When All Else Fails: Eddie Izzard

Song Lyric of the Day:

Go get your losing head / Seeing fire, I’m told it never burns / I want it all, I pull you back. I want it all / Cry baby, cry baby, cry. Soaking down your face / Cry baby, cry baby, and you can’t understand how I could just kill a man

Charlotte Sometimes
/ “How I Could Just Kill a Man

I’ve had a headache bordering on a migraine most of the day. So since I don’t have a lot of energy right now, what should I do? Why, share my love of the British transvestite comedian Eddie Izzard.

Best-known these days stateside for his role on the FX series, The Riches, Eddie Izzard instantly became one of my all-time favorite comedians the first time I saw his stand-up special, Dress to Kill. I mean, he’s a transvestite comedian.
Weirdo or executive transvestite? You decide.

Turns out the bit from that special that ended up being my favorite (aside from saying “sweet Jazzie Chrissie” instead of taking you-know-who’s name in vain), was the bit about learning French. Brings back a lot of memories from high school French class, because, honestly, how on earth were we expected to work some of the phrases we learned into everyday conversation — in French? It’s hard enough working references about monkeys in trees and mice under tables into everyday English conversations.

BBC America recently aired not only Dress to Kill, but Glorious, which I hadn’t yet seen. Despite being heavily edited for television, it was still very funny. One of my favorite bits had to do with “bird strikes.” Now I just need to get the DVD and watch it uncensored and uncut.

In looking for clips from both those shows, I came across yet another special I need to watch, Sexie. Turns out Izzard does a great Christopher Walken impression. Not surprising, since he is also an actor, after all; I still think his Professor Bedlam/Barry was the only truly funny — and memorable — thing in the movie My Super Ex-Girlfriend.

As an added bonus, in finding all these clips on YouTube tonight, I found Lego-animated clips set to some of Izzard’s comedy. I liked the James Bond clip the best.

I also liked the Lego clips about the differences between British and American movies, and B-movies and vampires.

Very much wanting to see Eddie Izzard in concert, particularly on the heels of having recently watched Dress to Kill and Glorious, I clicked on his Stripped tour dates link to see if and when he was performing anywhere close to Knoxville. My joy at seeing a Nashville show listed was short-lived, though, as it’s for next Friday — when I will be leading my team at the American Cancer Society Relay for Life (check out some of my pics from the 2007 event). I won’t lie — I briefly considered being a no-show for my fifth Relay (my third as team captain) just to see Izzard perform live. I’m not perfect, you know. Alas, my obligation to fundraising for cancer research beckons.

So now Rich and I will see if we can’t find tickets to see him in Atlanta a few days after that instead. Wish us luck! (And donate to my team‘s Relay for Life fund if you can.)

1 Comment

Filed under humor, youtube

One Response to When All Else Fails: Eddie Izzard

  1. mrsmogul

    Years ago I saw Eddie Izzard on the street. I asked my friend who it was and he told me. I heard of the name but who knew he would be such a big star now!

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