Well, at 5' 3" I can't say from experience, but from what I understand, being above average height can be a burden for a woman - perhaps if you're a supermodel shape, that's fine, but to be generally in proportion and so tall can make you the subject of jibes, and since you stand out, you have to cope with the attention. Indeed, I think plenty of men find being above average height can be a drag, just as being very short might be.
Why is self deprecation crap if it's by a woman? Would you be ok with a self deprecating male comedian?
Maybe I'm just thick, but I don't see it as dumbed down. It's comedy, and comedy generally has a butt. Sometimes the butt is someone other than the lead, sometimes it's the lead - either self deprecatingly, or not (I'm thinking someone like the character of Hancock, who was a buffoon, but thought himself very important and clever). Not everyone enjoys everything, of course, but dumbed down doesn't seem like the right term.
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