The Mighty Boonny

Howard Moon (Julian Barratt) and Vince Noir (Noel Fielding)


Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding


I probably develop at least one new obsession every week. Lately, it has been the BBC comedy, The Mighty Boosh. It is completely ridiculous, and you have to be ridiculous and familiar with fashion and music to appreciate it. It stars Julian Barratt as Howard Moon (jazz maverick, poet) and Noel Fielding as Vince Noir (goth fairy, midnight barber). Anyone who knows me would recognize instantly that I have a huge crush on the latter. He's obsessed with fashion, hair and glam rock. He enjoys wearing makeup and doesn't mind putting on a dress. He is often mistaken as Howard's lady friend or wife. Ever since I was a little girl, I have been attracted to effeminate men (David Bowie as Jareth the Goblin King in Labyrinth). This brings me to a whole other topic: transvestites. I guess I'm just a girly girl and I prefer my men to be girly as well. Nothing says "confidence" like a man who is comfortable enough with his sexuality that he can put on a dress and makeup. Some might say, "Uhhh... those kind of men wouldn't have any interest in you." Not all transvestites are gay, mind you. Eddie Izzard, anyone? And a few months ago I read an awesome book entitled Debbie Harry Sings in French by Meagan Brothers. The main character, Johnny, is straight, but he is obsessed with Debbie Harry from Blondie and discovers that he likes to dress like her and it's okay. Anyway, I would just like to confirm that I can't stop thinking about Noel Fielding/Vince Noir. I hope the rumors are true and there will be a Mighty Boosh movie.

Top Five Transvestites in Film:

1. Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Hands down.

2. Ed Wood in Ed Wood

Johnny Depp in drag? Yes, please.

3. Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Don't get strung out by the way he looks. Don't judge a book by its cover.

4. Patrick "Kitten" Braden in Breakfast on Pluto

Possibly the prettiest transvestite. Cillian Murphy is up there with Candy Darling.

5. Angel in Bad Education

Damn.

"Something extremely interesting was happening in men's fashions, too -- they were starting to compete in glamour and marketing with women's fashions, and this signaled big social changes that went beyond fashion into the question of sex roles. Now a lot of the men with fashion awareness who'd been frustrated for the last couple of years telling their girlfriends what to wear could start dressing themselves up instead. It was all so healthy, people finally doing what they really wanted, not having to fake it by having an opposite-sex person around to act out their fantasies for them -- now they could get right out there and be their own fantasies." - Andy Warhol (who dabbled in transvestism)