Eddie Izzard's Al Franken donation isn't funny to Jeff Larson

It looks like Jeff Larson just can't let go the lost of Senate seat of ​Norm Coleman to Al Franken.

Coleman's D.C. landlord and Sarah Palin's personal shopper is head of an outfit called Senate Accountability Watch. And he's filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission accusing Franken's Midwest Values PAC of illegally taking money from a foreign national.

The evil overseas influencer in question is comedian Eddie Izzard.Izzard, it's true, has been fairly generous, donating tens of thousands of dollars to various Democrats and liberal organizations in recent years. He was also very open about it. Which makes sense. He had nothing to hide:

Yes, Izzard has a "green card," a United States Permanent Resident Card. And here's the relevant clause from the Federal Election Commission website:

An immigrant may make a contribution if he or she has a "green card" indicating his or her lawful admittance for permanent residence in the United States.

Eddie Izzard: Return to the comedy stage on EPIX channel

Eddie Izzard return to the comedy stage to perform the brodcast premiere of his latest one man concert, EPIX the premium entertainment channel on video demand and online service, he has brings will live concert in EPIX at Madison Square Garden premiers on 15 January 2011.

Eddie's directed by Sarah Townsend, his Story, written, produced and directed by Sarah Townsend, on EPIX in 2010.

Eddie's Characteristic the really welcome comedians trademark absurdist humor as he takes on the histore of the World. Eddie said, "It's about everything that has ever happened ... with a few gaps".

President of EPIX and CEO Mark Greenberg said, "We are proud that Eddie Izzard is returning to EPIX. Eddie's unique take on the world demonstrates why he is such an outstanding voice in comedy today and so popular with our television and online audiences."

Izzard was among first comedians to commit to EPIX upon its launch in 2009 when Eddie live performed in from Wembley and BELIEVE, in the first Emmy nomination his legend currently launched service.

Mother's death spurred Eddie Izzard to become top comedian

Since losing his mother at age six, Eddie Izzard desperately wanted to perform, a new ducmentary about the early life of the comedian has revealed.
Believe: The Eddie Izzard Story – a candid look at the leading comedian’s life and career directed by ex-girlfriend Sarah Townsend – has unveiled a dramatic portrayal of the comedian's young life and how he was driven to perform in front of crowds since his mother died.
The 45-minute documentary, which is largely formed through interviews with the comedian backstage at various gigs, follow's Izzard's childhood in Belfast to being thrown out of university in Sheffield because of his love affair with the Edinburgh Fringe.
Speaking to Phil Jupitus in front of fans after an exclusive screening of the documentary in central London last week Izzard, who rarely speaks about his personal life, explained that even he was surprised he shared his feelings about his mother on camera.
“I always thought that if I did enough things maybe she would come back,” he said.
“I have this firewall of compressed emotion. I won’t go anywhere that really digs deep. That line sort of came out and I don’t know where it came from but it’s true. I do seem to try to get mum back.’

Izzard Driven By Mother's Death

The secret of Eddie Izzard success has been revealed by himself - he was driven by a desperate need for "affection" after his mother died when he was a child.

After losing mum Dorothy to cancer when he was aged six, the singer Eddie Izzard has painful memories of his childhood.

Izzard tells Sky News, "After mum died I thought that the applause of the audience is something I (could) swap for a mother's affection. That's how I analyse it."

Eddie Izzard plans move to France

The comedian Eddie Izzard who is planning to move across the Channel in April,and says that the decision is a sign of his commitment to European integration.

"I'm very positive on European politics, and I'm just putting my money where my mouth is," he told The Independent. "We just need to be a big melting pot because we are all the same humans around the world."

Eddie who had tried a lot to perform show in French but he still says that so many things lack in the process and he will prepare more rigorously for this attempt by undergoing tuition.

Once in France, he hopes to perform a French version of Stripped, his 2008 show, playing "six gigs a week".

"The point is that if Paris works then it means the others can work... I'm going to do this and when I do it the floodgates will open," he said.

Eddie is also planning to perform in different languages as well such as Europeon etc.

Eddie Izzard Talk California Politics

Comedian/actor/political activist Eddie Izzard greed on whom they hope will win today's U.S. Senate election in California.

Izzard recently attended a benefit for LA Democrats and incumbent Senator Barbara Boxer.

