Trying to figure out what's coming out and what you should buy vs. rent vs. back away from slowly is not for the faint of heart. It's okay, though: I'm a professional. Here we go.

A&E returns to the Python well with The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus Collector's Edition, a twenty-one disc monster of a set that contains every episode of Flying Circus and then, in a separate book that comes out of the box shown ("Monty Python's Everything Else"), you get, well, just that--everything else. Monty Python Live is included, as well as each of the individual members' "Personal Best" collections. Now, you might be saying, "Widge, is there anything new in here? I own the 16-Ton Megaset, why should I snag this?" As well you should ask that. The only thing that's new and never before seen are the two docus included on separate discs, "Before the Flying Circus" which attempts to show the roots of the show and then "Monty Python Conquers America," in which their storming of American shores is recounted. Beyond that, that's it. And my understanding is that the episodes have been remastered and restored and whatnot, in preparation for being released on hi-def at some point in the future. If that is accurate, then I see no indication that we're getting any version of those episodes here in lo-def. So while it's a very nice set--I especially like how it's compact, but only a completist who has no intention of upgrading to Blu-Ray at any point in the future would want to snag this. It's $89.99 on Amazon, and while the Personal Best bits are nice for what they are, I would recommend aiming instead for the 16-ton Megaset. It's priced at $57.99 and you can snag it here. I would recommend holding out for the Collector's Edition in Blu-Ray--or at least the remastered episodes. Oh, and one last bit? My favorite perk of the set is the discounted Spamalot tickets, good January 6th through March 29th. But bear in mind, the show closes January 18th. So. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)

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