Amy Poehler and Tina Fey

[Anonymous]

I find the title "Bossypants" very cringe! Anything -pants.

[Anonymous]

Tina Fey seems like she might have a little mean girl in her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find them very funny. Here is the float away into space joke that always gets me.

I also appreciate that SNL was a boys club and together they helped change that vibe. There is an iconic story about Poehler just arriving on SNL and refusing to be “ladylike” for the established SNL boys that Tina Fey told in Bossypants that always impressed me:

“Amy Poehler was new to SNL and we were all crowded into the seventeenth-floor writers' room, waiting for the Wednesday night read-through to start. [...] Amy was in the middle of some such nonsense with Seth Meyers across the table, and she did something vulgar as a joke. I can't remember what it was exactly, except it was dirty and loud and ‘unladylike.’”

“Jimmy Fallon [...] turned to her and in a faux-squeamish voice said, ‘Stop that! It's not cute! I don't like it.’

“Amy dropped what she was doing, went black in the eyes for a second, and wheeled around on him. ‘I don't [effing] care if you like it.’ Jimmy was visibly startled. Amy went right back to enjoying her ridiculous bit.

“With that exchange, a cosmic shift took place. Amy made it clear that she wasn't there to be cute. She wasn't there to play wives and girlfriends in the boys' scenes. She was there to do what she wanted to do and she did not [effing] care if you like it.”

Tina Fey, Bossypants

I love this story. The things Janeane Garofalo and other women went thru before then were horrible. So many of the guys were abusive pricks. Sandler and Spade were some of the worst. I used to read everything about the show and Sandler was just despicable. He and Spade were vile and barely tried to learn lines etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't always love them, but I do love what they both and Mindy Kaling have done in terms of showing people that women can be funny and smart and don't have to be fully vulgar...and creating vehicles for women's stories. (Not that it wasn't always true, but like PPs said, the women were side characters before.)

I don't mind vulgarity and will laugh as much as the next person, but I have to question how misogynistic the industry is when the biggest female comics are women like Amy Schumer, Nikki Glaser, Ali Wong. It seems like you have to go there for pretty much every joke to hit it big as a funny woman, and they have somehow broken through that. I'm sure it wasn't easy.

I’m not as familiar with the comedy of Ali Wong but I like Nikki and Amy and I like Amy and Tina too. Totally understand that not everybody’s into Amy and Nikki’s humor, but I don’t think they’re doing vulgarity just to be vulgar. I think male comics have used vulgarity for years and we’re just not nearly used to seeing that with female comics. I have honestly really appreciated Nikki and Amy talking in a funny way about sex and the female body and what women go through. I’ll add silver Sara Silverman too, and in addition, I’m not sure about Nikki, but Amy and Sarah have been upfront about traumatic sexual experiences they’ve had in a serious way, so along with the humor they have been an important part of the dialogue at least for me. I think having that balance can help women cut through some of the internalized shame some of us with these topics. Again, just sharing my experience.

I find them all really funny! I’m not offended by them. But who are the non-vulgar female comics, whose act isn’t primarily about sex? Maybe Wanda Sykes and Leann Morgan? (I put Amy and Tina in that category too.)

I’m not judging their acts, just saying, it seems harder to succeed as a female comic without fully going there, so I give Amy and Tina credit for that. It’s a well known thing that many men don’t think women are funny, and so this seems the way for female comics to get the green light. Tina and Amy do a mix of things, not always sex focused.

I feel like Sarah Silverman and Amy Schumer, really popularized the more vulgar female comedians. More women are doing it now, but I don’t think it was always out there as much so I want to give them credit.

And yes, to your point for every female comedian who likes the sex jokes I feel like you can identify one who doesn’t including Amy and Tina, somebody mentioned Mindy Kaling, you mentioned Leanne Morgan who I love. Of course there is Ellen. Paula poundstone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to understand what makes them funny!

I think they are funnier if you share their exact politics AND you give yourself and others grace for being an older GenX-er who finds mean/insulting humor hilarious.

I think the people who don’t enjoy them either don’t share their liberal worldview or, if they do, they don’t like the way they still use biting sarcasm and put-down type humor in a manner that was completely normal in the 90s early 2000s but is not at all “acceptable” as humor now.

Curious to know whether OP feels that my theory nailed that explanation of why their humor doesn’t resonate with her….

