Synopses & Reviews
"Queens of Comedy is truly a book worthy of study ... Susan Horowitz has analyzed female comedy and dissected it clear to the bone". -- Phyllis Diller
They have brought laughter to millions. Their contributions to the world of comedy have been immeasurable. Perhaps more important is the impact these funny ladies have had on the image of women in society. Through candid personal interviews with Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Sandra Bernhard, Lily Tomlin, and others, Queens of Comedy explores how these gifted performers turn their personal lives into comedic art; how they break down the barriers of the traditionally male genre of comedy; and how they defy social conventions that label funny women as "unfeminine".
Synopsis
Through candid personal interviews with Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, and other visionary performers, Queens of Comedy explores how comediennes have redefined the roles of women in not only the entertainment business, but society as a whole. Detailing both their public and private lives - as well as their many and varied performances - Queen of Comedy examines the impact these women have had on the predominantly male-oriented world of comedy. Performers like Carol Burnett, Joan Rivers, and their more recent counterparts, comediennes Brett Butler and Roseanne, have helped to sift women's roles in comedy from object to subject. This book maps out this shift, providing an often brutally honest picture of women's lives in both the spotlight of comedy and this modern world.