WOMEN IN COMEDY ARE STANDING UP — WERE THEY EVER SITTING DOWN?

The year is 2025, and women are really f---ing funny

By: Vanessa Norris

Saturday Night Live original cast members Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman and Gilda Radner in 1976. Credit: NBCU Photo Bank

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Saturday Night Live recently celebrated its 50th anniversary with a Sunday special, reuniting past hosts, musical guests and cast members for a historic night. The event highlighted the show’s longstanding cultural significance and comedic evolution. 

Many female guests and cast members made a particular impression, with several performances and sketches going viral online. Rachel Dratch’s return as the beloved Debbie Downer, and Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s “Audience Q&A” sketch were well-received by longtime SNL fans. Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and original cast member Jane Curtin also returned for the special. 

After a prominent lull in recent years, SNL’s latest season has seen the show rise back to prominence, airing viral sketches every episode. The resurgence of its popularity cannot be discussed without acknowledging the standout performances of its female cast members. 

With Sarah Sherman as crime reporter Nancy Grace, Jane Wickline as an introverted nerd in an unlikely relationship and Heidi Gardner as NewsNation host Bobbi Moore (where she famously broke character for the first time ever), Saturday Night Live has captured the attention of a younger audience. 

The viral “Bridesmaid Speech” sketch — commonly referred to as the “Domingo” sketch — has amassed 17 million views on YouTube, thanks to hilarious performances by Heidi Gardner, Ego Nwodim, Sarah Sherman, Chloe Fineman and host Ariana Grande. Despite having been writers and entertainers for years, female cast members seem to be receiving more acclaim now than ever before.

Beyond SNL, female comics are making their mark in mainstream media, setting the stage for awards season. Nikki Glaser received widespread praise after hosting the 82nd Annual Golden Globes — so much so that she’s already expected to return for next year’s show. 

With an exceptional opening monologue and her signature sharp punchlines, she made the broadcast snappy, funny and engaging. Glaser toned down her typically raunchy, dark humor to suit live television while still landing successful jabs at nominees (“I, like, did not know much about Wicked going into this year because I had friends in high school but I… loved it.”).

Credit: Adweek

Glaser made history as the first solo female host of the Golden Globes, with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler having previously co-hosted. Widely known for her vulgar roasts and stand-up comedy, she was a breath of fresh air after Jo Koy’s disastrous hosting last year, where most of his jokes fell flat and left the audience unimpressed. Her writing and delivery earned praise from critics at The New York Times and The Hollywood Reporter.

In response to the overwhelmingly positive feedback, Glaser reaffirmed that her success in comedy was decades in the making. Having worked in the industry for over 20 years, she speaks openly about the hard work and persistence that comes with being a woman in comedy. 

And Glaser wasn’t the only female comedian in the spotlight at the Golden Globes. Ali Wong won the award for the Best Stand-Up Comedy Performance for her fourth Netflix special, Single Lady. Other nominees included Seth Meyers and Glaser herself, who made light of her loss, jokingly calling herself a “first-time Golden Globe loser.” 

In her acceptance speech, Wong thanked the local San Francisco comedy club Punch Line for giving her stage time early in her career. After almost 20 years in the industry, she has now won three Golden Globes and two Emmy Awards for her comedy specials and hit Netflix series, Beef. 

Credit: CBS

With the continued success of female comedians in recent years, it’s safe to assume that more women are now an integral part of the industry. However, the decades-long careers of these women suggest otherwise. Female comics have long been writing, improvising and networking. They’ve always been there — right alongside their male counterparts — delivering just as many laughs while receiving half the credit. 

As women in comedy become more outspoken against sexism in the entertainment industry, they are reclaiming their seats at the table.

In 2025, when America has long since grappled with issues like the pay gap and workplace sexual misconduct, the “women aren’t funny” myth is out of style. The ongoing success of Saturday Night Live and the enthusiastic response to Nikki Glaser’s hosting prove that women are not only funny —  they’re really f---ing funny. 

It shouldn’t have taken the Golden Globes 82 years to trust a woman to host solo. It shouldn’t have been surprising that Nikki Glaser not only performed well but significantly outshone her male predecessors.  

Female comics have always been standing up. Time and again, the entertainment industry has tried to silence them, forcing them to sit down, but they’re still standing. And now, they’re finally standing on the biggest stage. 

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Vanessa Norris is a first-year journalism student at the University of Florida. She is an online writer for Rowdy Magazine and loves all things books, movies, television and pop culture. Bridesmaids (2011) is her all-time favorite comedy movie, and Parks and Recreation is her favorite comedy series.