SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

Pretty women aren’t funny

Sep 25, 2012, 1:15 PM | Updated: 2:55 pm

juliebowen
Actress Julie Bowen winner for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series poses backstage at the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)

Studies have shown that the better looking someone is, the easier it is for them to get a job. Is it true that the more beautiful you are, the more difficult it is to cut it in comedy?

Turning to the Emmy’s, Dori and Hollywood Deadline reporter (and Emmy’s live-blogger) Nikki Finke found that pretty actress Julie Bowen just doesn’t have the comedy chops. While both agree that she’s not so funny, you should also know – Bowen won the trophy and title for: “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series,” for her work on “Modern Family.”

When it comes to the ABC hit show, many praise the looks of vivacious Sofia Vergara. Dori is more of a Bowen fan. But he agreed with the snarky Hollywood reporter’s devastating generalization: pretty people aren’t funny.

Bowen’s acceptance speech drew few chuckles from the crowd when she muttered the words “nipple covers” more than twice.

It didn’t make a strong case for funny, beautiful women.

“It’s all about emotional pain and humiliation and rising above both by making people laugh with you instead of at you,” wrote Finke.

While Finke focuses on the negatives of growing up ugly, Dori is more focused on the kids who grew up good-looking. Kids receiving regular praise for being pretty or handsome, focus on where that praise is coming from and seek to maintain it.

That’s why they’re dull.

When beauty is reinforced, according to Dori, the less a personality and a sense of humor need to be developed. “Certainly there are some beautiful people with a sense of humor and a personality, but I don’t’ think there is much of a need to develop those, the better looking you are.”

News anchor Ursula Reutin stood up for the pretty girls. Unlike Finke’s broad generalization of pretty actresses not being funny – she points to the beauty of funny women Amy Poehler, Sarah Silverman, Chelsea Handler, Ellen DeGeneres, Lucille Ball, and Mary Tyler Moore.

She does agree that a childhood filled with hardships can turn kids to comedy. “They have more empathy, that helps make them funnier,” said Ursula.

Instead of saying these beautiful actresses aren’t funny, she believes people find it easier to criticize a beautiful woman.

People think that if these women have the good looks, they don’t need to laugh. “People are more likely to be haters if you seem like you have everything.”

With an Emmy statue in her hand, Bowen certainly seems like she has it all. But when she mentioned “nipple covers” that third time around and you were watching at home, did you laugh?

What you’re saying on Facebook:

Elena Trebaol i think it’s a horrible thing to believe – just because someone is beautiful doesn’t mean they didn’t grow up incredibly insecure. i definitely think that humor comes from perspective, but you don’t need to be ugly to gain perspective.

Amy Curley Gentry This is sort of tame version of profiling. Beautiful= unfunny. Fatso= funny. I don’t think this is accurate. In my opinion, funny= funny.

Dick Acrimony Ugly people are naturally more funny, its science.

Kelly West I’m both so there goes that theory. Hahaha… see, funny.

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