Image of Tina Fey courtesy of Thehangover.files.wordpress.com

Now that it’s summer, I have a list of things I want to do with my free time. One item is to dive into my reading list of books I actually want to read that I don’t have time for during the school year. Three of the books on my list come from the same author; Chelsea Handler. Her books, the most recent being Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, have topped best-seller lists. They are full of hysterical anecdotes about Handler’s life.

For those who don’t know Handler, she’s not simply an acclaimed author. She also is an established stand-up comedienne and late-night show host. Her show, Chelsea Lately, on E! has an audience of nearly 800,000 viewers. She also has her own production company, Borderline Amazing Productions.

Handler is just one of the many women taking the world of comedy by storm, proving that women can be beautiful, smart and funny.

There was a misconception even just 20 years ago that women either had to be funny or beautiful; funny women had to fall back on their humor since they didn’t have the looks. Critics said these things about Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett and Gilda Radner. But today, in an age when women are proving more than ever that they can have it all, the new era of funny girls seems to possess more than just humor.

Another female comedy powerhouse, Tina Fey, has risen to the top. She found fame as a sketch comic on Saturday Night Live where she served a stint as the show’s head writer. After she left SNL, she wrote and acted in the movie Mean Girls which starred Lindsay Lohan as the main character. She also acted in other movies. However, her most recent success has come from the hit show she created, 30 Rock, where she serves as actor, writer and producer. Since airing on NBC in 2007, it has won multiple awards including two Emmys for Fey.

Fey, however, doesn’t see herself as the girl who has it all. She pictures herself as more a nerd who broke through. In an interview, she said, “Yeah, it’s tough being smart and sexy, too. I have to say I’m really not that attractive. Until I met my husband, I could not get a date. I promise you it’s true. My husband Jeff Richmond saw a diamond in the rough and took me in.”

Many would disagree with Fey regarding her conceptions about her looks. She is obviously a pretty woman with a whole lot of substance. But as many barriers female comedians have broken down, there are still more. Male comedians aren’t called out for being attractive and funny; it really doesn’t matter if male comedians are attractive or not. Female comedians may finally be considered equals when we stop feeling the need to put the “female” before the comedian.

30 rock, Ashley Thill, carol burnett, chelsea handler, chelsea lately, comedienne, Gilda Radner, Lindsay Lohan, lucille ball, Saturday Night Live, tina fey Hide

Today is International Women’s Day!  And in special honor of women all over the world, historic or living presently, the IATG staff is doing a special edition IATG says:

Who do you admire????

August: Helen Keller. Against all odds, she accomplished more than more than most people accomplish in their entire lives. Her legacy forges on and carries a message that absolutely anything is possible!

Natalie: Princess Diana because she epitomized style, grace, and elegance. She was known as “The People’s Princess” and will always be remembered for her goodwill and beauty. Her dedication to charity and philanthropic work is admirable. Although her life was cut short, her legacy will continue on.

Edith: Mindy Kaling. She is a woman of color who is an amazing comedian, writer and producer. It’s not as common as you’d hope.

Danielle: Lucille Ball. She was the type of strong woman who was determined to never give up even when certain things (like rheumatoid arthritis) threatened to end her career early. She also paved the way for other female comediennes, not only by being fearless in what she was willing to do on-screen but also by being the first female head of a production company.

Alexis: Michelle Obama because she not only got named one of Harvard’s most Influential Alumni, but also was in Vanity Fair’s 10 Best dressed people in the world. Smart really is the new sexy!

Krista: Karen Coates is an absolute inspiration. I first picked up her book, Cambodia Now, from a land-mine victim in Batambang, Cambodia. It was a jarring insight into the history of Cambodia, and helped me understand the place I was traveling on a deeper level. I recently found out that she’s also a regular contributor to Gourmet magazine and is a correspondent for them in Southeast Asia, where she now lives. She is everything I aspire to be.

