to ask if to ask why men have a better sense of humour than women?

[mdowdall]

Was discussing this with my mate in the pub earlier. Why are women just not as funny (generally speaking) as men? Where are all the great women comedians? I can only think of Victoria Wood and that chubby one with the grey hair. It's just weird.

Forgot Jessica Stevenson/Hynes in Spaced - so, so funny (and not just because she reminds me of me). She has to be a MNer these days, i'd bet money on it.

boyle is an offensive arse
gervais isn't half as funny as he thinks he is

Gervais isn't half as funny as I think he is. Which is not very much at all.

Boyle's whole gig is a skit on our sterile, tedious, facile culture/society. I can't think of another comic who has the balls to do what he does and actually pull it off - and then not apologise when the Daily Mail and whataver are up in arms.

I haven't read the whole thread but I agree OP. It is often embarrassing how unfunny most female comedians are.

If you are wondering why there are fewer women stand up comedians or fewer women appearing on panel game show type programmes, the answer is the same as why there are a low proportion of male teachers or nurses.

Because something is harder to get into for one gender when it's dominated by the other gender.

sue perkins, lucy porter also v funny
i find jo brand very funny she is not doing stand-up eg when she was on HIGNFY the other week

Humour is as particular to the individual as what they find sexually attractive. It's futile to argue "Boyle is crap" or "Boyle is a comedy genius".

I don't find most male comedians funny. I find about the same proportion of female comedians funny as male.

Oh God. Lucy Porter. Is she the one that always plays up how little she is? Zzzz

Mdowdall - I agree that men are funnier at stand-up, and tend to be funnier in general - ( this has been debated on here loadsa btw )
The reasons are; men don't care so much about taking the piss out of themselves ( most successful male comedians are fat and ugly ) -,women are more self conscious I suppose / and just not as many of them prepared to put the hours in.
Also - I'm not sure why anyone is supposed to be funny on here? It's a parenting site offering support to mothers ( mainly ) - not Cambridge Footlights -

Afterwards, can we have 'Why are there no great women artists?' and 'How do we get more women MPs'? During these debates, I will provide Bingo cards. (Women only shortlists, anti-male sexism, patronising special treatment, on your own merits, blah blah bleeuurgh)

A list of enduring Female Comedians:

Ruby Wax
Jo Brand
Victoria Wood
Dawn French
Jennifer Saunders
Joan Rivers
Lucille Ball
Roseanne Barr
Ellen Degeneres
Whoopi Goldberg
Bette Midler
Lily Tomlin

Some of these are actors but also did/do great stand up routines

there are a lot of new female comedians I haven't listed but all the above have been successful so even if you don't find them funny, a lot of people seem to!

i think women are seen as less funny as celebs these days who are female arent rated very highly if they arent obviously sexy-which dousnt go hand in hand in the traditional sense with being a comedian

Nope. Never cracked a smile at any of them Bumbling. Mind you, I really like Boyle & Gervais so would probably get flamed for that on here.

you like boyle? it should be put down

Ruby Wax - Dawn French - Jennifer Saunders - not funny at all.
Jo Brand has one joke - 'yes I'm fat'

Fergie

I love Sue Perkins and Miranda Hart, and Hadley Freeman from the Guardian.

My favourite male comedian is Russel Howard - I think it's mainly because he is rarely unkind or offensive unlike a lot of other male comedians.

Yes there are really funny female comedians, but a lot of women I know are funny but in a much more discrete way - if you know them they are hilarious and you can be laughing for hours, but if you are a casual aquaintance you'd have no idea.

Sarah Millican- i actually love her.

*discreet

Ruby Wax
Jo Brand
Victoria Wood
Dawn French
Jennifer Saunders
Joan Rivers
Roseanne Barr
Bette Midler
Lily Tomlin
Sally Phillips
Maranda Hart

Are great on tv, never seen anyone live, and there are more out there. I'm not familiar with many female stand ups so can't name any.

Hmmmmmm, maybe that's because it's suppossed to be a man's world? I agree with the poster who said that there are far fewer female comics on panel shows and the like.

Thoughts on Eddie Izzard? I love him.

Oh yes, Russell Howard fan here too, and Chris Addison has come on a lot since that lab show he did.

I like Milton Jones too, he's weird but funny with it. Not everyone's cup of tea, I grant you.