Funny women?

unhappys10 · 26-06-2020 8:42am #1

So, after seeing a story on The Journal (I know) written by someone called Maeve Higgins about how there should be more women in comedy. My initial thoughts were no, there shouldn't unless you are actually funny, which she most definitely wasn't, isn't nor ever will be.

I was left wondering are there actually any funny female comedians out there?

It seems to be one of those things that men are better at (you know, like driving).

In general I don't agree with this BS of there should be more women in various fields. There should be more people suitable to what they do no matter what gender.
Same with jobs, hire the best person for the job, not based on what's between their legs.

Anyway, back on topic, the only genuinely funny woman I can think of off the top of my head is Pheobe Waller-Bridge, if you don't know her check out a BBC show called Fleabag, great stuff. Saw her on Graham Norton also, very funny.

Any others out there?

ILoveYourVibes · 26-06-2020 8:44am

Jennifer Saunders.

jimgoose · 26-06-2020 8:47am

Sindhu Vee is hilarious, as are Sarah Millican and Victoria Wood.

And as for Joan Rivers... :pac::pac::pac:

ShedTower · 26-06-2020 8:49am

Our own Aisling Bea is funny.

Sam Hain · 26-06-2020 8:49am

jimgoose wrote: »

Sindhu Vee is hilarious, as are Sarah Millican and Victoria Wood.

And as for Joan Rivers... :pac::pac::pac:

All about as funny as Rose West

26-06-2020 8:50am

I will just link these two articles here because someone probably will eventually

https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2007/01/hitchens200701
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7izJggqCoA

In general I tend to avoid the threads about which comedians are funny or not. I can not sit well with the idea that "Funny" is an objective thing or an attribute of the comedian. I think it is an attribute of the audience/listener. "Funny" is not what the comedian does or says - it is what the effect of those words or actions have _on me_.

Sam Hain · 26-06-2020 8:50am

ShedTower wrote: »

Our own Aisling Bea is funny.

Now that's funny.

Randy Archer · 26-06-2020 8:56am

Whatever happened to that disaster , Higgins ?

Funny women ? Joan Rivers

unhappys10 · 26-06-2020 9:01am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I will just link these two articles here because someone probably will eventually

https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2007/01/hitchens200701
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7izJggqCoA

In general I tend to avoid the threads about which comedians are funny or not. I can not sit well with the idea that "Funny" is an objective thing or an attribute of the comedian. I think it is an attribute of the audience/listener. "Funny" is not what the comedian does or says - it is what the effect of those words or actions have _on me_.

Not sure I agree with that.
You can have a very quick witted person who knows what to say and when to say it to get a laugh, they'd have to read their audience as it were and tailor the humour.
Obviously some of it is the response generated in the audience but it's probably a mixture of the two.

26-06-2020 9:01am

ShedTower wrote: »

Our own Aisling Bea is funny.

Had pints with her a while back in London. Genuinely funny and as sound as they come.

26-06-2020 9:03am

Nikki Glaser is a funny women. Best known for her roasting (which doesn't take much talent) but I've seen her in other environments and she's a hoot.

magic_murph · 26-06-2020 9:04am

ShedTower wrote: »

Our own Aisling Bea is funny.

Debatable. Plastic Paddy at it's finest

nullzero · 26-06-2020 9:04am

Women can be funny alright, that is when they aren't relying on outdated notions of talking about menstruation and their sex lives to "shock" people into laughing at them.

Homelander · 26-06-2020 9:04am

jimgoose wrote: »

Sindhu Vee is hilarious

Honestly laugh every time I see this clip, she's amazing.

Treppen · 26-06-2020 9:06am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Had pints with her a while back in London. Genuinely funny and as sound as they come.

That doesn't make her funny though.

26-06-2020 9:08am

unhappys10 wrote: »

Not sure I agree with that.
You can have a very quick witted person who knows what to say and when to say it to get a laugh, they'd have to read their audience as it were and tailor the humour.
Obviously some of it is the response generated in the audience but it's probably a mixture of the two.

A mixture of the two perhaps.

For me it is a bit like saying that "X tastes good". Well - does it? To who? I can pick the food I like most in the world - and the next person to eat it will find it disgusting. So flavour and taste is the subjective response of the person to the food. It is not just an attribute of the food.