I liked Amy on "Parks and Recreation." I've never seen any stand-up of hers. Amy is funnier to me than Tina. I find Tina very one-note with being cutting and snark. I've only seen one episode of 30 Rock. It bothered me when she did that stupid Sarah Palin impression about seeing Russia from her house. That makes no sense given the size of Alaska. Plus, Palin never said that. Yet Fey seemed so smug and satisfied with herself. All she is is smug.

I find Kristen Wiig 100 times funnier than either of these two.

[Anonymous]

Their humor is actually pretty subtle and here, spot on.

[Anonymous]

One of Amy's best takedowns

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to understand what makes them funny!

I think they are funnier if you share their exact politics AND you give yourself and others grace for being an older GenX-er who finds mean/insulting humor hilarious.

I think the people who don’t enjoy them either don’t share their liberal worldview or, if they do, they don’t like the way they still use biting sarcasm and put-down type humor in a manner that was completely normal in the 90s early 2000s but is not at all “acceptable” as humor now.

Curious to know whether OP feels that my theory nailed that explanation of why their humor doesn’t resonate with her….

I liked Amy on "Parks and Recreation." I've never seen any stand-up of hers. Amy is funnier to me than Tina. I find Tina very one-note with being cutting and snark. I've only seen one episode of 30 Rock. It bothered me when she did that stupid Sarah Palin impression about seeing Russia from her house. That makes no sense given the size of Alaska. Plus, Palin never said that. Yet Fey seemed so smug and satisfied with herself. All she is is smug.

I find Kristen Wiig 100 times funnier than either of these two.

no, Fey didn't plagiarize Palin's words, she did with them what comedians do.

interviewer Charles Gibson asked Palin what insight she had gained from living so close to Russia, and she responded: "They're our next-door neighbors, and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the movies they’ve been in together are terrible, but they were lightning in a bottle on SNL together.

Haha yes! I don't know why their movies aren't funny! They were great on SNL and individually on 30 Rock and Parks and Rec.

I did like them in Mean Girls, but they weren't the stars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to understand what makes them funny!

I think they are funnier if you share their exact politics AND you give yourself and others grace for being an older GenX-er who finds mean/insulting humor hilarious.

I think the people who don’t enjoy them either don’t share their liberal worldview or, if they do, they don’t like the way they still use biting sarcasm and put-down type humor in a manner that was completely normal in the 90s early 2000s but is not at all “acceptable” as humor now.

Curious to know whether OP feels that my theory nailed that explanation of why their humor doesn’t resonate with her….

I liked Amy on "Parks and Recreation." I've never seen any stand-up of hers. Amy is funnier to me than Tina. I find Tina very one-note with being cutting and snark. I've only seen one episode of 30 Rock. It bothered me when she did that stupid Sarah Palin impression about seeing Russia from her house. That makes no sense given the size of Alaska. Plus, Palin never said that. Yet Fey seemed so smug and satisfied with herself. All she is is smug.

I find Kristen Wiig 100 times funnier than either of these two.

no, Fey didn't plagiarize Palin's words, she did with them what comedians do.

interviewer Charles Gibson asked Palin what insight she had gained from living so close to Russia, and she responded: "They're our next-door neighbors, and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska."

DP. And Mike Shoemaker was the writer of the line "I can see Russia from my house!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to understand what makes them funny!

I think they are funnier if you share their exact politics AND you give yourself and others grace for being an older GenX-er who finds mean/insulting humor hilarious.

I think the people who don’t enjoy them either don’t share their liberal worldview or, if they do, they don’t like the way they still use biting sarcasm and put-down type humor in a manner that was completely normal in the 90s early 2000s but is not at all “acceptable” as humor now.

Curious to know whether OP feels that my theory nailed that explanation of why their humor doesn’t resonate with her….

I liked Amy on "Parks and Recreation." I've never seen any stand-up of hers. Amy is funnier to me than Tina. I find Tina very one-note with being cutting and snark. I've only seen one episode of 30 Rock. It bothered me when she did that stupid Sarah Palin impression about seeing Russia from her house. That makes no sense given the size of Alaska. Plus, Palin never said that. Yet Fey seemed so smug and satisfied with herself. All she is is smug.

I find Kristen Wiig 100 times funnier than either of these two.

You should watch 30 Rock. It was OK the first time I watched it, but now it's my comfort show. I've seen it so many times and it keeps getting funnier the more I watch it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to understand what makes them funny!

I think they are funnier if you share their exact politics AND you give yourself and others grace for being an older GenX-er who finds mean/insulting humor hilarious.

