Posted by February 1, 2007 in Entertainment
I just watched it and I’m not sure what to make of it. You?
78 Responses to “The Sarah Silverman Program”
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The “sarcastic” musical production just isn’t funny.
The commercials alone piss me off to no end. I couldn’t imagine attempting to watch a whole episode.
Maybe I am just getting too old to find younger comedians funny, but I don’t find her so. I find Dane Cook a snore. I am getting this Andrew Dice Clay vibe off her, more crude than funny. She is no Richard Pryor and does not seem to be able to pull off “in your face” raunchy humor. She is probably an adolescent boys dream though a gorgeous woman who does bathroom humor.
Don’t need to watch it; she’s the Man Show creator’s gf. No self-respecting feminist would put up with dating that.
Well, her act is meta-bigot. But, I’m not sure it works in the context of a sitcom.
Truthfully it seems more like an amped up and adult swimified PeeWee Herman. I know Comedy Central has been fighting a losing battle for the hot demo with adult swim, so it makes sense for them to try a little creative copying.
In theory I know people who might want that, the few clips weren’t really enough to judge. Right now it seems to be lacking quality and to be quite uneven. The set design is good though.
The set design is terrific. And Value Village? A location joke, but still a hoot.
Sara Silverman’s whole schtick is to satirize ignorance and her “potty mouth” is supposed work with her young-sounding voice and faux-naive persona.
Its like her famous joke from SNL after they wanted a waiting period for abortion: “I wanted an abortion. I totally wanted an abortion. Turns out I was just thirsty!”. What she does is tell society how stupid they are for their attitudes towards things like rape, minorities, and abortion by pretending to be as ignorant as they.
I agree I’m not sure if it’ll work in a sitcom-like setting but I freaking love her stand-up and how she can make people look absolutely stupid by pretending to be as arrogant as they are. I also agree Dane Cook is a snore and I’m 22, so…
I think material is pretty funny, but whenever i see her i can’t help but picture Jimmy Kimmel’s balls bouncing on her chin and it kind of ruins it for me.
Dammit, can’t we even come on PANDAGON without invasive advertising?!?!
; )
Wait, isn’t this moot because Christopher Hitchens just told us that women aren’t funny?
Seriously, I LOVE her. I don’t know why exactly. The closest I can say is that she pushes my buttons and makes me cringe in the way The Office does, you know?
Re: Kimmel’s Balls: I almost feel like Silverman being with him is part of her elaborate persona. He feels lucky, and she’s got a schlubby prop. She slapped him on his show the other night when she was introduced–because he kissed her.
She then played a parody of “An Inconvenient Truth” that had me rolling. It’s worth YouTubing it up.
Oh, I think she’s hilarious - when she’s not singing.
I’m not really a fan of Sarah Silverman. She occasionally has some funny bits here and there in her standup, but for the most part, I think she’s EXTREMELY annoying. I watched about the first 10 minutes of the show tonight and just couldn’t take any more.
“What she does is tell society how stupid they are for their attitudes towards things like rape, minorities, and abortion by pretending to be as ignorant as they.”
Much like Borat in that regard.
That’s basically my problem with Silverman — she’s brutally funny at times, but there’s so much filler between.
Well, I’d say she’s closer to South Park than Borat… sometimes holding up a mirror to peoples stupid attitudes, but VERY often profanely going after anyone and everyone just for a laugh. Like the Convenient Truth sketch. Is she making fun of the global warming doubter’s point of view or just lampooning Al’s movie, or both? Hard to say, but watching it doesn’t feel much different than watching Drew Carey’s stand up bit on global warming from a few years back. He even had the same joke about going outside, spraying aerosols. But he’s conservative, and clearly isn’t doing meta-whatever, and the jokes come off the same, more or less.
Silverman is one of the most inconsistent comics active these days. Sometimes she’s a scream, other times she’s awful, and the rest of the time she’s just unremarkable.
And yeah, her songs are almost embarrassing in their horribleness. But at least she doesn’t do much with the braindead 1980s-era stand-up bromide of “men are like this, women are like that.” Can’t say the same for most other comics.
I understand her schtick, but it’s just not my thing. It’s the same with Sasha Cohen… there’s a point where getting laughs by “satirizing” stupid opinions is, itself, stoking the prevalence of those opinions in one’s audience.
