It’s no secret that the Los Angeles comedy scene can be brutal and unforgiving. But for these older women, comedy offered an outlet for self-discovery at an age where they say women can become invisible. The pay off — of drafting jokes, reworking material and performing at open mics and shows — is the thrill of the applause, yes, but even more so, the emotional freedom it affords them.
Karla Marie Sanford, an Atlanta native, was a 2025 reporting fellow at the Los Angeles Times. Previously, she worked as a breaking news reporter at the Washington Post.
Brenda Elizondo is a former video journalist at the Los Angeles Times. She covered diverse beats across the paper including De Los, Entertainment and reported breaking news on immigrant communities during the peak of the ICE raids. The Santa Ana native received her bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Cal State Fullerton and previously field produced at NBCLA and Telemundo52.
