Funny Women Can't Be Hot? You Bet Sofia Vergara's Sweet *ss They Can.

Hot Women Can't Be Funny? You Bet Sofia Vergara's Sweet *ss They Can.

By Joanna Robinson | Posted Under Seriously Random Lists | Comments (55)

When reading Emily Nussbaum’s otherwise fantastic piece on Whitney Cummings in “The New Yorker” earlier today, I was struck by a particular passage. Nussbaum wrote, “Cummings has attracted lots of vitriol online, in part because she fits into another subset of female comedians: she’s this year’s sexy-girl hate magnet. Olivia Munn filled that role last year.” Whoa whoa whoa, I just want to make one thing perfectly clear. My disdain for both Cummings and Munn has nothing whatsoever to do with their looks or “sexy” persona. First of all (sophomoric puns on her name aside), I don’t even find Cummings that attractive. However, she’s “supposed” to be sexy, so I’ll let it slide.

Olivia Munn, on the other hand, is objectively attractive. She’s also aggressive about her sexuality, one is hard pressed to find an image of her where she is not half-naked and draped over something. But that’s her prerogative. There is plenty of room in the world for half-naked draped women.

What these women are not, however, is funny. Not pratfall funny, not clever funny, not dry, sardonic funny. Just. Unfunny. And I reserve the right as a woman and as a person with eyeballs to call them out on their lack of talent. It’s not because I’m sexist and it’s not because I’m jealous. Because of course a woman can be sexy and funny and not draw any ire. In fact, I would argue a talented comedian is made that much hotter by her ability to deliver a joke, fall on her ass and execute a well-timed double take. So here, in honor of them, are twelve funny, sexy ladies currently (or soon to be) steaming up your televisions. Enjoy.

Katie Aselton—“The League”

Casey Wilson and Eliza Coupe—“Happy Endings”

Tina Fey—“30 Rock”

Ellie Kemper and Mindy Kaling—“The Office”

Alyson Hannigan—“How I Met Your Mother” (Click here for the wicked hot photo I was too shy to post.)

Sofia Vergara—“Modern Family”

Busy Phillips—“Cougar Town”

Cobie Smulders—“How I Met Your Mother”

Gillian Jacobs and Alison Brie—“Community” (Same photoshoot, slightly different angle, you guys!)

Joanna Robinson also enjoys non-conventionally attractive lady comedians. But this ain’t about that.

Each Time You Like, Share, Tweet or Stumble a Pajiba Post, An Angel Does the Paul Rudd Dance

← Judd Apatow Wants A Best Comedy Oscar Category, Dreams Of Own "King Of The World" Speech | "The Walking Dead" - "Secrets": She, She Wanted To Be A Secret Girl →

Comments

Sofia Vergara is so unbearably unfunny. I can't fucking believe you have ever found her amusing, or even pitiful chuckle inducing.

Posted by: Mr. Plinkett at November 22, 2011 12:41 AM

Munn has a body, and that's the end of the compliments. She actually did an interview so poorly enough the interviewee asked if Morgan Webb was there instead.

Not really sure how Whitney Cummings would be considered sexy.

Hell yes on Katie Aselton and Cobie Smulders.

Posted by: Matt at November 22, 2011 12:43 AM

I LOVE Katie Aselton! The League is awesome, but she makes it that much better

Posted by: Bodhi at November 22, 2011 12:51 AM

Watching her stand up I thought Cummings was pretty hot. I didn't at first but by the end I was sold.

Posted by: DeistBrawler at November 22, 2011 1:22 AM

I don't think it has anything to do with being hot and more to do with women just not being funny.

(You know who else isn't funny? Salad_is_Murder isn't funny! I bet you're not hot, either. Also, you're kind of a awful human being. Happy Thanksgiving! -- DR)

Posted by: Salad_Is_Murder at November 22, 2011 2:55 AM

Needs more Aubrey Plaza. Or is she not "hot"? I can't tell these days. She's freaking awesome regardless.