She’s like Andy Kaufman minus the genius.
I watched her last night, after seeing her in The Aristocrats. Her TV show was phenomenal. OK, there were a lot of ka-ka jokes. But the humor was fresh, new, twisted. The writing was really fabulous! Can’t wait till next week to see more.
Some people can pull off the mega-bigot thing. Dave Attell does it. But for some reason, she just doesn’t. I think she takes it just a tad too seriously.
there’s a point where getting laughs by “satirizing� stupid opinions is, itself, stoking the prevalence of those opinions in one’s audience.
Isn’t that what Colbert does? Is he stoking anyone?
And no, I personally wouldn’t her in the same league as Colbert, mainly because I think he’s much funnier, but I don’t think I’m qualified to say what is or isn’t “genius” - I think some comics are conceptual geniuses but they can’t make people laugh, and others are geniuses at understanding how to make people laugh but they don’t have an original thought in their head about the underlying subject matter paradigms.
As for stoking the prevalence of stupid opinion, it’s my experience there are plenty of them out there, same with all the other “ists”and “isms” — I don’t think Silverman, Borat, South Park, et al make people more likely to be stupid and/or bigoted, or more comfortable with being that way.
I guess finally, that I think Silverman is original enough to keep paying attention to. Sometimes I laugh, sometimes I don’t.
Isn’t that what Colbert does? Is he stoking anyone?
Yes, and I should have brought him up as a foil to Silverman. The difference, in my mind, is that Colbert satirizes the right wing while Silverman becomes a bigot. He’s a comedian first, and a character second, to me. So, while I doubt a casual observer would ever mistake Colbert for an actual right wing host (he certainly fooled no one at the WH Correspondent’s Dinner), Silverman plays things a little too real for my taste. It’s just my take… some people clearly do find her funny. I did improv for a while and have seen my share of “discomfort humor.”
As for stoking the prevalence of stupid opinion, it’s my experience there are plenty of them out there, same with all the other “ists�and “isms� — I don’t think Silverman, Borat, South Park, et al make people more likely to be stupid and/or bigoted, or more comfortable with being that way.
Well, I’m enough of a guilt-riddled liberal to think that everyone, myself included, is at least a teensy bit racist/sexist/etc. So in getting through the Borat movie, I know I wasn’t alone in having the sneaking suspicion that many of my fellow moviegoers were laughing for the wrong reasons. Several reviews I read had similar reactions.
Some people can pull off the mega-bigot thing. Dave Attell does it. But for some reason, she just doesn’t. I think she takes it just a tad too seriously.
To pull off being a meta-bigot, you have the have an audience that’s in on the joke in advance, or at least can believe it. Stephen Colbert and Dave Chappelle play ignorant characters believably because on the whole the audience can believe they’re nice people in real life. They’re subtle, not in-your-face, which gives the audience comfort. Silverman (and Carlos Mencia, as another example) don’t.
So in getting through the Borat movie, I know I wasn’t alone in having the sneaking suspicion that many of my fellow moviegoers were laughing for the wrong reasons.
I agree that humans all have the capacity for racism/sexism, etc.
Since you’ve done comedy, you certainly know more about this than I do, but isn’t that exactly what these artists/comics/whatever are trying to do? Find and tweak that exact ‘discomfortable’ spot - those boundaries we set up to define and protect ourselves?
I agree with August J Pollak that Colbert, Chapelle, etc do give the audience more comfort which may be why we find them funnier. It’s a more pleasant experience, that’s for sure.
I guess I am not sure that it’s a bad thing when someone tries to make us uncomfortable. It’s different, for sure, but is it better or worse?
(not trying to confront anyone- just thinking aloud)
Maybe I haven’t watched enough Silverman, but damn, comparisons to Dane Cook and Carlos Mencia…that’s cold.
Did you know Silverman and Dave Attell used to date?
I agree with the posters who think Silverman is hit or miss. Often her humor relies on her being cute with that little girl’s voice and then saying “shocking” things. That works for about 15 seconds.
Speaking of meta… I often wonder if that’s what the guys behind South Park are trying to pull off. They rail against people telling you what to think but every episode ends with them telling you what to think; usually from the mouth of an 8 year old made from construction paper.
