We often celebrate the brilliance of Sarah Haskins on this blog. Her Target Women series on Current TV is just one more example of how women are, indeed, funny. I feel stupid even writing that sentence, but apparently the mainstream media has some doubts--evidenced most obviously by Christopher Hitchens' January 2007 Vanity Fair piece Why Women Aren't Funny.
I have a few friends who work in the comedy business and I've had disturbing conversations as of late about the gender dynamic therein. For example, did you know that there is not one single female writer at The Daily Show? Not one. (Samantha Bee is a correspondent, and does some writing, but is not an official writer. Kristin Schall is only an occasional contributor.) When I think about how many women adore Jon Stewart, myself included, it makes me really sad to know that we're not also pushing him and Comedy Central, more broadly, to hire more women.
Another friend told me that she auditioned for a stand-up series on Comedy Central recently and they told her that they will only sign five women maximum. Not minimum. Maximum. And this was a show that needed something like 30 comedians total.
She also reports that some of the late night hosts, like Jimmy Kimmel, don't even audition women. If he's avoiding ladies because they remind him of his ex, Sarah Silverman, then that's just silly. What other reason could he possibly have?
This is beyond annoying. This is straight up, unfunny sexism. So what the hell are we going to do about it?
Related Posts:
I laugh at fart jokes.
Sacred Apacow
I heart funny feminists
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Sexism So Not Funny in Comedy .
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.feministing.com/cgi-bin/movabletype/mt-tb.fcgi/14785
Well, she was fucking Matt Damon.
Who wouldn't?
Ugh:
"Another friend told me that she auditioned for a stand-up series on Comedy Central recently and they told her that they will only sign five women maximum. Not minimum. Maximum. And this was a show that needed something like 30 comedians total."
that is SO pathetic and obnoxious.
This post made me think of a recent interview Kathy Griffin did for Bust magazine. In it, she talks about receiving invitations to charity events or tv specials where they'll openly say they've got their nine men but still need their one girl and ask if she's availible, like the ratio of 10 to 1 is equal or something.
I follow a lot of female comedians and the gender gap in both on tv shows/movies/writers etc and especially stand-up is really astounding. How can we help increase their visibilty when it seems like they're not even given a fair chance of being hired/booked in the first place?
Re: Kimmel, ironic, given how completely unfunny he himself is.
All around pathetic, though sadly, not surprising.
The original Christopher Hitchens article makes my blood boil. So many insulting, contradictory, anecdotal claims that I can't even start to pick and choose. Sexist fucking pricks just eat up any "scientific" claim that men do everything to try to fuck women, and women are receptive to everything men do in order to determine if they want to fuck them. And his "historical" evidence is a joke. GAhhh I'm so irate I can barely type good sentences. As a downright hilarious woman with faster wit than any man I know, this hurts. A lot.
Christopher Hitchens says assholish things for the sake of being politically incorrect and provoking a response. He's British so some people credit it as an intellectual exercise, but he's basically just a douche.
Thanks, I had absolutely no idea.
Okay, and there's something else that pisses me off. Aleks, I don't want to sound like I'm attacking you, but I am completely aware that Hitchens is a douche (in case you missed the sarcasm in my first response to you). Responding to my comment in which I express disdain for Hitchens' comments with
"Christopher Hitchens says assholish things for the sake of being politically incorrect and provoking a response. He's British so some people credit it as an intellectual exercise, but he's basically just a douche."
is patronizing. I am completely aware that some men use their privilege to get inflammatory and incorrect statements about women published. I know. You don't have to remind me. Plus, you reminding me of this downplays my anger at what Hitchens wrote. Aleks, your response is essentially the same thing as "calm down, it's not that important, try not to get so worked up." Thanks.
In Aleks' defense, I'm not getting that from him/her at all. S/he was just trying to offer a bit of context.
You still have every right to be pissed at Hitchens, British or pseudo-intellectual or not.
Possibly. It's just I'm no stranger to this pattern: woman expresses outrage, someone downplays the outrage by saying "well, that person is just an asshole." And, if that person is just an asshole, that means there is no need for further discussion on the topic, since the problem can be explained away by blaming that person instead of holding systemic sexism accountable as well. It's a classic way to disregard a valid complaint.
