Funny Ladies

Amy Poehler

Upcoming Books from Women in Comedy

It's been two years since Tina Fey took the book world by storm (and got raves from The New York Times), which means it's high time some other funny ladies tried to follow in her footsteps to bestseller lists and publishing glory. It's only natural for this to happen. Once something works (and in a big way), similar projects are bound to follow. We had Mindy Kaling's book last year (which brought Tina Fey up on page one, incidentally) and now, lo! and behold three promising new deals have been made to keep the comedienne train rolling well into 2014 and beyond.

Lena Dunham

First up is the one I'm least excited about but feel obligated to mention: Lena Dunham, the 26 year-old wunderkind behind HBO's Golden Globe-winning series Girls. It seems only natural
that she'd get a book deal--after all, she's funny, smart, and has a fairly well defined personality (at least among those familiar with the twenty-something Brooklyn hipster set). She's a shoe-in for a big book deal. Yeah, there's potential for backlash, yeah, there are haters, but she's the creative force behind one of TV's most buzzed-about shows. And that's not nothing. The Tina Fey comparisons have already gotten going. The big news here was actually her payday: a reported 3.5 to 3.7 million dollar advance from Random House. Is she overpaid? Will the book turn a profit (for more on that, check out this article, which crunches the numbers for you). Regardless of what you think of her and her show, the heated bidding war her book deal got started says a lot about the project's potential. It would take a lot of effort to screw this one up.

Lena Dunham

Personally, I tried to watch the first season of Girls and only made it three episodes before I was actually yelling at the TV I was so irritated. I stopped watching and never looked back. So without knowing more about the book (for more on what might be in it check out this hilarious Gawker post, in which they released samples from her proposal, then had to update in order to meet the demands of her lawyers. It's almost worthy of its own book deal) I can't shake the feeling that I'd rather get sun poisoning than read her book. Oh yeah. I feel that strongly about it. She's a very love-her-or-hate her personality, and it's pretty clear where I stand on that issue. So there.

Judy Greer

Judy Greer

There's probably no reason for you guys to be as excited about this one as I am. Chances are, if you liked Arrested Development as much as I did, you remember Judy Greer. Well, chances are you'll recognize her anyway. She's one of those funny people who pops up in a lot of great projects (including last year's Best Picture nominee The Descendants), makes you laugh, but never really gets the spotlight for herself. Every part I can think of her playing has been in an ensemble cast--right down to her guest role on The Big Bang Theory. So this will be a fantastic opportunity for her to soak up all the attention.

And here's the best part: she's in on the joke. The name of her book? I Don't Know What You Know Me From: Confessions of a Costar. Brilliant. Even better? A Hollywood Reporter article announcing the book deal says that chapters will include topics like "Celebrities I've Peed Next To," "I'm Not America's Sweetheart, I'm America's Best Friend," and "Bad Oscar!"

I. Cannot. Wait. 2014 from Random House. Mark your calendars.

Amy Poehler

Amy Poehler

And finally, the big one. This has the most potential for success, in my opinion, with the added bonus that I also want to get my hands on it and read it as soon as possible. She and Tina Fey are the dynamic duo of comedy--just check out their performance as hostesses of the Golden Globes last month. The most talked about line of the night ("I haven’t really been following the controversy over ‘Zero Dark Thirty,’ but when it comes to torture, I trust the lady who spent three years married to James Cameron") came right out of Miss Amy's mouth. In fact, she's been responsible for some of the most viral, buzzed about moments a lot in the past few years. Her Sarah Palin rap (while 9 months pregnant) on SNL is the stuff of comedy legend. Tina Fey even mentions it in Bossypants. That moment when all of the nominees for Best Actress in a Comedy Series got up on stage at the Emmys as if they were in a beauty pageant? Amy did that. It was her idea. She's super creative and super funny. Her book promises to stay true to her originality and quirkiness. From Harpercollins, the publisher: "Her original twist on the conventional memoir will have universal appeal. An illustrated, non-linear diary full of humor and honesty and brimming with true stories, fictional anecdotes and life lessons, the book will be a unique and engaging experience from one of today's most talented and beloved stars."

If there's an heiress to Tina Fey's publishing crown, my money is on Amy Poehler. Look for it in 2014.