Nikki Finke Thinks Women Have To Be Ugly To Be Funny

Hollywood

Nikki Finke Thinks Women Have To Be Ugly To Be Funny

9:30 am, September 26th | by Laura Donovan

When it comes to the whole “women can’t be funny” debate, I lack the desire to cry sexism or get riled up. What does bother me, however, is that argument that women must always be unattractive to be successful comedians. Deadline writer Nikki Finke apparently subscribes to this notion, having penned a prickly response to “Modern Family” star Julie Bowen’s earning of the Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series Emmy award. The scribe attests:

“Beautiful actresses are not funny. They don’t know how to do comedy. (As Bowen demonstrated with her acceptance speech that repeated the phrase ‘nipple covers’ 3 dozen times. To zero laughter.) Only women who grew up ugly and stayed ugly, or through plastic surgery became beautiful, can pull off sitcoms or standups. Bowen isn’t a comedienne just like Brooke Shields wasn’t and a zillion more.”

“Superbad” actor Jonah Hill described this belief in much more tactful words a couple of years ago, without making it all about gender:

“It’s harder to be funny if you’re handsome than if you’re very normal-looking. It’s just more relatable. You’re the underdog. I mean it’s funny to see people struggle, and you don’t buy that Brad Pitt is struggling, you know that guy could be the most skill-less guy in the world, but if you look like that you will be fine for the rest of your life.”

This is true for both men and women. What Finke overlooks in her own argument is that many of us were ugly ducklings as kids and always view ourselves in such a light, even if we’ve blossomed. Finke continues:

“Because it’s all about emotional pain and humiliation and rising above both by making people laugh with you instead of at you. So stop casting beautiful actresses when you should be giving ugly women a chance. (Tina Fey always points out she looked like a troglodyte when she was younger.) This also applies to handsome men, by the way. Now argue amongst yourselves.”

Tina Fey may be a swan now, but I don’t think that takes away from the insecurity she felt in high school, when she was anything but glowing. Almost everyone goes through an awkward phase, and it’s pretty unfair to say that women can only thrive as comedians by staying in this terrible place forever. If someone ever labeled you hideous or unworthy, you’ll remember that pain the rest of your life, and you can use it for comedic advantage anytime you’d like.

[Deadline]

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