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Getting her start in the late 1980s after leaving a career in the NSA, Wanda Sykes wit and sassy personality would quickly gain her a large following. Sykes is one of the most popular female African-American comedians and is known for her time writing for The Chris Rock Show, HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, and currently stars on hit ABC sitcom Black-ish.
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Comedian Sherri Shepherd is best known for using her sense of humor to promote diversity in the comedy world and would get her start in stand-up comedy in the 1990s. Sherri Shepherd continues to stay true to her roots today, and in addition to starring in hit TV series like Less Than Perfect (2002-2006) and co-anchoring The View (2007-2014), you can still find her performing stand-up routines in clubs throughout Los Angeles!
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When a 12 year old can keep you laughing with her jokes, you know she will grow up to do great things—and that is exactly what Sarah Silverman has done! By the time she was 17, Silverman landed her first stand-up gig and, not long after, began writing for Saturday Night Live. Since then Silverman has gone on to host her own show, The Sarah Silverman Program!
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Amy Poehler is another female comedian that has successfully transferred her natural humor into on-screen roles and has starred in a number of hit comedies including Arrested Development and Parks and Recreation. She also anchored with Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live in the early 2000s!
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While Ellen DeGeneres can often be a controversial comedy figure, she hasn't gotten to be where she is today without talent and hard work. Ellen would get her start in coffee shops and clubs and was soon recognized for her distinctive humor. It wouldn't take long for Ellen to become one of the world's favorite comedians during the 1990s, and she would start hosting her long-running program, Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show back in 2003!
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Chelsea Handler is a hard face to forget and is known for her sarcasm and bluntness on topics like sex and politics. You might also remember her fondness for vodka. The author of three books, Chelsea Handler is up there with the best of the best, and Vanity Fair even named her one of the "Queens of Comedy" in 2008.