Women are Funny | Ellie Kemper | TEDxGatewayArch

Ellie dispels the notion that women are less funny than men in the humorous rant from the TEDx stage.
Ellie is a St. Louis native an actress, comedian, and writer. She is best known for her role as Erin Hannon in the NBC series The Office, as well as her supporting roles in the films Bridesmaids and 21 Jump Street. She currently plays the title role in the Netflix comedy series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, for which she has received critical acclaim. In the summer of 2015, she joined NBC News as a temporary co-host on NBC's morning news program, The Today Show
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@xLovePeaceAndHope]

Why is there music playing really loudly while she talks???

[@bikegangjockey]

I turned it off after 2 seconds. I was really excited to watch this but it's so distracting it was better to just not watch at all.

[@foramomentinspace]

It turns off about 20 seconds in.

[@foramomentinspace]

nevermind. oof

[@colonelboris2597]

So people don't realize when she's not being funny

[@sarahcurlee8194]

Julia Caroline hoping to drown her out 😅

[@Scotums]

I like Ellie Kember, but the funniest thing about this was the music cutting in randomly

[@NikhitaPrabhudesai]

What is that extremely annoying music! Why the heck is that added in this talk!

[@californiaslastgasp6847]

To cover up her unfunniness.

[@slayer7160]

You know what's really funny? Those editing skills.

[@johnl2124]

I think the annoying music was just an technical glitch.. they eventually figured it out. It's good that she just kept going, great save :D

[@fefifofob]

When you have to explain that you are about to tell a joke, something is missing.

[@stevesommers7640]

The music was accidentally put on multiple times as the talk occurred, we could not edit out in post production. It was a huge lesson in our future efforts in production.. Thanks for watching.

[@regina.phalange.]

Was it really "accidental"?

[@SCL8294]

Women are funny, but hardly anyone can write genuinely good comedy for them.

[@cranberrycanvas]

She's cute. I think the biggest problem is mKing characters relatable which men have just as much problem with as women in movies they just have an easier time getting away with it for some reason. Women are funny. People are funny. Get over it.

[@fefifofob]

It's always funnier when you prepare people by explaining that your going to be telling jokes.

[@Hassenboy]

You're joking... right?

[@fefifofob]

That way people will know that laughing is expected of them because most of them are too stupid to figure out what is actually funny. It's just being helpful.

[@Hassenboy]

No no no, it's the most unfunny thing there is! Humor is the unexpected and the wicked. You must not prepare your audience for the joke, because that ruins the surprise. You must not tell your audience that "it's just a joke", because this removes the wickedness. It's like asking a girl for permission before kissing her. If you truly want to let other people know when to laugh; then laugh at your own jokes.

[@fefifofob]

So you are saying this woman isn't funny even after she told us she was funny? That's inconceivable!!!

[@TvDfAnBiG]

So you're saying that telling people you're about to tell them a joke is just like sexually assaulting women?

[@ryublueblanka]

As far as funny women...my first love was and is to this day incredibly funny...it's just comes naturally to her and is very unique to her...the irony she finds in life...the way she questions everything and her approach.. It's like from deep within...her soul...her spirit...it's just in her and always has been and always will be. Ellie may have suffered a bit from just being a drama kid in general...like get on stage! Be funny! Learn how to be funny! Hey! You're doing it wrong! Heyyyy...you're doing it right! Great job Ellie! She has come a long way I recommend her book "my squirrel days" to everyone...she seems to have really blossomed...I just can't tell if she is being herself or her Kimmy/Erin characters...maybe it's a bit of both? If she suffers from anything today it's the white comedy writers...the office...30rock...SNL...her own show...I believe when she moves on to other things and other styles... incorporates that into her already amazing self...she will be a comedy great...her being a mom and all that...it's Wonderful... I look forward to her best work to come...if only she left her PRECIOUS MICHAELLLLL...blahh! Anyways... PeaCe!!! 🐻💜✌🙌🐾🏰🎶🎵😄😚

[@Andrea-zo4qy]

I saw this tweet once that said “people will say ‘women aren’t funny’ then go watch an episode of the Office written by Mindy Kaling” and honestly it couldn’t apply more

[@tobicipher9300]

