On January 5, 2025, Nikki Glaser hosted the 82nd Golden Globes and gave an outstanding performance. Her act received a standing ovation and deservingly so. Her fearless and risky jokes about the Hollywood stars made this year’s Golden Globes one to remember. Nikki Glaser is never afraid to make a joke, no matter how controversial it may be.
Nikki Glaser rose to fame with her jaw-dropping gig at the Tom Brady Roast. Nikki Glaser stated that her secret for writing a good roast is to learn about the person and fall in love with them first. Then, use that knowledge to poke fun at them, so her comedy comes from a place of love which enhances her comedic abilities and also separates her from the rest. Both her fearlessness and her heart led her to become the first woman to host the Golden Globes by herself. However, Nikki Glaser’s success is not only a testament to her natural talent, but to the trailblazing women who paved the way for her and many other female comedians.
Moms Mabley was one of the first female African American stand up comedians. She grew exceedingly popular during the Roaring Twenties in New York City. Her real name was Loretta Mary Aiken, but she went by “Moms” because of her signature wise and witty persona. Later in life, she appeared on shows like The Smother Brothers Comedy and The Ed Sullivan Show in the 1960’s and 70’s. Her comedy was bold for the time, addressing taboo subjects involving social and political issues. Through her comedy, she gave a voice to minorities and broke barriers with both race and gender. She paved the way for future generations of female comedians both white and black.
Lucille Ball is another pivotal woman in comedy. Believe it or not, she started her career with modeling and later transitioned into comedy. Most people know and love her from her starring role in I Love Lucy. Lucille Ball and her husband, Desi Arnaz, created the revolutionary sitcom, I Love Lucy. The public adored Lucille Ball’s character, Lucy Ricardo, for her lovable eccentric personality. Lucille Ball co-founded Desilu Productions with her husband which became one of the most successful studios in television history. After she divorced her husband, she became the first woman to be the head of a major production company. Desily Productions produced very famous movies such as Star Trek and Mission Impossible. Lucille Ball reshaped the role of women in television, comedy, and entertainment.
Lastly, Betty White had one of the longest careers in Hollywood as a comedian and actor. She worked until the day she died at the age of 99. She began her career in the 1930’s. In 1953, she was the first woman to produce a sitcom which was called Life with Elizabeth. She later acted in many other shows such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Hot in Cleveland, and the iconic Golden Girls. Not only did she stand up for the women in her field, but also the black comedians. In 1954, she featured an African American tap dancer named Arthur Duncan in The Betty White Show and faced backlash from the more conservative demographic. She famously responded with “I’m sorry. Live with it.” Betty White was not afraid to stand up for what she believed in and inspired many others to do the same.
In conclusion, Nikki Glaser and other female comedians today could not have done it without the trailblazers like Moms Mabley, Lucille Ball, Betty White, and many more.