Of all the sexist myths that stubbornly refuse to die in our society, perhaps the one that ticks me off the most is the old canard that "women aren't funny."
The late John Belushi of Saturday Night Live was famous (infamous) for dismissing his female castmates that way.
I don't know about you, but I thought Gilda Radner was hilarious.
I also happen to think Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are totally brilliant, and every bit as funny as the boys.
That's why it was so exciting to hear the news that Fey/Poehler will share double duty in hosting the next Golden Globes ceremony. Poehler is already legendary for her ability to shake up awards season with inspired bits that tend to steal the show.
This may seem like just a light bit of Hollywood fluff, but it's actually a significant step forward for women.
Why? Comedy has traditionally been a male-dominated field because it's actually very aggressive. Comics talk about "slaying" the audience, "killing" them, leaving them "flat in the aisles."
The unspoken dynamic when it comes to making people laugh -- you have power over them.
And of course, many Americans still don't like the idea of a woman having power -- any power -- whether it's holding public office or holding court on stage at a comedy club. Or, for that matter, making the airwaves hilarious with hit shows like 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation, and movies like Mean Girls.
Think about it: these awards shows almost always have a male host. One of the few exceptions I can think of is Whoopi Goldberg, who got her crack at the Oscars. Other than that, it's mostly been a tux and tie affair up there on those Hollywood stages. And even though some hosts have notably bombed, Oprah-Uma style, it's still the power position in the room.
So rock on, Golden Globes! It's sure to be a rollicking affair with these two funny ladies at the helm.
And somewhere, Lucille Ball, Mae West, Phyllis Diller and many more will be laughing along, too.
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