Funny Ladies Collection

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C     Extras: D     Episodes: B-

 

 

An interesting-if-short compilation of comediennes from material produced in the late 1980s to early 1990s (maybe earlier?) or thereabouts, The Funny Ladies Collection features four hours on four DVDs of the following stand up talents, often before anyone knew who they were:

 

Margaret Cho

Andrea Martin

Ellen Cleghorne

Susie Essman

Diane Ford

Stephanie Hodges

Cathy Ladman

Judy Tenuta (far too short)

Ellen DeGeneres

Morgan Fairchild

Roberta Kent

Jenny Jones (easily the worst of all)

Kim Coles

Judy Gold

Karen Haber

Laura Kightlinger

Rosie O’Donnell

Mary Jo Pehl

Rita Rudner

Judy Toll

Andrea Walker

Shyma

Sarah Silverman (who was just hit with School Of Rock)

Leah Krinsky

Janeane Garofalo

Twiggy

Carol Montgomery

Caroline Rhea

Nora Lynch

Henriette mantel

Nancy Parker

Carrie Snow

 

That is 32 in all, but it could have been more and it seems obvious from the editing that many of the sequences could have run longer.  The biggest comic names are hear in the earlier parts of their careers, while the lesser knowns are at least interesting, making wonder what would have happened if they had had better guidance or the chance to take their acts into new directions.  The non-comedienne stars are odd, with Twiggy’s jokes making sense at least and Morgan Fairchild’s act is the oddest one here.  Of course, no jokes will be given away, but the impersonations are usually amusing when they happen.

 

The full screen NTSC analog 1.33 X 1 images are clean, but show their age.  They all look similar as the same lighting and sound set-up seems to have been employed, with little variance.  This makes such compilations more seamless.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 sound is weak and monophonic, suggesting it may be down a generation or two.  This makes getting involved with the jokes a bit problematic, but there are no other major problems with the sound, and there are no extras.  Obviously, this could have all fit on 2 DVDs, but here it is and those interested in could do worse than The Funny Ladies Collection.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo