The new age of women comedians is here. Instead of women being a sideshow to funny men, women are making people laugh and people are taking notice. So here, in no particular order, are the five biggest names in funny women in TV and movies today, in my humble opinion:
tina fey in bust magazine, 2004
The genius behind Mean Girls, 30 Rock, and Bossypants. This chick made glasses look hot and made America think Sarah Palin really said, “I can see Russia from my house!” She was the first female head writer on SNL, and paved the way for a legion of funny women to start on SNL and jump into mainstream media. I can’t explain how much I love this woman. In fact, the first thing I asked A when I came home with my new glasses was, “Are they Tina Fey or Lisa Loeb?”
amy poehler in bust magazine
She was brilliant in SNL, amazing in Mean Girls, and though it wasn’t critically acclaimed, I thought she rocked Baby Mama. She’s been in the best women’s magazine ever, Bust Magazine, like, a million times.Parks and Recreation is a weekly watch for me, and she constantly blows me away with her witty, sharp humor. Plus, she married Will Arnett. They’re, like, the funniest couple of all time.
maya rudolph in bust magazine. apparently all my funny-girl heroines have been in bust magazine.
This woman is the whole package. Smart, funny, gorgeous, and she can sing. She’s the only reason I watch Up All Night, and, in my world, a comic genius. Here’s her performing The Star Spangled Banner as the winner of a small town American Idol-esque competition at a Haiti benefit. (Her intro starts at 1:50)
image courtesy of creativity-online.com
This lady cracks me up. She’s the main reason I still try to catch SNL when I can. Loved her in Rollerball. She’s the queen of the drawn-out awkward moment and the crazy characters that make you want to dress up like them for an in-the-know Halloween costume.
image courtesy of seat42f.com
Lest you think all the funny women I love are SNL alums, Sophía Vergara is a comedic force to be reckoned with. I have a lot of respect for this woman. First off, she’s a freaking goddess. It would be so easy for a woman with her assets to be pigeon-holed into a dumb eye-candy role. But I would argue that she’s one of the funniest parts ofModern Family. She’s turned her looks into a punchline, landing her tons of endorsement deals, including a Cover Girl ad that cracks me up. Well done, Sophía, well done.
Anyoen you’d care to add to the list of funny ladies?
Bigger in Real Life 
These are some wonderfully funny ladies. Good choices! From all of them, I would have to say Kristin Wig is my favorite, based on the “Surprise Party” skit alone; and I know Ellen is not technically a T.V. star, but she will always be my favorite woman comedian. Cloris Leechman and Betty White are a couple others I adore. 🙂
Oh my gosh, Surprise Party is insane! And I totally agree about Ellen. Margaret Cho is another favorite if we’re talking straight up comedians.
i love these funny ladies! my favorite funny lady of all time is Lucille Ball – I like to think she paved the way for female comedians. Carol Burnett is definitely in my top 5 faves too. Just saw her live and it was one of the best nights of this year!
Seriously? You saw her LIVE?!? Talk about a dream come true. And I totally agreed on Lucille Ball. First woman to get a five-minute live laugh without saying a word. Well spotted, my stylish friend.