Since Izzard is British, he is unable to vote. Still, the host said (only half-jokingly), "I want to thank you for coming from another country and trying to clear up the mess that we've made here."

Eddie Izzard for TV Treasure Island

It is confirmed that COMEDIAN Eddie Izzard will play Long John Silver in a multi-million pound adaptation of Treasure Island for Sky 1 HD.

Makers are thrilled that Eddie, 48, is to star as the one-legged pirate. He made a special promise to be a high octane" version of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic

Sophie Turner Laing, Sky's managing director of entertainment and news, confirmed: "We have Treasure Island in production, which stars Eddie Izzard, which is really exciting.

"He doesn't do that much television so we are very excited that he is to play Long John Silver."

The drama will follow the success of Sky 1 HD's Terry Pratchett's Going Postal, Martina Cole's The Take, Chris Ryan's Strike Back and Mark Billingham's Thorne - plus the forthcoming Mad Dogs starring Max Beesley, Philip Glenister, John Simm and Marc Warren.

Just in from Showtime: Eddie Izzard, Frances Conroy, Joan Cusack

Eddie Izzard and Frances Conroy will guest on the Showtime series United States of Tara.

Izzard will seem in eight episodes to playing Tara's brilliant psychology professor who is at first a doubter, but then becomes fascinated with Tara as a subject. Conroy will have seem in one episode as Max Gregson's (John Corbett) mother. Joan Cusack has joined the cast of new Showtime drama on Shameless. Cusack, who will appearof the new series in all 12 episodes, will play the role of Sheila, an agoraphobic Chicago housewife with a sexually active teenage daughter who strikes up a special friendship with William H. Macy's character, Frank Gallagher. Production on the first season begins in mid of the September premiering on Jan.