Emily R.: Chelsea Handler because she has thrived in the male dominated late night scene, published two books, and has the top rated TV show on E!  All of this is possible because she speaks her mind, is fearless, and hysterical.  I admire all of her success and ability to not take life too seriously…She finds humor in everything.

Amy: Oprah Winfrey. She overcame an unthinkable childhood by building a successful career that she can be proud of; she uses her platform to bring light to important topics and is deeply involved in charity work.

Diane: At 98 years old, artist/sculptor Louise Bourgeois still devotes 6 days a week to creating controversial masterpieces that embrace feminine strength and masculine fragility.

Kenzie: I really admire Caroline Knapp for having the courage to open up to the entire world about her greatest weaknesses, from alcoholism to anorexia. Her writings have helped some people, taught some people, and inspired many people to live their lives vulnerably for the sake of others. She was not afraid of being flawed.

Morgan: Ellen DeGeneres. She exhibits the courage and confidence to be herself. After she infamously came out on her 90’s TV show, everyone thought Ellen had committed career suicide. Like the phoenix she is, the daytime diva rose from the ashes and danced her way into the hearts of millions. Whether it’s hamming it up on stage or appearing flawless in Cover Girl campaigns, she has always managed to stay Ellen.

photo by roman lily

cambodia, caroline knapp, chelsea handler, cover girl, e!, ellen degeneres, helen keller, iatg, IATG says, international women's day, karen coates, louise bourgeois, lucille ball, michelle obama, mindy kaling, oprah winfrey, princess diana, role model Hide

Traditionally comedy has been a male dominated industry. Sure, there’s never been a shortage of funny women, but their numbers in the biz were minimal. Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett showcased their talents through sitcoms and variety shows, and talk show hosts such as Ellen DeGeneres and Whoopi Goldberg have made their mark. But today, a new generation of funny, smart, and successful American women is taking over. This crop of talent is responsible for acting, performing stand-up, writing and directing—telling jokes with a side of sexy. They are the new female comic titans.

In the past, it wasn’t uncommon for women to be penalized for expressing themselves through sharp wit and sarcasm. The comedians of today are using their sex appeal to attract attention, and then hit it home with hilarity. Tina Fey, the former head writer of Saturday Night Live, writer of the film Mean Girls, and creator of the sitcom 30 Rock, is one of the most important figures in this new generation of comediennes. Fey has utilized her sexy librarian persona in all of her comedy sketches, which served to her advantage when she recently spoofed vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Take a look at Chelsea Handler, stand-up comedian, humorist, author, actress, and television host of Chelsea Lately. Every episode Handler walks out wearing stilettos, hiked up skirts, tight-fitting tops, and blown out blonde hair. Yes, sex sells—even in comedy.

It is significantly easier for women to make it on television than in movies. Most popular television series target women since female viewers outnumber men by approximately 30 percent during primetime. For that reason, television is a woman’s world. That’s part of the reason why there has been an explosion of female comedians on the small screen. Sarah Silverman, Tracy Ullman and Amy Sedaris are three of the top funny gals, each having their own comedy shows. Silverman stars and produces The Sarah Silverman Program, which has been a ratings success for Comedy Central. Ullman’s State of the Union on Showtime has garnered positive response and has been green lighted for a second season for 2009. Sedaris will be creating, writing and starring in her own sitcom for Fox TV. The ratings and rave reviews that their witty humor garners prove that being smart and funny is both profitable and marketable to the masses.

One of the biggest changes in the 21st century is that women are not just standing in front of the camera. More and more women are working as writers, directors, and producers. Tina Fey and the other comedians of the moment are breaking down barriers for other females and insisting that women be able to write their own jokes too. Who says women can’t be funny?

30 rock, amy sedaris, chelsea handler, chelsea lately, comedy, ellen degeneres, humor, mean girls, sarah silverman, snl, tina fey, tracy ullman Hide