The women of Comedy Central Stand Up Asia prove that the fairer sex can be just as funny

The comediennes of Comedy Central’s Stand Up Asia are: (from left) Jennifer Hsiung, Esther Ku, Aiko Tanaka, Helen Hong, Joanne Kam and Jocelyn Chia. — ONG SOON HIN/The Star

When Korean-American comedian Helen Hong was starting out on her career, there was one comedy club in New York City that absolutely refused to book her. The club owner told her she wouldn’t need to send in her availability because, according to him, “ I don’t think women are funny, and I don’t think Asians are funny.”

Well, Hong certainly has the last laugh now. According to her, that comedy club no longer exists. And Hong has gone on to higher things: she’s guest-starred on shows like Pretty Little Liars, New Girl, and Parks And Recreation, and performed her stand-up on The Arsenio Hall Show, Last Call With Carson Daly, Comics Unleashed, and TV Guide Network’s Standup In Stilettos, among others.