Also agree that Cook and Mencia are complete wastes of time. Only if Cook incorporated full frontal nudity in his routine would i watch.
Man, you can see something just about the same at any Museum of Natural History in the “prehistoric man” exhibit.
What can i say? It’s what i’m into.
Eh. I watched it and thought, “It’s like the Brady Bunch, only with doody and shock comedy.” It was technically (sets, cinematography, camera work) well done, but it couldn’t find a consistent pace. I suspect that the writers won’t find a pace that works in the one or three more chances that I’ll give it.
But, CC is putting it on at 10:30? There is no way that tSSP will win out over CN reruns of Futurama. Not a chance.
Bored the crap out of me. Turned it off after ten minutes, in spite of the fact that I think she’s a dreamy knockout. I wanted it to be edgy or at least funny, but it was just juvenile and stupid.
I watched the movie - and I vacillated between cringing and holding myself and trying not to pee my pants. Sarah Silverman is just wrong somehow, but I think I liked it overall. I was really really torn on some of it. When she made me laugh, however, she REALLY killed me.
I find myself associating her not with frank or shocking comedienes who came before, but rather with a current crop of culture messengers (coulter/graham).
TV Broadcasters are okay with it if its coming from a “purty mouth”.
Rhea Feb 2nd, 2007 at 7:20 am
I watched her last night, after seeing her in The Aristocrats. Her TV show was phenomenal. OK, there were a lot of ka-ka jokes. But the humor was fresh, new, twisted. The writing was really fabulous! Can’t wait till next week to see more.
I’ve seen this exact comment on TWO sites (pandagon and zero boss). Does this mean we’ve got a sneaky marketer?? Fess up, Rhea! Nobody gets up to post at 5:30 and 7:20am about a sub-par tv show on a cable channel~!!
pssst. can you hook me up with that swag?
I love her standup. Her bit in The Aristocrats left me helpless with laughter. This show? Painful. I turned it off after the bit with the old woman in the drugstore.
I don’t know what made someone think her work would translate to the sitcom format.
Since you’ve done comedy, you certainly know more about this than I do, but isn’t that exactly what these artists/comics/whatever are trying to do? Find and tweak that exact ‘discomfortable’ spot - those boundaries we set up to define and protect ourselves?
It can, but it needn’t. If you consult “humor theory” (which is just as bloodless and boring as it sounds), you’ll find general agreement that almost all jokes and gags conform to a particular template:
1. Juxtoposition of several elements/characters
2. Setting up a tension/conflict between the elements
3. Resolving the conflict in a surprising way.
A shocking and uncomfortable quality can be injected into all, some, or none of those steps. So, people can find Silverman funny with her shock/discomfort humor, but they can also find Bill Cosby funny as well, with his rather tame narrative humor. The latter certainly doesn’t push any social boundaries with his stories, but many people still find him funny. The only thing that’s required is the “surprising” resolution to the conflict (which needn’t resolve it at all, but that’s another story).
My suspicion is that shock comedy has come more into vogue in the last 15 years or so, ushered in with the “observational” wave of comics, and that we’re all just more used to it now. Again, I don’t mean to pass objective judgment on Silverman. Her act just isn’t my thing. The older I get, the more I’ve come to appreciate more subtle kinds of humor… the kind that sneaks up on you slowly rather than bashes you over the head.
Isn’t it important that she’s the ONLY young, relevant, popular female comedian in the US right now (except maybe Amy Sedaris)? So far I don’t find think her show is that funny, but it can take a while for people to figure out what works in a structured program. She’s still funnier than a lot of male comedians on Comedy Central, and I hope she succeeds.
I don’t get why anyone is offended by her unless they’ve seen something I haven’t, or they just think women should just stay out of male-dominated fields like comedy.
“Much like Borat in that regard.”
More like “Borat is like her“.
I agree the poopy-talk can get tiresome, but I think she tries to shatter the steroetype that women are weaklings who waive hankies and then faint at the thought of something so vile and need people to censor themselves around them. For that reason I can let it go.
When she is funny, though, she is the funniest comic out there. Hands down.
-Just a comedienne who decided to spell “irony” and “satire” in her shtick with all caps.
Shades of Gary Shandling. “How d’ya like it so far?” . . . .Well, I don’t.
