” of doubling the tiger population that exists in Nepal.

The money will help build up anti-poaching patrols and protect and restore areas for them to breed and expand.

The hope is to increase the number of tigers in Nepal by 2022, which is the Chinese Year of the Tiger.

DiCaprio, 39, is a WWF board member.

Associated Press