I think the same way about comedy and comedians. Things that absolutely crack me up - are probably entirely unfunny to other people. Look at what happens whenever Tommy Tiernan gets mentioned on boards for example. He divides opinion on the standard of his humour more than most names for some reason - at least it seemed that way to me when I dipped in to read the threads.

Now are there attributes - as you point out - that make a particular food or comedian _more likely_ to appeal to a larger target group? I think there is. We evolved to respond well to sweetness. So sweeter foods have a better chance for example. But it _still_ at the end of the day comes down to the observer.

So yes - a mix of the two for sure. But the massive level of subjectivity behind it is why I tend to avoid getting into a discussion on whether a particular individual or group are or are not "funny".

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 26-06-2020 9:10am

nullzero wrote: »

Women can be funny alright, that is when they aren't relying on outdated notions of talking about menstruation and their sex lives to "shock" people into laughing at them.

In fainress, you ge a lot of male comedians doign the whole toilet humour and sex talk like a bunch of inexperienced teenagers.

For some reason, women tend to be funnier as writers rather then comedians.

JohnnyFlash · 26-06-2020 9:11am

You need to be very careful with this topic, OP. There’s stupendously unfunny men on this site who believe standup died when Bernard Manning died. They get very tetchy about comedy in general, but especially so when it involves women.

Sets them right off. Veins bulging in their neck sort of thing.

nullzero · 26-06-2020 9:14am

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

In fainress, you ge a lot of male comedians doign the whole toilet humour and sex talk like a bunch of inexperienced teenagers.

For some reason, women tend to be funnier as writers rather then comedians.

Those male comedians tend to not be very good.

Sitting through a "performance" by Amy Schumer for example is an exercise in tedium, she is the type of "comedian" I was referring to, relying on outdated tropes whilst at the same time stealing other peoples material. Is this the same for all female comedians? Of course not, but it's an easy place to get stuck.

s1ippy · 26-06-2020 9:22am

Smack the Pony! All them girls are hilarious (for tans). Come to think of it I've never seen a funny female comedian in Ireland. There's only *one girl I know personally who I would regard as legitimately funny and she's related to me. She is absolutely f'n hilarious though.

* I wouldn't rank any of my male friends as especially funny, to the point where its a talent, except two lads who are actually comedians on the comedy circuit, and she is effortlessly funnier than them but she does too many other things to specifically dedicate herself to being a comedian. If I were a talent agent though, I would find somebody to write her a set or encourage her because there is not enough comedy in the entire world to begin to repair the damage done to most people by this year

wassie · 26-06-2020 9:22am

Nina Conti - hugely talented comedian, musician, actress and ventriloquist

26-06-2020 9:25am

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

In fainress, you ge a lot of male comedians doign the whole toilet humour and sex talk like a bunch of inexperienced teenagers.

For some reason, women tend to be funnier as writers rather then comedians.

Tina fey and martina hill were the first two i thought of.

there's a lot of unfunny men and women out there. i was browsing the stand ups on amazon recently and shut most of them off fairly quickly

definitely agree with a lot on this list
https://www.ranker.com/list/funniest-female-comedians/kel-varnsen

El_Duderino 09 · 26-06-2020 9:25am

Some people are funny and some aren't. What people find funny is subjective anyway so different people will find different rhibgs funny. But 'funny' is pretty likely to be spread across society.

So if you think no black people or women or Cork people are funny, it's probably exposes a bias in you and what you see people's roles as being.

These threads are always the same and could be summed up thusly: women, know your place.

South Park did a few episodes on this topic. Cartman would go up to women an say "women are so funny. Tell us a joke, say something funny right now" and when they told him to fcuk off, he'd act shocked that they hadn't said something funny.

JohnnyFlash · 26-06-2020 9:26am

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

In fainress, you ge a lot of male comedians doign the whole toilet humour and sex talk like a bunch of inexperienced teenagers.

Toilet humour and sex talk sounds like the making of a great comedy set to be honest. Throw in a few racial stereotypes and we are talking a classic.

Treppen · 26-06-2020 9:28am

Oooo things are hotting up... Token funny woman Katherine Ryan is giving up her token women seat on Mock The Week.
https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/news/5815/katherine-ryan-wont-go-on-mock-the-week/

I sense a gamergate coming on

26-06-2020 9:31am

Treppen wrote: »

Oooo things are hotting up... Token funny woman Katherine Ryan is giving up her token women seat on Mock The Week.
https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/news/5815/katherine-ryan-wont-go-on-mock-the-week/

I sense a gamergate coming on

God fair play to her, if it's really like that she is making good points

unhappys10 · 26-06-2020 9:32am

Homelander wrote: »

Honestly laugh every time I see this clip, she's amazing.