She wrote it with like 8 other guys so....... Not saying she didnt add much but I dont think added much

[@orlandoshott9177]

@@tobicipher9300 that’s not how it worked, they had a team of about 8 writers and they were all assigned individual episodes after coming up with a season plot together

[@tobicipher9300]

@@orlandoshott9177 dont really know or care since I dont watch the show

[@L6901Malice]

Thi$ wuz so funny I laffed and falled off mi dinosawr

[@thenamesariel]

Music stops at 1:59

[@ADerpyReality]

Women aren't funny, men aren't funny. Individuals are funny and even then the varying types of humor not everyone will find funny. Some are stereotype, self-centered and some comedians tell us why they had to rob a train. But yes we can all agree that the music was annoying.

[@youngfunny1824]

@Peter Kazavis I guess you're right, because that was the funniest joke I've ever heard.

[@aWERFRGT6545BGFG]

@@youngfunny1824 LMAO

[@PakosBox]

EXACTLY!! People have different personalities, people have different types of humor. Women are not all the same. Men are not all the same. No one is the same, people have got to grow up and realize this!

[@ohhi5237]

hi wooman

[@natetinker1602]

What is that music?!?!

[@melk2950]

Christopher Hitchens' article did not say that funny women do not exist, only that men are generally more funny than men.

[@howtocryptochris8008]

omg she is SO cute ! Ellie Kemper makes my heart melt. She is a perfect example of what a woman should be - what people should be. We should send Ellie into space with our next message to aliens. But, only if I can go with her.

[@justtosuffer398]

HowToCrypto Chris Ew, creepy.

[@PakosBox]

Um, ew? Creep?

[@ohhi5237]

yes, get her OFF THIS PLANET TODAY

[@samkupper]

the fact they have to title it saying, Women are funny

[@averagejojo7019]

David Bowie isn’t a women I get it that’s sooooooo funny

[@ericwolfe5359]

right because David Bowie isn't womxn, but he is reminiscent of womxn, so I laugh when incongruity

[@dollymaej7463]

I totally love you Eillie!!

[@johnpyle1268]

Ellie Kemper is brilliant and very funny.

[@beautifulcatastrophe]

Awesome

[@ryublueblanka]

One thing I notice...and I hate to say this because of my feelings for Ellie Kemper is that the funny female...in Hollywood...is almost always a silly ditz who is way hot and doesn't realize it or care and goes about her quirky day in her quirky life and zippidy Doo daaahhh...we need more sharp and interesting... intelligent...strong... hilarious women...those roles are one in a billion I'm sure. I don't even like talking about Hollywood... it's a sick business...and a lot like government and big business you have a very small % of people "making" (taking) all of the money and getting away with murder...laws and suffering don't apply to them...it's the truth and the majority needs to wake up and stop supporting these groups

[@amandamarie333]

why doesn't she mention her role on the Office?!

[@ceecee328]

did you listen to the whole thing? she did..

[@liranpiade4499]

I totally agree! I love how you explain the obvious to demonstrate how that's obvious too. Also, of course there are many funny women in that movie! It's a FUNNY MOVIE, with humans, half of which are female, duh

[@mackenzietucker4292]

love you ellie ❤️❤️❤️

[@JulianCarthell]

Women are super funny. I know very funny women!

[@ohhi5237]

thats a good joke m8

[@The_Gallowglass]

*some

[@capacola262743]

wow. she is way funnier and more interesting when a writer is telling her what to say and a director is telling her HOW to say it.

[@agelesseboo]

I gave it a good go, i really did. i love laughing, i can laugh for 10 mins straight wen i see a good comedians performance favs gotta be Dave Chappelle 1# and Louie CK 2# (dont hate jsut cause hes a monsters, we all knew before we all knew...) but seriously i tried to sit here with an open mind in the mood for something to entertain me and make me smile at the very least, I love women and want them to win at life and to prosper at whatever they do. Not even saying with this paragraph that women arnt funny, i just cant find one that is. This lady is NOT FUNNY. i have been in stitches at multiple comedian acts Dylan Moran is another, but this lady just is not funny in the slightest to me. I feel almost guilty that i cant even crack a smile, that i cant even resonate with what shes saying and how she acts. It saddens me to not be able to go down the list of comedies ive seen and not be able to think of a chick thats put me in stitches without a male cast member acting with them. Anyway power to you girls, wish you all the best an i hope i can find a lady that becomes one of my top fav comedians in the near future.