I don't think it's an invalidating tactic to call an asshole an asshole. I took it as a way of agreeing, if anything.
And honestly, I've heard that asinine article discussed before and no one's who's mentioned it has taken it to be anything more than Hitchens' own hangups.
But that aside the whole situation just disgusts me. That in 2009 people would be saying "we can only book 5 women" instead of just taking each comedian on their own merit. And Kimmel refusing to audition women at all? I hope he says so to some female comedian who sues the hell out of him for discrimination.
I suspect it's harder to win such a suit in the performing arts field, since so many hiring decisions are overtly based on chemistry or fit or subjective opinion.
That said, refusing to even audition women is pretty straightforward, though.
I am very troubled by this, too. It seems like Comedy Central has a self-fulfilling prophecy going on, based on the assumption that women don't like comedy and aren't funny. Because this is "true," programming should focus on men, male writers, male comedians, male actors, etc. Which further promotes the notion that women aren't funny or don't like comedy, since they aren't given as many chances to create and consume comedy as their male counterparts. Kinda like the whole "women don't watch movies" thing.
Yeah, I definitely got the sarcasm, but thanks for pointing it out in case I hadn't. I didn't know how familiar you were with Hitchens' other work; I've read Slate for years and for all I knew this might have been your first encounter with his style. By pointing out that the guy is *generally* a creep *as well as in this specific incidence* I wasn't at all saying "calm down, it's not that important, try not to get so worked up." Now that you've thrown such a silly and unprovoked hissy fit, however, that does seem like good advice for you.
"Now that you've thrown such a silly and unprovoked hissy fit, however, that does seem like good advice for you."
She started by saying she didn't want to seem like she was attacking you and then presented sound reasoning for being somewhat annoyed at your response to her post. I understood where she was coming from completely. Especially now that you've just dismissed her completely by saying she was throwing a "hissy fit" and should just "calm down." You could have just left your response to her with the beginning half of your post saying you didn't mean it to sound the way she interpreted it. But I guess that wouldn't have been snarky enough for you?
Actually she started out with a pointlessly sarcastic response that contained no information whatsoever expect that my post hadn't been worthwhile, *then* she said she didn't want to attack me, *then* she continued to attack me. She did throw a tantrum, and if I had in any way indicated that she needed to calm down before (I hadn't, because I didn't know it yet) she would have proven me right. She brought the shoe, and proved it fit her perfectly.
Using phrases like "tantrum" and "hissy fit" about a perfectly legitimate response might possibly inspire me to once again call you patronizing.
Anyway, I'm sorry I attributed your remarks to the same reasoning that some people regularly use to dismiss me. If you were just pointing out that Hitchens is an asshole, then that's good. But I have to point out that your response sounded, to me, like a typical, dead-end "blame the individual man in question without further discussion" argument that is often used against a feminist's complaint.
This is how I saw it. Some men (and women) buy into the idea that women aren't as funny as men, aren't as smart as men, or are so beholden to their reproductive capabilities that they are unfit for meaningful interaction with men beyond coitus. Hitchens further solidified these ideas in a well-respected, nationally distributed magazine. This, to me, is a problem worth discussing. I saw your comment as a set of personal remarks about Hitchens that don't let him off the hook, but instead excuse the existence of the article as just an inconsequential blip on the radar. Which it is not.
Not to mention the incredibly harmful stereotypes Hitchens rehashes about men: all they want is sex; they're dumb, frivolous, and childish; they are somehow lower than women on some cosmic scale of goodness; they are such babies that they can't handle women as competition; etc.
You're right this time. I am patronizing you now. I feel justified in doing so, even though you think "Thanks, I had absolutely no idea" was a "perfectly legitimate response" to my providing some relevant background information on a guy whose work I happen to have read over the years but you might not have.
Until you threw your tantrum, I hadn't accused you of doing anything. Now that you've had your hissy fit, I can't think of any good reason to pretend otherwise.
I already explained that I took your comment for the same argument I've heard many times, turned out to be incorrect, and apologized. I took your original response to be a tired old talking point, because it seemed like one to me. After you explained it wasn't, and why, I apologized. Then I further explained my initial, admittedly visceral reaction.
