Cs Mentality

I might be on my way toward a minor for 50/50 in comediennes who write for TV shows. I read Mindy Kaling’s book earlier in the year; I have Samantha Bee’s on my nightstand and as a to-read. It seems as though many of these funny ladies are forever measured against Tina Fey—in fact, Kaling points this out in her book—but I like the comparison that a reviewer for the Washington Post makes for Merrill Markoe, the award-winning former head writer for the David Letterman show.

In her critique of Cool, Calm & Contentious, the reviewer rates Markoe as funny as David Sedaris. High praise, for sure, but not a stretch for anyone who reads her hilarious essay about her eternally overbearing and underwhelmed mother. As a collection, Markoe’s essays didn’t hold my attention the way Sedaris’s usually do, but that could be because I’m reading hers on a phone while vacationing in Hawaii. Forgive me—I might be distracted a bit.