Wong & Owens Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 OK, here's a comment that might stir up some debate on a Monday. I don't find the majority of women comedians funny. I am not pulling a Jerry Lewis here, nor do I consider myself to be a sexist person by nature, so I'm not 100% sure why I feel this way. Nevertheless, going back through the years, I can't find one female comedian that I would but on my top 50 list of funny people. This is especially true for Stand Up comedy. I have less trouble finding female comedic actors that make me laugh(Julia Louis Dreyfus, I thought the Ellen show was pretty funny, Ana Gasteyer has hilarious moments), but I wouldn't put any of them in a top 10-20-30 list either. Perhaps just a case of what appeals to the sexes not always being equal? Discuss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrimsonWeltall Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 Perhaps just a case of what appeals to the sexes not always being equal? It's a case of WOMEN ARE NOT FUNNY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 Robin Williams Bill Cosby The Smothers Brothers Ray Romano Rita Rudner Ellen DeGeneres Dana Carvey Kevin Nieland George Carlin Steven Wright Damn good call on the Smothers Brothers... Mom always like you best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wong & Owens Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 It's a case of WOMEN ARE NOT FUNNY For the most part, I agree with you, but I'm interested in why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Prawn Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 Damn good call on the Smothers Brothers... Mom always like you best They were on Bonnie Hunt's TV show not too long ago and I was crying I was laughing so hard at them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 OK, here's a comment that might stir up some debate on a Monday. I don't find the majority of women comedians funny. I am not pulling a Jerry Lewis here, nor do I consider myself to be a sexist person by nature, so I'm not 100% sure why I feel this way. Nevertheless, going back through the years, I can't find one female comedian that I would but on my top 50 list of funny people. This is especially true for Stand Up comedy. I have less trouble finding female comedic actors that make me laugh(Julia Louis Dreyfus, I thought the Ellen show was pretty funny, Ana Gasteyer has hilarious moments), but I wouldn't put any of them in a top 10-20-30 list either. Perhaps just a case of what appeals to the sexes not always being equal? Discuss. My opinion here. I don't find the material that most women do very funny. Most of them seem to be stuck in dating, men, and/or sex. Soooo many of them sound the same to me. Julia Dreyfus was great on SNL and Seinfeld as a physical comedian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Prawn Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 For the most part, I agree with you, but I'm interested in why. Elaine Boosler is hysterical. She hasn't been around much lately. Heck, I am not even sure if she is still alive. Roseanne was funny until her schtick got old/her show went weird. Oh and how could I forget, Tim Allen - 'Men are pigs!' and 'Men lies so much because women b**** all the time.' Damn funny (and somewhat truthful too! heehee). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Prawn Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 Most of them seem to be stuck in dating, men, and/or sex. Men never do schticks about sex and dating...okay. I think it is more that women hit men's sore spots than that they are not funny. But, to each their own. Damn, now I feel like Pepe the King Prawn...okay. heehee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wong & Owens Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 Elaine Boosler is hysterical. She hasn't been around much lately. Heck, I am not even sure if she is still alive. Roseanne was funny until her schtick got old/her show went weird. Oh and how could I forget, Tim Allen - 'Men are pigs!' and 'Men lies so much because women b**** all the time.' Damn funny (and somewhat truthful too! heehee). Yah, Boosler and Roseanne had their moments, to be sure, but they both got old for me pretty quickly, and I certainly wouldn't rank them up there with Seinfeld, Pryor, Rock, et al. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 Men never do schticks about sex and dating...okay. I think it is more that women hit men's sore spots than that they are not funny. But, to each their own. Damn, now I feel like Pepe the King Prawn...okay. heehee They do... but the guys I like have a whole range of things. When is the last time you heard George Carlin do a half hour on dating? One hit wonders bore me quickly. Show me some talent, show me some ability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxFanForever Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 I'm surprised nobody mentioned The Dice Man, Andrew Dice Clay. Granted, some of his stuff might come off as "crude" to certain people, I find it absoltuely f***ing hilarious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrandoFan Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 Ever since Carlin charged me 25 bucks to watch him hash out new material off a yellow legal pad ( very POORLY, I might add ), he's off my list Ever seen Garofalo phone it in for $35? And unlike Carlin, she doesn't even bother with the yellow pad......That's why I like Margaret Cho-- not as natureally caustic as Jeanine but at least has respect for her audience and PREPARES... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bones Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 My List (in no particular order) Jerry Seinfeld Chris Farley Tom Green Jim Carrey Adam Sandler Honorable Mention: Lenny Bruce-I haven't heard much of his stuff, but what I have heard is hilarious. I'm currently reading The Trials of Lenny Bruce and it's pretty good. And I just haven't heard his name mentioned yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wong & Owens Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 Ever seen Garofalo phone it in for $35? And unlike Carlin, she doesn't even bother with the yellow pad......That's why I like Margaret Cho-- not as natureally caustic as Jeanine but at least has respect for her audience and PREPARES... I forgot about the Notorious one. She's pretty funny, but again, I wouldn't put her on a list of 25-50 funniest people around or anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greasywheels121 Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 No particular order here... Dane Cook Dave Chappelle Brian Regan Will Ferrel Jerry Seinfeld Kevin James Jon Stewart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrandoFan Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 I don't find the majority of women comedians funny Ther are generally LESS of them out there. Up until very recently, only certain kind of time-worn comedic stereotype role-ttes were available to them. And of course, we are not wired to laugh at women as we are -- at men. The same joke told by different genders might produce different reactions in the audience. Paraphrasing J.Garofalo, all a woman has to do to be funny: be beautiful/sexy and fall down a lot. As simplistic as it sounds, that's just the way they have been perceived by the public AND showbiz execs for AGES. Even now, benefit of the doubt that we extend to men (as in: he's not funny, but he's a famous comedien, so I must cut him some slack), is not as readily available to womenfolk in comedy. Men are expected to be brutally honest, edgy, boorish, etc. But women? As soon as one is less than perfect and starts grating on the nerves even a little bit, that's it, they lose all the good will a comic absolutely has to have, and are relegated to the special status of comedy affirmative action baby -- as in, the only reason she is up there is because she is a woman -- and everyone knows women are supposed to be laughing at jokes, not making the jokes. And so forth. And you mentioned the key word "majority" -- doesn't it apply to men as well? If I have to see one more excruciating and undistinguishable Komedy Sentral Hack "Special"......There must be some kind of Hell for the Tough Crowd folk or the momos in the New Fryar's Club. :puke Me? I definately find women funny. Some examples off the top of my head: Laraine Newman was truly underrated on SNL - Guilda and Jane got all the attention, but Laraine was a better character commediene, period. When she plays a prodigal stewardess (in that famous sketch where Belushi is Don Carleone) and quotes Norman Mailer about not being able to go home....I lost my s***. Absolutely priceless. Julie Dreyfuss as Seinfeld's Elaine. Funny and original? Can't beat that. The way she gets rid of Soup Nazi? Awesome. Cheri O'Terri-- again, Shannon and Gaysteyer got all the hype -- but this little lady, especially when paired with Will Ferrel on that morning show, was hilarious. Easily as funny as anything Jim Carrey, Mike Myers and Robin Williams ever done in thei. Amy Poehler -- UCB alum, along with Seth Meyer by far the only bright spot in that eye-scratching awfulness known as "SNL of 2002-2004". When she has the right material (which is not often), like O'Terri before her, can make you snort all sorts of things through your nose. She had like literally a 2-second cameo as a disgruntled washed-up casino night club waitress during some awful Chris Kattan sketch and singlehandely almost made it work. 2 seconds, one glance at the camera. Haha. Beth Lilltleford or some such name -- the original TDS correspondent -- had her very funny moments on the show and they still haven't been able to replace her 4 years later. Amy Sedaris on SWC. Watch Diane Keaton as Vito Corleone in Sleeper or in Love & Death, Play It Again Sam and even in Annie Hall. Tell me that's not funny. Lily Tomlins's specials and SNL guest spots are always hilarious even if they're, what, 30 years old and should be really dated by now. Catherine O'Hara while not conventionally stand-up always brings the funny. I dunno....there are many others, including Garofalo (not now), Dianne Wiest, some Margaret Cho, some Jeniffer ANiston (before she got really famous), sANDR Bernardt in her 80's prime....I'll have to try to remember more later. Anyway, does anyone remember what exactly Jerry Lewis said? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IlliniBob72 Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 Jake Johannsen is/was a great stand-up. Steven Colbert is one of the funniest guys on TV. Anyone ever see Strangers With Candy on Comedy Central? Pure comic genius. Viva Variety with Thomas Lennon and Ian Michael Black, now on Ed, was also excellent comedy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wong & Owens Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 Ther are generally LESS of them out there. Up until very recently, only certain kind of time-worn comedic stereotype role-ttes were available to them. And of course, we are not wired to laugh at women as we are -- at men. The same joke told by different genders might produce different reactions in the audience. Paraphrasing J.Garofalo, all a woman has to do to be funny: be beautiful/sexy and fall down a lot. As simplistic as it sounds, that's just the way they have been perceived by the public AND showbiz execs for AGES. Even now, benefit of the doubt that we extend to men (as in: he's not funny, but he's a famous comedien, so I must cut him some slack), is not as readily available to womenfolk in comedy. Men are expected to be brutally honest, edgy, boorish, etc. But women? As soon as one is less than perfect and starts grating on the nerves even a little bit, that's it, they lose all the good will a comic absolutely has to have, and are relegated to the special status of comedy affirmative action baby -- as in, the only reason she is up there is because she is a woman -- and everyone knows women are supposed to be laughing at jokes, not making the jokes. And so forth. And you mentioned the key word "majority" -- doesn't it apply to men as well? If I have to see one more excruciating and undistinguishable Komedy Sentral Hack "Special"......There must be some kind of Hell for the Tough Crowd folk or the momos in the New Fryar's Club. :puke Me? I definately find women funny. Some examples off the top of my head: Laraine Newman was truly underrated on SNL - Guilda and Jane got all the attention, but Laraine was a better character commediene, period. When she plays a prodigal stewardess (in that famous sketch where Belushi is Don Carleone) and quotes Norman Mailer about not being able to go home....I lost my s***. Absolutely priceless. Julie Dreyfuss as Seinfeld's Elaine. Funny and original? Can't beat that. The way she gets rid of Soup Nazi? Awesome. Cheri O'Terri-- again, Shannon and Gaysteyer got all the hype -- but this little lady, especially when paired with Will Ferrel on that morning show, was hilarious. Easily as funny as anything Jim Carrey, Mike Myers and Robin Williams ever done in thei. Amy Poehler -- UCB alum, along with Seth Meyer by far the only bright spot in that eye-scratching awfulness known as "SNL of 2002-2004". When she has the right material (which is not often), like O'Terri before her, can't make you snort all sorts of things through your nose. She had like literally a 2-second cameo as a disgruntled washed-up casino night club waitress during some awful Chris Kattan sketch and singlehandely almost made it work. 2 seconds, one glance at the camera. Haha. Beth Lilltleford or some such name -- the original TDS correspondent -- had her very funny moments on the show and they still haven't been able to replace her 4 years later. Amy Sedaris on SWC. Watch Diane Keaton as Vito Corleone in Sleeper or in Love & Death, Play It Again Sam and even in Annie Hall. Tell me that's not funny. Lily Tomlins's specials and SNL guest spots are always hilarious even if they're, what, 30 years old and should be really dated by now. Catherine O'Hara while not conventionally stand-up always brings the funny. I dunno....there are many others, including Garofalo (not now), Dianne Wiest, some Margaret Cho, some Jeniffer ANiston (before she got really famous). I'll have to try to remember more later. Anyway, does anyone remember what exactly Jerry Lewis said? 1) I agree that there is still probably more men comics working than women comics, but I wouldn't think the numbers are that disparate anymore. I disagree that a joke would get a different response based on the gender of the teller. If any woman had come up with Kinison's bit about nothing growing in the desert, or Eddie Murphy's bit about white guys that just saw "Rocky," I would have laughed every bit as hard. 2) I see where you are coming from, and you're right, but I consider myself to not be guilty of those types of double standards. I don't give any of those chumps on those Komedy Sentrul specials the time of day when they suck, and the more boorish or edgy the woman comedian--i.e. Roseanne, C.H.O.--the more I tend to like them. 3) I agree that most of the women you mentioned are funny, at least some of the time, but I wouldn't put any of them in the same LEAGUE as the best comedians the male gender has to offer. I would add that woman, I can't think of her name, who plays in all of Chris Guest's movies(ditzy rich dog owner in Best in Show) and as Stiffler's Mom in American Pie. She is VERY funny. 4) Jerry Lewis said that he doesn't laugh at female comedians, because when he sees a woman, he sees her as the mother of children, which isn't funny. Or something like that. Whatever the exact words were, they should have been enough to make every woman alive wish he would get his head smashed in by the next available telethon phone operator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supernuke Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 Carrot Top Gallagher Sinbad Rosie O'Donnel Jenny Jones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrandoFan Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 1) I agree that there is still probably more men comics working than women comics, but I wouldn't think the numbers are that disparate anymore. I disagree that a joke would get a different response based on the gender of the teller. If any woman had come up with Kinison's bit about nothing growing in the desert, or Eddie Murphy's bit about white guys that just saw "Rocky," I would have laughed every bit as hard. 2) I see where you are coming from, and you're right, but I consider myself to not be guilty of those types of double standards. I don't give any of those chumps on those Komedy Sentrul specials the time of day when they suck, and the more boorish or edgy the woman comedian--i.e. Roseanne, C.H.O.