Cleese is going on TV to fight wine fussiness

John Cleese is ready to start wining.

The "Monty Python" star has agreed to host a Food Network special aimed at "debunking the myths and fussiness that make wine intimidating to the average person," according to an announcement Wednesday by the cable channel.

The hourlong program, titled "John Cleese on Wine for the Confused," will be filmed on the actor's Santa Barbara, Calif., ranch, with plans to broadcast it in fall 2004.

"We believe wine can be fun, so we're tremendously excited to be working with John Cleese," said Brooke Johnson, general manager of the Food Network, who described the 64-year-old actor as "a true aficionado."

Cleese is best known for the "Monty Python" comedies, the British sitcom "Fawlty Towers" and films including "A Fish Called Wanda" and the "Harry Potter" movies.