Posted by: Arran at November 22, 2011 3:03 AM

(Click here for the wicked hot photo I was too sh-

ON IT.

Posted by: The Only New Zealander at November 22, 2011 3:43 AM

I actually keep coming up against a similar question again and again: can attractive men be funny?

And of course they can. Just like attractive women can. However it just so happens that attractive people have one less barrier in life and it’s, unfortunately, a fairly significant one and like any cultural output the best stuff is created – directly or indirectly - in opposition to something. A lot of humour is derived from that chip on the shoulder thing. In a society that treats aesthetics as prime real estate, the ugly guy/girl can mine that underdog angle for a lot of laughs. That and the fact that weird looks are just plain funny.

Either way, though reflexively I tend to hate funny attractive people – ‘What interesting view could you possibly have from your ivory tower that would expand my world view in any way?’- I think the ones that are funny deserve even more respect as they’ve wilfully ignored the easy no-thought route, and they are trying to do something that they wouldn’t otherwise need to do to validate themselves. Unlike the rest of us grotesque motherfuckers who get up on stage every night seeking complete strangers’ approval in an effort to stave off the emptiness of our otherwise meaningless fucking niche.

Posted by: zeke the pig at November 22, 2011 4:31 AM

Oh come on, the stereotype of the twisted damaged comedian scorned by the world and forced to be funny to make up for height weight or various carbuncles is just another societal contrivances. Just because I look like a troll doesn't mean I'm going to be funny. It does mean I'm going to charge you to go over this here bridge though. Come on, pay up. This Fe Fi is not going to Fo itself damnit.

Posted by: Mrcreosote at November 22, 2011 6:28 AM

I didn't mean to say the Ugly = Funny thing was the case all the time. And obviously any discussion about humour is gonna be a victim to how ridiculously subjective the notion of 'funny' is. All I can offer is my own observation from being on the circuit myself, and that is that I rarely see many conventionally attractive people coming to the clubs, eager to stand in front of the microphone to tell strangers what they think. Of course there have been some, but like any generalisation it’s a numbers game.

Posted by: zeke the pig at November 22, 2011 7:33 AM

Yes to Alison Brie, Gillian Jacobs, Casey Wilson and Eliza Coupe (and to a lesser Elisha Cuthbert).

Why is Elizabeth Banks not on this list?

Posted by: reaperslogic at November 22, 2011 8:44 AM

Portia De Rossi...

Posted by: sureshot at November 22, 2011 9:14 AM

This is so off base as to fall into self-parody. The apparent definition of "funny" here seems to be the ability to read the humorous words of a talented writing staff. Now that is a talent, for sure, but it does not make one "funny" by a longshot.

There is some real talented comedy writers in this list to be sure (Kate Aselton and Tina Fey please step forward to collect your prize), but I honestly don't see how you can call Whitney Cummings unfunny. Maybe you don't like the show (can't disagree with you), and maybe her standup isn't your cup of tea, but that chick is funny.

Posted by: really at November 22, 2011 9:24 AM

No one will ever convince me Alyson Hannigan is funny. I'm sorry, she just isn't.

Posted by: Todd at November 22, 2011 9:37 AM

When is your "non-conventionally attractive lady comedians" list coming out?

Posted by: OldSchool60 at November 22, 2011 9:39 AM

...also, more photos of Gillian Jacobs and Alison Brie.

Posted by: OldSchool60 at November 22, 2011 9:47 AM

Carla Espinoza was hot and freakin hilarious. I don't know if it was the writing but she was excellent.
So was Elliot. She was pratfall funny and very cute.

Posted by: daria at November 22, 2011 9:49 AM

You skipped Jane Krakowski on 30 Rock. Video for proof. It's rare to win a Tony Award for being the sexiest person on Broadway in a given season, but she managed it.

Posted by: Robert at November 22, 2011 9:51 AM

Wow...comments section seems to be a hodgepodge of metaphors and comparisons on this one. Seems like we're fundamentally disconnecting on several key areas.

