#A-TO-Z CHALLENGE - LETTER "I" - EDDIE IZZARD

EDDIE IZZARD

Edward John “Eddie” Izzard. Born 7 February 1962, is an English stand-up comedian, actor and writer.

Izzard is another of those comedians that I knew I would be writing about, when I decided on my HUMOR AND HUMORISTS theme. He first came to my attention during the run of his 1999 HBO special, Dress to Kill, which I tuned into about 5 minutes into the start of his monologue, only to be faced with this:

 . . . and I thought, "hmm, a transvestite (he likes women, as do most transvestites) stand-up comic. Here's something you don't see every day!" and proceeded to laugh my butt off through his entire show. His comedic style is sharp, but he has a tendency to jump the track with "um, yeah" and veer off into other topics, but it's a hell of a ride! In Dress to Kill, we get to hear Izzard's version of how the singer Engelbert Humperdinck got his name; how the native aboriginal people were conned by the Druids, or whoever built the thing, into moving the Stones of Stonehenge 200 or 2000 miles, and his famous take on the Anglican church, "Give me cake or give me death" which is basically my view of the Anglican and Episcopal church. Catholics are pretty tough; we did manage to come up with the Spanish Inquisition and an ex-communication rite is pretty hair-raising; Catholicism is not for sissies. Of course, I should have kept that to myself; once my mother in some sort of ecumenical fit had an Episcopal Priest over for Sunday Dinner after Mass, and I made some comment about "Catholic Lite; all the ritual, only half the guilt." She didn't think it was funny, but my father thought it was hilarious. But, I digress. He often referred to himself as an "Executive Transvestite" in Dress to Kill.

How Jerry Dorsey became Englebert Humperdinck

He patterned his comedic style after much of the Monty Python's Flying Circus troupe's style and has been acknowledged as the "lost" member of the troupe by John Cleese. He was also heavily influenced by Spike Milligan Rather than just list his c. v., which you can easily read for yourself and I urge you to do so, and watch some of his shows, I did run across something of great interest. After his triumphant tour in 1999, with Dress to Kill in the U. S., he was on the last leg of his tour in Great Britain, when several complaints were launched with the BBC consumer program Watchdog that he was using recycled material of his jokes. Upon investigation, and copious explanation by Izzard, it was explained that the material he had used in the show in the U. S. had been released on DVD in Great Britain prior to Izzard's final leg of his U. K. tour. 

Izzard, understandably upset, has rarely allowed his stand-up act to be televised, as it takes so much time to re-write and work new material into a show. He has acted in several movies and in television, both in the U. S. and the U. K. He maintains, he is from "Europe, where the history is." He participates regularly in sports events and runs for charity and his latest endeavor that he is deadly serious about is his attempt to persuade Scotland to remain part of Great Britain. A few posts back I mentioned my father, who, like every other Wallace, and many, many Scots wish to declare themselves independent from Great Britain, much the same way northern Ireland has. Izzard is earnestly trying to retain Scotland by launching a campaign of "charm" including admitting that the name "Edward" is not one that Scots are likely to respond warmly to, as it was King Edward II who, ultimately, captured my ancestor, William Wallace and put him to death, most viciously and put the country under shackles. Although that was in 1305, as my late father would say, the "son of a bitch is sittin' in the next room! We hae to avenge him!" Like the bastard died last week. It may be time to lay William to rest; with charm like Eddie's, who can say? I never was an anglophile, but I could make a wee exception. . . Mayhap.

BOOK RELEASE ANNOUNCEMENT AND RAFFLE-COPTER!!!

Title: Golden Dawn

Author: Aldrea Alien

Genre: Paranormal

Release date: April 18^th, 2014

From now until April 18th, I will be show-casing Aldrea Alien's newest release, Golden Dawn. This will include an raffle-copter (be sure and enter!) and well. . . I'll let her take it from here!

 Family and blood.

After 1100 years, these simple words mean everything to Herald. His life has been ruled by keeping his siblings safe, keeping them from becoming prey whilst feeding on the weaker. His failures have been many and measured by those he has lost. People like his twin brother.

There has always been an enemy to push back or defeat.

Just who the enemy is comes into question when Herald meets the dangerous, angelic creature he is to guard. Wondering where his true loyalties lie is a dangerous thought. No matter whether he chooses family over the heart, it will mean death.

Only the right choice will ensure the life taken is not his.

Buy Links:

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/411514

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/golden-dawn/id828141989

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/golden-dawn-aldrea-alien/1118739415

MuseitUp Publishing: https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/coming-soon/april-2014/golden-dawn-detail

Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/golden-dawn

Omnilit: https://www.omnilit.com/product-goldendawn-1429463-234.html

Coffeetime Romance: http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookStore/pubs_product_book_info/museitup-publishing-c-98/golden-dawn-p-11898

Andrea Alien

Author Bio:

Born and raised in New Zealand, Aldrea Alien lives on a small farm with her family, including a menagerie of animals. Since discovering a love of writing at the age of twelve, she hasn't found an ounce of peace from the characters plaguing her mind.

Website: http://www.aldreaalien.com

Blog: http://thardrandia.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Aldrea-Alien/262519090516776

Twitter: https://twitter.com/@AldreaAlien

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7328363.Aldrea_Alien

a Rafflecopter giveaway!!