Women, know your limits

[Fragony]

Was discussing the subject of female comedians with a friend, and we came to the conclusion that a woman trying to be funny is just as awkward as a politician trying to be cool with the local youth.

Face it, the realm of humour is male territory. Women are not funny nor should they try to be, they lack the basics

[Papewaio]

What do men use for contraception?

Their personality.

So with comments like that, you've practically given yourself a Darwin Award.

[Montmorency]

"They see me trollin'..."

[Tellos Athenaios]

Well, there are (at least) two interesting bits of human behaviour which help to give men an edge in providing comic relief:

• Women are predisposed to laugh about & towards men. Men don't generally exhibit the same reflex towards other men, but...
• ... men are more willing (and more readily do) make a fool of themselves, which helps with any audience. People (and maybe especially men) like seeing other people make a fool of themselves.

... but by the same measure, men are also more often the ones who come up with jokes no-one finds funny.

[Adrian II]

Was discussing the subject of female comedians with a friend, and we came to the conclusion that a woman trying to be funny is just as awkward as a politician trying to be cool with the local youth.

Face it, the realm of humour is male territory. Women are not funny nor should they try to be, they lack the basics

That's because a crucial part of comedy (or even simple joke-telling) is impersonation. Women are terrible impersonators.

AII

[Fragony]

That's because a crucial part of comedy (or even simple joke-telling) is impersonation. Women are terrible impersonators.

AII

Because it's male territory

'... but by the same measure, men are also more often the ones who come up with jokes no-onefinds funny. '

oh? Never noticed that. at all. really

[HoreTore]

"They see me trollin'..."

Seconded. My list of funny Norwegians isn't that long, but therre are plenty of women on it:

- Anne-Kat Herland, has been a riot for over a decade now.
- Kari Slaatsveen and Pernille Sørensen are in that same category, and in addition they are the very definition of MILFs.
- Linn Skåber is very funny and also good at the surreal which is a big bonus for me.
- Janne Rønningen is always funny when doing stand-up.
- Siv Anita Andersen is a very funny actress, even though she's had a habit of selecting very unfunny shows. But in Etaten, she was very good.
- in addition, there are several very funny females on the radio station p3.

As for more international names, there are several good female comedians on Michael McIntyre's show(and similar concepts). Plenty of those on the Daily Show are very funny, and I have always found the females on Mad TV to be a lot funnier than the males.

And I have undoubtably forgotten a bunch of people now.

[Adrian II]

Because it's male territory

No, many men are also horrible impersonators. Go to a party, observe how many of those present are really funny. One in ten at the most, the rest either suck (and serve as audience) or act as side-kicks.

AII

[Adrian II]

Seconded. My list of funny Norwegians isn't that long, but therre are plenty of women on it:

My wild guess says that's because they are politically correct. And therefore not funny. Maybe you just don't have a sense of humour

AII

[HoreTore]

My wild guess says that's because they are politically correct. And therefore not funny. Maybe you just don't have a sense of humour

AII

Nonsense.

Anne-kat is the very defintion of politcally incorrect.

I subscribe to Monty Python-style humour, Adrian.

[Adrian II]

Nonsense.

Anne-kat is the very defintion of politcally incorrect.

I subscribe to Monty Python-style humour, Adrian.

Nonsense.

Gimme one women who matches this.

AII

[ICantSpellDawg]

Concur

[Fragony]

No, many men are also horrible impersonators. Go to a party, observe how many of those present are really funny. One in ten at the most, the rest either suck (and serve as audience) or act as side-kicks.

AII

How many women do you know who are just as funny as the men you know

[HoreTore]

Nonsense.

Gimme one women who matches this.

AII

I don't really find impersonations all that funny. Rune Pedersen has ruined that genre for me.

[Adrian II]

Concur

Good one: 'Being funny on purpose'.

AII

[Adrian II]

How many women do you know who are just as funny as the men you know

I happen to know many of the Toomlers' comedians because a friend of mine founded that joint. Nearly all are men and the only woman to hold a candle to most of them would be Claudia. She's good. She's also practically alone.

AII

[Rhyfelwyr]

I agree with the OP. I don't think women are less capable of being funny, I just think that being a comedian is a bit undignified for a woman (like when they play sports etc) and that is what makes it seem akward.

Of course this only applies to at least reasonably attractive women, because you don't really think of ugly women that way.

This is probably why the few female comedians there are are really ugly. Like in Britain there is that whale Jo Brand, plus the fat black woman.

And they are not even funny. But then English comedians generally aren't.

[HoreTore]

Ah yes. Jo Brand. She's comedy gold.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHmZd6yVTS8

[Adrian II]

Ah yes. Jo Brand. She's comedy gold.

See? No sense of humour

AII

[Fragony]

I happen to know many of the Toomlers' comedians because a friend of mine founded that joint. Nearly all are men and the only woman to hold a candle to most of them would be Claudia. She's good. She's also practically alone.

AII

Never heard of it Iwill check it out. But in general, women have no sense of humour.

[HoreTore]

See? No sense of humour

AII

Considering the number of dutchies laughing here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mwxE7Ky5hs

I really don't take commentary on comedy from that sunken area too personal...

[PanzerJaeger]

Ellen Degeneres was hilarious back when she was doing stand up. I think women can be just as funny as men. Cultural expectations have, however, made it far more difficult to be a female comedian.

[Slyspy]

Jo Brand is a prime example of female comedians being cringe-worthy rather than funny.

[Tratorix]

Ellen Degeneres was hilarious back when she was doing stand up. I think women can be just as funny as men. Cultural expectations have, however, made it far more difficult to be a female comedian.

Got it in one. Women are far less likely to get into stand up comedy and it's a pretty difficult business to succeed in even without the "women aren't funny" stereotype hangin' around.

[Adrian II]

Never heard of it Iwill check it out. But in general, women have no sense of humour.

NEVER HEARD OF IT??

In what cave do you live?

AII

[Fragony]

Considering the number of dutchies laughing here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mwxE7Ky5hs

I really don't take commentary on comedy from that sunken area too personal...

It's a funny female, so she is accepted in male territory.

[HoreTore]

Ellen Degeneres was hilarious back when she was doing stand up.

Seconded.

I sometimes wonder if sit coms and talk shows were invented as a punishment handed out by media bigwigs for talented comedians who had broken some internal rule. They are the very death of everything funny.



Except Seinfeld. Which, of course, brings us to another funny woman; the one who played Elaine.

[gaelic cowboy]

Ellen Degeneres was hilarious back when she was doing stand up. I think women can be just as funny as men. Cultural expectations have, however, made it far more difficult to be a female comedian.

I'm gonna be terrible chauvinistic here, but would Ellen Degeneres not prove Frags rule in the OP what with her being a lesbian and all.

[Beskar]

Male comedians are more popular with females as they like to see men make fools of themselves.

[PanzerJaeger]

I'm gonna be terrible chauvinistic here, but would Ellen Degeneres prove Frags rule what with her being a lesbian and all.

What does that have to do with anything?


The truth is that a large part of comedy revolves around crassness. In our culture, it's funny when a guy talks about cheating on his girlfriend and having to stop at a gas station to clean the glitter lip gloss off his penis (actual Dane Cook crap), but gross when a girl talks in the same manner. It sucks and it is hopefully changing, but that's how it has traditionally been. Female comedians, and there have been many other successful ones besides Degeneres, have had to work much harder - and be much funnier - in order to craft bits that work. Smart comedy is a lot harder than sex/bodily function comedy.

Apart from stand-up, have you guys never been around genuinely funny girls in your own lives?