[@DJfractalflight]

Karl Reid i admire your sincerity. I can tell you what I think is a major reason for why women’s humor may not resonate as easily. Humans respond to reward and affirmation. For modern generations, males have been affirmed in being funny, in hijinks, as class clowns, as being intellectually witty, and so forth. Culture feeds into men having these roles. But our male-dominant societies have suppressed or scoffed at women who “try to be funny” or “try to be good at sports.” That is a powerful current they have had to swim against. Cultural and family expectations can either feed certain traits, or stifle them. I have seen how men have often treated women as being “cute” when they are trying to be funny, while discrediting their actual humor capability. Imagine growing up under that shadow of expectation; it wouldn’t be as easy to access the lightness and spontaneity and sharp wit that come when we believe in ourselves and feel others believing in us too. That said, I have been impressed by the way that women have in recent years been stepping into their more expansive, humorous personalities more, believing in themselves as comedic equals, even when many negative expectations still linger. And speaking directly to this lecture by Ellie Kemper, though she was nervous, I could feel her great courage and conviction, and so the fact that she would stand up there on that stage and speak out even when she struggles, is more courage than I have often found in myself. When her humor, wit, and spontaneity DO come through, whether in this video, or in other things she does, she is truly luminous and can make me laugh as much as anyone. Hopefully she will continue to pursue these societal questions, and in time, be able to communicate it with the deft and humor that is inside of her, waiting to shine even more.

[@ryanhowell4492]

She's beautiful

[@sleepyjoebiden2756]

Was this supposed to be funny ?

[@joserangel8806]

No, it's Tedx talks...not a stand up comedy show.

[@emmam1822]

KIMMY SCHMIDT!!!!!

[@sarahcurlee8194]

Coming from the least funny woman ever.

[@sorahidaka9977]

imagine being so unfunny you have to go to a tedtalk to prove that you are not

[@pyr1412]

Erin

[@bobm9509]

If the joke is an unfunny woman attempting to prove women are funny, it's not funny

[@luggagecombo12345]

Wtf is with the music?

[@juansabato2502]

this isn´t funny

[@brianbianchi8028]

Women in "Comedy"

[@Ezzynah1]

Closed cased after this... Women STILL ain't funny. But that's surely a good thing, right?

[@shakyiatapp6159]

That music is annoying

[@lmao6383]

no they are not

[@spqrtejano8026]

Erin is hot!!!

[@capacola262743]

that was bad.

[@ComatoseMN]

What's with the fucking music???

[@drewderuyter2743]

Cap

[@tyroneboboo8576]

not all women are funny i know a lot who are not funny at all but its alright they cant help it

[@mackelly4581]

Stopped watching. The music was irritating

[@jensjensen9035]

X

[@wooberdooba4019]

Never laughed to her "work". And that smack of here lips before she talks is annoying as heck.

[@rubyross8644]

amy schumer begs to differ.

[@dreadhc8336]

amy schumer is a hack

[@octopuss1918]

Not you, though.

[@youngsaaron]

explain amy shumer.

[@ohhi5237]

hitchens did

[@Movzhuru]

dislike to the woman and video editing

[@sledge2742]

women are very emotional and bright, and really cool but they are not funny

[@marshallzane7735]

I used to think women were funny... until I watched this

[@markkeith9055]

Women are plenty funny. Just not on stage. When your comedic arsenal includes human biological functions, it's non-stop laughter when speaking of men. Nothing funny about female biological functions. We all take that very seriously.

[@abcw114]

_poops_

[@Yunanimouse]

cringe

[@richarddryfist8990]

this was a terrible recipe! maybe more practice in the kitchen eh ?

