Monty Python's John Cleese May File Lawsuit Against 'Fawlty Towers' Rip-Off

John Cleese has lodged a few complaints regarding a "tribute" show entitled The Faulty Towers Dining Experience by Imagination Workshop. A two-hour interactive show, Mr. Cleese aired his frustrations on Twitter, slamming the company for copyright infringement and stealing his core concept for monetary gain.

As it's been reported, the Monty Python founder was recently told by a journalist that a show has been running since 1997, in which Cleese's Fawlty Towers was being used as the basis. Finding significant financial success in using the comedian's concept, name, characters and dialogue, Mr. Cleese is leaning towards a lawsuit in response to the show not paying out royalties.

In response to Mr. Cleese's Twitter rage, Imagination Workshop was quoted as saying:

"We are staggered by John Cleese's vitriol towards us and our tribute show. He and his management have known about our show for years. We have made nothing like the sums he claims we have. We are not an unauthorised rip-off show - anyone who knows the law in this area will understand that we do not require authorisation to use the concept of Fawlty Towers. We are not the bad guys he is painting us to be. It is a shame he has chosen to air his frustrations so publicly rather than contacting us directly about this matter."

Perhaps the disagreement is as the company posits, somewhere in the realm of a misunderstanding or maybe it was simply miscommunication. Nonetheless, the comedy legend isn't taking the issue lightly. With a lofty Twitter rant and threatning legal action, Mr. Cleese is determined to seek compensation for having been neglected royalties since the production has been active.

Whatever the situation may turn into, preview the comedic superstar with a classic clip from Monty Python and the Holy Grail below for the time being.