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"When Even Sex Is Like A Song I've Heard Too Often…"
"As The Internet & TV & Movies All Become One Scary Machine In Your Living Room, It’s Important That We All Have Some Level Of Media Literacy."
Sarah Silverman: "Who Cares If 90-Year-Old Jerry Lewis Thinks Women Aren't Funny?"
Maybe They Just Weren't Funny Enough?
Last Night Joan Rivers' Vagina Got Roasted
We're Dubious
Roseanne: Acting Like A Man Doesn't Work For Comedy, Women's Equality
South Park Tells Women: "You Are Free To Queef"
Do You Have To Be Pretty To Make It As A Comedian?
Germaine Greer: Women Aren't As Funny As Men

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Rooo sez BISH PLZ
11/06/09

In reply to "When Even Sex Is Like A Song I've Heard Too Often…"
Oh.
Oh, dear.

Not that I can afford to be vain about my "early poems", but I'm not sure who decided this was a good idea. #kristenwiigreadssuzannesomers
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Rooo sez BISH PLZ was starred

Eriu
11/06/09

In reply to "When Even Sex Is Like A Song I've Heard Too Often…"
:-/ I love Kristen Wiig, but I'm pretty sure she stole this from Garfunkel & Oates (the "Pregnant Women Are Smug" ladies). [www.youtube.com]
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thecameralovesyou promoted this comment Edited by Eriu at 11/06/09 10:46 AM Eriu was starred Eriu was unstarred

thecameralovesyou
11/06/09

@Eriu: But the celebrity autobiography readings have been going on for a while, i believe. I remember sherri sheppard talking about it on the view last year. and here's an article about them from last september
[theater.nytimes.com]
But maybe she did. I have no idea! #kristenwiigreadssuzannesomers
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Eriu
11/06/09

@thecameralovesyou: It's not suspect because it's just a celebrity autobiography reading, though. It's suspect because it's specifically Suzanne Somers' poetry, which they performed quite some time ago. They've been gaining attention in LA and elsewhere (they were in BUST a few weeks ago) and this kind of thing happens way too often in comedy. [en.wikipedia.org]
(I wanted to link to an article from now-defunct Radar magazine but can't find it.) Yes, it could be an honest coincidence, but I tend to doubt it, especially since their version is on YouTube. #kristenwiigreadssuzannesomers
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thecameralovesyou
11/06/09

@Eriu: Ahhh yes, I see your point.

I just try and think Kristen Wiig wouldn't steal ideas, but I tend to be naive and stay in my happy bubble. #kristenwiigreadssuzannesomers
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Eriu
11/06/09

@thecameralovesyou: Me too. That's why I was so disappointed. It's possible someone else saw the video and was like, "Oh hey Kristen, Suzanne Somers wrote some ridiculous poetry." Still not really right, though, in my opinion. But less her fault. #kristenwiigreadssuzannesomers
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thecameralovesyou
11/06/09

@Eriu: True. I don't know if the individual comedians in these routines go out and find their own hilarious celebrity books but it could very well have not been her doing. I'm gonna hold on to that possibility. #kristenwiigreadssuzannesomers
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andBegorrah
11/06/09

In reply to "When Even Sex Is Like A Song I've Heard Too Often…"
The Vaginosis Monologues.
The Cant, ohs.
The Chode Not Take.
Where the Side-eye Ends.
Man, Fred.
Peeves of Ass. #kristenwiigreadssuzannesomers
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yvanehtnioj
11/04/09

In reply to "As The Internet & TV & Movies All Become One Scary Machine In Your Living Room, It’s Important That We All Have Some Level Of Media Literacy."
This is cool, but I'm much more interested in the fact that Sarah was apparently on the Rachel Maddow show. How'd I miss that? #sarahhaskins
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prestocaro fears the culling
11/04/09

In reply to "As The Internet & TV & Movies All Become One Scary Machine In Your Living Room, It’s Important That We All Have Some Level Of Media Literacy."
Please tell me someone else has the Target: Women intro music stuck in his/her head now. I can't be the only one. #sarahhaskins
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lauren.raham
11/04/09

@prestocaro fears the culling: Underpants!
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cand86
11/04/09

