Eddie Izzard

[andy-hughes]

I am the first to understand that comedy is subjective - I have a member of my family whom I love dearly, notwithstanding that she thinks Michael McIntyre is funny ...

But I watched about twenty minutes of Eddie izzard on tv tonight, and I simply don't get it

I couldn't raise a smile if my life depended on it, so what am I missing?

[The Builder]

Yep, I think you're right, Andy.
There's a Youtube clip of a show JC did in New York.
The New York crowd is known for being ridiculously "woke" and over-sensitive.
He obviously tempered his show for them. He was the ultimate pro, but it was painful to watch him trying to do his thing, but also desperate not to go too far.
Thank God we're Brits :o)

[Peter Pedant]

// But I watched about twenty minutes of Eddie izzard //

oh I say - well done - I managed around 30s

[Hopkirk]

That's 30 seconds more than I would watch of her, PP.

[maggiebee]

I fail to understand why anyone would find either Eddie Izzard or Michael McIntyre remotely funny. Now Boris, he is funny.

[Apc2604]

Well Maggie, at least he has an alternative career plan to rely on! If I am honest I am sure he would be a great guest at a dinner party. I like his humour! I like eccentrics!

[Mozz71]

//I like eccentrics//

I like kittens, but I wouldn't want one running the country.

[smurfchops]

Is it that the comedians get less funny as they get older.... or do we lose our sense of humour as we get older?

[Mozz71]

Six and half a dozen I think Smurfy. Some things from my youth I still find hilarious: Python, Young Ones, Goon Show etc, but some stand ups do lose their edge. I guess like a film or series, some scripts are better than others, just like some routines are.

[andy-hughes]

smurf - // Is it that the comedians get less funny as they get older.... or do we lose our sense of humour as we get older? //

I entirely agree with Mozz's assessment - I think we tend to hang on to things that remind us of our youth.

Some things really don't date well, but some things reveal their humour that was lost to us at a less sophisticated time of our lives.

For instance, I never really found Are You Being Served very funny, b because the subtlety of the class structure and snobbery was something I didn't understand, but I am watching the re-runs and loving them because I can understand it much better now.

I would guess it would utterly baffle a twenty-year-old with no experience of how the old-fashioned department stores operated - it would look like something from Mars!