I think Margaret Cho would count as a “young, relevant, popular female comedian” too. You’re just not thinking hard enough if you can only think of one.
Some of her stuff is really funny. F’rinstance, the “I want to get an abortion but my boyfriend and I are having trouble conceiving” line still cracks me up.
But I haven’t forgiven her for the “I love chinks” thing. Racist AND cowardly both. And I know I ought to be even-handed about this, but I take slurs pretty damn personally when they apply to my in-laws.
Its like her famous joke from SNL after they wanted a waiting period for abortion: “I wanted an abortion. I totally wanted an abortion. Turns out I was just thirsty!”.
If her show had stuff like this, I’d watch.
If her show had social commentary that came even close to Curb Your Enthusiasm, I’d watch.
Nuh…guh…happen.
She loves shock humor for its own sake too much and it prevents her from doing anything more. That’s why she was so great in The Aristocrats: She’s was doing what she does best, and she does it better than anyone. (Aside: IMHO, it’s why Phil Hartman was great doing cartoon voices on The Simpsons: Every role I ever saw him in involved him using cartoony voices.)
As a result, her signal to noise ratio is way, way too low for me to waste my time.
Isn’t it important that she’s the ONLY young, relevant, popular female comedian in the US right now (except maybe Amy Sedaris)?
I think it’s more telling that funnier women haven’t gotten the breaks that she has.
She sucks. Her boyfriend sucks. And, his best friend sucks.
And, yeah. She’s basically Mencia without the yelling. “Ooh, look at me being offensive! I’m so edgy! I’m so real! Nothing is off-limits! Except actually being funny!”
I guess what I’m saying is that if she got hit by a bus, I’d be sort of happy with the universe.
Yeah, that.
A hundred times that.
Chris,
But I haven’t forgiven her for the “I love chinks” thing. Racist AND cowardly both.
I had forgotten to mention that, but your comment and Amanda’s reminded me of something else I wanted to say.
Reading the transcript from the Politically Incorrect show where she went on with an activist from the Chineese-American community, it’s amazing how Silverman acts like a white guy: She’s shocked that anyone would question her privilege to make a joke that uses a racial epithet, and then takes herself so seriously that she actually believes that her doody jokes are the apex of social satire.
You see, if you’re offended, you just don’t “get it”. It’s just more hipster bullshit, trying to bifurcate the world into “we’re in”/”you’re out” posing.
She’s basically Mencia without the yelling. “Ooh, look at me being offensive! I’m so edgy! I’m so real! Nothing is off-limits! Except actually being funny!�
…WOW. That embodies Mencia more than anything I have ever heard. I’m stealing it (don’t worry, I’ll credit
! But I have to disagree it does Sara Silverman, though it does piss me off when she is promoted as such.
NY Expat, I’m not against somebody making a racial epithet if its in the context of irony and making people who use it look stupid. With the “chinks” joke, I thought that was what she was doing. Ripping on those clueless priviledged white hipsters who try to act like they’re “down” with people of color all the while reinforcing the stereotypes that keep them defined so narrowly. Think Holiday In Cambodia. I’d feel the same way if instead of “chinks” it were “slut”, “whore”, “ho”, “bitch”, or whatever.
So I have to disagree. As for the PI thing, I haven’t even seen that one. I suppose I’lll have to see it for myself but the way its described I’m certainly rethinking my position…
I watched the first ten minutes or so, then I tuned out. The first five minutes of the show had about a dozen poop jokes. I can definitely appreciate lowbrow humor, but that wasn’t even lowbrow humor, it was eight-year-old humor. I think I could laugh at an occasional poop joke, but not twelve in a row, especially when there isn’t much else funny in between.
I used to think she was funny, and she can still occasionally say things that make me laugh, but basically I think her schtick got old really fast.
Silverman is occasionally insightful, marginally funny, consistently raunchy and always a terrible singer. The musical numbers in “Jesus Is Magic” were better than the ones I caught during her comedy central show, so at least I’ve seen her at “peak” performance.
I don’t understand what the digs on Mencia are about. Comedy is what makes you laugh. Mencia makes me laugh. That’s a lot more than I can say for Silverman.
