One of the most common traits people list in the "about me" section of their online profiles is "I like to laugh." Really? Gee, you're special!
Well, if you like to laugh, you'll want to catch Oxygen's 50 Funniest Women Alive countdown show, which premieres this Saturday night. The special will feature never-before-seen interviews and clips of hilarity from sitcom players, stand-ups, movie stars and sketch comedians such as Ellen Degeneres, Whoopi Goldberg, Mo'nique and Teri Hatcher.
Teri Hatcher? Uh, what? Was Kathy Lee Gifford not available?
Okay, Teri Hatcher is a fine actress - Desperate Housewives fans please stand down. But if we're talking about the top, the best of the best, I have to object. Other "funniest women" on the show (according to the website): Amanda Bynes, Regina King, Chelsea Handler. What? No Carol Burnett, Roseanne Barr, Kathy Najimy or Wanda Sykes?
Comedy has historically been the playground of men- any list of top comics (usually compiled by a man) is usually so bereft of women, you can count their names on one hand. I'd expect a better list from a women's network.
It's not clear whether Carol and Wanda made the cut-all 50 names aren't shown on the website. We can only hope.
Meanwhile, here are some of my picks, were it up to me.
Amy Sedaris, Strangers with Candy: "Hello, I'm Jerri Blank and - and
I'm an alcoholic. I'm also addicted to amphetamines as well as main
line narcotics. Some people say I have a sex addiction, but I think
all those years of prostitution was just a means to feed my ravenous
hunger for heroin. It's kinda like the chicken or the nugget. The
point is, I'm addicted to gambling. Thank you."
Sarah Silverman on the movie
300: "They got the name
300 by measuring
how gay it was on a scale from 1 to 10."
Margaret Cho on her sexuality: "And I went through this whole thing,
you know. I was like, 'Am I gay? Am I straight? And I realized I'm
just slutty. Where's my parade?'"
Jennifer Saunders and
Joanna Lumley,
Absolutely Fabulous:
Eddie: Where's my thing? You know, my thing... my vibrating thing...
Patsy: Right by your bedside drawer, darling.
Eddie: Not that, my beeper, my beeper...
Patsy: Oh.
[fishes inside her skirt]
Patsy: Here.
Eddie: Keep it. I don't want it now.
Check out Oxygen's list here. Who do you think should have made the cut but didn't?
Ugh Kelly Ripa as host. Our
LOL Funny Women
I haven’t checked out Oxygen’s list (I’m a little scared to look, after seeing ‘Teri Hatcher’). But a heartfelt congrats on your list. Sedaris, Silverman, Cho, and Saunders/Lumley – a wonderful way to start.
Off the top of my head, I’d add Kathy Griffin, Dawn French, Catherine Tate, Kate Clinton, Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Samantha Bee, Lisa Lampanelli, and Sandra Bernhard.
Some of the classics
Carol Burnett should obviously be there. And what about Lucille Ball and Rose Marie? And Anne Meara and Lilly Tomlin (and Jane Wagner by extension)? In her four years as Jessica Tate on Soap, Katherine Helmond consistently turned in one of the best comedic performances on television.
She falls into a different category, but the late Molly Ivins was the only pundit who consistently made me laugh out loud.
Molly Ivins on Pat Buchanan's homophobic harrangue at the 1992 Republican convention: "Many people did not care for Pat Buchanan's speech; it probably sounded better in the original German."
And on the California gubernatorial recall: "Gray Davis makes Mr. Rogers look like he was on steroids, and Arnold Schwarzenegger looks exactly like a condom stuffed with walnuts."
Haven't Looked At the List Yet
Here's my take:
Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Kristen Wiig (everytime I see her I remember that interview with Scalett and LMAO), Cloris Leachman, Sarah Silverman, Kiera Knightley (she's got some pretty funny moments from Pirates), Sandra Bullock (she's certainly had her moments - i especially like the Tina Turner gig in Miss Congeniality 2 and the Dolly Parton chase), Madeline Khan (is in a class all her own)
I know there are others... when I think of 'em, i'll come back and amend my list.
AE
definition of funny?
Funniest Women Alive
Agree
Just to clarify
I didn't get...
...that you were dissing Megan or anything. And I kinda agree with you – she’s not a comic by nature. I also loved her as Karen on W&G - she’ll go down as one of my all time fave tv characters, ever (in fact, I often wished they’d get rid of W&G and just give Karen and Jack the whole half hour, but that’s another story).
I’ve seen Megan in interviews and she can be pretty serious. I’ve seen her crack jokes too tho, and be funny, but she’s not what I’d call primarily, or even naturally, a “funny lady.” Still, she’s hot as all hell. And I’d rather see her on that Oxygen list than some of the others names they've got.
Thx for that link, tho I'll have to check it out tomorrow. It's 4:30am and I need some sleep!
