Women in Comedy - They are funny!

One of my most favorite TV shows of all time and gave me a lot of good memories and laughter is "Smack the Pony". It is an old British comedy sketch show in which three spectacular female actors wrote, performed and produced one quality sketch after another. I was raised on a very heavy diet of British humor and this show made me laugh over and over again. I still grin when I think back to the best scenes of the show. It is difficult to put into words how much I loved it and how much it made me laugh. I have very fond memories of it.

At the time I was devoutly watching it, I didn't give a second thought to the fact that the show was entirely made by women. There was one male actor that showed up regularly but otherwise all the roles, all the material, all the production was in the hands of women. And they created a wonderful show. Three awesome women together created one of the best sketch shows I have ever seen.

This struck me recently when I was listening to and laughing over the stand-up comedy of Shappi Khorsandi and Andi Osho. Those are both genius British stand-up comedians and my favorite one's at the moment. I have likewise also listened to Tina Fey's and Amy Poehler's monologue at the Golden Globe over and over again and it makes me laugh each and every time. It it a bad idea to listen to them while studying at the Uni library because last time I did I had to stifle my laughter and people kept glancing at the mad person that was always giggling.

I love comedy. I love things that make me laugh. It does not matter to me whether the comedian is a male or female, only whether he or she makes me laugh and makes me happy. But it seems to be a very common and persistent notion in today's world that women just can't be funny. Sketch shows and comedy produced and played by women in still not being accepted and people view it with apprehension. The majority of stand up comedians and comic actors today are males (particularly white males). Women trying to get on in the business and show their material run into wall after wall and good old fashioned sexism because of the persistent notion that females simply can't be funny.
It's mind blowing that it's 2013 and people are still struggling with accepting the notion that women can be funny. It still seems to be a new thing that women can be funny.

Sexism, patriarchy, inequality is still well and alive today and it seems that it´ll continue for a while if we are still struggling with the notion that women really can be funny to the same caliber and even better than men.
This is making my brain go in circles and will continue to do so.

But here is some comedy from my favorite female stand-up comedians!
Shappi Khorsandi is an absolute genius. Her stand up comedy is brilliant but also socially critical.

Andi Osho is a genius and I love how bold her comedy is.

Tina Fey's and Amy Poehler's monologue was pure genius.

And the anthem of my youth to quote Deeks on NCIS:LA - Smack the Pony!