“Mom, I am a rich man”: Cher, the Straight Man, and the Hidden History of Feminist Humor

ABSTRACT Before Cher was the queen of pop, she was a queen of comedy whose feminist punchlines allowed her to negotiate limited verbal space in a male-dominated entertainment industry. She began her comedic career in the 1960s, although it was not until the early 1970s that Cher’s comedic wit, often targeting her then husband and costar Sonny Bono, got noticed, helping to rocket the couple from nightclubs to television stardom. Considered as safe but sexy, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour (1971–74) featured the straight man and the fashionista’s no-holds-barred humor that together made feminism more palatable for middle-of-the-road America. To be sure, Cher’s longevity reflects her many talents as an entertainer, but her own brand of comedic cool has continued to inspire a feminist fandom that spans generations.