We may all think we're comedians, but sadly, we're not. Good thing there are so many truly funny people out there to make us laugh. Some comedians use their wit and smarts to make clever jokes and poke fun, while others use their physicality and appearance to to keep us doubled over. Formats range from stand up comedy and sketch comedy to talk shows, and subjects include politics, everyday life, and the comedians themselves. Here's a look at the famous comedians who've kept us laughing over the years.
They are the best of the best on television - the entertainers who have taken home the coveted Emmy Award. Popular sitcoms stars from Lucille Ball to Tina Fey, dramatic actors like James Gandolfini and legendary talk show hosts including Johnny Carson and Oprah Winfrey are just some of the performers who have taken home the winged statuette. Here is a star-studded collection of famous Emmy winners from throughout the history of TV.
Chutzpah? Check. Self-deprecation? Check. Estrogen? Yes ma'am! Rollicking, quick-witted ladies like Lucille Ball, Joan Rivers, Tina Fey, and Ellen DeGeneres have boldly laughed their way into an industry which even today is still considered a boys' club. Talk about being ballsy.
Browse notable television actresses such as Eva Longoria, Joan Collins, and Jada Pinkett Smith.
In the 1980s, TV moms began juggling family life with professional careers. Phylicia Rashad played lawyer and mom to a big family on The Cosby Show, and Candace Bergen portrayed a TV news anchor who has an unplanned pregnancy out of wedlock. Judith Light played a busy, single advertising executive on Who's the Boss, and even hired a male housekeeper—who happened to be a single dad. Joanna Kerns played the much-loved mom on Growing Pains, whose husband worked from home so she could go back to working as a reporter. This bending of gender roles reflected more modern family structures, and the new choices that women faced.