No One Wanted This

Democrats Sweep Election, Women Cede Top Place in Comedy



The New York Times magazine’s humor issue (11/12/06) contained a distinct surprise: only one out of five feature stories was about a woman comedian. (That woman? The comic powerhouse Anna Faris, who is the wide-eyed blonde in the Scary Movie movies.) It’s hard to believe, but it seems the tide has turned – men are now dominating mainstream American comedy. No longer will movie trailers declare: “See Margaret Cho! Sarah Silverman! Ellen Degeneres! And some guy!” It might even go the other way, with the women being unnamed in the movie trailer – however unlikely that seems.

Some say it’s high time for a change. For years, the male comedy community has claimed that women comics exploit the advantages of their biology. “Menstruation-based humor is always funny, while non-menstruation-based humor is a lot harder to put over,” one male comic complained.

But the Times magazine suggests male comics have finally arrived at a unified message: that a humor devoted exclusively to the concerns of one sex isn’t fair. And men are all about fairness, while women are willing to exploit their power to gain more power. Well, finally the juggernaut has been stopped.

Who knows if change might not be a good thing? Many claim that for years, women comics have been cruising on the easy rewards of their gender. In the current landscape, it won’t be enough to stand in front of an audience and launch into crowd-pleasing routines about dysmenorrhoea or pregnancy after 40. As the Times humor issue revealed, America now feels that life is a little more complex than a bunch of easy PMS jokes, however hilarious those are.

Investigations into the female comic empire have revealed a widespread complacency. “I don’t understand humor that isn’t female-based,” one highly placed comedienne was quoted as saying. “Everything, from the female arousal response, to pregnancy-related depression and the conundrums of motherhood, is comic gold. Why should we look any further?” But this shortsightedness wasn’t shared by all Americans, however much it seemed like it was. There have been grumblings that a hunting or farting joke might find an audience if given half a chance.

As the Times magazine suggests, the pendulum seems to have swung back-- men have now been given a mandate to assert themselves in comedy. But will they? “I think men have been quietly gaining ground,” said one insider. “Our country is founded on ideals of pluralism. Well – maybe it isn’t, but men deserve to be heard and I think they’re figuring that out.”

In any case, women will have to work a little harder over the next two years. They can regain their place at the top of the comedy pile, but it won’t be easy. A humor based on male concerns is nosing its way into the spotlight and it could be there for a while, spreading its message of pluralism and hope for positive change. This may not be quote unquote funny, but it just might be the message America is ready for.