Top 5 Favorite Kristen Wiig Moments

Kristen Wiig may be the ultimate funny lady of the moment, and is without a doubt one of my favorite funny ladies.  Rumors are currently circulating that this could be her last season on Saturday Night Live.  While nothing has been confirmed, it would seem that after the success of Bridesmaids, Wiig has certainly proven she can have success outside of the show.

While I would be very sad to see her leave SNL, I know that she will produce great, funny things in the future, no matter what she chooses to do at the end of this season. Here are a few links to clips of my favorite Kristen Wiig moments:

Kristen Wiig as "Dooneese." photo from kristen-wiig.blogspot.com

The Lawrence Welk Show clip

In this famous parody of the PBS program, Kristen Wiig plays “Dooneese” the disturbingly-small handed member of a group of singing sisters.  Terrorizing the male musical guest in the skit and generally ruining the song are all Dooneese’s specialties.

photo from kristen-wiig.blogspot.com

Garth and Kat on Weekend Update

In “Garth and Kat”  Wiig and Fred Armisen play a singing duo who appear on Weekend Update to promote albums and sing seasonal songs.  The thing is, neither the characters (nor Wiig and Armisen) rehearse before performing.  General hilarity, including the actors in the scene openly laughing, ensues.  In an article from Splitsider.com, Wiig talked about the skit, calling those 2 minutes of winging it on live TV “freeing.”

Iconoclasts with Bjork and Charles Barkley

 Wiig has played Bjork in a few skits on SNL, including appearances on Weekend Update.  What’s so funny to me about this character is that Wiig is somehow capable of an icelandic accent.  That, and the fact that she says things like “would you like to hold my invisible baby?”

 Although this clip is not from Saturday Night Live, nor is it actually in Bridesmaids,  I think this deleted scene shows how funny Wiig can be.  These improvised takes didn’t even make it into the movie, and yet they are hilarious.

from funnyordie.com

Judy Grimes on Weekend Update

“Judy Grimes,” a speed-talking, super-nervous travel expert appears on Weekend Update with the pretense of giving advice to viewers.  However, her out of control nerves continually get the better of her, and she adds “just kidding” to the end of everything she says, causing a whirlwind of confused, circular logic.  Judy puts Penelope (another fast-talking SNL character) to shame.

Bossypants.

“Once in a generation a woman comes along who changes everything. Tina Fey is not that woman, but she met that woman once and acted weird around her.” – Bossypants

from laurenconrad.com

Tina Fey’s book, BossyPants, is one of my favorites.  It is written in a voice that is so clearly hers, with the same humor that drives 30 Rock.  She tells stories about her childhood, how she got into comedy and improv, and anecdotes from her marriage and creating 30 Rock.

In one chapter entitled “My Honeymoon, or A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again Either,” Fey tells the story of a cruise-gone-wrong she went on with her husband.  During an emergency in which the passengers had to line up behind lifeboats, Fey discusses how it would be ‘awkward’ when she had to leave her husband behind on the ship while she left in a life boat.  However, she justifies this line of logic by referencing Titanic.

“If [Rose] had gone on the lifeboat, then [Jack] could have had that piece of wood she was floating on and they both would have survived.”

from tinafeyfan.com

She writes on about her experience at Saturday Night Live, and what it was like to write for TV in a usually male-dominated line of work.

“Only in comedy,” she writes, “does an obedient white girl from the suburbs count as diversity.”

Fey tells one story about an interaction between Amy Poehler and Jimmy Fallon when they were all on SNL.  Fallon made a sarcastic comment about not liking a joke Poehler made because it wasn’t ‘cute.’

“Amy made it clear that she wasn’t there to be cute. She wasn’t there to play wives and girlfriends in the boys’ scenes. She was there to do what she wanted to do and she did not f–king care if you like it.”

Fey marks this moment as a time she felt less alone (“even though things had been going great on the show”) at SNL.  She says she realized that it doesn’t matter if people don’t believe in what you’re doing, because if they aren’t standing in the way of what you want to achieve, it can’t affect you.

A great lesson for any women in a male-dominated field.  Or really, anyone anywhere.

Seeing Melissa McCarthy’s comedic ability

Bridesmaids has been hailed as one of the funniest movies in recent years.  Impressive with its wide appeal, especially since it was written by and nearly exclusively performed by women.  All of the characters were great, but there was one actress that really stuck out to me–Melissa McCarthy.

McCarthy at the Oscars. Photo from InStyle.com

In Bridesmaids, McCarthy plays Megan, the outrageously outspoken and badly dressed sister-of-the-groom.  After following McCarthy for years through her role in as the sweet and goofy Sookie St. James on Gilmore Girls, it was startling and refreshing to see how incredibly hilarious she can be.