People tend to get work in tv/film based (at least in part, sometimes in large part) on external appearance. Furthermore, performers in these media are rarely solely responsible for the content of their performance, so one would be hard pressed to determine whether a particular performance being unfunny was the fault of the actress involved versus the director or writer.

Fact is, sexy women are at times hired into comedy vehicles to draw in an audience, with the hope that the funnier members of the ensemble, or the quality of the comedy itself will keep them there. This seems to be the case in Ms. Cummings and Ms. Munn. However, it appears that the producers of those shows forgot that, while one can hire the sexy to draw an audience, they still need to put up a quality ensemble and product around her in order to keep it.

And since for some reason we've brought stand-up into this discussion, it is its own art form and not really comparable to TV and film. Most of the time, the performer is entirely in control of their performance, and I would wager for the most part people aren't hired for anything other than their ability to fill seats with laughing, and more importantly paying, customers.

Besides, I can think of a number of lady comics that I have found both quite attractive and pretty damn funny - Kathleen Madigan, Maria Bamford, etc. But in stand-up, looks are much less important to a performer's success, and standing there looking pretty won't get you invited back to the microphone the next night. You have to have the chops first.

Posted by: NateS1973 at November 22, 2011 9:55 AM

I honestly don't see how you can call Whitney Cummings unfunny. Maybe you don't like the show (can't disagree with you), and maybe her standup isn't your cup of tea, but that chick is funny.

I honestly don't see how you can call Whitney Cummings funny. Maybe you like the show, and maybe her standup is your cup of tea, but that chick is unfunny.

"Funny" how that works both ways.

Posted by: Jast at November 22, 2011 10:00 AM

Jill Talley.

Posted by: Sherri at November 22, 2011 10:03 AM

Joanna, please check out the documentary 'Wisecracks'.
A great slice of 80s female comedians [is that the right word?].

Posted by: OldSchool60 at November 22, 2011 10:05 AM

I think the stand up was mentioned because that's how Cummings got her start. Not Munn, though, so I'm not really sure why the commenter felt that needed to be a qualification. For the record, Casey Wilson and Mindy Kaling are also two very talented writers on this list.

Hotness and sense of humor are two very subjective things. That is to say. This list is a minefield.

Posted by: peanutbutterjellytime at November 22, 2011 10:07 AM

Oh, mrcreosote!
You coat the railroad ties o' my heart.

Posted by: Agogagogo at November 22, 2011 10:14 AM

Just using NBC shows, where is Kristin Wiig on this list? Or Christina Applegate? or Amy Poehler? Or Rashida Jones? Or Maya Rudolph?

Posted by: TylerDFC at November 22, 2011 10:16 AM

Oh come on with the "they're just reading the lines of funny writers" bit. It's not just about saying the lines. It's about timing. It's about inflection. You know how many bad comedy movies start out as pretty decent, funny scripts? But then all the funny is sucked out when they cast someone like Katherine Heigl in the role. Maybe you don't think being a comic actor is a big deal, but it's probably because the good ones make it look easy.

Anyway, I nominate Kaitlin Olson as the funniest based on her dry heave alone. Although I can't find any pictures of her mincing about in underwear, so I'm not sure where she comes out Pajiba's sexy meter.

Posted by: Cree83 at November 22, 2011 10:26 AM

Completely off topic but I had no idea Katie Aselton was real-life married to the guy who plays Pete. Blew my mind.

Posted by: Camila at November 22, 2011 10:32 AM

I also vote for Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones and Aubrey Plaza.

Don't forget Mila Kunis got her start in a sitcom.

Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow and Jennifer Aniston became stars being funny.

There's also Christina Applegate.

Posted by: John W at November 22, 2011 10:40 AM

I second Portia de Rossi. Hot and funny. Alyson Hannigan hasn't been funny since Season 3 of Buffy.

Posted by: PerpetualIntern at November 22, 2011 10:42 AM

Julia Louis-Dreyfuss. She should be on all these types of lists until the end of time. Even though she might technically not be on tv at the moment.

Posted by: lucas at November 22, 2011 10:47 AM

@TylerDFC - it's not an exhaustive list. At least not in the sense of "having every funny hot girl on TV right now" on it.

It's certainly exhaustive in the sense of "taking this list to my bunk and not coming out until Festivus" though.

Posted by: Bert at November 22, 2011 10:49 AM

You're shy about posting that Alyson Hannigan picture, but the lesbian-S&M-in-slutty-lingerie picture you're fine with?

Posted by: Three-nineteen at November 22, 2011 10:56 AM

Funny is funny. The end.

Except that I'm kind of disappointed in Tina Fey everytime she poses for a cheesecake shot. It seems to me incongruent with her espoused beliefs.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at November 22, 2011 11:04 AM

@Three-nineteen: That Alison Brie/Gillian Jacobs photo shoot is kind of a thing around here. Some people love it, some people hate it, but we're beyond the point of being shy about it. Both images of Hannigan were dy-no-mite, though.

It'd probably be too much effort, but there are several women on the writing/production staff for most of these shows, too, but they rarely get in front of the camera and perform. Mindy Kaling and Tina Fey are more rareties in those terms, but if one were to Google say, Megan Ganz from "Community," one would find that female comedy writers (not stand-ups or actresses) can be just as "hot" as their on-screen counterparts. As well, many of the actresses mentioned here and in the comments can and do improvise lines and the like on their respective shows. So, the idea that the women listed here who don't also write their own material can't be coutned as "funny" is just absurd.

Posted by: RobP at November 22, 2011 11:11 AM

If it was my post that sent this thread careening off into tangents, then let me clarify: I just meant to draw a vague trend line between stand ups of both genders and their hotness. And because this is the Internet, I should also add: 'based on my own, not unlimited observations,' before I incite the ire of some righteous online pitbull.

Posted by: zeke the pig at November 22, 2011 11:18 AM

we need to stop talking bout Olivia 'Look at me! Look at me! LOOK. AT. ME.' Munn if we want her to go away for good.

I watched Cummings on one of the Comedy Central Roast and she was only slight better than The Situation which is too say, Jeff Ross almost had to step in for her too.

Sofia Vergara is an insult to Tina Fey.

And not having Kristen Wiig on for being the only reason to come back to SNL week after week is just plain sinful.

Posted by: haplo at November 22, 2011 11:23 AM

Funny is funny. The end.

Veni. Vidi. Reduxi ad ridiculum.

Posted by: Jast at November 22, 2011 12:03 PM

Sarah Silverman...

Posted by: sara at November 22, 2011 12:38 PM

Sofia's ass is sweet. Her and her beautiful ass are my laptops wallpaper.

Amd Tina Fey is not hot.

Posted by: logan at November 22, 2011 12:40 PM

. . .is neither sexy nor funny. Discuss.

Posted by: Linda Richman at November 22, 2011 12:40 PM

I'll be with my copy of Latin for the Illiterati, if anyone needs me.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at November 22, 2011 12:56 PM

"No one will ever convince me Alyson Hannigan is funny."

And nobody will ever convince me that she's pretty. I know that's heresy here, but girl is plain.

There are a lot of women on television who are funny and pretty, they just don't have cheesecake pictures of themselves out there, i.e. Amy Poehler. I honestly don't know why Tina Fey has pictures like that out there. I think she's funny and smart, but the "sexy" pics make it look as though she's masking some insecurity about her appearance.

Posted by: samantha t at November 22, 2011 1:23 PM

I'd be impressed with myself by having DR himself editing into my comment with a personal insult...but I don't know if it's physically possible for me to be any more impressed with myself.

You should see me on a pontoon boat when I go out fishing, DR, I catch all the fishes...I'm a master baiter.

Salad out!