Yet you are still talking down to me, and you will probably continue to do so even after I have explained myself further. How dare you continue to talk to me about my "tantrum" and my "hissy fit" like I'm some spoiled child. One sarcastic comment is not a tantrum just because you disagreed with me.
Honestly, your comment right below mine ("Which Daily Show writers do you want fired, and who do you have in mind to replace them?") also looks like an attempt to stick it to the feminists, and having read that and the ensuing comments, I believe I had every right to assume you were trying to make a similarly unproductive comment about my statements. They represent, to me, two examples of the misguided, willfully ignorant lines of thought thought that I'm used to seeing from trolls.
I believe the majority of Feminists are aware that there are a limited number of jobs and that to give someone's job to someone else necessitates the first holder losing it. They aren't going to just double the writing staff. And I'm sure you find it very convincing when you sandwich a claim to not be attacking someone in between attacks on said person, Brutus is an honorable man and all that, but come on, you've never seriously paused in attacking me. And that's FINE, go for it, but don't try to play the victim at the same time you're picking and continuing a fight.
I already explained that I took your comment for the same argument I've heard many times, turned out to be incorrect, and apologized. I took your original response to be a tired old talking point, because it seemed like one to me. After you explained it wasn't, and why, I apologized. Then I further explained my initial, admittedly visceral reaction.
Yet you are still talking down to me, and you will probably continue to do so even after I have explained myself further. How dare you continue to talk to me about my "tantrum" and my "hissy fit" like I'm some spoiled child. One sarcastic comment is not a tantrum just because you disagreed with me.
Honestly, your comment right below mine ("Which Daily Show writers do you want fired, and who do you have in mind to replace them?") also looks like an attempt to stick it to the feminists, and having read that and the ensuing comments, I believe I had every right to assume you were trying to make a similarly unproductive comment about my statements. They represent, to me, two examples of the misguided, willfully ignorant lines of thought thought that I'm used to seeing from trolls.
Yeah, I'm really not gonna defend that. But good on Aleks for erasing any doubt by clearly dragging out the "hysterical woman" trope and then pretending like s/he didn't know what it meant.
I'm not going to pretend that she didn't flip out just because she's female.
I have know idea where Jellyleelips was coming from in that slightly absurd response.
I agree that Hitchens's article on women and humour was a classic example of douchebaggery, and he's a bit of a snake in his sophistry over the invasion of Iraq... BUT having read a couple of his books I have to say he's an excellent writer and has lots of interesting things to say on intellectual subjects. His writing on Orwell is first-rate, as are his dissections of Henry Kissinger and Thomas Paine, and this one other book on Anglo-American relations which I really enjoyed at university.
SO I urge you to reconsider him, if it's not too late!
Oh my freaking god. This is not about my unwillingness to consider Hitchens as one of the great writers of our time. This is a simple misunderstanding. I attributed negative intentions to aleks's comment when apparently there weren't any. So I was sarcastic. Then aleks said I had a hissy fit when I clearly didn't. This did not sit well with me. So I responded rationally. Then aleks said I was still having a hissy fit. Then I responded again. And now you're waxing poetic about the virtues of Hitchens and his work. Good fucking grief.
Ok, how would you describe what you're doing now?
I think it may be possible that you don't understand the context of calling a woman "hysterical." The word comes from the Greek for "uterus," and refers to the notion that people with uteruses are irrational and tend to get hung up on trivial matters. This is widely considered sexist, and women generally take exception to it and find it belittling.
There, now, you see how patronizing and demeaning that is?
Well said.
I did not know that. I did not in any way mean to imply that her reaction was gender-based. I withdraw "hissy fit" and substitute "tantrum."
So, so true.
Christopher Hitchens has made a career out of being a douchebag - spewing sexism, racism, colonialism, war, you name it. Primarily he just excels in general self-indulged arrogance.
Be warned - remember his name - and don't read articles by him in the future without being prepared to be offended. Offense is his business.
Which Daily Show writers do you want fired, and who do you have in mind to replace them?
I reject the notion that the solution must necessarily be zero-sum.
You're fantastically wealthy and inclined to endow a chair at the Daily Show at your own expense? Or are these new hires going to work for free?
