It has been written by many males in the past that women are just becoming funny, but as Matthew Perry so eloquently put it in his 2012 Comedy Central Comedy Awards, "women have been funny for years, men are just realizing it now." Though it seems as if women comedians are only just now dominating the scene, there have been many classic female comedians throughout history. Here are the names of just a few.
1. Ellen DeGeneres
We all know her from her talk show, but this video is from her "big break" on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson!
2. Lucille Ball
This is just one of the many iconic skits done by Lucille Ball in "I Love Lucy"
3. Tina Fey & Amy Poehler
Whether it's a movie, talk show appearances, hosting the Golden Globes or hosting/ being a cast member on SNL, this duo is unstoppable.
4. Carol Burnett
This nearly 20-minute sketch is probably one of Carol Burnett's most famous sketches from "The Carol Burnett Show"
5. Kristin Wiig
This is just one of the many characters Kristen Wiig has played on SNL. This legendary character is Penelope.
6. Gilda Radner
One of the original cast members of SNL, Gilda Radner was a comedic light taken too soon. On top of the many characters she played on Saturday Night Live, here is her screen test.
7. Joan Rivers
Maybe it was her "In your face" attitude or her comedy for controversial topics, but Joan Rivers was a comic icon from her beginning in the 1960's until her death in 2014.
8. Phyllis Diller
Maybe it was her very personal comedy or her exotic style. Even though she started comedy at an "older age," she is still considered one of comedy's greatest icons.
9. Betty White
From her role on Golden Girls to The Mary Tyler Moore Show, her many movie credits, TV game show appearances, and much more, Betty White is not only a comedic icon, but beloved by many.
10. Kate McKinnon
From playing Justin Bieber to Sofia Vergara and Hilliary Clinton to Ellen, Kate McKinnon can truly make anyone laugh.
11. Amy Schumer
After her start on Comedy Central, Amy Schumer kept her audiences laughing!
12. Maya Rudolph
Beyonce, Dianna Ross, Oprah, Condoleezza Rice or Michelle Obama, are just a few of the impressions and characters she has played.
13. Mindy Kaling
From her role as Kelly Kapoor on The Officeor as Mindy Lahiri in The Mindy Project, Mindy Kaling has had us laughing from the start.
14. Wanda Sykes
Whether it's her raunchy comedy or just a story about her children, Wanda Skyes can make other comedians laugh until their sides split!
15. Mary Tyler-Moore
She played Laura Petri on The Dick Van Dyke Show and Mary Richards on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. With both roles she took on tremendous comedic feats and brought TV audiences to tears of laughter every week.
The list of iconic female comedians are of course much larger than this and the decision on who should make this article was definitely not an easy one! If anyone has any doubt in their mind that woman are "just becoming funny," they are extremely wrong. Just take a look at this list and at the countless other women who have made us laugh through the generations.
