think about these things:
who is your favourite female comedienne?
what is it about their act/style that is funny?
are women less encouraged to be funny or actcan there be a successful female Jim Carrey (zany egotistical cariacture overload), Bill Hicks (humourous rock n' roll political philosophisng) or Chris Morris (surreal/satirical maverick) or are women generally restricted to bitchiness/lewdness and only mild satire, observation and dry wit to get laughs?
do you generally find men are funnier than women and if so why? why should this be?
― stevem (blueski), Saturday, 5 July 2003 14:19 (twenty years ago) link
got cut off - should finish 'act funny to more extreme/unconventional levels?'
― stevem (blueski), Saturday, 5 July 2003 14:23 (twenty years ago) link
I think it's more difficult to "get away" with laughing at women in a mainstream entertainment context because 1) so many writers are men and 2) so many female writers are too freakin' self-conscious to really cut loose. The funniest stuff I've ever read about women seems to be written by guys.
Gilda Radner, man, I wish she had had more of a revolutionary effect on women in comedy.
― jewelly (jewelly), Saturday, 5 July 2003 14:26 (twenty years ago) link
― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Saturday, 5 July 2003 14:26 (twenty years ago) link
The first big favourite to leap to mind is probably Lily Tomlin, a brilliant comedy actress who I hope is revered in America, where you've certainly seen much more of her. I am a big Lucille Ball fan too.
― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 5 July 2003 15:01 (twenty years ago) link
― jewelly (jewelly), Saturday, 5 July 2003 15:51 (twenty years ago) link
― jewelly (jewelly), Saturday, 5 July 2003 15:58 (twenty years ago) link
― stevem (blueski), Saturday, 5 July 2003 16:04 (twenty years ago) link
― Chris Radford (Chris Radford), Saturday, 5 July 2003 16:06 (twenty years ago) link
― stevem (blueski), Saturday, 5 July 2003 16:16 (twenty years ago) link
― Chriddof (Chriddof), Saturday, 5 July 2003 16:20 (twenty years ago) link
I don't like "comedians" in general so I'm relieved if there aren't many female comedians to begin with.
― amateurist (amateurist), Saturday, 5 July 2003 16:31 (twenty years ago) link
― stevem (blueski), Saturday, 5 July 2003 16:42 (twenty years ago) link
― Innocent Dreamer (Dee the Lurker), Saturday, 5 July 2003 18:04 (twenty years ago) link
― Innocent Dreamer (Dee the Lurker), Saturday, 5 July 2003 18:05 (twenty years ago) link
― Josh (Josh), Saturday, 5 July 2003 18:53 (twenty years ago) link
― Josh (Josh), Saturday, 5 July 2003 18:55 (twenty years ago) link
― Josh (Josh), Saturday, 5 July 2003 18:57 (twenty years ago) link
― Josh (Josh), Saturday, 5 July 2003 18:59 (twenty years ago) link
― donut bitch (donut), Saturday, 5 July 2003 19:01 (twenty years ago) link
― Josh (Josh), Saturday, 5 July 2003 19:02 (twenty years ago) link
ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS, people!
Jennifer Saunders... Julie Sawalha... sigh
― donut bitch (donut), Saturday, 5 July 2003 19:03 (twenty years ago) link
― Josh (Josh), Saturday, 5 July 2003 19:05 (twenty years ago) link
― Josh (Josh), Saturday, 5 July 2003 19:07 (twenty years ago) link
― anthony easton (anthony), Saturday, 5 July 2003 19:07 (twenty years ago) link
― Josh (Josh), Saturday, 5 July 2003 19:13 (twenty years ago) link
― Josh (Josh), Saturday, 5 July 2003 19:15 (twenty years ago) link
― Josh (Josh), Saturday, 5 July 2003 19:16 (twenty years ago) link
― oops (Oops), Saturday, 5 July 2003 19:18 (twenty years ago) link
― Josh (Josh), Saturday, 5 July 2003 19:19 (twenty years ago) link
― Josh (Josh), Saturday, 5 July 2003 19:41 (twenty years ago) link
― kikiru, Saturday, 5 July 2003 21:40 (twenty years ago) link
― That Girl (thatgirl), Saturday, 5 July 2003 21:45 (twenty years ago) link
Strangers With Candy, which used to be on MTV. I don't know if it plays in reruns on any stations or not as I'm without cable.
― jewelly (jewelly), Saturday, 5 July 2003 21:46 (twenty years ago) link
― stevem (blueski), Saturday, 5 July 2003 21:58 (twenty years ago) link
― That Girl (thatgirl), Saturday, 5 July 2003 21:59 (twenty years ago) link
― stevem (blueski), Saturday, 5 July 2003 22:00 (twenty years ago) link
― stevem (blueski), Saturday, 5 July 2003 22:03 (twenty years ago) link
― jewelly (jewelly), Saturday, 5 July 2003 22:04 (twenty years ago) link
― That Girl (thatgirl), Saturday, 5 July 2003 22:05 (twenty years ago) link
― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 5 July 2003 22:08 (twenty years ago) link
― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 5 July 2003 22:11 (twenty years ago) link
http://sctvguide.ca/features/lola78.jpg
But my favorites are probably Gilda Radner and Lily Tomlin.
― Arthur (Arthur), Saturday, 5 July 2003 22:13 (twenty years ago) link
http://www.tvtome.com/images/people/5/1/80-1880.jpg
― Arthur (Arthur), Saturday, 5 July 2003 22:15 (twenty years ago) link
― Elmo Oxygen (elmo oxygen), Saturday, 5 July 2003 23:17 (twenty years ago) link
― anthony easton (anthony), Saturday, 5 July 2003 23:19 (twenty years ago) link
― Mandee, Saturday, 5 July 2003 23:37 (twenty years ago) link
― di smith (lucylurex), Sunday, 6 July 2003 03:20 (twenty years ago) link
― Nellie (nellskies), Sunday, 6 July 2003 03:23 (twenty years ago) link
marlene dietrich was an underrated comic actress.
