Funny women:

June 28, 2001 8:57 PM

Funny women: Prompted by the Paula Poundstone thread, I decided to start a new conversation. Perhaps you've not been exposed to some of the amazingly funny women out there. The linked site is run by some friends of mine in New York.
posted by acridrabbit (25 comments total)

To read some writings by the funniest writer on the web, I direct thee to Tomato Nation. The author happens to be female.

The small numbers of female comedians and the major uphill battles they face has always pissed me off.
posted by acridrabbit at 9:01 PM on June 28, 2001

Amy Poehler, 1/4th of the Upright Citizens Brigade.

Amy Sedaris, formerly of Strangers With Candy.
posted by skwm at 9:17 PM on June 28, 2001

Anyone know the name of the female skit comic on The Chris Rock show? Her recent stand-up special had me rolling...
posted by machaus at 9:33 PM on June 28, 2001

I've only been to a comedy club once in my life; think it was in 1989 or 1990. It was to see Rita Rudner, and it was enjoyable. She, as always, was quite humorous, but the *atmosphere* just detracted. And Paula Poundstone has always kept me rolling...and Elayne Boosler used to be great, but haven't seen much of her lately.
posted by davidmsc at 9:51 PM on June 28, 2001

Emo Phillips is/was a funny woman. Hang on.. he's a guy? Man, looking at that site, he's had a haircut and been eating his greens!
posted by Kino at 10:01 PM on June 28, 2001

oh.. erm.. that one -----> meep!
posted by Kino at 10:02 PM on June 28, 2001

Joan Rivers has supplied some great quotes to the world over the years, i imagine she'd be like a pioneer in female comedian land? A lot of people don't like her, but that's what QVC can do to your credibility!
posted by Kino at 10:07 PM on June 28, 2001

Wanda Sykes, machaus.

Amy Sedaris kills me, but one of my favorite chicks for quick wittedness is former MTV VJ Kennedy.
posted by dong_resin at 10:11 PM on June 28, 2001

Loved Paula Poundstone as well- I think I was the only one to watch her extremely short lived tv show, all 2 episodes of it... I find most of the female comics I like are skit comics, although I think that's as related to stand-up not being as hot as it was in the late 80's. Amy Poehler (esp. on Conan O'Brien, when she played Andy's sister) is great, Nancy Walls is great on TDS and Ana Gasteyer is fantastic on SNL (her Katherine Harris was the highlight of their Election- themed skits). I think too many female stand-up comics end up resorting (perhaps out of necessity?) to "my boyfriend" type of humor, which is patently unfunny. Actually, a lot of unfunny male comics do the same thing with the "my girlfriend" and the "women and men... it's like they're different!" jokes, or fat people with the "yeah, I'm fat", etc..
posted by hincandenza at 10:14 PM on June 28, 2001

I always loved Caroline Rhea. Her early bit about astronaut wife hair always killed me. And wasn't she the one with the line about having sex with the optometrist?
posted by MegoSteve at 10:19 PM on June 28, 2001

does Eddie Izzard count?
posted by mcsweetie at 10:38 PM on June 28, 2001

how about tracey ullman? not a stand-up, but a brilliant, brilliant actress. - rcb
posted by rebeccablood at 10:54 PM on June 28, 2001

I couldn't even begin to list all of the brilliant female comics/writers that I love, but in addition to the above these are a few of my favorites:
    Imogene Coca
    Carol Burnett
    Tina Fey
    Aisha Tyler
    Jovanka Steel
posted by CrazyUncleJoe at 11:33 PM on June 28, 2001

Man, how did I forget Ullman? Freaky talented- her show was the best half hour on TV, bar none, back when FOX was still a fledging and oft-mocked network... and the launching pad for the Simpsons no less!
posted by hincandenza at 11:46 PM on June 28, 2001

It's Janeane's world. We just live in it.
posted by toddshot at 12:51 AM on June 29, 2001

Nicole over at Insomniaville is worth checking out.
posted by crunchland at 4:29 AM on June 29, 2001

I'm still laughing at Elvira Kurt's stand-up schtick.
posted by plinth at 5:39 AM on June 29, 2001

Though she's not usually considered a "stand up," if you've ever seen Whoopi Goldberg live, you know that she is one incredible actor... I'd include her in this grouping because she does write all her own material for those shows and she did get her start in the comedy clubs.
posted by m.polo at 6:31 AM on June 29, 2001

She's not a comedian, but Sarah Vowell is absolutely hilarious every time I hear her on This American Life.
posted by glenwood at 6:59 AM on June 29, 2001

Agreed on Caroline Rea. Love her. I also like Paula Poundstone and had no idea she was such an acquired taste! Others to add: Andrea Martin and Catharine O'Hara from SCTV. Not stand-ups, but they definitely qualify as funny ladies.
posted by mw at 8:21 AM on June 29, 2001

I quite enjoyed Margaret Cho's I'm the One Want.
posted by Shadowkeeper at 8:23 AM on June 29, 2001

Oh, and Sandra Bernhard! (Sorry, can't find a good link.) Without You I'm Nothing had me in hysterics, especially the bit about a guy and a tambourine.
posted by mw at 8:36 AM on June 29, 2001

I have a special fondness for Judy Gold, recently seen delivering her schtick in between-movie segments on HBO. And the other Judy is always good for a laugh. Then there's Wendy Goldman, who does this great aside thing that is impossible to reproduce in print but works wonders on stage.

My friend Patrick has just reminded me of Rita Rudner, Kate Clinton, Brett Butler, Roseanne (whose stand-up was really innovative for its time) and the ascerbic Lea DeLaria, as well.

And it's probably incredibly disrespectful to have this discussion without a tip of the fright wig to the mother of stand-up for women, Phyllis Diller.
posted by Dreama at 9:04 AM on June 29, 2001

All the aforementioned, plus Kate Clinton, Lily Tomlin and Lynn Lavner.
posted by bradlands at 1:29 PM on June 29, 2001

acridrabbit: glad I inspired you.
posted by ParisParamus at 1:39 PM on June 29, 2001