(4:52) Accredited punting coach Carl Hobbs teaches children how to punt footballs… and that’s about it.

The Ballad of G.I. Joe

(3:50) What do the members of G.I. Joe and Cobra do for fun?

Hence, no John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Idle himself nor Graham Chapman (whose still dead) — just a bunch of other actors filling in (quite nicely at that) with a comprehensive production featuring the best silly bits, musical numbers and of course the “Dead Parrot” sketch which feel as fresh and original as the day the dropped on the BBC.

The Los Angeles run (which began last night) runs until October 4th at the Montalban Theatre and then it moves to New York at the Town Hall from October 6th through the 10th.

Jane Leeves introduces the show asking “Who is Monty Python and why hasn’t he gone away?”

After a little under an hour and half, the reason is clear why these comedy genises refuse to fade – Monty Python was simply one of the funniest sketch comedy troupes ever conceived. And even with Leeves, Jeff B. Davis, Alan Tudyk, Rick Holmes and Jim Piddock serving as stand-ins for the real deal, these adept performers manage to catch every nuance, every tic, every crazy word puzzle with precision and still have you clamoring for more.

Idle (who also brought MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL to the stage as SPAMALOT) co-directs this with BT McNicholl and it’s a blast to watch these sketches resuscitated back to life. The free form, non-sequiter approach that benefited the TV series so well is re-assembled in similar fashion stage. Sketches randomly end for no apparent reason and some bleed into the next with no rhyme or reason.

Idle has also updated some of the sketches with a few new pop cultural references (such as Dyson Vacuums and a nod to Neil Patrick Harris), while regional in-jokes regarding Burbank, West Hollywood and screenwriters are tossed in for a few hearty laughs as well.

But more important is the selection of the sketches. In addition to the aforementioned “Dead Parrot” sketch, Idle makes sure he hits all the greatest hits. From “The Ministry of Silly Walks,” “The Spanish Inquisition,” the Spam chant and of course “The Lumberjack Song.” There are also a few obscure bits peppered in as well making the night a full course meal.

While some of the actors do have the occasional physical resemblance to the various Python members – Tudyk as Chapman, Davis as Cleese, Holmes as Palin, and Paddock as both Idle and Jones – the sketches vary who plays what from the original incarnations, allowing the new actors to make each sketch their own.

It’s a hard act to follow, but these actors are phenomenal and the fact that it works so well is a testament to how bloody talented they are. A lot of hard work went into bringing their own energy to such tried and true (and overly familiar sketches).

Of the stand-out moments, Holmes gets to re-enact the “Travel Agent” sketch from the show and goes off on a long involved tangent that never quite stops. Tudyk (a Joss Whedon regular on FIREFLY and DOLLHOUSE) gets to showcase what a truly underrated performer he is. He’s flawless throughout the show and if you didn’t know any better, you’d think he was British. He is given the Cleese part in the Parrot sketch, but takes it into surprisingly darker and more intense territories. It’s a signature moment for him and he delivers it with zeal.

• Full Review
• More Information & Ticket Info

Alan will participate in a Q&A session on stage and will be available for autograph and professional photo opportunities.  This year, Alan will also be available for a special photo session with his on-screen wife Zoe (Gina Torres).

Tickets for the event are on sale now via the Creation Entertainment website.

You can pre-register for the even online until Jan 31st or you can register at the door.

For full details visit the Farpoint Science Fiction Media Event website  at www.farpointcon.com

“Good Vibes” is based around two high school surfers living near the beach in California. Other actors lending their voices to the series include: Josh Gad [Back to You], Adam Brody [The OC], Debi Mazar [Entourage], Olivia Thirlby [New York I Love You], and Jake Busey [Broken].

20th Century Fox TV is producing “Good Vibes” which is written by David Gordon Green [Pineapple Express] and animated by “The Simpsons” artist Brad Ableson.

Dragon*Con 2008 will be held Labor Day weekend (August 29 – September 1, 2008) in Atlanta, GA.

Alan will join fellow Firefly cast mates Nathan Fillion, Jewel Staite and Morena Baccarin. Adam Baldwin had been scheduled to attend but had to cancel due to work commitments. Many other guests will also be attending.

• More information available at www.dragoncon.org

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Alan will be interviewing his long time buddy Nathan Fillion and they discuss Firefly, Serenity & Slither among other things. The show is going to be a lot of fun so be sure to tune in.

ReelzChannel airs on directv channel 238 and dish network 299 or you can watch these segments on the web. The show will air Friday, August 8 at 7pm Eastern/4pm Pacific.

Here’s a couple of teasers for you.

So, if you agree with Alan Tudyk that Science Fiction is NOT dead, and that Kids are eager to read Science Fiction books if they?re actually made available to them, then do yourself a favour and pick up one of these autographed comics from the I Am A Softwire group on Ebay.? These comics are selling at the bargain price of just $16.50!? To buy an autograph from Alan at a convention usually costs $30.

• Better Days #1 autographed by Alan Tudyk
• Read about the cause

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Alan Tudyk – being nakid from talhost on Vimeo.

Alan Tudyk, talks about Filming FourPlay from talhost on Vimeo.

• Fan report: www.talhost.net/gen-con-report