Entertainment Weekly pretends to honor hilarious Hollywood ladies in its list of the 25 Funniest Actresses in Hollywood, but it’s mostly a product placement slideshow advertising some new sitcoms and movies that just hit theaters.
Anna Faris’s position at the top of the list tipped me off to its dubiousness. Almost all the profiles mention the women’s sex appeal – “four-eyed sex appeal” in Tina Fey’s case – or cuteness (as do most of the comments). A lot of the women tend to play second fiddle to male leads in bromedies (Sarah Burns? Isla Fisher? Who the hell is Emma Stone?), with a few notable exceptions (yay Julia Louis-Dreyfus!). I was pleased to see women like Kristen Wiig and Amy Poehler on the list, and Jaime Pressly earned props for her sharp portrayal of Joy on My Name Is Earl. Mindy Kaling is not only a funny actress, she’s also written some of the most side-splitting episodes of The Office.
Emily Blunt is cool, but one of the funniest women in Hollywood? Rashida Jones but no Jenna Fischer? Octavia Spencer, one of a few black women included on the list, is described as “sassy.” Margaret Cho is absent. Sarah Haskins is the funniest woman in my life right now but she doesn’t have a movie to promote so I guess I’m not surprised she wasn’t recognized. The quietly witty and laugh-out-loud funny Ellen DeGeneres got no mention. None of the women are over age 50.
To make people laugh is to have power. It’s no coincidence that the women on EW’s list are conventionally attractive, mostly thin, “perky,” and non-threatening. It’s ok to laugh at them because they exist primarily as the main characters’ love interests, as eye-candy. Even so, plenty of people are still indignant that the words “women” and “funny” would be uttered in the same sentence (one commenter says “Sorry…but I tell the jokes. Not hot, blonde girls.”). Many of the actresses are funny but as a whole the list underestimates women’s comedic talents.
I am in shock that they left of Jenna Fisher. She’s one of the leads of one of the biggest stars on TV. And she’s adorable.
No Margaret Cho? No Ellen? Ellen is a one-name comedy brand for God’s sake! And I’d be much more impressed if it was a gender-neutral “25 Funniest Stars” list that gives equal consideration to women.
But at least Hitchens didn’t write it.
Chelsea Handler? Where is she? Lady is fucking hilarious.
Also… Emma Stone rocks my socks. (yes, I have seen House Bunny)
To be fair, Ellen DeGeneres isn’t exactly an “actress” (certainly not in recent years). Similarly, both Margaret Cho and Chelsea Handler aren’t really comedic actresses (at least not the bulk of their résumés). I was actually pretty impressed with the list, as it included quite a few chicks who are pushing 50. Yes, all the ladies are “conventionally attractive,” but so is pretty much everyone in Hollywood, and that’s who Entertainment Weekly writes about.
This list was OK-I love Mindy Kaling. They missed Aisha Taylor-yeah she looks like a supermodel but she is hella funny. Being on Friends made her less funny, but that’s the writers’ fault I guess.
I can’t believe they left off Jenna Fischer. wtf? Jane Lynch is the SHIT though.
um ok, where is Sweet Dee from Its Always Sunny? Also I would add Laura Silverman, Sarahs sister. She’s on the show but she’s an actress in her own right. She played Laura the secretary on Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist.
C’mon… you know this list is really called “25 Hollywood Females Who Have an Upcoming Movie to Promote”!
But you know what WAS refreshing… most of these ladies are over 30.
Octavia Spencer: “Sassy, smart and wise beyond her years” wait…. isn’t that EVERY heavy-set Black woman in Hollywood?!??!
I understand the concern with EW’s selection process, but I’ll blame the Hollywood culture that insists “funny” women must also be young and conventionally attractive rather than EW’s editorial board.
And Jenna Fischer, outside of her Office role, isn’t exactly a great advocate for breaking gender roles. I hope she didn’t really write this (http://www.esquire.com/women/10-things-you-dont-know-about-women/ESQ0906TENTHINGS_148) because it’s painfully sexist.
Jgh, you are right, of course. It’s not like EW had a ton to work with.
Jgh… sexist, yeah. But is a funny/ironic kind of way?
PARKER POSEY!!
Come on!! She is hilarious and gorgeous!!!