I’m trying to think of young female comics (besides Margaret Cho). Molly Shannon comes to mind. So does Ellen DeGeneres. Wendy Liebman, Laura Kightlinger, Wanda Sykes. Some of the best comedic acting I’ve ever seen is in Christopher Guest’s “Waiting for Guffman”. Parker Posey and Catherine O’Hara are hysterical. I’m bothered now that I can’t think of more professional female comics. These names should be rolling off my tongue with the same ease names of male comics do.
Ripping on those clueless priviledged white hipsters who try to act like they’re “down� with people of color all the while reinforcing the stereotypes that keep them defined so narrowly.
And in the process, pissing off the very people whom she claims to defend from the clueless privileged white hipsters. Good job.
Woot! I’m quotable.
Given the company that Silverman keeps, Durga, I think you’re giving her way, way too much credit.
I think that in her new show, she’s basically playing the “dude” character–the obnoxious, immature jerk of bad sitcom fame. I can’t recall a woman playing that type of role in quite this way before. (The woman in the bad sitcom is usually “tsk-tsking” that character.)
It’s funny to me; or at least it seems like a premise with potential.
deep6:
Some of these comics are pushing their way out of the “young” demographic. But I agree, Catherine O’Hara and Ellen DeGeneres should both win the Nobel Prize for Awesomeness. I’ve always liked Laura Kightlinger, too.
Gotta give some love to Paula Poundstone. Ever since I saw her live, completely ripping the excuses about how the First Gulf War “wasn’t about oil”, I’ve had a deep amount of respect for her.
I’m trying to think of young female comics (besides Margaret Cho). Molly Shannon comes to mind. So does Ellen DeGeneres. Wendy Liebman, Laura Kightlinger, Wanda Sykes.
Maria Bamford
Kathy Griffin
Wanda Sykes is amazing. Her routine on Enron nailed it. A gang member might steal what you had on you at the moment, but “I ain’t never been robbed of my FUTURE before…”
I always found Silverman annoying. Whiny voice an narcissism are not appealing traits in a performer. The show will die faster than Adam Carolla’s late nite talk show.
How’s retirement going, Roxanne? You’re like Patrick Duffy coming back on Dallas. That whole retirement post was a dream.
Wait, isn’t this moot because Christopher Hitchens just told us that women aren’t funny?
It’s hard to write comedy as well as the Hitch. He still can’t beat Ass Rocket. That guy is freaking hysterical.
Second the Paula Poundstone love. I also like Sue Murphy’s stand-up a lot (although my goalposts for “young” may be shifting).
Someone I enjoyed much more reliably than Sarah Silverman was her sister, Laura, doing the voice of Dr. Katz’s receptionist Laura.
I think she tries to shatter the steroetype that women are weaklings who waive hankies and then faint at the thought of something so vile and need people to censor themselves around them.
I agree that that’s what she tries. But that’s been tried A LOT — in the English-speaking world, at least since Aphra Behn’s penis jokes in the 1670s and ’80s — and Sarah Silverman isn’t particularly good at it.
[…] I am informed by the commentariat at Pandagon that Silverman is ‘meta’, but if that’s the case, I guess I just can’t tell the difference between ‘meta’ and ‘pandering to low-brow late-nite 18-34 year-old white dudes who say ‘dude’ alot.’ Just like I can’t tell the difference between Lindsay Lohan and the Olsen Twins. […]
[…] I am informed by the commentariat at Pandagon that Silverman is ‘meta’, but if that’s the case, I guess I just can’t tell the difference between ‘meta’ and ‘pandering to low-brow late-nite 18-34 year-old white dudes who say ‘dude’ alot.’ Just like I can’t tell the difference between Lindsay Lohan and the Olsen Twins. […]
i just think she sucks. there is something that bothers me about her. maybe it’s because she has the same comedic style of an old comedian-aspiring boyfriend i had, who is now working as a minimum wage magician for 6 year olds at toys r us? maybe it’s that, or simply that her delivery is shit.
“I think material is pretty funny, but whenever i see her i can’t help but picture Jimmy Kimmel’s balls bouncing on her chin and it kind of ruins it for me”
C’mon Pablo. Jimmy Kimmels balls (yes, I get it)? But I know most guys would rather see their own…oh, never mind. We’re way too old for that schtick.
I’m with felagund - the parts I watched were boring and predictable.
“And in the process, pissing off the very people whom she claims to defend from the clueless privileged white hipsters. Good job.”