Eddie Izzard: On Ellis Island, a Kinship With the Huddled Masses

ON a breezy, clear summer morning, Eddie Izzard — the British actor, comedian, transvestite and aspiring politician — took a trip to Ellis Island. He’d wanted to go ever since he first set a stiletto heeled foot in this country in the 1990s, but never got around to it.
“I would have absolutely been one of those people who got on the boat to the New World,” said the goateed Mr. Izzard, 48, who is starring on Broadway in David Mamet’s “Race,” and whose documentary about his life, “Believe,” was just nominated for an Emmy. “And if they didn’t let me in, I would have jumped overboard.”
This time, Mr. Izzard, who is spending the summer in New York during his Broadway stint, was determined to look the centerpiece of American immigration, which is why he was on a late morning ferry, slathering sunblock on his neck and savoring the skyline. He had traded his girlie wear for black jeans, boots, blue blazer and sunglasses, and wore only a hint of foundation on his face. Not that he looked like he’d just stepped out of the Nebraska cornfields; still, for the moment anyway, he might have been just another tourist taking iPhone shots of the Statue of Liberty.
“Funny that France gave that to the United States,” he said, admiring the statue. “What did the U.S. give them in return?”
It was a good question. But then, most of Mr. Izzard’s observations are dead on. That is a large part of his acclaim; he’s known for his political and historical humor, for his accents and mimicry, for leapfrogging from topic A to topic Q, for being, as John Cleese once anointed him, the “Lost Python.”
He is also known for his social conscience (he has raised more than $400,000 for a British charity) and his athleticism. He is a marathon runner and is contemplating triathlons (“Animals in the wild are lean, and I think we should be, too”).
He speaks and performs stand up routines in German and French (he uses the A.T.M. in French “to keep my brain working) and is planning to learn Russian.
And his politics are passionate; earlier this year, Mr. Izzard, who is a Social Democrat, voraciously campaigned for the Labour Party across England, Scotland and Wales. He plans on running — “standing,” in British parlance — for mayor of London or a seat in Parliament “sometime around 2020, if not bang on.”
Indeed, it’s hard to imagine a more engaged visitor on the 27.5-acre island; he wanted to look and do everything. “We’re here, we might as well,” he said, slipping a headset over his ears. “Look at that,” he said, reading a display. “Those in first class were allowed to walk right off the ship. Those in steerage were stopped. I never knew that.”
He wandered up the stairs and into the Great Hall, the soccer field size room where new immigrants waited for admittance into the country. Mr. Izzard, who was born in Yemen and raised in Northern Ireland and England, moved from exhibit to exhibit, taking in everything: a gurney (“in England we call that a trailer”), a buttonhook used to inspect eyes for infections like trachoma.
He glanced at a manifest of impossible to pronounce last names. “This would be a funny bit,” he said. He pantomimed an immigration officer holding a clipboard. “Here we are at Ellis Island. ‘What’s your name?’ ‘Smith.’ ‘What?’ ‘Smith.’ ‘Again?’ ‘Smith.’ ‘O.K.— Yacjgdaw.’ ‘You?’ ‘Jones.’ ‘What?’ ‘Jones.’ ‘Wazinskawnsky.’ It’s the reversal.”
Every so often a fan approached. “Aren’t you that bloke who did all those marathons?” “I love you in ‘The Riches’!” “ ‘Dress to Kill’ is my favorite!”
Mr. Izzard was polite, asking their names, where they were from, posing for pictures. Still, he seemed slightly hesitant, as if he were embarrassed by the attention odd for a guy whose iPhone screen saver is a shot of himself in heavy makeup, a sparkly shirt and elbow length black gloves.
When a reporter suggested his fans see him on Broadway, he demurred. “They only have a few days go see a big musical like ‘Billy Elliot,’ ” he said. “If you have more time, see my show.”
After a while, he abandoned the audio tour — it was difficult to follow, the walkways weren’t well marked — and latched on to a group tour with Jesse Ponz, a park ranger. Mr. Ponz explained the history, pointing to the medical facilities where those who were refused admittance were kept, as he led his charges through the bowels of one building and into another. Mr. Izzard was rapt.
“Did people escape?” he asked, nodding toward New York Harbor.
“We’ve heard of that,” Mr. Ponz said. “But the current was pretty strong.”
“It’s like Alcatraz,” Mr. Izzard said. “People said you couldn’t swim, but now they have an Alcatraz triathlon.”
A woman piped up. Actually, she said, prisoners in Alcatraz were allowed to shower with hot water so they wouldn’t acclimate to the cold water.
“Did you hear that?” Mr. Izzard said later. He was almost glowing. “You never know what you’re going to learn. That group was exactly like the people who came over here. A mix of everybody.”
At the end of the tour, Mr. Izzard thanked Mr. Ponz, who, as it happened, is a great fan. He offered to take Mr. Izzard around privately, and Mr. Izzard happily accepted. As they wandered around the museum, the two men debated the merits of disco versus punk, the War of 1812, Winston Churchill (Mr. Izzard, who is dyslexic, is listening to a Max Hastings Churchill biography), capitalism and immigration.
Mr. Izzard said, “I don’t know what it’s like in the U.S., but immigrants in the U.K. do the jobs the citizens won’t do”.
Five hours later, Mr. Izzard was heading back to Manhattan, with a little less than 120 minutes to spare before he had to be on stage.
“I do find history fascinating, I find people fascinating, and I’m quite good at standing somewhere and taking out all the new stuff and imagining people coming in,” he said, looking at the city unfold before him. “And I would have been with them.”

Eddie Izzard, Haysbert tackle Mamet’s ‘Race’

Eddie Izzard finds it bizarre that no one has ever gone to war over eye color. “It’s likely because you can’t really look the eyes until you’re about here,” he says while gesturing with his hand next to his face. “So that would make it impractical.” Izzard laughs, but is serious about what prompted the comment: the delicate topic of race. Now he gets to explore it eight times a week on Broadway in the suitably titled David Mamet play, “Race.” Dennis Haysbert, who played the President of the United States on “24,” makes his Broadway debut, replacing the Tony nominated David Alan Grier as Henry Brown. Izzard, no stranger to Mamet (he originated the role of Del in the 1994 London production of “The Cryptogram”), takes over the James Spader role of Jack Lawson. And Izzard admits to being a little intimidated following Spader. “Race” concerns black and white law firm partners and their associate (played by Afton C. Williams, who replaced Kerry Washington) debate the merits of representing a wealthy white client accused of raping a young black woman. The play tackles the subject from various perspectives, including each attorney’s view on ethnicity, public perception and the media’s influence. “I think David put his finger on the pulse of what race is in this country,” Haysbert said. As a result, the audience response changes nightly. And that comes as no surprise to Haysbert. Perspective in the matter depends on where you come from, and that extends to the other side of the Atlantic where Izzard hails. According to Haysbert, tension between blacks and whites in America comes mostly from slavery but takes on a different hue in England. “It’s about nationality,” he says. “They have a lot of Pakistani; they have Indian and people from different countries.” But Izzard doesn’t completely agree with the distinction. “That is more where the hot button issue of racism comes from. But I still think it ends up in the same place,” Izzard said. “We got rid of slavery only 50 years before America did.” Regardless of the cause and the sprawl of race related issues around the world, Izzard thinks the problem may be narrowing. He cites the election of Barack Obama as America’s first African American president as a step in the right direction. But that’s not enough, says Izzard, who dreams of a world reminiscent to how the astronauts viewed Earth from space. “They saw no frontiers or borders,” he says. “If people come from another planet, they’ll say, ‘You’re all humans.’ And are we going to say, ‘Oh no. He’s a black man. He’s a white man. This man’s an Asian.’ “No,” he says. “It’s just all human.”

