Queens of Comedy: Lucille Ball, Phyllis Diller, Carol Burnett, Joan Rivers, and the New Generation of Funny Women (Studies in Humor and Gender , Vol 2) (Paperback)

~ HOROWITZ (Author) "The black and white television screen leaves the Jack-o-lantern orange hair to our imagination..." (more)
Key Phrases: other comediennes, male comics, women comics, New York, Joan Rivers, Phyllis Diller (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Detailing both their public and private lives-as well as their many and varied performances-Queens 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 shift 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.
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.

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (March 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 2884492445
• ISBN-13: 978-2884492447
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #758,168 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #22 in

  Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( B ) > Ball, Lucille

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great intro to comediennes, April 5, 2000

By A Customer

I used this as a textbook for a film class I taught last year and the class loved it. The book contains solid biographical information and it's really fun to read. Plus, author Horowitz offers some very perceptive insights into women's comedy. My only criticism is that footnotes would have been really helpful because the students wanted to follow up on some of the sources -- but overall I highly recommend it.