You asked members for their opinions, and they gave them. You responded:
Amy Poehler? Sarah Silverman? Ellen DeGeneres? Lisa Lampanelli?
Not compelling choices at all.
I think their choices work for them and are compelling for them, and that is what you had asked.
I don't listen to stand-up comedy. However, I would add another vote for Ellen D. I find her funny.
In movies, IF SHE IS GIVEN A GOOD PART, I enjoy Melissa McCarthy. She was funny in The Heat and Spy. (IMHO) Whoopie Goldberg was funny in Ghost but hasn't had a great comic role since then.
In the '90s--can that be considered contemporary?--I liked comedian Judy Gold. Laura Kightlinger was another. There are others, but the '90s seem sooo long ago now. I don't know if they're still out there or if their material is any good now.
In more recent years, there is Scottish comdian Fern Brady, but she has since gone in for the political correctness and virtue signaling shtick that panders to getting her audience's applause.
That is what I dislike about comedians in general--not just the ladies--the predictable shtick of attacking the usual targets and otherwise treading carfully on a politically correct agenda. It is not edgy and it is definitely not funny.
Whoopie was a pretty decent stand-up comedian in her early years, but I haven't heard her "recent" material, unless one counts her occasional lucid remark on that weekday morning henfest, "The View."
Ever see that Sarah Silverman music video where she's virtue signaling and lecturing the viewer? Not funny. Cringeworthy, but not funny.
So women are comically challenged and only men are good comics? Seriously?
I can't think of any funny female stand-up comics. Though again I'm not really into stand up comedy. Now female in comedy roles? Yes, plenty! Jennifer Aniston on FRIENDS. Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Seinfeld. (freaking comic genius) Going way back Barbara Feldon on Get Smart.
Doris Day? She is way too sweet and nice. Certainly not my role model. (Well, I did like her fashion sense.)
I quite huffing once I expressed my opinion.
I still like you, Jim. I'm just put off by various people asking questions like, "What was your favorite movie this year?" and then seeing posters' answers put down. I avoided this comedian topic for a while because that was happening.
On the other hand, I can see that people do have different opinions that should be allowed and expressed. For instance, I don't like Silverman at all, but if she makes others laugh, that is okay with me.
So I shall continue to reside in a state of confusion.
Watch Doris again, Joan. She often goes into an irritating "Oooooh!" thing and then storms off all livid in her films. No that you do, or anything.
You're right about one thing, though: I should have stated straight away my dislike for Poehler, Silverman, et al. I wanted to avoid what you refer to as the putting down of those comedians, though they are truly awful.
P.S. If we ever met in person, Joan, I am pretty sure you would adore me. I'm not nearly as caustic in person.
Pamela Adlon is great, I forgot to mention her earlier. But she's more than just a comedian, obviously, also a fine actor and drama writer. Loved her show BETTER THINGS.
Maria Bamford is hilarious. I have her CD The Burning Bridges Tour and it's great. One of these days I'll have to check out more of her material.
Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci are very funny. Their 8-episode sitcom Garfunkel and Oates was wonderful. I can't bring myself to delete it from my DVR.
