Long before the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, TV writer and Vanity Fair contributor Nell Scovell took a stand against misogynist bosses and writers' rooms that aren't diverse. She later went on to write for some of the funniest shows on TV, create and produce "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch," and co-write "Lean In" with Sheryl Sandberg. Here, she speaks with Ariel Investments President (and good friend) Mellody Hobson about her experiences, her new book "Just the Funny Parts," what women can do to get a seat at the table, what makes something funny, and more.
Read Scovell's groundbreaking 2009 Vanity Fair piece that blew the lid of the Hollywood Boys' Club in late-night comedy, then check out her new book, Just the Funny Parts.
Super-power your fight for workplace equality. Check out these tips from leanin.org on supporting women, whether you identify as one or not.
Learn about local organizations working to support women in the workplace. For example, get to know Chicago Women in Trades, which works to increase women's participation in well-paid, skilled jobs traditionally held by men; or Voxx, an organization that creates inclusive spaces to celebrate the voices of women.
Enjoy some of Scovell's funniest work! Check out her legendary Simpsons episode, her episode "Carnival Magic" on the recent Mystery Science Theater 3000 reboot, or watch Sabrina, the Teenage Witch on Amazon.
Bette Midler says she's "one of the funniest people I know." Garry Shandling told her, "You write like a guy." At one point or another you probably laughed at one of Nell Scovell's jokes—you just didn't know it until now. Scovell is a veteran Hollywood comedy writer, producer and director whose credits include Late Night with David Letterman, The Simpsons, Murphy Brown, NCIS, SPY Magazine, Vanity Fair, The White House Correspondents Dinner for President Obama and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, which she created.
In a fascinating conversation with Ariel Investments President Mellody Hobson, Scovell talks about her book, Just the Funny Parts: And a Few Hard Truths About Sneaking Into the Hollywood Boys' Club, and opens up about breaking into all-male writers' rooms, taking a stand on sexual harassment in Hollywood years before the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements and how she ended up co-writing the blockbuster bestseller Lean In with Sheryl Sandberg.