Not even a snort of air from my nose.

ILoveYourVibes · 26-06-2020 9:33am

Treppen wrote: »

Oooo things are hotting up... Token funny woman Katherine Ryan is giving up her token women seat on Mock The Week.
https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/news/5815/katherine-ryan-wont-go-on-mock-the-week/

I sense a gamergate coming on

I hate that show ..so boring.

unhappys10 · 26-06-2020 9:37am

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

Some people are funny and some aren't. What people find funny is subjective anyway so different people will find different rhibgs funny. But 'funny' is pretty likely to be spread across society.

So if you think no black people or women or Cork people are funny, it's probably exposes a bias in you and what you see people's roles as being.

These threads are always the same and could be summed up thusly: women, know your place.

South Park did a few episodes on this topic. Cartman would go up to women an say "women are so funny. Tell us a joke, say something funny right now" and when they told him to fcuk off, he'd act shocked that they hadn't said something funny.

I knew this crap was going to sneak in.
It's nothing to do with "women know your place".
In general men are funnier people than women. Nothing to do with black or white either.

26-06-2020 9:37am

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

I hate that show ..so boring.

The arse fell out of it when they started to censor Frankie Boyle.

gmisk · 26-06-2020 9:40am

unhappys10 wrote: »

So, after seeing a story on The Journal (I know) written by someone called Maeve Higgins about how there should be more women in comedy. My initial thoughts were no, there shouldn't unless you are actually funny, which she most definitely wasn't, isn't nor ever will be.

I was left wondering are there actually any funny female comedians out there?

It seems to be one of those things that men are better at (you know, like driving).

In general I don't agree with this BS of there should be more women in various fields. There should be more people suitable to what they do no matter what gender.
Same with jobs, hire the best person for the job, not based on what's between their legs.

Anyway, back on topic, the only genuinely funny woman I can think of off the top of my head is Pheobe Waller-Bridge, if you don't know her check out a BBC show called Fleabag, great stuff. Saw her on Graham Norton also, very funny.

Any others out there?

There are plenty.
Tina Fey
Amy Poehler
Hannah Gadsby
Samantha bee
Mindy Kahling
Kathy Burke
Victoria Wood

When it comes to Irish female comedians it's a bit more of a struggle tbh.
Katherine Lynch and Deirdre O Kane have their moments...but I think Deirdre O Kane has been using very similar material for a long time... Niamh Marron and Eleanor Tiernan were very funny the time I saw them.

There are plenty of awful female ones as well as male though, Katherine Ryan is useless but the worst I ever saw is a woman called Shappi Khorsandi...zero laughs. Oh and another comedian based in Ireland called Dil something... abysmal

unhappys10 · 26-06-2020 9:42am

gmisk wrote: »

There are plenty.
Tina Fey
Amy Poehler
Hannah Gadsby
Samantha bee
Mindy Kahling
Kathy Burke
Victoria Wood

When it comes to Irish female comedians it's a bit more of a struggle tbh.
Katherine Lynch and Deirdre O Kane have their moments...but I think Deirdre O Kane has been using very similar material for a long time... Niamh Marron and Eleanor Tiernan were very funny the time I saw them.

Kathy Burke from that list imo

jimgoose · 26-06-2020 9:56am

gmisk wrote: »

...the worst I ever saw is a woman called Shappi Khorsandi...zero laughs. Oh and another comedian based in Ireland called Dil something... abysmal

Comedy can be swings-and-roundabouts, but Ms. Khorsandi is a fairly typical Iranian gal inasmuch as she's absolutely beautiful looking.

El_Duderino 09 · 26-06-2020 9:56am

unhappys10 wrote: »

I knew this crap was going to sneak in.
It's nothing to do with "women know your place".
In general men are funnier people than women. Nothing to do with black or white either.

OK. If the issue is settled in your mind, why did you start a thread about it?

Wibbs · 26-06-2020 9:56am

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

So if you think no black people or women or Cork people are funny, it's probably exposes a bias in you and what you see people's roles as being.

Well that escalated quickly into the right on.

