Quote: RUGBY @ 19th May 2015, 11:59 PM BST
Is this comedic jousting? Alan Partridge did impale himself on a gate during one episode as you may know. I would like to know why women aren't funny?
The key word regarding Partridge was 'lethal'.
As for women not being funny, as Zooo points out, there's a long thread on this so far.
Personally, I think men do seem to enjoy an advantage of sorts. But it by no means applies to all humour. (and I don't think it's societal as Aaron argues)
But I think if anything has given the theory that girls ain't funny credence, I think it's been the deliberate promotion of female comedians on an ideological basis, rather than due to quality. Nothing symbolises that more than the 'token female' on the panel shows.
I know of what I speak. For a while I was in contact with a budding female comedian north of the border who was being groomed for greater things by the local Beeb up there. Sadly her health deteriorated, eventually making things impossible.
But she was quite sanguine in her assessment of the situation. She felt she was merely being helped along as she was a woman, and the Beeb simply wanted 'some women'. I sensed she herself felt frustrated at this bizarre priority. But who could blame her for grabbing the opportunity with both hands? I sure didn't.
(She also bemoaned the nonsense of insisting she do standup comedy in order to earn her spurs, when in fact she wasn't interested in standup. But as I have said in other threads, the BBC seem to think that standup simply -is- comedy these days.)
I do think female comedians have suffered from quota vehicles and the elevation of some celebrity wimmin which simply weren't that funny. (e.g. Jo Brand)
It seems to have established in the mind of many the idea that women can't cut it.
I recall some ghastly vehicles in the earlier days of BBC3 television which made you cringe. I still feel the women-launch-pad idea doesn't want to die.
The irony of course is that 'pushing women' in comedy may in fact have done them a great disservice, creating a prejudice which will prove hard to overcome.
But in the end, it's quality which ought to launch someone, not what they have or have not got in their pants.
I've just re-watched some of 'To the manor born' and I find Penelope Keith hilarious. But I bet she wasn't promoted within the Beeb because she was a woman.