― amateurist (amateurist), Sunday, 6 July 2003 03:44 (twenty years ago) link
― X, Sunday, 6 July 2003 08:19 (twenty years ago) link
― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Sunday, 6 July 2003 09:09 (twenty years ago) link
― stevem (blueski), Sunday, 6 July 2003 10:05 (twenty years ago) link
I don't get how people think there is a problem with funny women being sexy. Obviously there is a whole range, but look back at the classic era of screwball comedies and the women were often the funniest characters, with the men often playing straight man. Bringing Up Baby is as good and high profile an example as any, I guess. If a modern example is wanted, UK viewers can watch Smack The Pony for some of the sexiest women on TV (I particularly love Sally Phillips). I do agree that there seems to be a weird attitude towards female comics, as if it isn't a properly feminine thing to be doing. This obviously needs opposing.
― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 6 July 2003 12:58 (twenty years ago) link
― Innocent Dreamer (Dee the Lurker), Monday, 7 July 2003 03:35 (twenty years ago) link
― james (james), Monday, 7 July 2003 10:03 (twenty years ago) link
― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 7 July 2003 10:10 (twenty years ago) link
― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 7 July 2003 16:24 (twenty years ago) link
― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 7 July 2003 16:27 (twenty years ago) link
The women of Newsradio were all very funny, though most of them are now doing ER. Which is, from the brief glimpses, quite humourless.
― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 7 July 2003 16:28 (twenty years ago) link
― Nicole (Nicole), Monday, 7 July 2003 16:32 (twenty years ago) link
― amateurist (amateurist), Monday, 7 July 2003 16:33 (twenty years ago) link
― Mandee, Monday, 7 July 2003 16:33 (twenty years ago) link
Amy Poehler. Now on SNL.
Funny women also seem to succeed in character sketches = Tracy Ullman, Carol Burnett.
(xpost with Mandee!)
― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 7 July 2003 16:40 (twenty years ago) link
― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 7 July 2003 17:10 (twenty years ago) link
― Saskia, Monday, 7 July 2003 17:17 (twenty years ago) link
― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 7 July 2003 17:19 (twenty years ago) link
― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 7 July 2003 17:20 (twenty years ago) link
― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 7 July 2003 17:22 (twenty years ago) link
― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Monday, 7 July 2003 17:32 (twenty years ago) link
― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 7 July 2003 17:33 (twenty years ago) link
― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 7 July 2003 17:38 (twenty years ago) link
denise coffey
― mark s (mark s), Monday, 7 July 2003 19:03 (twenty years ago) link
― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 16:32 (eighteen years ago) link
we're not commissioning a pilot
― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 16:40 (eighteen years ago) link
I think the problem with a lot of women in comedy is they're either used as the "straight" characters (viz: Quentin & Ash to Cloones & Morissey), or the comedy revolves around women's issues (endless jokes about tampons and dieting). I think the only show that managed to avoid this was Smack The Poney. But despite it's much touted all-female cast, many of the sketches could have been done by men or a mixed cast.
― dog latin (dog latin), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 18:13 (eighteen years ago) link
― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 18:19 (eighteen years ago) link
Catherine Tate, Meera Syal, can't even think of any more, NOT FUNNY. Oh, yes, French and Saunders. Very much not funny.
― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 18:27 (eighteen years ago) link
― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 18:30 (eighteen years ago) link
― _, Tuesday, 22 November 2005 18:34 (eighteen years ago) link
Destroy: Gina Yashere. Also Josie Lawrence (from the Emma Thompson/Catherine Tate/Tracy Ullman school of sketch-show smugness), that crap woman (Jenny Ross?) who used to be on the Sunday Show.
People who have intermittently made me laugh: Mel and Sue, Rhona Cameron, Donna McPhail, Hattie Hayridge
Honourable mention: Liza Tarbuck. I was trying to think of women who have appeared on Have I Got News For You or QI as the benchmark (that's appeared in the guise of professional funnyperson rather than being a guest who happens to be amusing) and apart from Jo Brand, Liza Tarbuck was the only one I could think of who I could actually put my hand on my heart and say that they made me laugh.
― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 18:55 (eighteen years ago) link
― Huk-L (Huk-L), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 18:58 (eighteen years ago) link
― _, Tuesday, 22 November 2005 19:10 (eighteen years ago) link
― _, Tuesday, 22 November 2005 19:12 (eighteen years ago) link
― _, Tuesday, 22 November 2005 19:15 (eighteen years ago) link
― _, Tuesday, 22 November 2005 19:18 (eighteen years ago) link
― _, Tuesday, 22 November 2005 19:20 (eighteen years ago) link
― _, Tuesday, 22 November 2005 19:32 (eighteen years ago) link
― _, Tuesday, 22 November 2005 19:34 (eighteen years ago) link
― _, Tuesday, 22 November 2005 19:35 (eighteen years ago) link
― darin (darin), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 19:39 (eighteen years ago) link
― D.I.Y. U.N.K.L.E. (dave225.3), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 20:27 (eighteen years ago) link
― Lovelace (Lovelace), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 03:58 (eighteen years ago) link
― howell huser (chaki), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 05:07 (eighteen years ago) link
― j b everlovin' r (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 05:09 (eighteen years ago) link