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The Girls’ Lounge: Gender
Equality is no Laughing Matter
A
re women less funny
that they should be
paid less? Shelley Zalis,
founder and CEO of
The Girls’ Lounge moderated a
panel that sought to address this
issue among others with women
who know their way around it.
The panel consisted of the
chairman for advertising sales
and client partnerships at NBC
Universal, Linda Yaccarino, as
well as a trio of veteran featured
players on Saturday Night Live,
namely Cecily Strong, Aidy
Bryant, and Vanessa Bayer.
Yaccarino began by stating
that the commitment to women
and diversity is her single biggest
priority as one of the leaders of
NBC. News Division has over 40%
of female on-air talent, and it’s the
same for people behind the camera.
Asked if they’ve noticed any
differences by now having more
women (seven) in the cast of
the 41-year-old sketch comedy
show than ever before, Strong
replied in the affirmative. She
and Bayer added that it always
helps to have more diversity
in general in a writing room.
It will help your comedy.
For her part, Bryant shared that
on SNL, all of the cast members
write, alowing them to collaborate
with different folks. She was
particularly proud of the all-girl
music videos that they’ve been
able to shoot in recent seasons.
Citing one of their most popular
regular sketches where they play
former pornstars turned home
shopping hosts, Strong said that
instead of being overly sexualized
roles, she and Bayer actually have
the power in the sketch and that
they have control. “We’re always
pushing the male host when to come
on, when to come off, noted Bayer.
Zalis asked the panel then what
their opinion was of the current lack
of TV shows with a female lead. To
that, Strong responded that there’s
an audience that wants to see femaleled shows. She added that there’s a
real opportunity for anyone who is
fortunate enough to be in that role
and that it’s a great time to make and
create female-led shows. The ladies
also noted that female-led dramas
like Scandal and Blindspot are
also more successful now.
Regarding the old saying that,
‘Women aren’t as funny as men,’
Bryant laughed it off by saying, “I
can’t dignify that with a response
because it’s so boring to me!”
The ladies tooted their own
collective horn when they shared
that there’s been a real creative
resurgence on the show and it
has a lot to do with the women.
Asked by Zalis what they advice
was to the next generation of female
comedians, Strong suggested, “Do
things that scare you. Women don’t
take as many chances. Do that, take
some chances, fall sometimes.”
For Bryant, she said, “You kind of
fake it until you make it,” noting
that she herself has been doing so
this whole time. Meanwhile, Bayer
advised to, “Trust your instincts.
Every step of the way, you kind of
have a sense. If you just look out for
yourself. It just matters that you’re
doing things that are right for you
and trusting your instincts.”
In closing, Zalis asked why this
conversation was so important in
the first place. Bryant replied that,
“It matters because it should be
basic. We have to fight tooth and
nail to get it to where it should
have started.” Strong added that
talking about gender equality,
“makes us all better. All kids should
have the same opportunities.”
July - August 2016 | adobo magazine
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