A popular comedy entertainment founder didn’t mince words when she fired back at an award-winning stand-up comedian, turning their criticism into a sharp reminder of the legacy she built.
Hannah Einbinder, comedian, actress, and breakout star of HBO’s critically acclaimed series Hacks, joined the hosts of The View for a lively conversation that blended humor with thoughtful reflection.
Known for her sharp wit and fearless perspective, Einbinder brought her unique voice to the panel, discussing her career in comedy, her experiences in Hollywood, and the cultural conversations shaping today’s entertainment landscape.
Her appearance highlighted not only her comedic brilliance but also her ability to engage in meaningful dialogue beyond the stage and screen.
During the appearance, Einbinder and host Joy Behar would reminisce about their early days in stand-up comedy and initiate a discussion on the current state of women in comedy.
This would lead to Hannah explaining her current touring routine and why she believes comedy venues should no longer host events dedicated to one gender or demographic, especially all-female events, as it devalues the comedians’ material. She would voice her displeasure with a particular iconic Hollywood show, expressing that it left her feeling boxed into outdated stereotypes rather than celebrated for her individuality as a comedian.
(Starting at the 5:48 mark)
Joy Behar: When I started (stand-up comedy) back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, there was a club in The Village that had only women on Thursday night, and it was a long time ago and it was so liberating in a way to not have – I mean, later on I had to follow Robin Williams Rodney Dangerfield, you know that was tough, that’s tough. When you’re amongst your sisters, there’s something liberating about having women around.
Einbinder: I appreciate stuff like that, but I will say I feel like now, I would rather not be on a separate night. Like, to me, we should be in a place where we don’t need that night. And I can’t believe that we’re still not there but that is very — even coming up, they had a night at The Laugh Factory called “Pretty Funny Women” which I found totally degrading (sarcastically laugh) cool, awesome. But, yeah it’s my hope that more gals take the stage.
Offended by the specific comments regarding her comedy entertainment brand, Pretty Funny Women founder Lisa Sundstedt responded to Hannah Einbinder’s “degrading” remark by firmly defending the integrity and supportive mission of her long-running all-female comedy showcase, expressing disappointment that Einbinder characterized the experience so negatively, and emphasizing that the show has always been intended to uplift and provide opportunities for women in comedy rather than diminish them.
via Lisa Sundstedt Facebook Page:
If you are a woman wanting to be creative or find your voice or try stand-up comedy and you don’t have the privilege of growing up in a famous family, there are other avenues women have taken in Hollywood. PFW has always provided a safe space for women to express themselves, heal their trauma, develop lifelong friendships, be discovered by the industry and excel in comedy. Why are they laughing along with her? I thought they were an all female supportive platform and I thought she was an advocate for women in Comedy?
I don’t know this woman at all and I don’t know why she would attack me or my show in this way. I started my show in 1995 and I’ve kept it going by myself for over 30 years so women could have a voice in comedy. Just a few of the 5000+ women are Sherri Shepherd, Sarah Silverman, Chelsea Handler, Tig Notaro, Maria Bamford, Heather Mcdonald, Shawn Pelofsky, Retta, Atsuko Okatsuka and thousands more. I hope they don’t feel “degraded” by being regulars on my show for years.
Do you guys know what she’s talking about? What am I missing? #prettyfunnywomen #womeninbusiness
Pretty Funny Women is a Los Angeles–based stand-up comedy school and production company founded in 1995 by comedian, writer, and producer Lisa Sundstedt.
It was created with the mission of giving women a dedicated platform in the comedy world—a field traditionally dominated by men. Sundstedt started the company after realizing how few women were getting opportunities to perform on major stages, and she wanted to create an inclusive space where female comics could learn, grow, and showcase their talent.
The company began as a small stand-up showcase at venues around Hollywood, where Sundstedt would gather lineups of female comics to perform in front of live audiences. These shows quickly developed a reputation for being fresh, funny, and empowering, drawing attention from both industry insiders and audiences hungry for more female perspectives in comedy. The success of the showcases evolved into a full-fledged training program, with Sundstedt teaching stand-up comedy classes that guided aspiring performers from their very first joke-writing exercises to their debut on stage.
Over the years, Pretty Funny Women became one of the most well-known and respected women’s comedy schools in the U.S., producing hundreds of graduates. Many of its alumni and featured talent, including Chelsea Handler, Sherri Shepherd, Maria Bamford, Vicki Barbolak, Natasha Leggero, and Heather McDonald have gone on to successful careers in stand-up, television, writing, and acting, appearing on platforms like Netflix, HBO, Comedy Central, and late-night shows. The school emphasizes not only joke writing and performance skills but also confidence building, stage presence, and carving out a unique comedic voice.
Beyond teaching, the company has hosted countless all-female comedy showcases at iconic venues such as The Comedy Store, The Improv, and The Ice House. These shows highlighted both new talent and established comedians, fostering a sense of community and solidarity among women in comedy. Sundstedt herself often acted as a mentor and coach, personally shaping the careers of numerous comics.
For nearly three decades, Pretty Funny Women has been instrumental in breaking barriers for female performers, amplifying women’s voices in comedy, and creating opportunities that didn’t widely exist before its founding.
Today, it stands as one of the longest-running female-focused comedy brands, recognized not just as a school but as a movement that paved the way for greater inclusion and visibility of women in stand-up comedy.
Hannah Einbinder stirred headlines during the week with a series of controversial comments, sparking widespread debate across the comedy community and beyond. She would close her Emmy award-winning speech for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series with “I just want to say, finally, go Birds, f*** ICE, and free Palestine.” The closing remarks left many viewers divided, igniting debates online about her tone and message.
What are your thoughts on the Hacks star’s remarks towards Pretty Funny Women? Voice your opinion in the comments below.