I think the people who don’t enjoy them either don’t share their liberal worldview or, if they do, they don’t like the way they still use biting sarcasm and put-down type humor in a manner that was completely normal in the 90s early 2000s but is not at all “acceptable” as humor now.

Curious to know whether OP feels that my theory nailed that explanation of why their humor doesn’t resonate with her….

I liked Amy on "Parks and Recreation." I've never seen any stand-up of hers. Amy is funnier to me than Tina. I find Tina very one-note with being cutting and snark. I've only seen one episode of 30 Rock. It bothered me when she did that stupid Sarah Palin impression about seeing Russia from her house. That makes no sense given the size of Alaska. Plus, Palin never said that. Yet Fey seemed so smug and satisfied with herself. All she is is smug.

I find Kristen Wiig 100 times funnier than either of these two.

MAGA types should go to Gatlinburg or Branson. No doubt you can have a laugh fest there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to understand what makes them funny!

I think they are funnier if you share their exact politics AND you give yourself and others grace for being an older GenX-er who finds mean/insulting humor hilarious.

I think the people who don’t enjoy them either don’t share their liberal worldview or, if they do, they don’t like the way they still use biting sarcasm and put-down type humor in a manner that was completely normal in the 90s early 2000s but is not at all “acceptable” as humor now.

Curious to know whether OP feels that my theory nailed that explanation of why their humor doesn’t resonate with her….

I liked Amy on "Parks and Recreation." I've never seen any stand-up of hers. Amy is funnier to me than Tina. I find Tina very one-note with being cutting and snark. I've only seen one episode of 30 Rock. It bothered me when she did that stupid Sarah Palin impression about seeing Russia from her house. That makes no sense given the size of Alaska. Plus, Palin never said that. Yet Fey seemed so smug and satisfied with herself. All she is is smug.

I find Kristen Wiig 100 times funnier than either of these two.

MAGA types should go to Gatlinburg or Branson. No doubt you can have a laugh fest there.

So you are a "MAGA type" if you don't enjoy Tina Fey? Hey, Tina!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to understand what makes them funny!

I think they are funnier if you share their exact politics AND you give yourself and others grace for being an older GenX-er who finds mean/insulting humor hilarious.

I think the people who don’t enjoy them either don’t share their liberal worldview or, if they do, they don’t like the way they still use biting sarcasm and put-down type humor in a manner that was completely normal in the 90s early 2000s but is not at all “acceptable” as humor now.

Curious to know whether OP feels that my theory nailed that explanation of why their humor doesn’t resonate with her….

I liked Amy on "Parks and Recreation." I've never seen any stand-up of hers. Amy is funnier to me than Tina. I find Tina very one-note with being cutting and snark. I've only seen one episode of 30 Rock. It bothered me when she did that stupid Sarah Palin impression about seeing Russia from her house. That makes no sense given the size of Alaska. Plus, Palin never said that. Yet Fey seemed so smug and satisfied with herself. All she is is smug.

I find Kristen Wiig 100 times funnier than either of these two.

no, Fey didn't plagiarize Palin's words, she did with them what comedians do.

interviewer Charles Gibson asked Palin what insight she had gained from living so close to Russia, and she responded: "They're our next-door neighbors, and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska."

Well that certainly clarifies the " hilarity."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to understand what makes them funny!

I think they are funnier if you share their exact politics AND you give yourself and others grace for being an older GenX-er who finds mean/insulting humor hilarious.

I think the people who don’t enjoy them either don’t share their liberal worldview or, if they do, they don’t like the way they still use biting sarcasm and put-down type humor in a manner that was completely normal in the 90s early 2000s but is not at all “acceptable” as humor now.

Curious to know whether OP feels that my theory nailed that explanation of why their humor doesn’t resonate with her….

I liked Amy on "Parks and Recreation." I've never seen any stand-up of hers. Amy is funnier to me than Tina. I find Tina very one-note with being cutting and snark. I've only seen one episode of 30 Rock. It bothered me when she did that stupid Sarah Palin impression about seeing Russia from her house. That makes no sense given the size of Alaska. Plus, Palin never said that. Yet Fey seemed so smug and satisfied with herself. All she is is smug.

I find Kristen Wiig 100 times funnier than either of these two.

no, Fey didn't plagiarize Palin's words, she did with them what comedians do.

interviewer Charles Gibson asked Palin what insight she had gained from living so close to Russia, and she responded: "They're our next-door neighbors, and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska."

DP. And Mike Shoemaker was the writer of the line "I can see Russia from my house!"

DP. And the line and delivery were effing hilarious.