@prestocaro fears the culling: Doo doo doo doo! :) #sarahhaskins
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schlegs84
11/04/09

@prestocaro fears the culling: Unda-pants! #sarahhaskins
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schlegs84
11/04/09

@lauren.raham: You beat me to it! That part cracks me up every time. #sarahhaskins
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LittleShell
11/04/09

In reply to "As The Internet & TV & Movies All Become One Scary Machine In Your Living Room, It’s Important That We All Have Some Level Of Media Literacy."
In my anthropology class today, we discussed how home-cleaning and baking products are still marketed solely to women. As if women have nothing better to do with their days than replace their sad, old mops with Swiffers. I'd love to see a Pillsbury commercial with the dad helping his kids make cookies. Because you know what? Choosy dads can choose Jif too. #sarahhaskins
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JessickerFletcher promoted this comment Edited by LittleShell at 11/04/09 1:12 PM LittleShell was starred LittleShell was unstarred

JessickerFletcher
11/04/09

@LittleShell: OMG. I want a t-shirt that says "Choosy Dads Can Choose Jiff Too." Pure. Awesome. #sarahhaskins
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yet i
11/04/09

@JessickerFletcher: there is a jif dad ad!

i think. maybe i just watch to much tv while baked but isn't there one where the dad is building a tree house and the daughter brings him a pb&j, and the voice over is "Choosy Moms and Dads choose Jiff" ?

Is this maybe a Canada thing? A quebec thing? Someone confirm/deny, please. I hate not knowing if i made TV up or not. #sarahhaskins
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prestocaro fears the culling promoted this comment yet i was starred yet i was unstarred

prestocaro fears the culling
11/04/09

@yet i: but... I always gathered the gist of that was "choosy moms (and small girls who are of course just mini-moms waiting to happen) choose jiff" #sarahhaskins
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yet i
11/04/09

@prestocaro fears the culling: sure. but i was referring to the inclusion of dads in the voice over part! #sarahhaskins
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prestocaro fears the culling
11/04/09

@yet i: snap. You are correct. BTW, those ads aired here in Texas. I also remember one with a grandpa making a peanut butter sandwich for his grandaughter (tho now that I think about it, I'm not sure if that was Jiff) #sarahhaskins
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sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell
11/04/09

In reply to "As The Internet & TV & Movies All Become One Scary Machine In Your Living Room, It’s Important That We All Have Some Level Of Media Literacy."
Sarah Haskins is a Jezebel ambassador. #sarahhaskins
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JessickerFletcher
11/04/09

@sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell: ... to my heart. #sarahhaskins
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boxspelunker
11/04/09

In reply to "As The Internet & TV & Movies All Become One Scary Machine In Your Living Room, It’s Important That We All Have Some Level Of Media Literacy."
Man, A+, Sarah Haskins. You always manage to be both witty and articulate about these kinds of things. When I want to explain the absurdity in advertising, I just put on one of your videos, and I am no longer a crazy harpy, but someone who knows something funny and cool on the internet. You make this so accessible, and seriously, all of my male friends have become more aware of how stupid some advertising can be basically because of Target: Women segments, I shit you not.

That interview was awesome. #sarahhaskins
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SharadaOeneus
11/04/09

@boxspelunker: A few of my guy friends, and even my brother, are fans of Sarah Haskins and Target: Women. Shit's hilarious, I don't care what gender you are.
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Hana Maru
09/14/09

In reply to Sarah Silverman: "Who Cares If 90-Year-Old Jerry Lewis Thinks Women Aren't Funny?"
Thanks for the sexism, Sarah. Maybe the boys will let you up into their treehouse now?

How 'bout this: People(read:men) who say that women aren't funny have been, universally, in my experience, unfunny and misogynistic.
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HidingInCanada
09/14/09

In reply to Sarah Silverman: "Who Cares If 90-Year-Old Jerry Lewis Thinks Women Aren't Funny?"
What I don't think is funny is humour that is sexist, homophobic, or racist. This is probably where women get the label of not-being-funny, because we generally like our humour cleaner. Its obvious why Sarah Silverman would think those women who get offended at accusations of un-funny-ness are actually just uptight -- those are the women who don't think SHE'S particularly funny.

