Cake or Death? I Choose You, Eddie Izzard!

Last night Jon and I had amazing seats to see Eddie Izzard at the Orpheum Theater in downtown Boston.

I laughed so hard I could barely breathe.

We sat in THE THIRD ROW! OK, we were off to the side and they were labeled "obstructed view" but they weren't. I could see all of Eddie the entire show. Awesome (like a hot dog).

Last night's show was the very first of this North American tour, so I feel especially special to have been there. He covered just about everything, including bits in Latin (a Roman soldier trying to warn the general that Hannibal was approaching), a classic imitation of Sean Connery (while discussing the origins of the word "assassin"), and plenty of mentions of badgers.

Best badger mention: "I guess badgers can be choosers." This elicited loud groans from the entire audience, but Izzard stuck firm. "How many creationist badger jokes do you hear?" he asked, referring to the pun's place in his larger thesis on creation theory. "I like it and I'm going to keep telling it."

Best miming: Silent giraffes on the Sahara trying to communicate that they see a tiger ("I know it should be lion but I can't do the bit that way," Izzard tossed that correction in as he started the skit.)

It was marvelous. I wish I could go again tonight!

(Also bought a t-shirt: "Cake or Death" with a cute little cupcake on it topped with an "E" instead of a cherry)

The Oscars? Oh yeah .....

I totally forgot about the Oscars, and didn't even remember to look up the winners until two minutes ago (it's 3:30 pm, in case you're wondering).

I'm quite behind in watching most of the nominated films, but I did see Once , for which it won Best Song, "Falling Slowly" (and I saw Glen and Marketa perform it live - thank you, Brattle Theater!)

I also saw Juno (best original screenplay) and Ratatouille, although I kind of feel bad that it beat Persepolis for best animated film.

However, I shall be watching lots more movies in the future, as Jon and I finally joined Netflix. I had so much fun putting movies in queue, that we already have 48 films waiting to be delivered. First up: The Awful Truth!

Interview with a Dr. (who?)

OK, I apologize for the title of this post. At the same time, though, I stick by it - terrible pun, allusion, and all.

So there.

I may have mentioned my love for BBC radio once or twice before. I think I have become the American prophet, spreading the word to the populace about the incredible entertainment that is BBC7 and Radio4. Seriously, BBC, you should pay me. Really.

I mean it. Give me a call, would you?

Anyway, before I lose track of the point of this post ....

There's a very engaging interview show, Chain Reaction. Each week an entertainer (usually an actor or comedian) interviews a fellow entertainer; then the next week the interviewee becomes the interviewer.

To my extreme delight, this week the guest was David Tennant, better known in America as Dr. Who (#13, if you're counting).

So if you, like me, are a fan (and maybe sporting a huge crush as well), you should tune in and learn a little about the man behind the Time Lord. Then remember to tune in next week to hear him interview fellow Scottish actor Richard Wilson.

Honestly I haven't a clue who Richard Wilson is, but that hardly matters, after all. It's David Tennant I care about! He has such a lovely Scottish accent. I dont' see why the Doctor couldn't have one, not that I don't love him just the way he is .... oh dear. I think I better just stop typing now.

(Three cheers for the fixed spell-check application on blogger. Hip-hip-hooray!)

It's gonna be a blockbusta!

The Washington Post agrees with me that the story of the dying spy satellite, "takes a page from Hollywood sciene fiction."

However, the L.A. Times gave us a far better headline - a movie treatment in itself. "U.S. will try to shoot down spy satellite gone bad."

I can hear the trailer now:

In a world where a shooting star could kill you, only one man can save the planet from a spy satellite ... gone bad.

We Will Miss You, Gay Cowboy

Heath Ledger has died! I have no reasonable idea why this upsets me so. But when I heard the news last evening, I was quite distraught.

There's really nothing else to say .... it's just too sad.

Funny Man

Yes!

I just bought two tickets (pre-sale, they're not open to the public until Saturday) to see George Carlin at the Wang Center on March 15.

Last time he came to town, I didn't hear of it until the only tickets left were going for over $50 each. That's when we ended up seeing Richard Lewis, who's tickets were way cheaper (thank you, Richard Lewis).

But thanks to my Citiclub membership, I get tickets early - and cheaper. Wahoo. Sure, we'll be in the way-back balcony and George will be a little speck of a man with white hair and a black turtleneck, but who cares? Even as a small speck he'll still be funny.

A Few of My Favorite Things

(Ha! You will all now have songs from The Sound of Music in your head. Ha! Ha!)

Things I love:
Jane Eyre on Masterpiece Theater. I can't remember if I'm quoting The Dig or Entertainment Weekly, but: Mr. Rochester is the new Mr. Darcy.

The new Shins album: Wincing the Night Away

Everything on BBC Radio4.

It Can't Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis. (Birthday present from Jon)

My new scarf! It's scarf-erific!

From Knitting Proj...

(Yes, this ismy excuse for not listening/watching the State of the Union (SOTU). I'm going to read the text. Really, I am. That's way more palatable than seeing or hearing Bush. Besides, haven't the pundits already told me what to think? Even before the SOTU happened? I'm not sure what's worse: politics or the media.)