--the more I tend to like them. 3) I agree that most of the women you mentioned are funny, at least some of the time, but I wouldn't put any of them in the same LEAGUE as the best comedians the male gender has to offer. I would add that woman, I can't think of her name, who plays in all of Chris Guest's movies(ditzy rich dog owner in Best in Show) and as Stiffler's Mom in American Pie. She is VERY funny. 4) Jerry Lewis said that he doesn't laugh at female comedians, because when he sees a woman, he sees her as the mother of children, which isn't funny. Or something like that. Whatever the exact words were, they should have been enough to make every woman alive wish he would get his head smashed in by the next available telethon phone operator. 1) I meant women in prominent positions-- starring in movies, playing FIRST fiddle in variety/sketch shows, getting an HBO special, hosting Late Night, etc. It's dominated by males, less than before of course, but still. That can't help but reflect and shape our (audience and execs') perception and expectations at the same time. As far as dual reactions, there have been many anecdotal and serious studies done and I am afraid quite a few support this theory. Imagine a dialogue by your favorite actor read by a woman -- the content is the same, but the form/style and the associations it generates are just not. It should be reacted to the same, ideally, but in reality it's not. The repertoir, the comedic range and niche choice within which they could work and be funny was MUCH narrower for women up until VERY recently. Even talking about the 70's and 80's, a woman comedienne would not be allowed to say what Kinnison, Carlin, Pryor, etc were a allowed to. Bernard's stand-up was no less funny than Kinnisons's IMO. But she was more of a gimmick in people's minds, hence the limited exposure. Up until very recently, women were not allowed to be as funny as men and when they were, the audience would have none of it -- cringing or protesting. When women did achieve parity-- sitcoms for example -- they were generally every bit as funny as men. But could a woman do Robin Williams, Myers and Carey schtick? Sure. Would people receive it the same way? No. 2) Yeah, but remember a big part of the double-standard stuff is SUB-conscious. I find myself going in with purer intentions, but still feeling what I don't want to feel. In any case, I think you are the exception than the rule, Tollison. 3) Would you say that women poets are inferior to men? Would you say they can't do drama as well? And yet at one time, they could do neither and when they were finally allowed to, for a long time the reception was less than warm. What makes comedy inherently different? It also depends on the TYPE of comedy you go for. Let's face it, some are more gender-neutral and some are less. Hell, on my list inthis thread, most are MEN -- partially because that's the kind of humor I go for. Then again, some are just brilliant and it has nothing to do with their gender -- Bill Hicks, Jon Stewart and Chris Rock at their best transcend superficial limitations. Likewise, some women do too. 4) :headshake Then again, Jerry Lewis is by FAR not alone in that sentiment. On some level, I recognize it in myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrandoFan Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 Just out of curiosity, Tolleson what's your top 30? I could understand top 5 -- again, my own 15 only has 2 women -- but you mentioned top 50? I don't get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 Robin Williams Seinfeld David Spade John Belushi Chris Farley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightni Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 1. Jim Carrey 2. Robin Williams 3. Jeff Foxworthy 4. Richard Prior 5. Chris Farley honorable mention: Bill Cosby Benny Hill Jon Stewart Adam Sandler Phil Hartman Dave Barry The Extreme Elimination Challenge Guys Bob & Tom The Monty Python Troupe The "Who's Line is It Anyway" Troupe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxFanForever Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 Carrot Top Gallagher Sinbad Rosie O'Donnel Jenny Jones This is a top 5 best, not a top 5 worst list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wong & Owens Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 Just out of curiosity, Tolleson what's your top 30? I could understand top 5 -- again, my own 15 only has 2 women -- but you mentioned top 50? I don't get it. Top 50 might be a stretch, but here's a haphazard Top 30: Bill Hicks Sam Kinison Eddie Murphy Jerry Seinfeld Chris Rock David Letterman Steve Martin George Carlin Billy Connolly(his stand up is HIGHLY underrated, check out his act as the opener on some Whoopi Goldberg special back in the late 80's) Mitch Hedberg Eddie Izzard Will Ferrell Phil Hartman Bill Murray Richard Pryor John Goodman Jeffery Ross Dana Carvey Jon Stewart Johnny Carson Denis Leary Dennis Goldberg Drake Sather OK, that's only 20, but it's all I got right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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