Dress to Kill

I was totally surprised to see Eddie Izzard.  I don't know why, but I was picturing a black guy.  Nope.  I certainly wasn't expecting a transvestite, but then, who really ever expects a transvestite?  Anyway, I think that goes back to what Stott said about how comedians look.  According to him, comedians can't look totally normal and super attractive because we don't trust that.  I agree with that completely (although I can think of exceptions.  Dane Cook is wildly successful and, in some opinions, quite attractive).  It's true, but it's also a double edged sword.  In Eddie Izzard's case, we trust him because he is not conventionally attractive.  However, since he is so unconventional, he actually has to live up to his look.  We expect someone who looks that strange to be extremely funny.  Otherwise, it's just a weird guy bombing on stage, which is worse than a normal guy bombing on stage because at least the normal guy didn't get our hopes up.

Eddie Izzard also talks about the difference between British and American styles (if not comedy directly).  He talks about the British role in Star Wars.  "It's just the rebels, sir.  They're here."  It was very deadpan.  Then the response, "Do they want tea?"  I don't really have any connections to make, it just struck me funny and reminded me of the differences we pointed out about British comedy, specifically.  It seems to me, British comedy is all about slapstick or it's completely deadpan.  The deadpan of how he delivered the line was absolutely hilarious and very "British."  He also compares the message sent from the movie The Great Escape to American and British kids.  Americans get away with things and live to tell the tale, the British plan and work out logistics, all to be shot in the head. 

His history jokes were probably my favorite.  I loved the part about the pilgrims arriving on Plymouth rock and making fun of the Native Americans, then coming back in winter for food.  Also, the moon landing was crazy amounts of funny.  The idea of faking a monster attack, with Buzz Aldrin in a monster suit chasing Neil Armstrong around is so ludicrous but it would have been such a hilarious prank to play on the entire planet.  I mean, if I had the chance to prank the ENTIRE planet... I might have to take it.  It's really too bad they didn't think to do that.