Eddie Izzard
Considering my former infatuation with the Naked Chef, which quickly disolved after the launch of his other, more serious cooking show, I have no idea what the average English bloke thinks about comedian / actor Eddie Izzard. According to the media he's quite popular in Britain, and has been for quite some time, but most Americans don't have a clue who he is.
The only reason why I know his name and schtick is because one night I accidentally stumbled across his Dress to Kill stand-up act on HBO (which was just released on DVD). Since then I've watched the same act at least five times; finding something new with each viewing.
Izzard's humor is light, smart, and soaked in world history, religion, language, and cross-national cultural differences. He's a cerebral comic (the best kind, imo), which you wouldn't guess from his transvestite get-up. And considering my early schooling in French, his segment about the uselessness of most phrases when applied to real world scenarios ("a monkey, with a pipe, under a table") is priceless. Granted, you have to see it to understand, but do keep an eye out for a re-run (or Tivo it, you lucky bastards - one of these days I'll persuade my wife we need one).
Comments
Amongst my age group (18-22yr old students) Eddie Izzard is probably the most popular stand up comedian in the UK - and with good reason :)
Posted by: Simon Willison at December 11, 2002 12:01 PM
Indeed Izard is highly appreciated here in the UK as an off-the-wall, oddball comedian with a penchant for dressing as a woman. He says he's a lesbian in a mans body.
Another DVD to check out is "Glorious" - will have you in stitches from start to finish.
He also did the voices for little known plastercine animation show "Rex the runt".
Posted by: Guy at December 11, 2002 12:04 PM
"Hello Houston, er, Swindon.....I'm nearing the top of the ladder now..."
He's the comedian who put "ROF" into "ROFL"!
Izzard turns up in the oddest films - wasted in bit parts in Mystery Men and The Avengers, but then turns in brilliant supporting roles such as the scheming A Star Is Born-type manager in Todd Haynes' Velvet Goldmine and Shadow Of The Vampire!
Posted by: AJ Kandy at December 11, 2002 12:29 PM
Tivo that and your machine is sure to think your gay!
Seriously, though, this guy is cool.
Posted by: Patrick at December 11, 2002 1:30 PM
Eddie is amazing. I managed to Ebay a bunch of his stuff on audio tape (I knew there was a reason I still had a tape player in my car), and some video tapes. Try and find "Glorious" on video. It's just as good as Dressed to Kill.
Posted by: james at December 11, 2002 2:11 PM
Ooh, I had to comment. Eddie Izzard is right up there with the best of the stand-up/comedy/spoken word greats.
Glad you found 'im.
Posted by: Naz at December 11, 2002 3:01 PM
I recently bought his latest DVD, "Circle", which was filmed in New York.
It's an excellent show. I suggest you see it if you haven't already. (The "Dresses To Kill" tour wasn't the "Circle" tour, was it?)
Posted by: Aidan at December 11, 2002 3:53 PM
There happens to be an Eddie Izzard interview on Salon right now:
http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/int/2002/12/11/izzard/index.html
Posted by: iain at December 11, 2002 5:05 PM
Eddie's Circle tour followed Dress to Kill, and I was lucky enough to catch it live. The show on the Circle DVD (taped in New York) is disappointingly flat, imo nowhere near as good as his previous videos (Dress to Kill, Glorious and Definite Article). If only they'd taped the Perth show I'd been at! ;)
Worth checking out on either of his DVDs is an hour long segment of his stand up show from France. In French. Which even subtitled is one of the funniest things I've ever seen.
Posted by: Si at December 11, 2002 10:22 PM
Eddie Izzard is actually "two lesbians trapped inside a man's body" and is frightening funny!
Jamie Oliver is back to being seriously popular in the UK with his TV programme about opening a not for profit restaurant using unemployed kids who he gets trained up.
Look out for Jamie's Kitchen if it hits the US
Posted by: Richard Earney at December 12, 2002 4:53 AM
I was at the Perth, Australia showing of Circle with Si and it was far better than the DVD release. But that DVD is worth getting just to see his "mouse under table/cat on chair/monkey on branch" routine done in French to Fench people.
Aside from that, get Glorius on DVD.
Posted by: Matt at December 16, 2002 4:23 AM
