There's no shortage of stand-up comedians in the world, but it's the funny women taking over microphones ... yet maybe you had no idea they actually got their start in comedy on a lonely stage ...

Possibly the first person to say women aren't funny, Congreve probably didn't know any better because he was born too early to catch a Really Funny Comedians (Who Happen to Be Women) show.

“You’re really hard on yourself ... executive producing an upcoming comedy special, “Pretty Funny Women: It’s About F— Time.” The show, open to the public, will tape on Jan. 19 ...