[@aWERFRGT6545BGFG]

bruh

[@fizk]

Women aren't funny. Sorry, they just aren't, with the exception of a very select few, like Ellen DeGeneres (when she's not uptight), Rosanne Barr, Joan Rivers, Whoopi Goldberg, Betty White, and Lucille Ball. Rosanne is extremely funny and I hope she teaches other women what comedy really is. Why aren't women funny? It depends on the person, but the common issues I see are often related to them trying to be feminine while telling jokes. The two don't mix.One of the reasons it doesn't work is because it comes across as "playing it safe". I don't want to feel like I have to humour the comedian just because they are a "vulnerable lady". Look at this video for example - Ellie Kemper can't put down her "I'm so cute" routine for one minute for me to take her seriously. When I listen to male comedians, I'm not listening to them as though they were gentlemen - and they don't often present themselves that way either. It doesn't work for men, and it doesn't work for women, except for some reason, women keep trying to present themselves as feminine ladies while on stage. I think they might not have a good understanding of what it means to be on stage vs. talking with a bunch of friends/family/co-workers. Another reason women aren't funny is because they're too self-centered. They suck up all the oxygen in the room for themselves, and put the spot light on themselves like a diva. I mean, how could they resist, right? All that yummy attention... Just... For... Them. I can hear their inner girl yelling, 'GIVE IT TO MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! GIVE ME ALL OF IT!!!!". A high, shrill voice doesn't help either. They also often take themselves too seriously, and come across as dry. They're too personal. They often present their "authentic self", which I don't feel comfortable laughing at. Yes, part of comedy is laughing AT the person, not just with them. Another aspect of being funny is being a clown, but I don't often see women wanting to be anything less than a "respectable lady". I've never seen a very funny comic entirely avoid debauchery to some extent. They're also very self-congratulatory. Male comics usually gauge the audience before congratulating - or degrading - themselves, but females will just assume you're with them in a very supportive manner... again, too feminine. They also tend to talk about the same shit, as though they would be thrown in jail if they didn't talk about vaginas, periods, feminism, and all the ways in which they hate men. They often will talk directly to the women in the crowd, fully excluding the men, knowing that the men won't understand the next entire section of jokes. But that's ok, because, "yay women". Women aren't funny, and men aren't the only ones saying this - many women agree.

[@fizk]

***** If you claim that women make harmless jokes, I would say that they should be brave enough to make edgy jokes. As a comedian, you have to be able to say what people wouldn't feel comfortable saying themselves in public. In the most important cases, comedian often are ambassadors of free speech, fighting a society that wants to censor what we can and cannot say in public. Look up the biography of Lenny Bruce for one prime example, but there are many others. As far as likeability, men are far more adored than female comedians, by men and women. You can stand on a street corner all day long and ask people if you need proof. Making rude jokes doesn't make you a genuine ass hole. There's a fine line between tasteful and tasteless for each individual comedian, and if they are a good comedian, they'll be busy pushing the envelope. Good comedians don't stay in their comfort zone, or your comfort zone, just so you won't get offended. > men go for the shallowest they can in order to make the target of their jokes If you're listening to shallow jokes, then you haven't experienced a wide range of comedians. That's your problem. You have to realize that not all male comedians are legendary - far from it. But the weakest male comedians are often funnier than the average female comedian. > women are more complex and sophisticated If that's your excuse for why women aren't funny, then so be it. Whatever your reason, women, on the whole, aren't funny. Having said that, what you consider "complex and sophisticated", I consider overly emotional and self-centered. I don't consider those attributes in women to be good. I loathe these attributes, and most other men do too. We put up with your shit because you're the only game in town, but these days, more men don't even put up with the nonsense that women have become today. Google the phrase "MGTOW". > The lamest things Ive ever heard was about humor having evolutionary reason to attract women!! I've never heard that. > those guys... dont understand social structures humor has no utility Have you ever heard the phrase, "laughter is the best medicine"? Comedy is a very important aspect of life for human beings. I'm sure you could find scientific research papers describing exactly how important it is, and what happens when we are deprived of laughter for a long period of time. > and in nature and evolution most males dont get any chance with a female unless they have a good masculine genetic or the ability to provide. It depends what time period you're talking about, and what community. It varies so much that I can't even begin to talk about it here, but it definitely not limited to being good looking or having wealth. If you go far enough back, men likely claimed any woman they wanted by force. Ahhh, the good old days, when men could just hit a woman over her head with a piece of wood and drag her unconscious body back into his cave. Look - any way you look at it, most women just aren't funny. You can cry about it all you want... or you can start practising writing and telling jokes at your local stand-up comedy club until you figure out how the fuck to be funny, if you ever do find out. It will be a cold day in hell the day I say "women can be funny" just to make women feel good.

