Here Are the Funny Women Who Make Us Laugh Out Loud

Sometimes you just need a rib-crushing, breath-stealing, good old-fashioned laugh. And, if you’re anything like us at The Persistent, you especially appreciate it when that laugh is prompted by a hilarious woman.

That’s why we asked Persistent contributors for books, TV shows, comedy specials, and other forms of media by or featuring women who make them giggle, chortle, guffaw or even snort. We know what we’re doing this weekend.

Enjoy!

Celeste Dring [a current cast member of Saturday Night Live UK, among other things] is such a load-bearing character actor, disappearing into a huge variety of roles with her ability to do different accents and to seemingly make herself bigger or smaller depending on context. She can play anything from an ’80s rock god Bon Jovi-style, to an adult Wendy dealing with Peter Pan returning for another try. Here she is as Jamie Dornan's over-interested 'mum.'
— Suchandrika Chakrabarti, contributing writer

I love the standup comic and author Zarna Garg, as much for her hard-driving Indian “tiger mom” shtick as for her origin story: She left India at a young age rather than staying and being forced to marry at 14, eventually immigrating to the US and becoming a stay-at-home mom despite having degrees in law and finance. It was her kids — who are often featured in her shows on stage or selling merch — who convinced her that she was funny enough to do standup professionally. She’s on tour in the U.S. now, but if you don't get the  chance to see her, you can check out her best-selling memoir, "This American Woman."
— Paula Derrow, features editor

Who can resist Laura Ramoso’s “German Mom”? Not me, that’s for sure. Her Instagram caught my eye during a bout of doomscrolling one night, and just like that, I was hooked. Novices may wish to start with “Renting a car in Italy” or “Checking in for a flight in Italy, Pt. 3.” Super-fans may note that her European-North American “Calm Down Tour” is already underway. Who’s in?
— Francesca Donner, editor-in-chief

Maria Semple is a laugh-out-loud novelist — Where'd You Go, Bernadette? and Today Will Be Different were both fast-paced delights. And if you’ve read those, she has a new book out called Go Gentle, which is already a best-seller.
— Laura Fraser, contributing writer

I can't stop watching Asha Ward's Standup Desk performance. She speaks to me as a queer person with, as she says, resting bitch face (and “resting bitch thoughts and opinions.”). As the youngest-ever writer on SNL, she should have a long career of making me laugh ahead of her.
— Han Goldstein, social media editor

Ali Wong! The first time I saw her was on her Netflix special ‘Hard Knock Wife,’ which was filmed while she was very, very pregnant. That alone made her a hero, but then… her jokes! They're all about the indignities of being a wife and a woman. Chef's kiss.
— Katherine Dykstra, contributing writer

The other night, I watched an episode of the TV series “Hacks” and Hannah Einbinder had me cracking up. (You can stream her debut standup special on HBOMax.) Her comedic delivery is spot-on.
— Stacey Colino, contributing writer

My funny woman pick is Katie Folger, comedienne, actress and creator of the hilarious "Getting in Bed with the Pizza Man," a one-woman show about sex during the pandemic. If you don't know her, you should!
— Meredith Maran, contributing writer

The characters of British Nigerian comic Ayoade Bamgboye tend to start normal-ish, then merrily reveal themselves as fairly unhinged. Waiting to see how she's going to do it is the joy. Will she suggest 'milking' famous British men to keep U.K. birth rates up? You're just going to have to keep watching. Check out her fertility expert sketch on SNL UK — she’s a cast member — and be prepared to laugh.
— Suchandrika Chakrabarti, contributing writer

Who do you think is funny? Send your picks to hello@thepersistent.com. We'll be back with more recommendations next Friday.