I love Elvira Kurt!
I agree. megan isn't funny!
I agree. megan isn't funny! where as Meryl Streep in any speech has me ROFL!
"call me old fashioned but I prefer feminism that leaves a little something to the imagination!"
How 'bout ...
Suzanne Westenhoeffer
Paula Poundstone
The Ladies of AfterEllen
Lisa
Amy Sedaris, hell yes!
Lisa Edelstein
Is and should always be the queen. I see her as Helen if the US is determined to (ruin).....sorry, ADAPT Bad Girls....of course only if I get to play Nikki. Sweet cracker sandwich that woman is hot.
geez what a crap list!
More funny women (Brit and
More funny women (Brit and Australian):
Jessica Stevenson as Daisy in Spaced.
Julia Davis as Jill in Nighty Night.
Gina Riley and Jane Turner as Kath and Kim.
All these women wrote or co-wrote these series as well as starring in them.
Best comedy line ever: Patsy
Best comedy line ever: Patsy in Ab Fab (when both Patsy and Eddie have been smoking pot all evening and Eddie's mobile(cell) phone starts ringing)
"Is it.....is it a bee?"
But then again, I totally heart that whole series.
Ditto
Ab Fab is my fav comedy series of all time.
Patsy is my hero! lol
-BE BRAVE, BE BOLD, BE FREE-
LOVE AbFab
*pouts*
But I do like to laugh! Shup! *grin*
When she calls my name, I turn and in that instant I lose my heart. This is the love of my life.
- Kate Mulgrew
i want the comedic moment list too!!!!!
i think the idea is great, and i can't wait to read it if someone does one, i mean, even the few moments you put on the article made me nearly snort my coffee out through my nose :-)
also if i can add some british funny girls:
Jessica Stephenson - hilarious in Spaced, and well most things she appears in.
Fiona Allen, Doon MacKichan and Sally Phillips from Smack the Pony - man that was one of my all time favourite shows........ i miss it ( and just to see a pic of Sally Phillips always makes me giggle..... )
Five exlamation marks - the sure sign of an insane mind. (Terry Pratchett)
Anastacia Beaverhausen.....
hehehehe*snort*
Five exlamation marks - the sure sign of an insane mind. (Terry Pratchett)
I love when Amy Sedaris gets
good suggestions
From what I can see, (can't seem to find a link that lists all 50--only an abbreviated list of who will appear on the show) Oxygen's list isn't all bad. The thing I like about it is that it highlights some underrated comedic actresses like Katey Sagal and Jane Kaczmarek. But, you have to remember that Oxygen is a bit like Lifetime in that it tries to appeal to a very middle of the road demographic. So, some of their picks may seem a bit lame when compared to such excellent and edgy comics like Amy Sedaris and Sarah Silverman--two of my faves as well.
I like the other reader suggestions of Kath and Kim, French and Saunders (and Lumley). Also completely agree with Amy Poehler, Paula Poundstone, Kristin Wiig and Samantha Bee. There have been some suggestions for people like the great Lucille Ball. I completely agree that she was terrific, but take notice that the list is for the 50 funniest female comedians ALIVE. Madeline Kahn fits this bill as well. Completely worthy, but tragically dead.
I'd also like to nominate the Christopher Guest mockumentary regulars Jane Lynch, Catherine O'Hara, Jennifer Coolidge and Parker Posey to that list as well. Also, that other SNL great, Maya Rudolph.
Hell yeah!
I love your funny lady list! I couldn't agree more...
I am what I am. Love me or hate me. Just consider me.
Carol's up there!
Carol Burnett DID make the list - I read a promo that said Ellen, Carol and Whoopi are the top 3.
Hopefully, Betty White will be there - I can't tell you how many years she'd been making me laugh. (Well, I can, but I won't.) And I would dearly love to see our girl Kate Clinton listed - what a great 60th birthday present that would be. If AE does a list, I think she should automatically be #1.
Funny Lady
Last Comic Standing
I agree with a couple of
I agree with a couple of other posters --- Teri Hatcher??? Oh boy. Why all the praise? I don't think I laughed once when I saw her on Desperate Housewives, she's just not funny. Even that antisocial freak-turned-millionare kid made me laugh more.
Wow that list was disappointing
What in the world was that? I mean why was Kelly Ripa #6? Please someone explain this to me. I get that she is funny but not funny enough to be number 6. As soon as they hit the top 20 I was pissed.
There are so many other women they could have added to that list. Like Kate Clinton, Elvira Kurt, Bonnie Hunt, Ana Gasteyer, Amy Poehler, Debra Wilson, Nicole Sullivan, Margaret Cho, Kim Coles, and so many others. I know you can't please everyone but damn. Several of was those women shouldn't have been on there and alot should've been lower on the list. Just my opinion.