Eddie Izzard: Blasts Broadway critics

In the Broadway show Race Eddie Izzard has blasted critics of his performance. The actor took over the lead role last month but was panned by critics for forgetting lines and stumbling through the show. He told New York Magazine: "What do they expect? I came in very fast. Do they think that no one ever gets a line wrong on Broadway, ever? There should come and try and do it for a weekend. He said,"However, the 48 year old admitted he uses reviews as motivation to improve."I'm a determined little bugger".

Eddie Izzard on RACE stage tube

Eddie Izzard, Dennis Haysbert, Afton C. Williamson, and Richard Thomas began their run in RACE, by David Mametwriter and directed, on Monday June 21st for a nine week limited engagement through Saturday, August 21st. In this clip, Izzard chats RACE and why he connects so much with Mamet.
Beginning on June 21st, the show will play on Monday nights and not on Sunday matinees. The schedule is as follows: Mondays at 8 pm, Tuesdays at 7 pm, Wednesday at 8 pm, Thursdays at 8 pm, Fridays at 8 pm and Saturdays at 2 pm and 8 pm.
RACE made its world premiere at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (located at 243 West 47th St.). On Monday the show began performances, November 16, 2009 and formally opened on Sunday, December 6, 2009.

Eddie Izzard and Dennis Haysbert Forgot Their Lines on Stage

Eddie Izzard and Dennis Haysbert disappointed theatre-goers with a shaky start to their stint on Broadway - reportedly forgetting their lines and stumbling through their first performance of "Race".

The British comic has joined forces with the former "24" star to tackle the lead roles in David Mamet's play, with Izzard stepping into the role previously played by James Spader.

But the New York Post reports the actors failed to impress the audience when they took to the New York stage for their first performance on Monday, June 21 night.

A source tells the publication, "(They) seemed unsteady and most forgetful of their lines. Doing any Mamet play is no easy task and the dialog is unwieldy.

It was their first performance, hopefully things will improve as they get into the roles."

Forgot Their Lines on Stage Eddie Izzard and Dennis Haysbert

Disappointed theatre goers to Eddie Izzard and Dennis Haysbert with a shaky start to their stint on Broadway - reportedly forgetting their lines and stumbling through their first performance of "Race". The British comic has joined forces with the former "24" star to tackle the lead roles in David Mamet's play, with Izzard stepping into the role previously played by James Spader. But the New York Post reports the actors failed to impress the audience when they took to the New York stage for their first performance on Monday, June 21 night. A source tells the publication, "(They) seemed unsteady and most forgetful of their lines. Doing any Mamet play is no easy task and the dialog is unwieldy. It was their first performance, hopefully things will improve as they get into the roles."

Eddie Izzard's Keynsham pub gig

He’s used to having comedy audiences eating out of his hand - but Eddie Izzard had a slightly trickier crowd to deal with when he visited Keynsham.
The comedian, actor and long-distance runner is the second celebrity campaigner to join the effort to help Labour’s Dan Norris hold on to his marginal seat.
For 90 minutes at the Trout Tavern in Temple Street, he regaled a packed pub garden with the reasons why they should vote for North East Somerset candidate Mr Norris – and announced his own political aspirations.
The 48-year-old star will be wowing Canadians on stage in Toronto on Friday, but yesterday he was on his 22nd stop out of 25 across the country to muster votes for Labour in the General Election.

