Drama Queens, a five-star arts journal focusing on female artists

The cast of FIVE FEISTY FEMMES presented by Ripple Effect Artists weighed in on the topic of Post-Pandemic “Funny.”

Cher Landman (Carolines Breakout Artist Series; Compound Media; Superficial Intelligence podcast on YouTube and Spotify)

What does “funny “ look like in the new paradigm?

Now comedians and artists can develop their own fan base and self produce and be paid directly by those fans. You don’t have to be anointed by some network or late night show. It’s interesting to see entertainers becoming popular who would have never ever made it on network tv. In the same breath, network tv continues to under serve those audiences. 

Dara Jemmott (Just For Laughs; BET+; Black Women in Comedy Festival) 

Stand up comedians are truth tellers. Truth and humor shift with time and perspective. So as long as we are tapping into truth (based on social agreement) we can explore the spectrum of funny, regardless of living in a new paradigm. I think audience sensitivity has increased. Which just means it requires additional effort when we approach certain topics. However, I think because the world is such a heavier place, with so much craziness happening on a daily basis, laughter has become a coping mechanism for all of us, and a welcomed much needed distraction. 

Helaine Witt

Helaine Witt started comedy in the 80’s, being trained by members of Robin Willliams’ improv troupe.  

She wrote jokes that Joan Rivers performed on the Late Show with Johnny Carson.  (One can be seen on the Peacock special: Good Timing (2021, nominated for a Critics Choice Award).

Helaine keeps busy after retiring from teaching in New York City.  She writes greeting cards, helps other comics write jokes, did voice over work, appeared in 3 documentaries, and performs mostly on Long Island and Manhattan. Helaine’s versatility ranges from emceeing fundraisers, to performing for seniors and younger crowds.

When the pandemic hit, headlining, touring comics were instantly forced to STOP! STOP HAVING GIGS! STOP GETTING PAID! STOP TRAVELLING! STOP STANDING ON A LIVE STAGE!
Now, 2 1/2 years later, your favorite headliners are starting back, performing on cruise ships, theaters, the few (Sebastian Maniscalcos)- selling out stadiums!  Jerry Seinfeld, showing up to surprised audiences expecting to see ‘lesser knowns’….perhaps to sharpen their ‘bits’ for their theater shows. Comics are using social media platforms to tell their jokes, some spoon-feeding faithful AND NEW fans, one joke at a time (TIK TOK).  They are showing up on youtube channels, Dry Bar (squeaky clean, taping in Utah), Netflix specials, superstars like Steve Harvey asking questions on Instagram like, “What’s a dish that always ruins a potluck?”  If you are a fan and comic striving to get a name for yourself (like me), you hope your answer gets repeated by HIM AND THEREFORE THOSE WHO SEE HIS RESPONSE!!

Those who appeared on Zoom during the pandemic, joking about seeing their spouses daily for 2 years when they hadn’t been home for 2 weeks at a time for decades, showing their children, finally starting to get out of their family’s hair by touring again!

Zoom was and is a saving grace during the pandemic.  For me, I have Zoom classes, Zoom shows, Zoom mics, Zoom seminars, Zoom joke help, you name it – Zoom is fantastic for my comedy.  My biggest  lifesaver has been “www.jokezoom.com“. 

There’s another factor – POLITICAL CORRECTNESS – Comics are being stifled … AND THIS ONE – VIOLENCE TOWARD THE COMIC ON STAGE!

These are factors that keep comedy from being ‘fun’!

I haven’t covered EVERY ASPECT because I don’t know (for example), if clubs are losing money….that’s not my area of expertise.  I used Zoom every day for 130 weeks. I’m an expert on ThAT!

Comedy will continue, it will thrive or not, but we will still automatically make fun of the news, write greeting cards, get on stage, and we won’t stop