‘Hysterical’ Dives Into the Stand-Up Comedy Industry Through the Lens of Female Comedians

HYSTERICAL, a documentary by Andrea Blaugrund Nevins, takes us on a journey through the world of stand-up comedy, told from the point of view of female comedians. Filled with clips, interviews, archival footage, and industry insights, there were many laugh out loud moments, alongside deeply personal scenes. 

The cast consisted of names I recognized, like Sherri Shepherd, Fortune Feimster, Kathy Griffin, and Margaret Cho, plus those I learned of for the first time — Judy Gold, Carmen Lynch, Nikki Glaser, Jessica Kirson, Marina Franklin, Bonnie McFarlane, Rachel Feinstein, Kelly Bachman, Lisa Lampanelli, Wendy Liebman, and Iliza Shlesinger. Their collective experiences revealed an image of the comic industry that I never saw before, as they recounted experiences on tour, childhood influences, and everyday challenges.

In a heartfelt moment, Marina Franklin shared her breast cancer diagnosis with the audience during a show. Opening up about something so personal, with such courage, was very moving, and undoubtedly helped others along a similar journey. Each comedian brought their own unique perspective to the table, without holding back.

An eye-opening aspect of HYSTERICAL, for me, was viewing archival footage through a modern lens. I felt a wave of nostalgia when Carol Burnette danced onto the screen, because I loved watching her as a kid. I also learned of other great early comedians, like Moms Mabley and Phyllis Diller, who paved the way for many others, while facing challenges and biases at the time. These clips, in a new light, shifted my perspective of the entertainment industry.

I tend to view stand-up comedy as a refuge from everyday life, and attending comedy clubs is one of my favorite things to do, which is why I was drawn to HYSTERICAL on the SXSW lineup. I thought it would be a compilation of comedy routines, but I am glad that I was wrong, because it was so much more. 

I am very interested in seeing more from Andrea Blaugrund Nevins.

According to IMDB, HYSTERICAL airs on April 2nd on FX, and the next day on Hulu.