What is the Python connection to the Beatles?
Eric Idle and Neil Innes created a TV special parodying the Beatles that was financed by Lorne Michaels. Loosely based on the never-released film “The Long and Winding Road” (later reworked into the Beatles Anthology miniseries), it was called “All You Need is Cash” and featured the Rutles, and is easily one of the better Post-Python productions and Neil Innes’ shining moment. This was only part of a long and odd Python/Beatle connection. Consider: GEORGE HARRISON: Met Eric Idle in 1975 while Idle was promoting “Holy Grail”. They became friends. Idle directed some early music videos for Harrison in 1976, and Harrison appeared on Idle’s “Rutland Weekend Television” (in a very funny bit, credited as “Pirate Bob”) and in the TV special “All You Need Is Cash”. When financing fell through for “Life of Brian,” Harrison formed a film company with business partner Denis O’Brien called Handmade Films to see that the film got made. He also produced “Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl,” and