I don’t think the people who do those type of jokes are interested at all in defending “the chinks” or whatever group they’re using; they’re just a means for laughing at hipsters.
I must admit to only half listening to the show last night, so the fact that I thought she was trying to do Rosanne Barr is probably a result of inattentiveness on my part.
Sara explained the “I love chinks” joke on dateline, and she said “It’s not a racist joke- it’s a joke about racism” and I think that that is really the essence of her schtick. I mean- look at All in the Family, you know? Archie Bunker was a racist character, but it wasn’t like the show said “This is totally the way to be! Look at how awesome this guy is!” It showed how stupid people look when they say racist and sexist things. It’s really clear that Sara Silverman is being blatantly ridiculous and toungue in cheek- and she’s hilarious. So there.
You know when someone insults you then says “haw haw just kidding!” They might be. But if they do it all the time they are no longer just kidding but “an asshole”.
To get away with this kind of humor you’ve got to be self effacsing. To make matters worse she’s dating a guy with all the charm of a child molester, Jimmy Kimmel. Also not funny.
Don Rickles can get away with it. Sara Silverman, not so much. Is she funny? Fuck no. Is she an asshole. Hell, yes.
I’m not just kidding.
Um, the show is funny. The obsession with poop jokes is funny. What do you mean you don’t know what to make of it? Did you laugh?
m:
Don’t need to watch it; she’s the Man Show creator’s gf. No self-respecting feminist would put up with dating that.
So, dismissing her because of who she chooses to date? What “self-respecting feminist” would tell another woman what to do with her body? For shame, sir.
as a little aside to the whole “meta” discussion: i think somebody like dave chapelle or stephen colbert make people laugh is because they don’t pause every time they say something “outrageous” as though they’re waiting for their daddy to spank them, as silverman is prone to.
but otherwise, i think i would’ve enjoyed her stand-up, and this new show, if i had never heard of her before. with everybody talking about how obscene/outrageous/fresh, etc. she is, i found myself disappointed with the banality of her stuff.
around the same time i was watching a rerun of the sarah silverman show, they were playing a lisa lampanelli stand-up routine. while i didn’t laugh much at either one, lampanelli was way more over-the-top in terms of saying things that aren’t p.c.
meh. perhaps i’m still faulting her for being such a terrifically bad actress and having a whiny voice.
god you guys are dumb. its not a “sitcom” and doesnt need to be analyzed that much. theres really not that much to it, its mostly physical humor punctuated with buzzwords to get your attention. either you laugh or you dont.
Isn’t that the very definition of a sitcom? Physical humor, buzzwords, doesn’t have to be analyzed? Or was that your point?
HONESTLY I’M DISGUSTED THAT COMEDY CENTRAL WOULD AIR HER LAME RACIST JOKES. what a surprise, another Jew with absolutely no talent being promoted until there’s no tomorrow. Her jokes aren’t funny, and frankly I think they’re offensive and I’m not one of the people she’s offending. Please, take this low life, undeserving, racist piece of crap off TV! please!
She makes 2 live crew look like saints. She’s just a stuck up P.O.S. and not funny at all. I gave her a chance in the beginning, but after watching a few of her episodes, it’s obvious she a very ugly person inside, and has nothing important or entertaining to say. MTV made a mistake by having her host their events. I have never hated someone on TV so much. I think I might write some letters and start a hate site for her.
I just can’t stand Sarah Silverman… I dont know why she’s getting a second season for her 3rd rate show “The Sarah Silverman Program”.
The girl is not funny. She’s just being mean. That kind of “stuff” doesn’t make me laugh at all.
I don’t understand how anyone finds Sarah Silverman funny. She’s not cute, her voice is piercing and um oh yeah-SHE’S NOT FUNNY!!!!!!!!! Please someone, make her go to the moon
Oh “my” PEOPLE!!!!! I HATE HER TOO!!!
Has she been canceled, yet? I hate seeing her the few times I’ve watched Jimmy Kimmel.
I used to be a really big fan of Sarah’s……until I saw her LIVE!!!! She was very cold with the audience and her joke delivery wasnt like on pre recorded tv. She talks like a feminist and acts like she’s on the Man show……Which fits because she looks like a man. Sarah Silverman sucks.