McCarthy as Megan. Photo from Time.com

McCarthy’s commitment to her character and willingness to go above and beyond while developing the style and demeanor of her character, Megan was the subject of an article on GQ.com.  Maya Rudolph, a fellow funny girl who plays Lillian in Bridesmaids said that she knew there was more to McCarthy then the sweet characters she’s played in the past.

“Honestly, I’ve always felt that Melissa is hands down one of the most incredible performers I’ve ever worked with,” Rudolph said.  ”I’ve heard people over the years say, ‘I really like her on Gilmore Girls.‘ In the back of my mind, I was always saying, ‘Just you wait.’”

Paul Feig, the director of Bridesmaids echoed that sentiment, stating that McCarthy’s improv during her audition really made it clear how perfect she was for the role, and how take-charge she was about her character.

“Let any debate about ‘women aren’t funny’ be put to rest,” he said.  ”I would do anything with her, and she’s got such range that she kind of can do anything. The worst thing you could do, if you had a Melissa McCarthy in your employ, would be, ‘Can you just stick to the script?’ But that happens a lot. Why the f–k would you ever do that?”

McCarthy was nominated for an Oscar for her performance as Megan.  She currently stars in Mike & Molly on CBS.

Chelsea Devantez and Rachael Mason: Improv All-Stars

This year, I spent part of spring break in Chicago, and I had the opportunity to attend a show at The Second City.  Chicago’s famous comedy theater did not disappoint–I saw “Improv All-Stars” in the UP Comedy Club and was throughly entertained.

Chelsea Devantez and Rachael Mason on stage. Photo from gapersblock.com

The “Improv All-Stars” show occurs every monday, and contains a variety of improv act types, including musical improv as well as “freeze tag”-style scenes where actors continually swap places with each other on stage. An article from newcitystage.com described some of the highlights of the routine: “clever song creation, [as well as] an outstanding improvised political debate between two actors who had to guess a rather challenging phrase concocted by the audience, aided only by miming actors who seemed to detour them as much as direct them.”

Chelsea Devantez and Rachael Mason, the two women in the group of five comedians, often stole the show.  When assigned to speak only in “fortune cookie” form, Mason was challenged, but still brought the laughs with her brief inputs into a story told by the whole group.  In addition to participating in most bits, Devantez was in charge of setting up and deciding when changes in many scenes would occur, directing the flow of certain skits and picking which audience suggestions would become scene ideas.

With improv acts that even included singing, they showed that you don’t have to have a script to perform a funny show.

Devantez at the UP Comedy Club. Photo from newcitystage.com

Want to see more from these women?  Check out Mason’s website and Devantez’s blog.

Chelsea Handler: Pretty Funny

“What I love about Chelsea is that she shows we’ve reached a point where comedy is comedy — it’s not male comedy or female comedy,” Jay Leno says. “When I was a kid, it was Phyllis Diller. To be a comedian she had to make herself more unattractive than she was. But Chelsea Handler can walk out onstage looking like a Playboy centerfold if she wants and still be funny.”  – Brooks Barnes, The New York Times

Chelsea Handler backstage. Photo from ChelseaHandler.com

Chelsea Handler’s humor may not appeal to everyone.  She’s blatantly honest, unabashed, and enjoys what she calls “ruthless teasing.”  However, Handler is a great example of a woman who is making her own way in comedy by doing exactly what she wants.  Her late-night talk show, Chelsea Lately, has a cult following, and has written four books, three of which have hit #1 on the New York Time’s Best Seller list.  On top of all this, she is only the second woman, behind Joan Rivers, to have her own late-night show.

Photo from The New York Times online

Probably her most widely-known book, Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea is a collection of autobiographical essays about Handler’s most amusing life experiences.  From attempting to convince her third-grade classmates that she was starring in a movie with Goldie Hawn in order to gain their approval, to pretending to be on a honeymoon with her father in order to be upgraded to first class plane seats, the ridiculous shenanigans never cease.

While Handler’s comedic style may not be the most widely-appealling style, she has more than proven that a pretty woman can not only be funny, but can also be an accomplished writer and successful business woman.

Here, Handler discusses comedy with Kathy Griffin, a guest on Chelsea Lately and fellow controversial woman comedian.

“Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People”

• “America’s most delightfully unconventional hostess and the bestselling author of I Like You delivers a new book that will forever change the world of crafting.” – amysedarisrocks.com

Amy Sedaris. Photo from amysedarisrocks.com

Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People is author and comedian Amy Sedaris’ second book; a follow-up to her hospitality guide I Like You.  Filled with instructions on how to make things like “Doll Wig Door Knobs” and “Tinfoil Balls,” this hilarious and sometimes slightly disturbing book is perfect for some creative fun on a budget.  Where would we be without knowing how to make a beard made of hair saved from your brush?  Amy Sedaris to the rescue.

