NOT FUNNY: Eddie Brill had been David Letterman’s (inset) booker for 10 years. (Getty Images)
David Letterman’s “Late Show” comedy booker has been fired after giving an interview in which he said too many female comics “will act like men” to get laughs.
Eddie Brill, who held the booking job for 10 years, will continue to “warm up” the studio audience before each “Late Show” telecast, but will no longer scout comedy clubs and book talent for the show.
That job will be handled, as it was prior to Brill, by a small group of producers who have yet to be named, insiders say.
Brill, who was unavailable for comment, was given the news this week.
Brill’s axing came to light yesterday in an Internet report which blamed a New York Times profile of Brill, published last Thursday, as the culprit in his downfall.
In the article, Brill was quoted as saying, “There are a lot less female comics who are authentic. I see a lot of female comics who, to please an audience, will act like men.”
Brill didn’t name any of these “female comics,” but his comments ruffled a lot of feathers.
Well-known female standup comic Lisa Lampanelli — who’s appearing this season on NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice” — told The Post that she’s never had a problem with Brill or with “Late Show.”
“I was really surprised and unhappy about that,” she said of Brill’s axing. “It’s funny how you can get fired for an opinion.
“He should be allowed to say what he wants.
“Eddie has always been kind to me,” Lampanelli said. “But I had never tried to get on [‘Late Show’] because I had been on Leno like 10 times,” she said referring to “The Tonight Show.”
“I had never heard that [women had a hard time getting on the show] or had a problem with that,” she said. “I think a lot of women are friggin’ babies.
“If the Letterman show isn’t for you then move on and find one that is.”
Brill was also defended yesterday by Bonnie McFarlane, a veteran standup comedian who’s also the director of the upcoming documentary, “Women Aren’t Funny” — and who’s married to stand-up comedian Rich Vos.
“People need to stop taking exception every time someone makes a slight towards female comics,” she told monstersandcritics.com.
“We’re winning, already. Relax, take a victory lap.”
McFarlane says she interviewed Brill for “Women Aren’t Funny,” and that, “I can honestly say that during 40 minutes of raw footage he states over and over again that he thinks women are funny and perhaps even funnier than men.
“Eddie Brill booked me, a lady comic, on Letterman twice and although it was a great experience, it really did nothing for my career,” McFarlane says.
“Point being, if you don’t make it on Letterman, it really doesn’t matter.”
Brill, a veteran stand-up comic, has worked for “Late Show” since 1997.
“Late Show” officials had no comment yesterday.