This is my difference with most of my straight white male friends -- they'll still laugh when someone calls someone else a faggot or a bitch because they do something vaguely feminine, or at the South Park episode where Hillary has a 'snude' (a nuke in her snatch). If its making fun of someone at their expense, that's where I draw the line, because I know what its like to be on the receiving end of sexist or racist humour. Its not that someone has made fun of me directly, say, its being in the same room when someone makes a sexist joke, and you're the only one who doesn't find it hilarious. Its even worse when other girls in the room laugh along with the guys, because they don't want to look as if they can't take a joke, or they're too sensitive.

Its always incredible to me how otherwise caring and compassionate people can not understand how certain kinds of humour can be genuinely offensive, because they have never been placed in a situation where they are part of the marginalized group. More women than men have had that experience, simply because they are female. Therefore, we're less likely to engage in mean-spirited jokes, because we generally know the damage it can do.

Of course, when we point out how some jokes probably shouldn't be told, we're considered too much of a buzzkill to be funny.
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JinxyMcDeath
09/14/09

In reply to Sarah Silverman: "Who Cares If 90-Year-Old Jerry Lewis Thinks Women Aren't Funny?"
Obviously the point being that those who take anyone who says such a thing seriously, has no gauge for ridiculousness.
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JennaW
09/14/09

In reply to Sarah Silverman: "Who Cares If 90-Year-Old Jerry Lewis Thinks Women Aren't Funny?"
The context in which she said the quote is quite different than if she'd just opened with a dismissal of the comment outright.

As a comment made in a very specific framework, I think that she was right as far as summing up what they were all talking about -- which was professional funny people getting past caring if people didn't find them funny.

I don't follow Sarah but a lot of what I have seen of her work I've liked. It's perfectly valid not to like her, but when someone says "she just isn't funny" then that person is wrong. She isn't funny *to them* but a person can't decide for the planet on the funniness of another person.
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Helennellieforsythe
09/14/09

In reply to Sarah Silverman: "Who Cares If 90-Year-Old Jerry Lewis Thinks Women Aren't Funny?"
I think it's funny that a lot of the comments on this post prove her point...
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aureliajones
09/14/09

@Helennellieforsythe: The comments on this post aren't trying to be funny. Should we be funny all the time? Maybe we should bring out the poop humor like Ms. Silverman?
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Hana Maru
09/14/09

@Helennellieforsythe: Now, THIS is funny. At least I hope you're going for humor here.

Maybe instead of making offensive statements about women, sexist men could just tell better jokes? They're just proving how humorless men must all be.
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shostakobitch
09/14/09

@aureliajones: for the love of god please bring out the poop humor! i think we left some in the storage cabinet down by where our parking spaces are.
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voteforme
09/14/09

In reply to Sarah Silverman: "Who Cares If 90-Year-Old Jerry Lewis Thinks Women Aren't Funny?"
I find a lot of Sarah's humor to be disempowering. She's also often substitutes lewdness for legit comedy. Her phrasing here is along the lines of "jeez, learn to take a joke!" Sure, there are both funny and unfunny women in the world, but to deny that there's a dearth of women getting big comedy jobs shouldn't be hushed up with, "You're not funny anyway, so get over it."
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minnesotameltdown
09/14/09

@voteforme: Right? It's a bit like she's saying, "sexism doesn't exist cuz boys think i'm cute!"
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Seeräuber Jenny promoted this comment Edited by minnesotameltdown at 09/14/09 1:58 PM minnesotameltdown was starred

NorthernLite
09/14/09

In reply to Sarah Silverman: "Who Cares If 90-Year-Old Jerry Lewis Thinks Women Aren't Funny?"
I remember reading a blurb years ago about the women who'd written for the original SNL. I'm wildly paraphrasing, but one of them said women could write humor about men's subjects but men couldn't write about something like, say, makeup. The line I remember is "The only word they know is mascara."

I've known since I was 12 that many men find the Three Stooges and the fart scene in Blazing Saddles funny. Or fill in a more recent relevancy - aspects of South Park, Family Guy or Judd Apatow's movies.

So if I wanted to generalize from those examples I'd say men like broad, crude humor. Women like something a little more subtle.

But again, that'd be generalizing. Just like whatever oaf who says women aren't funny -just because women's humor is different than theirs.
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