From amysedarisrocks.com

Simple Times is less an actual crafting guide than it is an kooky and ridiculous look into the comedic mind of Sedaris, complete with photo spreads.  Sedaris dresses up as Jesus, an elderly woman, and a teenager in her quest to turn the recession into a creative opportunity.

Here are some examples from Simple Times, taken from Sedaris’ website, amysedarisrocks.com:

from amysedarisrocks.com

1. Coconut Chip Earrings: To create exotic earrings, run a wire through a piece of coconut shell so that the razor-sharp shards dangle freely close to your face. Warning: No hugging or swift head turns.
2. Tampon Ghost: Instructions – Self explanatory.
3. Doll Wig Door Knob: When you feel you are too old to play with dolls, or more importantly, society does, there is a creative adult way to continue your relationship. Remove a doll’s wig and place it over a doorknob, creating a festive furry handgrip. Also, you can remove the wig, and attach an elastic band and wear it as a beard or bangs. Instant new look.

Can’t get enough of Sedaris’ craft humor?  Here’s a clip of her discussing her book with David Letterman.

 

In response to the argument that women aren’t funny…

“My hat goes off to them. It is an impressively arrogant move to conclude that because you don’t like something, it is empirically not good. I don’t like Chinese food, but I don’t write articles trying to prove it doesn’t exist.” — Tina Fey, Bossypants

Quirky Humor

“Quirky” may be the most commonly used, and honestly, most accurate, word to describe Zooey Deschanel.  In fact, her quirkiness was recently the subject of a Saturday Night Live skit. But there’s more to Deschanel than unique style.

Zooey as Jessica Day. From People.com

Something about her particular brand of funny sticks with people, as evidenced by the growing popularity of New Girl (the show has been nominated for Golden Globe and People’s choice awards, among others, in its first year).  As Jessica Day, a girl living with three male roommates, she is not only the strongest female voice on the program, but drives the plot as the main character.

Jess’s continual optimism, sentimental tendencies, need to discuss feelings with her macho roommates, and love of all things adorable might make her the girliest voice in today’s popular comedy.

Cast of New Girl. Photo from screenrant.com

Some quotes from recent episodes demonstrate her quirky, feminine humor:

Jess: $550 for the TV?! Seems a little steep. I’m gonna write down a figure, and this is as high as I’ll go.
Pawnshop worker: You drew a smiley face.

Jess: So when I do the chicken dance I do it a little differently. Instead of doing claps, I like to do a peck. It’s more realistic.

An article in NYMag discussed how Deschanel’s character is usually someone who would be the “best friend” and how there has been some backlash from women who say her overly feminine qualities are taking strides backwards in the fight for women to be taken seriously.  But in another way, I think New Girl and Deschanel are actually making progress.

Shows like New Girl may be making new strides in the world of women’s comedy.  Although Deschanel’s character may seem like the sweetest and most unassuming to come along in a while, the success of this show proves that a silly, overwhelmingly cutesy woman can be accepted as a comedy figure.

Funny girls keep up with the guys

Kaitlin Olson, star of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia knows how to get along with the guys.  In fact, she’s married to one of her costars, Rob McElhenney.  Playing the only steady female character on the show, she often has to roll with the punches and even be willing to make fun of herself.  Her easy-going attitude and sometimes outspoken sense of humor make her the perfect female perspective to balance out the male-dominated plot.

Kaitlin Olson and Rob McElhenney. Photo from CBS News.

Olson adds a much-needed woman’s view to the program, although her gender never prevents the gang’s shenanigans from continuing.  Actually, Olson’s character, Dee, starts many of the hilarity-ensuing situations which have included getting cats stuck in a wall, getting addicted to steroids, and trying to become a YouTube sensation.

Cast of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Photo from FX website.

If Olson’s part in Always Sunny proves anything, it’s that sometimes girls are the ones causing all the funny, and that they can keep up with the boys with ease.

Aubrey Plaza means funny.

Aubrey Plaza, 27, grew up in a small town in Delaware, where being half Puerto Rican was considered exotic.  Hoping to one day make it to the ranks of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, she moved to New York and started taking improv lessons.  Since then, she has starred in several comedy movies, but she is most well known for playing April Ludgate on the NBC show Parks and Recreation .  

Aubrey Plaza. Photo from Elle.com

The dead-pan, sarcastic teen intern character has earned Plaza a bit of a cult following.  April is continually unimpressed, but delivers zingers that can take any of the other characters on Parks and Recreation down a few notches.

photo from uproxx.com

She also provides the perfect assistant to her boss, whose main goal is to remain undisturbed throughout the work day.  When scheduling a meeting she helpfully tells a citizen ”Looks like the only other day he has open is Marchtember oneteenth. Does that work, sir?”

Plaza perfectly nails April’s one-liners with a mix of passive-aggression and subdued amusement.  She is funny because she says things no one else would think of, and no one is safe from her constant desire to point out the stupidity of someone else’s behavior.