Can we please stop debating whether women are funny or not?
People on the Internet were shocked, shocked, when Adam Carolla, a popular podcaster and former host of The Man Show expressed his totally unsurprising belief that women, with rare exceptions, aren't very good at comedy.
And instead of passively realizing that the guy who's most famous bit involved large-breasted women bouncing on trampolines might be saying something intentionally incendiary to help promote his book, the Internet took Carolla's bait, and freaked the f*** out.
Rob Delaney, Twitter comedian and World's Dumbest alum, wrote an utterly punchline-free piece that basically (and obviously) said "You're wrong– I KNOW funny women." The comedy site Splitsider took a rare break from endlessly praising Arrested Development to spew some profanity Carolla's way, and Street Carnage, ever the contrarians, ran a post by a woman, attempting to explain scientifically why some people, including Carolla, might think that way.
Lizz Winstead, a very funny comedian and co-creator of The Daily Show, (who, by the way, has been through the wars of workplace sexism in comedy) seemed to be one of the few to react sanely, tweeting out a simple "Jezus, really Adam…" and letting other people get worked up.
The fact of the matter is, this "debate," whenever it comes up, usually seems to directly appeal to people who think they are "funnier" than everyone else, including women. These people, mostly men, love nothing more than railing out against women who they think were unfairly promoted into jobs that they themselves deserve –as if the reason Mike and Molly stinks is because there are too many chicks on the staff. This might be a valid concern if, above and beyond this massive, pro-female, affirmative action conspiracy that is clearly denying them their "birthright", the entertainment business was a vast, unspoiled meritocracy.
There is literally nothing in show business that is fair. People hire their friends, beauty is promoted over ability, Ivy League graduates cut the line, creative decisions are made by businessmen, and nepotism runs wild. So when you complain that women aren't funny, if what you're really complaining about is that you think the entertainment business isn't fair, well, you're a moron.
And whatever you want to say about Adam Carolla, I don't think he's a moron, and here's why. He knew exactly what he was doing when he said those things, and everyone on the Internet just lined up to help him sell his book. Carolla didn't say anything that was in any way out of character for his book and his brand, and it paid off in spades. In short, he kept his eyes on his own paper, which people who get all worked about up about this debate would do well to do themselves.
And that goes for men and women.
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