Late-Night Needs More Girls

Watercooler

By Nads | Thursday, November 12, 2009 | 1:11 pm | 2 Comments
Posted in: Watercooler

leno writing gigsconan writing gigsletterman writing gigs

The NY Times published an interesting article yesterday about how there are barely any female writers in late-night television. Here’s their breakdown: Jimmy Kimmel- one female (his girlfriend), Craig Ferguson-one female (his sister), and between Leno, Conan, and Letterman (insert sex joke here)—they have none! That’s insane! In the article Dave Letterman’s first head writer said, “an odd shift toward more boys’ humor…The massive popularity of Howard Stern might have had something to do with that.”

I do agree with that, but being a female writer myself I think it has a lot to do with being able to hang with the boys in the room, and having their sensibility. You really have to have thick skin, and not take things personally if a joke is shot down (as I do sometimes).

As a whole, I think a lot of women don’t pursue gigs in late-night because of the stigma that’s attached to it–”it’s impossible to get a late-night writing job as a female.” I’m currently going for a late-night position on a show, and I’ve only had ONE person tell me it’s a good idea to go after it. Everyone else tells me to just stick to my other writing and stand-up gigs. We need more women writing for late-night–after all…we are the late-night audience! It’s time for change!

About

Although comedy is her profession, Nadine has accomplished a lot in her young age. She is a national champion black belt, a world-class soccer player, and an avid snowboarder. She started playing soccer at the age of 4, and continued playing through college where she majored in Biology, but quickly realized her destiny was to tell jokes, not to wear a lab coat. So she decided to be funny while finishing her Bachelors Degree in biology and continued on to get her M.B.A. Nadine’s comedy style is much like her athleticism, fearless. She’s made her way up the comedy ladder very quickly, and has become a club favorite at many of the country’s top comedy clubs, including the Improv chain. Performing in the Boston Comedy Festival and being noted as the “one of the youngest and brightest up and comers” and traveling to the Middle East to entertain the troops are just a few of her notable accomplishments. These days Nadine splits time between the stage, a radio studio, her computer blogging, and a television studio. Nadine’s TV, Radio, Writing credits include: national commercials, talking head roles on E! Entertainment, Showtime’s Hot Tamales Live, The Skinny: Fat Free News, The Sunny Side of The Truth: Real World Hollywood, TVgasm, Zazreport, Daddy’s Girls, Jerseylicious, celebrity interviews on Mania TV, a weekly half-hour television show that syndicates to colleges across the country for National Lampoon and a nightly radio show on XM Satellite Radio.

2 Comments

  1. 1
    Sweetleaf
    Posted November 12, 2009 at 2:02 pm

    I had no idea there were no woman writers! Can’t say I’m suprised, the way things are.

    Best of luck to you and your quest~~~~ make us proud!

  2. 2
    Nads
    Posted November 12, 2009 at 11:41 pm

    thanks sweetleaf! ;-)

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