Not for free, just only about 80% of what the male writers make.
Good one.
Agreed!
Me too, Peepers. Aleks, your approach assumes that a policy couldn't be put in place that would foster more diverse talent coming into the fold over time.
Do you mean a policy that as writers retire over the course of years, their replacements will be female? I think that's a great strategy for Supreme Court, but for The Daily Show I prefer to let Jon Stewart decide whom he works with.
those male writers obviously have merit. but it doesn't mean they didn't have a leg up on the competition for those jobs because of their gender. it is OK to question it. is it not? without someone jumping in and saying THEN FIRE THEM ALL, OR SHUT UP! you makes it seem an impossible task to be fair. that's right. just be fair when hiring. that's all they're saying. don't be such a big baby about it. your zero-sum responses are silly and defensive. it's a conversation about how, strangely, no women were hired. and it is STRANGE.
Please address things I've actually said instead of making stuff up and attributing it to me.
Well the nice thing about America is that that isn't entirely up to Jon Stewart if he's discriminating against women to do it.
From the posts here Jon Stewart has a huge female fan base & I'm not so sure he's missing out on an opportunity to connect more deeply with them by hiring more female writers.
The Daily Show being about the only non-news show I watch I hope someone/some group follows up on this. I'd like to think he's a fair enough man to want to seriously address it.
Fair point, but is there something missing from the finished product that would help connect to women in the audience if some of the male writers were replaced with women? As you say, a great many women love the show as it is.
Are you kidding me??? I don't know if you're serious or playing devil's advocate, but I'll assume you're legit. Art is a subjective experience. Absolutely culture, perspective & experience play a role in both its creation & its reception. Particularly the focus feminism places on power structures would be immensely helpful to a show whose raison d'etre is to poke fun at the existing power structures.
In the mid-'90s Esquire wrote an article on black comedians & pointed out that Bernie Mac was "too black" to get his own sitcom. Several years later I went back & cut out that article when he got his own show. The reason the Bernie Mac show worked was because they injected a black perspective into the standard American family sitcom. Why wouldn't this work w/ women???
I'm not kidding you, this may be regarded as the kiss of death but I've respected the posts of yours I remember reading. Regarding Feminism's place in the Daily Show, what comedically valuable feminist angles do you see going un-mined that replacing some of the current writers with women would take care of? Regarding Bernie Mac, I don't understand the relevance.
Courtney, do you have contact info for The Daily Show/The Colbert Report? We could really flood their inboxes. ;)
Do what I do, and don't watch the Daily Show. Jon Stewart was never funny, anyway. He's a douchebag.
Watch The Colbert Report. Now that's funny. Oh, and his head writer is a woman. Allison Silverman. Or couldn't you tell?
P.S. BTW, like it was stated above. About Sarah Silverman. Well, she *was* fucking Matt Damon. LMAO.
I do prefer The Colbert Report, and, of course, love the fact that it has a female head writer, since it tends to be quite the boys' club over at The Daily Show, the 80% of the time that Samantha and/or Kirsten aren't featured.
But what, exactly, has Jon Stewart himself done to garner a douchebag label, besides his show (like just about any comedy show, liberally-inclined or otherwise) not having equal gender representation amongst contributors?
He clearly is too self-important and smug, and has no handle on satire at all. His delivery is weak. I could go on and on.
I disagree with you entirely.
I'm thoroughly disappointed to say the least that he has no female writers and I want that to change. But I'm not going to say that he's a douche that has no comedic skills. I love Colbert as well. And think they're both awesome at what they do.
Fair enough!
And don't worry. You don't have to say he's a douche. I'll do that.
Because he *is* a douche. Completely overrated.
I'm genuinely interested in why you think Jon Stewart is a douche. He seems like a really nice guy to me.
Like I said, he seems to be self-important and smug. His sanctimonious attitude is written on his face and in everything he says and does. That's why I think he's a douche.
This is compounded by the adoration people seem to have for him. It gets worse because he obviously believes and buys into his own hype. This rubs me the wrong way in the same manner that Janeane Garofalo does. Although Janeane is clearly a more talented entertainer than Jon is, she stops being so funny when her own elitist attitudes start showing.
Don't get me wrong. I have plenty of friends who I respect who think he's the bee's knees. I just don't feel the same way. Different strokes for different folks. Perhaps if I were still a sophomore in college, I'd think he was funny, but I guess I've just been around people like him my entire life. I see through the act.
I agree with you!
I still haven't gotten into Sarah Haskins. I've been hearing about it for months, but I used to never be able to watch the videos - before switching to freelance, I used to mainly surf at work. Thankfully that is no longer an excuse.
The Daily Show....I used to have a major crush on Jon Stewart, but then I stopped watching TV regularly. Now it seems just a tad too precious....
Oh, don't get me started with Sarah Haskins. She's not funny at all. To each her own. I don't even bother trying to watch those Target Women shorts. I've tried, and now they just annoy me.
Really, you don't even admire the fact that Sarah can create a four-minute cultural/feminist commentary by slyly presenting advertising's dark/ridiculous undertones?
I feel like her approach actually has a a lot in common with Colbert's.
Except that Colbert is actually funny. Sarah Haskins' timing and delivery is woefully lacking. But, like I say, to each her own.
She would be better if she's stick to writing.
Oops. She'd be better if *she'd* stick to writing.
There are no female writers at the Daily Show because they left to do The Colbert Report. Allison Silverman is the head writer of the Colbert Report. Here she is on NPR's Fresh Air: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105690240
They left, or she left? That sounds like there was only one woman writer on The Daily Show to begin with, which is sad.
And someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm like 90% sure that two women created The Daily Show. Where the hell are they?
Weird! Anecdata: I always wondered why the Daily Show got unfunny to me after the spin-off, whereas I LMAO at the Colbert Report, which used to be one of the less-funny segments of its parent show.
I knew I tend to be most entertained by female comedy writers, but until now I didn't realized that was true even when the true gender of the writers was unknown to me.
You tend to find writers of one gender funnier than the other?
I do, it would seem. YMMV. I see what you're driving at. However, I did not say anything about the inherent funniness of anyone, nor did I claim that I am any sort of arbiter of who is and is not objectively funny. I made an observation about the writers who amuse me.
This frustrates me so much, and it's not any better in film. A couple weeks ago, I was watching a bunch of SNL skits online, and my friend made the comment that if Kristin Wiig were a guy, she'd already have a starring role in a comedy film and be embarking on a Will Ferrell-esque career (I think she actually has way more versatility than Ferrell). But instead, she's relegated to cameos and minor roles outside of SNL. Mindy Kaling from The Office is another example. Amy Poehler and Tina Fey are quasi-exceptions, but Baby Mama is thus far their only starring vehicle, and Poehler was a third banana in Blades of Glory.
There was a great article in Marie Claire a few months back about women in comedy. http://www.marieclaire.com/celebrity-lifestyle/celebrities/interviews/female-comedians-funny-actresses
They interviewed a ton of female comedians.
My favorite comment from the article is when Kathy Griffin said, "Let’s cut that crap right now that chicks aren’t as funny. Women are funnier than men. We’re funnier because we have to work harder."
In the case of "The Daily Show" it may be that the writers all feel they are "on the same page" and that if a woman who came in who had a different comedy perspective things would be slowed down, which is bullshit. A lot has to do with ego, not wanting to accept any criticism or change of perspective.
With stand-up comedy, the whole industry can use a lot more diversity. But, I find it strange how often hosts feel its important to bring up me being "the lady of the evening" or "our only girl" before I come up. They wouldn't say "Here's Mike, he's our black guy tonight!" But, lately I`ve been at some shows where 1 out of 5 comedians was a woman, the ratio is usually more like 12:1.
I can't really figure where the whole "unfunny women" thing even came from, besides sexism, because some of the best feminist writing throughout history has been biting satire, which is often also funny, or at least highlights the (usually laughable) absurdity of patriarchal institutions. I'm thinking of the classic Judy Syfers-Brady's "I Want a Wife" off the top of my head, though it's arguable whether that's laugh-out-loud funny. But, also, e.g., Nomi Lamm.
