Includes index.

Mothers of invention : headlining-- Phyllis Diller, Anne Meara, Barbara Harris, Joan Rivers, Elaine May, Louise Lasser, and more -- Lily of the underground. Headlining-- Lily Tomlin, Bette Midler, Richard Pryor, and more -- Prime time : headlining-- Mary Tyler Moore, Carol Burnett, Marlo Thomas, Bea Arthur, Valerie Harper, and more -- In the spot : Carol Burnett -- Saturday night live : the boys' club. Headlining-- Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, and more -- I am woman : headlining-- Whoopi Goldberg, Elayne Boosler, Robin Williams, Carol Leifer, Sandra Bernhard, Suzanne Somers, and more -- In the spot : Merrill Markoe -- The boom years : headlining-- Roseanne, Joy Behar, Ellen DeGeneres, Paula Poundstone, Rita Rudner, and more -- In the spot : Ellen DeGeneres -- Janeane Garofalo and friends : headlining-- Janeane Garofalo, Kathy Griffin, Margaret Cho, David Cross, Bob Odenkirk, Laura Kightlinger, and more -- Saturday night live : the girls club : headlining-- Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch, and more -- Comic rising : headlining-- Sarah Silverman, Chelsea Handler, Kristen Schaal, Ellie Kemper, Aubrey Plaza, and more.