SNL female curse? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Dean Winchester · 05-19-2004, 03:48 PM

I read an article quite a few years ago talking about how there seems to be a curse with females on SNL. Once they leave, they never have the careers as their male counterparts.

Unfortunately, I have to agree. Outside of Gilda Radner, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jane Curtin, I can't think of another female on SNL who broke to the same level of fame that Eddie Murphy, Chevy Chase, Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, John Belushi, Bill Murray, Billy Crystal, Chris Farley, Will Ferrill... need I go on? have broken to.

Look at how Cheri Oteri and Molly Shannon's careers have been reduced to guest-appearences on shows and starring roles on decent sitcoms nobody watched (I really liked the show Molly did with Chris McDonald and Jason Schwarzman, but did anyone else?). Those 2, plus Ana Gasteyer (who has stated she left SNL to devote more "mom" time, which is commendable) were the breakout female stars of the late 90's SNL cast. Whereas you saw people like Will Ferrill and Chris Kattan actually getting lead roles in movies, the only Molly Shannon lead to date was the SNL related Superstar. I thought Molly and Cheri was both hilarious, both deserve better.

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 05-20-2004, 08:55 PM

I agree with you. There's many SNL females on even right now that I hope end up having good careers. They're so funny, and it just sucks how a lot of them disappear.

Chambers · 05-22-2004, 08:48 PM

It's the curse of being a comedienne. You're not respected as a serious actress. You may even do a few sitcoms on tv, but outside of that, it's difficult to make people see you as an actor with depth. Let alone the fact that comediennes already have to battle with looks - if you're pretty, they don't expect you to be as funny. If you're not pretty, they expect more laughs from you. Take Shelley Long - she started out doing sketch comedy in Second City and was hired to play Diane Chambers partly because the producers said she was "one of those beautiful AND funny people" - seeing that it's rare to find a woman whose looks don't overshadow her comedic talent. Later, when she left Cheers, the producers would only refer to her almost disparagingly as a comedienne, not as an actress (even though she's a darn good one). As a woman in the world of comedy, you have to battle against so many preconceptions. As for all the women in SNL, they still need to prove that they are good actors - not just comediennes.

barwars · 06-20-2004, 08:43 AM

I think Tina Fey will go on to bigger and better things, but not in front of the camera.

05-19-2004, 03:48 PM	#1
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	SNL female curse? I read an article quite a few years ago talking about how there seems to be a curse with females on SNL. Once they leave, they never have the careers as their male counterparts. Unfortunately, I have to agree. Outside of Gilda Radner, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jane Curtin, I can't think of another female on SNL who broke to the same level of fame that Eddie Murphy, Chevy Chase, Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, John Belushi, Bill Murray, Billy Crystal, Chris Farley, Will Ferrill... need I go on? have broken to. Look at how Cheri Oteri and Molly Shannon's careers have been reduced to guest-appearences on shows and starring roles on decent sitcoms nobody watched (I really liked the show Molly did with Chris McDonald and Jason Schwarzman, but did anyone else?). Those 2, plus Ana Gasteyer (who has stated she left SNL to devote more "mom" time, which is commendable) were the breakout female stars of the late 90's SNL cast. Whereas you saw people like Will Ferrill and Chris Kattan actually getting lead roles in movies, the only Molly Shannon lead to date was the SNL related Superstar. I thought Molly and Cheri was both hilarious, both deserve better.

05-20-2004, 08:55 PM	#2
Pleasant Tomorrow Member Forum Addict Join Date: Feb 19, 2003 Location: New York Posts: 69,525	I agree with you. There's many SNL females on even right now that I hope end up having good careers. They're so funny, and it just sucks how a lot of them disappear.
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05-22-2004, 08:48 PM	#3
Chambers The Crane Trinity Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 27, 2004 Location: Where everybody knows a Crane. Posts: 5,427	It's the curse of being a comedienne. You're not respected as a serious actress. You may even do a few sitcoms on tv, but outside of that, it's difficult to make people see you as an actor with depth. Let alone the fact that comediennes already have to battle with looks - if you're pretty, they don't expect you to be as funny. If you're not pretty, they expect more laughs from you. Take Shelley Long - she started out doing sketch comedy in Second City and was hired to play Diane Chambers partly because the producers said she was "one of those beautiful AND funny people" - seeing that it's rare to find a woman whose looks don't overshadow her comedic talent. Later, when she left Cheers, the producers would only refer to her almost disparagingly as a comedienne, not as an actress (even though she's a darn good one). As a woman in the world of comedy, you have to battle against so many preconceptions. As for all the women in SNL, they still need to prove that they are good actors - not just comediennes.
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06-20-2004, 08:43 AM	#4
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	I think Tina Fey will go on to bigger and better things, but not in front of the camera.