Depends on what we're talking about here. In Real Life™ I've found men and women about equal in sense of humour, though there's a fair number of dour fcukers of either gender about.

If we're talking about standup and it seems most do when they discuss "funny", yeah there are fewer women involved and bugger all near the top of the heap in that sector. I suspect because it's a high testosterone environment out of the box. It tends towards the extremely extroverted, aggressive, fast paced and reactionary.

In other areas of comedy there are a load of very talented and funny women. Like Princess Consuela noted writing is one, comedic acting another. Tina fey as Blue mentioned a really good example of both(and other talents too). I'd even go so far as to say that if you were casting for a sitcom or comedy flic you'd have more options for comedic actresses with laser accurate timing than you would for comedic actors.

gmisk · 26-06-2020 10:00am

jimgoose wrote: »

Comedy can be swings-and-roundabouts, but Ms. Khorsandi is a fairly typical Iranian gal inasmuch as she's absolutely beautiful looking.

I am gay....but really? I don't see it.

Google Shappi clause...this might explain why she keeps getting work...

26-06-2020 10:05am

Yeah, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey are probably the only two funny women..

Fritzbox · 26-06-2020 10:07am

Suzi Ruffell.

Fritzbox · 26-06-2020 10:14am

U Wat? wrote: »

Title is offensive. Please change to 'Funny people who menstruate'.

Joan Rivers doesn't menstruate.

jimgoose · 26-06-2020 10:18am

gmisk wrote: »

I am gay....but really? I don't see it.

Google Shappi clause...this might explain why she keeps getting work...

Oh yes, sumptuous creature. I don't really care why she gets work, or otherwise. :pac:

El_Duderino 09 · 26-06-2020 10:20am

Wibbs wrote: »

Well that escalated quickly into the right on.
...

You're right. I shouldn't have mentioned Cork.

26-06-2020 10:21am

Amy Schumer was good early on...havent seen her recent stuff - Sarah Silverman too
Aisling bea - but i think she's better on comedy show's than stand up, which i find happens a lot, some are better acting in comedies than stand up (but imho stand up is harder to do)
Katherine Ryan, while overexposed on the UK panel shows, is one of the better comedians
Nina Conti's decent too and Roisin Connaty

but the keep showing the same less funnier ones' and ramming down our throats with them them appearing, on 8 out 10 cats on countdown/Mock the week (agreed on the censorship/watering down once Frankie Boyle and others left and bbc instigated a diversity rule) and other panel shows, like the Shappi one/Sarah Millican/Miranda Hart....but they shove mediocre male ones too, Michael McIntyre/Johnny Vegas/Russell Howard and i could go on

nullzero · 26-06-2020 10:35am

Treppen wrote: »

Oooo things are hotting up... Token funny woman Katherine Ryan is giving up her token women seat on Mock The Week.
https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/news/5815/katherine-ryan-wont-go-on-mock-the-week/

I sense a gamergate coming on

To quote Stewart Lee in relation to that show "Mock the strong I say"

pgj2015 · 26-06-2020 10:45am

women comedians are only funny to other women or gay guys and they will laugh at anything.

Bobblehats · 26-06-2020 10:47am

Cute-funny I like that. Nothing vulgar

Wibbs · 26-06-2020 10:56am

nullzero wrote: »

To quote Stewart Lee in relation to that show "Mock the strong I say"

Speaking of unfunny comedians... Has his moments as a writer and commentator alright, but Jesus his standup is painful. Like some surreal channelling of an art project for leftie aspie types.

gmisk · 26-06-2020 10:58am

Fritzbox wrote: »

Suzi Ruffell.

I don't find her funny at all standup wise...but the podcast she does with Tom Allen is fun

magic_murph · 26-06-2020 10:59am

Homelander wrote: »

Honestly laugh every time I see this clip, she's amazing.

If this is whats classed as 'funny' these days I don't want any part of it.
Terrible

Mysterypunter · 26-06-2020 11:05am

I thought Catherine Tate was funny, but the funniest of the lot was Caroline Aherne, who sadly died too young. Can't think of many more

greenspurs · 26-06-2020 11:06am

It is subjective.

Sara Pascoe --- very witty, and don't resort to 'type' jokes.

The Tetrarch · 26-06-2020 11:07am

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

Jennifer Saunders.

I was going to say that. She is a legend.

Funny women?

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