“I was in Gloucester this morning...” said the indefatigable performer, before reeling off every town and city he has graced wearing a rosette before then.
“The sun is shining in Keynsham and that’s because of the Labour Party.
“As a street performer I’m used to talking to people a lot and I want to point out that Britain is not broken, like the Tories will tell you. It’s brilliant. And that’s the Britain I believe in.”
Izzard’s appearance was the second from a household name to back Mr Norris, a junior minister in the last government.
Queen guitarist Brian May joined Mr Norris at the weekend to back his stance against fox hunting.
Izzard, who has made his own election broadcast called Brilliant Britain, spent an hour fielding questions on issues from child tax credits to pensions alongside Mr Norris, who has represented the Wansdyke constituency – now redrawn and renamed North East Somerset – for the last 13 years.
Karen Perry, 51, from Winterbourne, was impressed with his impromptu performance.
She said: “It is great for a comedy actor to have a serious side. He put things across in layman’s terms and probably helped Dan Norris reach a few more people today.”
Izzard said he was happy to help the party: “I’m not wheeled out here. I’m self-propelled. I volunteered for this. “Judge the celebrities on what they’ve done with their lives and if you like it, listen. If you don’t like it, don’t listen.
“The public are intelligent enough that if they don’t agree with what I say then they won’t listen.”
Izzard is a valuable commodity after capturing the nation’s imagination running 43 marathons in 51 days around the UK, raising money for Sport Relief.
And his boundless enthusiasm is bound for politics – but not for a decade.
He said: “My own aspirations are for 10 years’ time. I’ve worked my backside off to get my career going so I’m not going to drop it. It would need to go into deep hibernation if I stand (as an MP).”
Pub landlord Jim McCarthy joked: “I’m just waiting for Bruce Springsteen to come here now.”

Eddie Izzard on Marathon.

Last summer Eddie Izzard decided to run around England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales though not necessarily, as Eric Morecambe said, in the right order. The touching and thought provoking programme, Eddie Izzard: Marathon Man, was buried alive quite late at night on BBC3.

To say he did it for Sports Relief is true up to a point. The real reason is harder to fathom. He had to run 1,000 miles – 43 consecutive marathons – followed by a motorised rickshaw (with the camera crew) and an ice-cream van (with Flake 99s). To see him stumbling along in blinding rain, no cheers, no crowds, no pavements, carrying the sodden flag of the appropriate country, made you want to shout: "Excelsior!"

Towards the end of the 10th marathon, he collapsed. When they told him there were three switchback miles to go, he said: "I do that then." His therapist begged him to walk, but he did it running and, to celebrate, freewheeled downhill into Builth Wells (pop. approx 2,000) and a rousing civic reception.

The Scene Cross-dressing comedian Izzard at the Burt in May

BRITISH comic Eddie Izzard is bringing his one-man show, Eddie Izzard: Stripped, to the Burton Cummings Theatre on Monday, May 10. Izzard, known for his outrageous and occasionally cross-dressed stage persona, also has a list of film and TV acting credits that includes The Riches, Ocean's Thirteen and Across the Universe. Tickets for the show are $58.80 and $69.30, on sale March 20 at Ticketmaster.
Bobcat returns to standup roots at Rumor's
BOBCAT Goldthwait will make a two-night appearance at Rumor's Restaurant and Comedy Club on April 9 and 10. the comedian/actor/director, a veteran of the Police Academy movies whose behind-the-camera credits include Shakes the Clown and Important Things with Demetri Martin, recently wrote and directed the Robin Williams comedy World's Greatest Dad. Tickets for the shows (7:45 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. both nights) are $25, available at Rumor's.

Local comics join Izzard to joke for 46664 charity

Local comedians such as Trevor Noah, David Kau, Marc Lottering, Riaad Moosa, John Vlismas, Chris Forest and Ndumiso Lindi will feature in the show called, 46664 It's No Joke.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the end of Nelson Mandela's 27 years of incarceration, the comedians will on February 27 take to the stage at Sun City's Superbowl for the first installation.

International director of the 46664 campaign, Tim Massey, said the campaign used the "universal language of sport, music and entertainment to deliver messages of care, prevention and hope to the youth and young adults of the world".
"We are delighted with the reaction to the announcement of Eddie Izzard's gigs and equally thrilled to have all these top acts, performing together," he said.

Real Concerts spokeswoman Kim Mari said: "The aim . is to involve even more international comedians . and to travel the world raising funds."