Shut The #@%* Up About Women Not Being Funny

Maria Bamford is funnier than you. But she'd never say that.

            About ten years ago, my wife accused me of not liking women in the movies.  I really had no idea what she was talking about.  I must have mouthed off at a bad Lifetime movie or an episodic TV drama targeted toward a female audience.  I have a habit of mouthing off.  It worried me that she thought this; so I spent a little time thinking about it. Do I see my entertainment through a misogynistic lens?   Do I enjoy women in art? Music? TV, movies, books?  Comedy?  Turns out, my wife was wrong.  Sure, I don’t like a lot of material that is targeted for women; but she isn’t crazy about Die Hard sequels and Doctor Who, either. 

            There are a million shows out there with female leads that I follow religiously. There aren’t enough female led movies, but that’s not because of me.  I really don’t have any qualms with women doing anything, actually.  I certainly don’t turn away from something because it features or was crafted by women.  That’s what assholes do.  I don’t have a lot of female lead singers in my music collection; I’ll be honest.  I have some; but again, if I hear it and I like it, I want it.  So, no.  I’m not an ignorant pig who turns away from female contributions to the world.  This brings me to comedy.

             Every once in a while, some guy pipes up and says that women aren’t funny.  This absolutely drives me insane.  It is as offensive as saying Asian people can’t drive or Italians have greasy hair and are all in the mob.  The reaction is equally as crazy.  Everyone wants to focus on debunking the statement and showing that yes, women have been, are, and will be funny.  That is such a waste of oxygen.  What these guys are saying is I don’t think women are funny. It’s an opinion and they are free to express it, even if he is wrong as wrong can be. 

            First of all, who the hell wants to hang out with a woman who isn’t funny?  Maybe I’ve met 2 or 3 women in my life who couldn’t get a laugh to save their lives, but I have the same amount with the men.  Men try to be funnier more often, which means they fall flat more often, too.  Maybe women who aren’t very funny have enough sense not to tell shitty jokes like so many dumb guys do.  It’s confusing.   Are these guys who don’t laugh at female comedy saying that female professionals aren’t funny, or women in general?  The former is downright offensive and the latter shows a distorted cultural view.  Hey guys…most guys aren’t funny either.  If everyone were funny we wouldn’t laugh.  It would be an annoying nightmare.  How about this for a cultural stereotype:  The people who think they are funny and actually are not…are mostly men.

            These male critics are saying this because they like their comedy served up a certain way. Toasty warm with extra testosterone.  They have a spectrum of acceptable comedy that makes them laugh, and it is limited. Most likely, they don’t like women in their lives cracking jokes , either.  Comedy is also muscle flexing.  It is used by guys to attract women, and many of those same guys don’t think women need to be funny at all.  They feel comedy belongs to a certain group of people.  Man, that is so wrong.

            I don’t enjoy the comedy of Larry the Cable Guy, Dane Cook, Cheslea Handler or Katt Williams.  That’s not the only group of people I don’t care for, but it is a sample.  I am a comedy fan and nothing these performers have ever done has interested me.  However, to say they aren’t funny is to piss in the faces of thousands upon thousands of fans.  They have TV shows, specials, and performances that have been enjoyed by so many people; rocking back and forth in their seats, snorting, cackling, and punching their friends with joy. They obviously are funny; I’m just not buying what they’re selling.  My loss.  Who are you to say who is funny, when so many people disagree with you?  This is one of the few times that the worlds of comedy and music overlap.  I don’t like Maroon 5 or Mariah Carey.  It doesn’t mean they aren’t musicians that make music.

            When I sat back and thought about whether or not I was one of these female comedy deniers, it didn’t take long for me to remember that the first comedy show I ever saw live was Paula Poundstone!  I loved her when I was in high school and waist deep in the world of 80’s comedy.  I’ve followed Kathy Griffin for 20 years, and I still remember having a crush on Janeane Garafolo.  I still have a crush on Sarah Silverman.  These women are veterans of stand up with a clear voice and vision. Four years ago, I went to the comedy festival in Portland and ended up seeing Maria Bamford twice in two nights.  Even with repeated jokes it was fantastic.  Tiny Fey and Amy Poehler should host everything from now on.  If Megan Mullally is in a show, it instantly becomes funnier.  Samantha Bee on The Daily Show.  Chelsea Peretti. Mindy Kaling. Amy Shumer.  I’m giving short shrift to dozens of hilarious actors and female comedians of color, but the point is, it is profoundly stupid to think women are patently not funny, whether you are a man or a woman. 

            The entire notion of controlling this thing we call laughter has always infuriated me.  It is so important and so healthy; why put rules and regulations on it?  It belongs to everyone and everyone deserves it, just by being born human.  Who really cares where it comes from or who delivers it?