Kristen Wiig, NBC Universal
In Hollywood, it’s common knowledge that women are grossly underrepresented in influential roles in front and behind the camera. In particular, the genre of comedy has always been dubbed a “man’s game", regardless if a woman possessed the talent to be “funny”. However, in the past five years, with trailblazers, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, leading the way, a growth of female comedians have hit the mainstream (like Lena Dunham, Mindy Kaling, Kristen Wiig, Amy Schumer, and Melissa McCarthy, to name a few of the A-listers). Even Broad City’s “left of center” dynamic duo, Abbi and Ilana, are receiving critical praise for their original content in which cultivates organic humor by redefining the "absurd" as the norm.
Nevertheless, we are experiencing an exciting surge of female driven comedy, with gags and jokes appealing to the amusing taste buds of both men and women. In particular, Jessica Williams’ performances on the Daily Show and Kate McKinnon’s versatile portfolio of iconic impersonations on SNL have permeated the digital channels of social media and online streaming services. For example, McKinnon’s Calvin Klein Ad/Justin Bieber impression received over 6.7 million views on YouTube and more recently her Close Encounters skit topped that number with almost 14 million views. McKinnon’s description of her alien abduction was so hysterical, Ryan Gosling, a man, could barely keep it together.
Comedy relies not only on the construction of a joke or the nuances of a particular impersonation but also the intelligence of the comedian and his or her ability to assess the boundaries of what's funny or too personal, especially when involving politics. As a comedian, you have to be witty, well read, and up to date on which relevant current events could be a potential incubator for humor to thrive. Long story short, these women are not only pretty faces, they are also super smart. So in honor of Women’s History Month, I want to celebrate Hollywood’s funniest ladies with a few clips from the most ridiculous “rolling on the floor laughing” skits by women in 2015.