Women Comedians . . . What Am I Missing?

Trouserpress wrote: My double-act partner is female, and we've had some very detailed discussions about the lack of decent female comedians in the UK. The main problem seems to be that a lot of female comedians are overly concerned with being female - most of their materials seems to hang on the fact that they are women. Now, the material we write together is utterly gender-neutral. Our comedy is generally surreal, metatextual and often quite profane - we'd sooner quit than write a sketch in which we explored the supposed differing attitudes of men and women.

It's the same problem any minority comedian has. People expect black people to make jokes about being black and gay people to make jokes about being gay. Which is thrilling when it first enters the cultural milieu and is outrageous and naughty but soon becomes tiresome when that's all you get. As with music, the best comedians do not give a sh*t about audience expectations, though they may find it hard to survive commercially. I used to do comedy myself and I know some failed comedians who are pretty much inarguably better than some guys who've made it big. Thing is the guys who made it big dumbed down or pandered to crowds. I also personally knew a guy who is one of the biggest comedians in New Zealand now and I'll tell you, the reason he's big isn't because he's funny but because he's a merciless opportunist.

JLocke wrote: Proletariat wrote: JLocke wrote: ^ Ehh . . . it was her stuff being posted in another thread that inspired me to start this one in the first place.  But thanks, anyway.  oh sh** well okydokey then   inspired you as in "this was bad, wonder if some chicks are funny" or as in "this was funny, wonder if there are other funny women"     just out of curiosity The former, unfortunately.  But hey, just my opinion. I might even come 'round to 'getting' her brand of humor at some point. I never rule anything out.

potato potato..... just realized how that phraze does not translate well into type

Proletariat wrote: JLocke wrote: ^ Ehh . . . it was her stuff being posted in another thread that inspired me to start this one in the first place.  But thanks, anyway.  oh sh** well okydokey then   inspired you as in "this was bad, wonder if some chicks are funny" or as in "this was funny, wonder if there are other funny women"     just out of curiosity

JLocke wrote: ^ Ehh . . . it was her stuff being posted in another thread that inspired me to start this one in the first place.  But thanks, anyway.

oh sh** well okydokey then

just what you need... female comedian making fun of female comedians http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDnLedkBjWg&feature=fvst

What I've found is that women comedians tend to do comedy about being women, about their periods, pregnancy, the things they talk about with other women, etc. As a man, I find it hard to relate to these jokes. The most successful female comedians pick topics that everyone can relate to.

My favorite is Paula Poundstone.

JLocke wrote:  . . . so nobody concurs with me that Portia is a lovely-looking lady? Interesting . . .

Would it matter at all if we did? 

 . . . so nobody concurs with me that Portia is a lovely-looking lady?

Finnforest wrote: JLocke wrote: Finnforest wrote: Bea Arthur had outstanding comedic delivery/timing on TV.  I don't know if she did stand-up, but if so, I' bet she would have been good.    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tne3lcEXZyk Thanks Micah.  She was awesome

Oh my...when she hit that first punchline I nearly died.   

Good night, funny lady.