Includes index

Mothers of invention : headlining -- Phyllis Diller, Anne Meara, Barbara Harris, Joan Rivers, Elaine May, Louise Lasser, and more -- Lily of the underground. Headlining -- Lily Tomlin, Bette Midler, Richard Pryor, and more -- Prime time : headlining -- Mary Tyler Moore, Carol Burnett, Marlo Thomas, Bea Arthur, Valerie Harper, and more -- In the spot : Carol Burnett -- Saturday night live : the boys' club. Headlining -- Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, and more -- I am woman : headlining -- Whoopi Goldberg, Elayne Boosler, Robin Williams, Carol Leifer, Sandra Bernhard, Suzanne Somers, and more -- In the spot : Merrill Markoe -- The boom years : headlining -- Roseanne, Joy Behar, Ellen DeGeneres, Paula Poundstone, Rita Rudner, and more -- In the spot : Ellen DeGeneres -- Janeane Garofalo and friends : headlining -- Janeane Garofalo, Kathy Griffin, Margaret Cho, David Cross, Bob Odenkirk, Laura Kightlinger, and more -- Saturday night live : the girls club : headlining -- Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch, and more -- Comic rising : headlining -- Sarah Silverman, Chelsea Handler, Kristen Schaal, Ellie Kemper, Aubrey Plaza, and more

"Kohen assembles more than 150 interviews from America's most prominent comediennes (and the writers, producers, nightclub owners, and colleagues who revolved around them) to piece together the revolution that happened to (and by) women in American comedy"--Provided by publisher