And I'm reminded of the post recently on this site (I think) about the art of the feminist comeback, the art of subverting, and using wit in the service of feminism. These techniques can result in some VERY funny jabs and observations - perhaps not to menz, of course, because some of the time it's making fun of them. :o) The point is, fucked up, oppressive institutions are ripe for the making-fun-of, and women have had to live under some of the most fucked up, absurd conditions in history, and it makes perfect sense that women would have to learn subversive rhetorical techniques - like sarcasm - to cope and further their cause.
I think there's really a rich history of funny in feminist writing.
Some of my favorite comedies are centered around women. Strangers With Candy was so good. The Sarah Silverman Program is really funny. 30 Rock, too. As a matter of fact, SNL can't do anything right since Tina Fey departed as head writer. Their cast is excellent, but Seth Meyers can't come up with 90 minutes of good material to save his life.
Granted, some of the funniest shows are written by males, like South Park and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, but really it's about even. Honestly, to me, funny is funny. It has absolutely nothing to do with gender. Plus, it doesn't take a woman to make fun of oppressive institutions. It takes a comedian. Trey Parker does it all the time. Tina Fey, too.
The two funniest people in America right now are Tina Fey and Sarah Palin.
Oh, speaking of funny. Sacha Baron Cohen's new movie is coming out tomorrow. Feminist? I doubt it. Funny? Absolutely.
Feminist? I doubt it.
So ... why are we talking about this on a blog focused on feminist issues? I'm not really sure what it has to do with anything.
Because I work for Sacha. I'm his publicist.
You have a great job. Please do not perform it here.
"I can't really figure where the whole "unfunny women" thing even came from"
There is an element of aggression to humor, could that be why?
Yeah, that's an interesting observation, and I think is probably a large part of it. And women are traditionally not supposed to be aggressive or to want to be aggressive, of course. Sarcasm/irony also pivot on this sort of threat of exclusion: if you "get" it (the sarcasm), you're in the club; if you don't "get" it, you're the second butt of the joke. If you "get it" but don't like it, you have to formulate a pretty careful response to keep yourself from looking silly.
As a woman who LOVES her comedy, this is repulsive. But... I can't say I've been completely blind to it either. I've almost had to stop watching some of my favorite funny shows because I've come to realize how sexist they are.
I watch "Comedy Central Presents" almost religiously and its true, there just aren't as many women as men comedians on this series. And if there IS a woman doing a stand-up special... it just perpetuates sterotypes (I feel that Comedy Central really pressures the comedians to say what Comedy Central wants them to say in their acts).
As for the Daily Show... I feel that in interviews and such Jon supports women a lot. That's not an excuse for the lack of female wirters, but its better than nothing, yes? Perhaps I'm being blind because I adore Jon so much.
Maybe that's it. Maybe we should stop supporting these "funny" shows that just make the gender gap even wider by not watching them. It saddens me, because I love to laugh. But I love to feel like an equal more.
Maria Bamford (featured in the Comedians of Comedy tour documentary) is really funny.
People who say women aren't funny have obviously never watched Absolutely Fabulous.
Exactly! I wonder if Jennifer Saunders would have ever been successful if she had tried to get her start in the U.S. It seems that many female comedians are expected to have a certain body size (read: skinny) if they are in a sitcom (thinking of Margaret Cho's experience on All American Girl, especially).
I do not think she would've been as successful in the U.S. Her show features women as the main characters, not as "props" for male leads. I don't know the details of her attempted sale of the US version of the show to Roseanne Barr, but it did not pan out due to, I think, cultural differences. However, Christopher Hitchens existence provides proof that the "women aren't funny" meme exists on both sides of the Pond.
BTW, I think it's interesting that the first names of all five main AbFab actresses begin with the letter J:
Jennifer Saunders
Joanna Lumley
Julia Sawalha
Jane Horrocks
June Whitfield
I'm a bit of a aficionado when it comes to live comedy. I've never thought of it before, but while the industry is dominated with men, most of my favorite comics are women. Sarah Haskins, Maria Bamford, Kathy Griffin, Lisa Lampanelli, Sarah Silverman, Andi Smith, KristenSchaal, Ellen DeGeneres, Janeane Garafalo, Judy Gold, and Kathleen Madigan -- just to name a few. Women are funny. Laughs seem to be the last thing women are forbidden to sell to us.
