Miranda Neville is so much fun in real life. Seriously. She’s hilariously dry (or is that dryly hilarious?) and always has a crazy story to tell. And on top of it, she’s smart. I like her because funny, smart, and excellent storyteller are the top three characteristics I look for in people around me.
She’s also written about girls who wear glasses — the heroine of her short story, “The School of Wooing for Inept Book Collectors,” in the (FREE!!!) Once Upon a Ballroom anthology wears them to particularly hilarious consequences.
So, it should come as no surprise that when I asked her to join me for Girls Who Wear Glasses Month to celebrate the release of One Good Earl Deserves a Lover, she chose to write about another funny, smart, excellent storyteller!
Welcome, Miranda!
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I guess I’ve been living under a rock because I never watched Thirty Rock until this year. For the last month I’ve been glomming the show on Netflix and I have a mad girl crush on Tina Fey.
And I love her alter ego Liz Lemon. I love that she is is grumpy, dresses like a slob (although she can clean up well when appropriate) and eats unhealthy food. I adore that she’s a smart, funny, talented, successful woman who is also deeply imperfect and not ashamed of the fact. Despite her serial failure in relationships she still manages to date some seriously hot men (Jon Hamm, Matt Damon) along with the losers (the ghastly Englishman Wesley Snipes and Dennis Duffy whom I would like to kill).
I don’t know how much Lemon is based on Fey, aside from the fact that she’s both an actress and a writer. I’m not even sure if Tina wears glasses in real life or whether I’ve totally confused her with Sarah Palin. Her priceless depiction of Palin on SNL has to rank as one of the most brilliant political satires ever. I’m not a fan of Palin – I think she’s a whack job and am profoundly grateful she never got near the presidency – but she and Tina both look great, their looks enhanced by stylish eyewear.
Gorgeous Rebecca
Not so long ago wearing glasses was regarded as a severe drawback to female hotness. The change came gradually but we’ve reached the point where glasses are neutral or even an asset for a woman’s looks. To prove my point I offer my very own beautiful daughter Rebecca. May she never have to stumble due to bad eyesight.
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I’m wild about Tina myself, Miranda, and so happy you chose her as your girl who wears glasses!
Your turn, reader — tell Miranda and me who your favorite funny lady is, and one lucky commenter (US Only) will receive a signed copy of her The Dangerous Viscount!
February 28th, 2013 at 9:56 am
My favorite funny lady would have to be the late Lucille Ball, but the current funny lady I like is the perpetually odd and self-effacing Ellen DeGeneres. She never fails to make me laugh.
February 28th, 2013 at 8:06 pm
Who doesn’t love Lucy, Sandy? Ellen is great, too
February 28th, 2013 at 10:20 am
WOW! You are some baby maker. Rebecca is a knockout! And the glasses only add to the naughty secretary vibe…one of my favorite girl-with-glasses tropes. Thanks for sharing.
February 28th, 2013 at 10:44 am
Carol Burnett… still funny…
February 28th, 2013 at 8:07 pm
Yes! Carol is a classic
February 28th, 2013 at 11:35 am
Hi Sara and Miranda!
My favorite is without a doubt Lily Tomlin! If you never got a chance to watch Laugh-In back in the late 60′s – early 70′s you missed out on seeing Lily as Ernestine, the wisecracking, snorting telephone operator, you missed seeing her at her best!
It was the one thing my husband and I always watched together every week and Lily was his favorite as well probably because his grandmother was a telephone operator and if you ever see one of the old photos of the supervisor on roller skates it may be one of her!
February 28th, 2013 at 8:08 pm
I love Lily Tomlin, Jean. Not only the old comedy routines, but also her acting. All Of Me with Steve Martin is a wonderful film, and she was great in The West Wing.
February 28th, 2013 at 12:06 pm
Ellen Degeneres~! Love her and watch her all the time.
February 28th, 2013 at 12:21 pm
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are a hilarious comedy team.
February 28th, 2013 at 12:22 pm
Ps. Thanks for the freebie
February 28th, 2013 at 8:09 pm
Tina and Amy were the Best Hosts Ever at the Golden Globes this year.
February 28th, 2013 at 7:04 pm
I loved the late Gilda Radner and Lucille Ball.
Carol L
February 28th, 2013 at 8:10 pm
Aw, I miss Gilda. Those old SNLs from the 70s have never been equaled.
February 28th, 2013 at 9:02 pm
One of my favorite funny actresses is Kate Hudson. She is so much like her mother (Goldie Hawn) that she makes me laugh so hard.
February 28th, 2013 at 10:24 pm
Hi Miranda and Sarah!
I love Betty White and Ellen DeGeneres. So funny!
February 28th, 2013 at 10:33 pm
I’ve always been a fan of Sandra Bullock.
February 28th, 2013 at 10:33 pm
Ellen Degeneres
March 1st, 2013 at 1:13 pm
It starts with Lucille Ball and ends with Ellen Degeneres, although Emma Stone is rapidly rising on the list.
March 1st, 2013 at 1:34 pm
Amy and Tina were great on SNL, but I never could get into either of their new shows though.