Topic 2: Favorite comic

[bironic]

cincodemaygirl asked: Favorite comic (you can interpret that as comic strip, web comic, or comedian)?

I choose... comedian, standup variety. And the answer would have to be Eddie Izzard. In part because I know him best within the type of comedy I like most, and also because I quote him all the time. ("I'm covered in bees!" "Do you have a flag?" "D'you like - bread?" "No one was alive then." "Toblerone, Darth Vader?"* etc. etc.) My sophomore and junior year roommate introduced me to him in "Dressed to Kill" at her brother's apartment one day, possibly the day we drove back to school after Thanksgiving break and had gotten up so early to avoid traffic that there was little else we felt capable of doing by the afternoon than watching TV. Anyway, I was charmed.

He was fun in Shadow of the Vampire, too, and there's another movie or two he was in that are buried somewhere in the Netflix queue, I'm sure. He was a hoot as one of the Four Yorkshiremen along with Alan Rickman in that comedy-for-charity thing they filmed at Wembley Stadium in the '90s. Oh, hey, and deelaundry and I just rewatched "Glorious" the other weekend.

*Whoops! Just discovered the Toblerone bit was from Phil Jupitus imitating Eddie Izzard, not from Izzard's Death Star canteen bit.

What I like best in standup comedians is the ability to be funny without being some kind of -ist (and generally without being obnoxious). It isn't any better if the person belongs to the group(s) they're stereotyping. This knocks out a majority of people on Comedy Central and stuff. Within the last year or so I remembered that I like things that are funny (heh) and started watching more standup comedy on TV and Netflix and wherever to broaden my knowledge of who's out there, with a special attempt to watch women comedians. New and confirmed favorites have included Ellen DeGeneres, Wanda Sykes, Margaret Cho and Craig Ferguson. Well, no, I do enjoy some of Lewis Black's solo stuff, so he is the exception to the obnoxious category. As kids we loved George Carlin and Bill Cosby and possibly Gallagher, although most of the Gallagher memories are the sledgehammering. Louis CK is borderline but I admit I only gave him a few minutes' attempt. My sister tried to get me into Dane Cook but it didn't take. I don't tend to like comics who make me hate myself for laughing.

I was going to say this question had great timing because today's disc in the mail was "Whoopi Goldberg," only it turned out to be a Biography episode and not a routine, so. The ground she broke as described in "Why We Laugh" made me appreciate her work all the more, though. Hm. Maybe tonight's the night to finally watch Aisha Tyler Live at the Fillmore.

Comments

[alizarin-nyc.livejournal.com]

Eddie! So great. I've seen him live a few times and LOVE him.

Female Comedian you say? Look no further than the British MIRANDA HART. She plays "Chummie" on Call the Midwife and has her own lovely sitcom called Miranda. She's unusual and I find her charming and hilarious.

comics who make me hate myself for laughing. Ugh, me neither. Daniel Tosh is this for me.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Oh! Dylan Moran! He is good too. I've been meaning for months to go back and watch the full video of some performance a friend's husband played on YouTube one night when I was over at their apartment. Before then, I'd only known him from Black Books and - was that him in Shaun of the Dead?

Anyway, yes, yay Eddie Izzard, and thank you for the Miranda Hart recommendation. cinco is really into Call the Midwife, so I'll consider that a second vote.

Hated Tosh.0 the 30 seconds I watched it once. And that debacle with the woman who called him out on the rape joke made me never want to give any of his stuff a second try.

[cincodemaygirl.livejournal.com]

Dylan Moran and Miranda Hart are great. I've only seen a few interviews with MH, but judging from those I bet her standup is amazing--I will definitely look into that. <3 So yes, second vote! Also for Call the Midwife, which usually makes me cry but is excellent.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

*makes notes*

I hate, hate, hate comedians who "punch downwards" as the saying goes.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

:(

Just went back and linked the quotes I mentioned, in case you have some spare minutes and want a laugh. Assuming Eddie is one of the people you took notes on; otherwise, forget I mentioned it. :)

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

Eddie Izzard is perennially noteworthy. :D

[daasgrrl.livejournal.com]

Eddie! Have you been watching Hannibal? 0.0

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Is he on Hannibal?? Why do people trying to get other people into Hannibal not say things like "Mads Mikkelson is that hot guy you're always drawn to in random movie trailers" or "Eddie Izzard is in it"? Same complaint about when people were into that show Vikings, when no one mentioned the Gabriel Byrne business.

[daasgrrl.livejournal.com]

Hee, I was wondering if you knew! He's eeevil (this isn't a spoiler, truly, since he's, you know, IN JAIL when they go looking for him). I wasn't actually sure it was him, all "wait, the credits SAY Eddie Izzard, but WHERE IS HE?". LOL. Gillian Anderson's in it too, btw ;)

[cincodemaygirl.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I asked a really good question, go me! And you and I have very similar taste in comedians! Based on this (I am devoted to Eddie Izzard, Margaret Cho, Ellen Degeneres, and Wanda Sykes, and grew up listening to George Carlin and Bill Cosby records and repeat-watching Gallagher), have you seen Paula Poundstone and Stephen Wright? I've seen a little more Louis CK and find him iffy but sometimes awesome. And I would love to hear what you think of Aisha Tyler, that seems like a lock as well. :DDD Would you be willing to summarize Whoopi Goldberg's ground-breaking? I'd be interested to hear about it but have no clue what "Why We Laugh" is.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

I've added Stephen Wright and Paula Poundstone to my to-watch list on YouTube; cool. I feel like I must have seen Paula Poundstone but couldn't say what, so maybe just commercials for her shows or something.

I only made it about 10 minutes into that Aisha Tyler routine for some reason. Some other time maybe it'll appeal more. I like her as Lana on Archer a lot, and I like her attitude/presence, but I wasn't laughing. *shrug*

"Why We Laugh" was a really interesting documentary, apparently based on a book, about the evolution of African-American comedy in the 20th century. I wish I were having better luck tracking down what was said about her, and what she said about her own influences, because it was impressive and I need my memory refreshed beyond things like "the sort of doors she opened up for women in comedy, and for black women in particular." This relatedly interesting article did turn up: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/17/arts/television/whoopi-goldbergs-documentary-on-moms-mabley.html?_r=0

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

LOVE Eddie Izzard! So SMART, so hilarious, and so hot. ::fans self::

[bironic.livejournal.com]

I agree with this comment. :)

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

:D

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

I met Eddie Izzard! He signed my copy of the Velvet Goldmine soundtrack in silver sparkle pen and he was so cute!

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Aw!