Posted by: Salad_Is_Murder at November 22, 2011 2:38 PM

Hey salad (Can I call you slaw?), I've already established my troll bonafides here-bridge, billy goats, toll collecting. I'll thank you not to horn in on my action or I'll grind your bones to make my bread. Wait, am I mixing my troll and giant imagery here? Eh, screw it, I'm a giant fucking troll. TROLL OUT! *drops mic reaaaaaalllly far.*

Posted by: Mrcreosote at November 22, 2011 2:54 PM

You may, and while I'm not sure there's enough room under the bridge, but there are certainly many bridges spanning this chasm to hide under.

Posted by: Salad_Is_Murder at November 22, 2011 3:19 PM

Joanna, love, if you want people to read your articles, you might want to NOT put pictures of Sofia Vergara at the top of them. As it stands, this could be about puppies dying of cancer and I'd still be aroused. It's a disturbing experience.

Posted by: Joker at November 22, 2011 4:52 PM

@peanutbutterjellytime: Yeah, at the time of my first post I had no idea Cummings had done stand-up. I don't think I've heard her stuff, so I can't say if she's good or not. I haven't watched her show(s) for that matter, I'm just commenting on the article itself.

Understanding that Cummings was a comic first, that means she fits into an entirely different category: stand-up comics that are stuffed into a sitcom role because they're popular on the stand-up circuit. That really just underlines my second point. Comics are funny because they're responsible for their own material and performance. Comics forced into sitcoms are generally unfunny because they no longer have that control.

And regarding Cree83's comment, true, bad acting can kill an otherwise funny script just as easily as a bad script can make the funniest person bomb. However, there's at least one other contributor to the TV/Film comedy that you're ignoring - the director. The actor's job is to give the director what they want/ask for (or so says my acting teacher). So perhaps a bad performance wasn't the actor's first choice, but the funnier performance was eschewed in favor of the dud that actually made it to airtime because the director is a blockhead with a "vision".

Of course, even that may be oversimplifying things because you also have studios and networks getting involved, ad infinitum. But I don't want to still be typing this comment through the holiday so I'm stopping now. Plus, triple word score for "eschewed". ;-)

Posted by: NateS1973 at November 22, 2011 6:15 PM

...KAT DENNINGS

Posted by: Sefa at November 22, 2011 6:35 PM

Oh, I hardly recognized Busy Phillips, since her ample mole-age was airbrushed out.

Posted by: nat at November 22, 2011 8:45 PM

Anytime I see a cheesecake shot of Tina Fey I laugh, because I know she is just spoofing the T and A. Why don't you?

Posted by: kirbyjay at November 23, 2011 5:21 AM

Kirbyjay - because I legitimately think there's more to it than that.

Posted by: samantha t at November 23, 2011 10:04 AM

No love for my favorite funny lady, Maria Bamford? She's cute as hell, when she's not in the Target commercials. As for Whitney Cummings, her sitcom may be garbage, but I like her standup and think she's quite good looking. And her legs are about 8 feet long...

Posted by: The Kilted Yaksman at November 23, 2011 11:14 AM

Greetings I am so excited I found your site, I really found you by accident, while I was looking on Aol for something else, Nonetheless I am here now and would just like to say kudos for a marvelous post and a all round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to browse it all at the moment but I have book-marked it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a great deal more, Please do keep up the fantastic job.

Posted by: rihanna talk that talk lyrics at November 24, 2011 4:10 AM

A more gentile era. So, I suspect she probably did carry cards to leave behind when friends were away from home when she called, although in truth, I never heard her talk about this.

Posted by: Lenna Blouses at December 6, 2011 10:31 PM

Great idea! I like this blog because of articles like this.

Posted by: Etsuko Goldhahn at January 7, 2012 2:12 AM

Pajiba

Pajiba: Reviews, Commentary, Angst

Hot Women Can't Be Funny? You Bet Sofia Vergara's Sweet *ss They Can.

Comments