Topic 2: Favorite comic
Dec. 4th, 2013 07:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bironic![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}
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.
no subject
Date: Dec. 5th, 2013 12:49 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: Dec. 5th, 2013 12:51 am (UTC)I hate, hate, hate comedians who "punch downwards" as the saying goes.
no subject
Date: Dec. 5th, 2013 01:03 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: Dec. 5th, 2013 01:05 am (UTC)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. :)
no subject
Date: Dec. 5th, 2013 02:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Dec. 5th, 2013 02:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Dec. 5th, 2013 02:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Dec. 5th, 2013 02:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Dec. 5th, 2013 02:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Dec. 5th, 2013 03:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Dec. 5th, 2013 03:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Dec. 8th, 2013 01:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Dec. 8th, 2013 03:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Dec. 10th, 2013 12:57 am (UTC)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
no subject
Date: Dec. 10th, 2013 12:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Dec. 10th, 2013 12:59 am (UTC)