Well, that’s another Oscars in the bag. We can all go back to our normal lives of proclaiming how little we care about the Oscars before next year rolls around. Jimmy Kimmel performed hosting duties for the second year in a row and while he certainly isn’t the worst host in Oscar history, there needs to be a fresh rejuvenation in the selection of next year’s master of ceremonies. Someone we haven’t seen before would be nice, that person is British comedy legend, Eddie Izzard. Here are five reasons why.
1. He has a Flair for Pageantry
One of Eddie Izzard’s most notable traits is his outfits. Known for his open transvestitism (and incredibly funny routines on the subject), Eddie has never been afraid to don eye-catching apparel. Having been decked out in the past with bright colours and loud make-up, the flamboyant nature of his image fits the Hollywood glamour of the Oscars like a glove.
The Academy Awards has a penchant for its hosts having a running gag throughout the night, there is simple but effective comedy in Eddie’s outfits becoming increasingly elaborate every time he comes back on stage. He could take it one of two ways and either play it straight or draw attention to it, and he can make both of those funny.
2. He Can Improvise
A real issue with Oscar hosts in the past has been their overly scripted performances. When something happens in which improvisation is necessary – or if they just want to crack an adlibbed joke – the entire thing falls apart. Any fan of Izzard’s knows that his signature style of stand-up features heavy ad-libbing; it’s not uncommon for him to divert into seemingly inane ramblings and non-sequiturs that are totally unscripted.
Izzard is dyslexic, and thus doesn’t heavily script his shows, there’s a high chance that you’ll get whole new sets of jokes and spiels on the same tour if you’re lucky. Just listen to a recording of one of his shows and then watch the filmed version that was recorded on a different night, some jokes change dramatically, and others are brand new. Should he have to resort to his quick-witted improvisational skills, Izzard would be well armed for anything live television can throw at him.
3. He Likes to Get Political
What would the Oscars be without numerous references to the current political climate? Hosts taking potshots at politics is to be expected every year, but it can often ring hollow if the host in question isn’t renowned for their interest in the subject. Not only is Izzard hugely into politics, he’s even talked about his intentions of quitting comedy altogether to pursue it as a career. He’s thrown around the idea of running for Mayor of London and is a card-carrying member of the Labour Party.
His left-wing leanings would go over well with the liberal majority among Hollywood’s elite and wouldn’t feel unnatural. This is a man who knows his stuff and does his research. He can switch between lightly sprinkling a joke with politics and going on a full-blown rant, so there’s no danger of his shtick getting stale over the course of the night.
4. He’s not an Unknown to American Audiences
There’s an old saying in British showbiz that’s known as “cracking America”. There are hundreds of national treasures in this country who are considered legends in entertainment, but nobody Stateside has ever heard of them. Eddie Izzard’s brand of comedy is one that is known the world over, however, with his 1998 recording of Dress to Kill in San Francisco winning an International Emmy and being broadcast on HBO.
He has continued to sell out theatres in the US and maintains a strong following over there. His additional appearances in American film and television have kept him in the pop culture spectrum and mean he wouldn’t be met with a collective shrug, but an enthusiastic warm welcome.
5. It would Be a Win for LGBTQ+ Representation
Eddie Izzard identifies as both transvestite and transgender, it would be a real statement to have that level of visibility at the Academy Awards. Hollywood has been criticised for its regressive representation of minorities over the years, Ellen DeGeneres continued her unrivalled run of smashing barriers when she hosted the 2007 ceremony (and later the 2014 ceremony); a trans Oscar host is what the world needs next.
Trans issues are more socially relevant now than they have ever been, Eddie Izzard hosting Hollywood’s equivalent of the Super Bowl could be a watershed moment. Many will argue that the Oscars shouldn’t be about socio-political issues, to hell with that, you wanna show the world that you’re all about the here and now? Bringing in Eddie Izzard is exactly how you do it.
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