Monty Python troupe reunites in N.Y.

NEW YORK, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- The five surviving members of Monty Python reunited in New York to celebrate the premiere of a new documentary about their iconic comedy troupe.

John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam and the late Graham Chapman starred in the sketch comedy series "Monty Python's Flying Circus," as well as the film classics "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," "Monty Python's The Meaning of Life" and "The Life of Brian."

The New York Post said Cleese, Idle, Jones, Palin and Gilliam attended the world premiere of the theatrical version of the documentary "Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut)" at Manhattan's Ziegfield Theater Thursday night. Chapman, who died of cancer in 1989, was represented by a cardboard cutout.

A longer version of "Almost the Truth," which celebrates the group's 40th anniversary, is to air next week over six nights on the IFC Channel.

The comedians also took part in a Q&A session after which they were individually presented with special awards for achievement in film and television from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Thursday night, the Post reported.

"I don't know if you can see this from the back, but if you want a better view it'll be on eBay tomorrow," Cleese quipped, holding his prize aloft.