[@fizk]

Alysia Williams You personally might find women funny, but the vast majority of people don't find women funny, or nowhere near as funny as men. Also, if you think you are truly funny, I challenge you to go to a comedy club on a open mic night, do a performance, record it, and upload it to KZbin for us to watch.

[@fizk]

Alysia Williams My opinion on whether someone is funny is actually more important that their opinion about themself. You can think you're funny (or smart, or beautiful, or anything else) all you want, all day long, but the real test is when you're evaluated by others. You claim to be funny, but you're kind of admitting that most people don't find you funny. You also admit that you're not funny enough to tell jokes infront of other people. It seems you're probably the worst example of a woman that is funny. Btw, there's a lot more to the art of comedy than saying funny shit to your friends every once in a while. I don't have time to get into all that right now. What I've said is not just my personal opinion. I challenge you to go outside of your home, stand on a street corner, and ask people, "who is funnier, men or women"? I guarantee most people will say men. I also guarantee that if you invited a male and female comic to tell jokes to the same audience, the audience would find the male comic funnier the majority of the time. Look, I've been very interested in comedy since I was a child. I've listened to pretty much all the well known comedians, as well as many newcomers who think they're funny, men and women included. The far majority of women simply are not funny. I've mentioned the major reasons why women aren't funny in my first response. The real problem for you to accept this and move on is because you see yourself as being on the "loosing side", and feel like this is some kind of personal attack on you, or on women. I'm sure there are a few things women can do better than men (keyword: FEW), but when it comes to comedy, men take the crown :-P

[@fizk]

Alysia Williams > all the examples you gave about women not being funny are very shallow if not some of the most superficial bullshit I've ever heard and to degree sexist Here comes the feminist in you. I told you already, you can't let this go because you feel like you're fighting for some kind of feminist cause. I see right through you. >...because, those women you talked about would never do anything stand up comedy because, they think to highly of themselves to do such as thing. This comment alone shows me you don't know anything about comedy. Ellen DeGeneres, Rosanne Barr, Joan Rivers, and Whoopi Goldberg have all done a lot of stand up comedy. With this point alone, I've proven that you're talking out of your ass. Betty White and Lucille Ball might not have, but they're very good at improve, so I'm sure they would do very well. > It has nothing to do with someone's fucking gender that determines how funny they are. It's presentation, delivery, confidence,content and knowing your audience. Those five aspects of comedy are important, but most women don't deliver on those five points anywhere as well as men. Men are more successful at presentation, delivery, confidence,content and knowing your audience than women. The second question becomes - why don't women present, delivery, be confident, create amazing content, and know their audience as well as men? Without using those five categories, I've already answered that question in my first response.

[@fizk]

***** > it's correct, they can't even understand the basics of humor and only judge matters by KZbin comments. You just said all men can't understand the basics of humour? And I'm suppose to take you seriously? You're an idiot. > it's just that alot of women don't find offensive sexist jokes funny Right, because 100% of every male comedians material is just "offensive sexist jokes". You seem like a female that takes herself too seriously and can't laugh at herself. I'm almost positive you're one of those females that can't laugh at a rape joke. > jokes that relive male insecurities about rejection and their relationship with women by degrading women Women degrade men all the time, what's your point? I don't have to look past your own comments here for evidence. > those jokes are funny mostly to people who have tension about those issues. And women don't have any tension about their own insecurities, and relationship troubles? Riiiiight... > alot of woman also don't find male comedians funny. Where did you get that information from? Have you ever been to a comedy concert? Look out and see how many women there are. Look at how hard they're laughing. Plenty of women find male comedians halarious. You're just not one of them I guess. You're completely hung up about crude jokes. You think all male comedy comes from being crude. There are plenty of comedidans that can perform clean comedy. Jerry Seinfeld comes to mind, do you even know him?

[@stevesommers7640]

The music was accidentally put on multiple times as the talk occurred, we could not edit out in post production. It was a huge lesson in our future efforts in production.. Thanks for watching.

[@ohhi5237]

now THATS funny