There is actually a blog that discusses this whole idea of feminism and comedy. It is called wisecrack and here is the link. http://wisecrackzine.blogspot.com/ go check it out!
Of course women are funny! The late, great Molly Ivins was one of the funniest people around. I love her description of Shrub "Poor George W.- he was born with a silver foot in his mouth."
Joan
That was actually Ann Richards (another Texan) talking about George H.W. Bush at the 1988 Democratic National Convention.
Here's a YouTube link.
I have never heard of the stereotype that women aren't funny. I mean, Tina Fey?!!!
I hadn't, either, until a couple years ago. It's one of those unspoken things, I think, but it's definitely there. Look at the number of women who write/preform comedy in mainstream TV shows and movies (and in movies, check who's the main character and who's the love interest).
There are plenty of funny women, but studios just don't seem to be interested in hiring them.
I was writing an article for my high school newspaper about a comedy improv group (all male students). After their show I interviewed the student who created the group and one of the questions I asked was why there weren't any girls in the group.
He replied, "Well, no offense, but girls just aren't funny."
So that was the first time I ever heard it explicitly stated. I was about 14. I was too embarrassed to say anything so I just agreed and moved on to my next question.
You're right, I haven't heard this until recently myself. When I think this over I think this might be more of a 'business' statement than an 'observational' one. Obviously there's a long line of successful comedienne's (Lucille Ball anyone?)...but if you count up the dollars of movie comedies you *might* find that the majority of successful films have male leads, and you *might* find that the majority of viewers of these comedies are men. That would explain sexist comments like we have here in light of the stunning success of several comediennes (far too many to list). In other words they're saying women aren't funny is their shorthand way of saying, "its hard to market female led comedies."
Or this could just be old fashioned sexism pure & simple. Jon Stewart doesn't strike me as sexist though, so its just a thought.
My blood is boiling all over again. A so-called progressive male friend said that he agreed with Hitchens; there are more funny men then women out there. And this dude is a SCIENTIST! How can you generalize your own limited experience or what's on TV to the world at large? Especially when humor is SUBJECTIVE? It's not something you can measure quantitatively, like height! Fucking ridiculous. I am so tired of "progressive" men who spew crap like this. I haven't talked to this dude since. Good riddance.
I usually don't rant on here but this is infuriating.
^ "than women." Clearly I'm upset if my grammar is failing... I'm a copy editor for F's sake! :)
I blame the people responsible to perpetuating the belief that Dane Cook's primary audience is female for the idea that women don't know comedy.
Does Sarah Haskins write anything for Current TV besides Target Women? Women frequently get stuck into a "women's ghetto" (case in point: the XX blog). I'm wondering if Haskins is a funny writer who does all sorts of stuff including advertising riffs, or if she's been ghettoized by Current TV.
I'm trying to persuade my partner to put her name in for open-mic night at a comedy club; I might send her this to bolster my case...
Here in Sweden one of our big feminist magazines, Bang recently had a whole issue themed around funny women and this issue.
It amused me when it came up here too.
1. Set up the system so that women aren't promoted into comedian spots.
2. Claim that women inherently aren't funny.
3. Profit
I was so excited when "Parks and Recreation" came out. It stars Amy Poehler and is really funny. The comedy is similar to "The Office" and the first season was as funny as the first season of "the office"
I love it that NBC's Thursday night line up has two shows written by and staring women. (this and 30Rock).
Even 30rock shows the gender gap in comedians, look at the panel of writers in the show--Tina Fey is the only woman.
Conversely, though, Michael Schur was the head writer when The Office started, and is the head for Parks and Recreation.
I wouldn't conflate acting roles with writing roles. Many shows need female actors to achieve a semblance of gender balance, but that doesn't necessarily correlate with who's in the writing room.
That said, from what I know of Schur he has a lot of female writers.
Garfunkle and Oates!
So disappointed in Christopher Hitchens... how can someone so apparently concerned with rationality be so, well, irrational? Prick. Shall not read his stuff ever again.
By the way, Germaine Greer recently (in March this year) wrote an article along very similar lines to Hitchens'. Read it here.
Also read London stand-up comedian Kate Smurthwaite's rebuttal of it here. Definitely worth reading!