'Sarah Kate Silverman' (born
December 1,
1970) is an
American comedian. While usually credited as 'Sarah Silverman', she is sometimes credited by her
nickname ''Big S'' or ''Sarah 'Big S' Silverman''.
[1] Sarah attended
Derryfield School in
Manchester, New Hampshire for high school and lived in
Bedford, New Hampshire.
Her comedy deals with topical humor and
satire, mild or serious societal
taboos, and
controversial topics such as
racism,
sexism, and
religion.
Her comedy acts are sometimes performed from a caricatured or
stereotypical Jewish-American princess perspective, in which, according to ''
Village Voice'' writer
Michael Musto, she mocks
bigotry and ethnic or
religious stereotypes by endorsing them ironically.
[2] Silverman stars in and produces the ''
The Sarah Silverman Program'', which debuted
February 1,
2007 on
Comedy Central.
[3]
Career
Sarah Silverman is an American born in
Bedford, New Hampshire to
Jewish parents of
Russian and
Polish descent. She was the youngest of four sisters. Her father was a novelist and a discount clothing supplier at a store called Crazy Sophie's Outlet.
[ Dirty Rotten Princess Vanessa Grigoriadis ]
Silverman received national exposure after earning a role on the
1993–94 season of ''
Saturday Night Live''. She was a writer and featured player at the time, but was fired after one season because she wrote only one sketch that survived to
dress rehearsal, with none ever airing.
Bob Odenkirk, a former ''SNL'' writer who knew her from her stand-up act in
Los Angeles, explained why she was fired:
[4] "I could see how it wouldn't work at ''SNL'' because she's got her own voice, she's very much Sarah Silverman all the time. She can play a character but she doesn't disappear into the character—- she makes the character her." Silverman claims being fired by ''SNL'' in an undignified manner (via fax), upset her greatly. The situation was parodied when she appeared on ''
The Larry Sanders Show'' episode "The New Writer", in which she plays Sander's new staff writer, whose jokes are not used because of
chauvinism (and associated bias of the male chief comedy writer),
who favors the jokes of his male co-writers. She had a recurring role on ''
Larry Sanders'' for the last several seasons.
Silverman worked on the
HBO sketch comedy show ''
Mr. Show with Bob and David'', where she was a featured performer. She made guest appearances on such programs as the
1997 ''
Seinfeld'' episode "
The Money", the two-part
time-travel episode "
Future's End" of '' and as a series regular on the TV show ''
Greg the Bunny'' (2002), playing serious characters, as well as the voice of character "Hadassah Guberman" on the salacious puppet
television comedy ''
Crank Yankers''. She has also had small parts in
films such as ''
There's Something About Mary'', ''Say It Isn't So'', ''
School of Rock'', ''
The Way of the Gun'', ''
Overnight Delivery'', ''
Screwed'', ''
Heartbreakers'', ''
Evolution'', ''
School for Scoundrels'' and ''
Rent'', playing a mixture of comic and serious roles. On
November 11,
2005, her stand-up comedy act (one-woman show) was released as a feature film, ''. As part of the publicity campaign surrounding the film, Silverman made several high profile appearances, including online in ''
Slate'', as the cover subject of ''
Heeb'' magazine, and performing on the
Comedy Central roasts of
Pamela Anderson and
Hugh Hefner.
On ''
Jimmy Kimmel Live'', Silverman parodied sketches from ''
Chappelle's Show'', from the perspective of what would happen if she played
Rick James, Tyrone, or the
Pilot Boy Productions-like logo called 'Pilot Girl Productions'. This segment is based on a popular rumor that Silverman was a planned replacement for
Dave Chappelle after the apparent demise of his popular television show ''
Chappelle's Show''.
Silverman made the cover of London's
March 12,
2006 Sunday ''
Observer'' magazine with an article titled "If women aren't funny, how come the world's hottest, most controversial comedian is female?"
[5]
In
2005, she played a therapist in a skit session with
Josh Homme of the band
Queens of the Stone Age. This interview was on the
Queens of the Stone Age bonus DVD of their album ''
Lullabies to Paralyze''.
In
2006, she placed #50 in the annual ''
Maxim'' magazine List.
[6]
In
2007, she placed #29 and appeared on the cover of
Maxim's Hot 100 List issue.
On
June 3,
2007, Sarah hosted the
MTV Movie Awards. During her opening act, she commented on
Paris Hilton's then-upcoming jail sentence with Paris Hilton being in attendance:
"In a couple of days, Paris Hilton is going to jail [...] As a matter of fact, I heard that to make her feel more comfortable in prison, the guards are going to paint the bars to look like penises. I think it is wrong, too. I just worry she is going to break her teeth on those things."
''Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic''
On
November 11,
2005, Silverman's
concert movie, '' was released. Based on her one-woman show of the same name, it was directed by
Liam Lynch and distributed by Roadside Attractions. Receiving positive reviews, it made $124,475 on its opening weekend, showing on seven screens.
Its performance led to an expanded release in as many as 57 theaters, resulting in a
box office take of more than $1.3 million.
[7] The movie released on DVD on
June 6, 2006, with an official soundtrack released on the same day. The soundtrack featured songs in the movie, some of her standup from the movie, and some previously unreleased songs.
[ Sarah Silverman: 'Jesus Is Magic' Terry Gross ]
''The Sarah Silverman Program''
Silverman's own sitcom, ''
The Sarah Silverman Program'', debuted on
Comedy Central on
February 1,
2007. It is similar to the popular ''
The Larry Sanders Show'' in that it presents a fictionalized version of the actress.
[8]
The show proved to be a ratings success, scoring the highest premiere ratings that a Comedy Central show had in three years, with 1.8 million viewers and the highest 18–49 rating of the night on cable.
Controversies
Silverman caused a brief controversy after using the
ethnic slur "
chink" in an interview on the
July 11,
2001 episode of ''
Late Night with Conan O'Brien''. In the interview, Silverman explained that a friend had advised her on how to avoid
jury duty by writing a racial slur on the selection form, "''something inappropriate, like 'I hate chinks'.''" However, Silverman said that she ultimately decided that she did not want to be thought of as a racist, so she said, "''I wrote 'I love chinks' – and who doesn't?''" Even though Silverman claimed to be satirizing the racist thought process,
Guy Aoki, co-founder and head of the Media Action Network for
Asian Americans (MANAA), objected to her use of the slur, saying that NBC's airing of it was inexcusable.
[9] NBC and O'Brien issued an apology, but Silverman did not, later appearing on ''
Politically Incorrect'' on
July 26, and
August 22,
2001. During the former episode, actress
Kelly Hu stated that she understood the point of the joke, and did not object to it, and Silverman questioned Aoki's sincerity, accusing him of exploiting the opportunity for publicity.
[10] During the latter episode, Aoki appeared with Silverman, and stated that he did not accept Silverman's explanation, saying that it was not successful satire, that she should have substituted "chink" with "Chinese person", and that comedians should consult with groups such as his before performing such material.
[11] Silverman stated in an interview on
NPR's ''
Fresh Air'' that she was asked to repeat the joke on ''
Politically Incorrect'', among other places, but she eventually felt compelled to drop the joke from her act because she felt it was becoming stale.
Silverman has since turned the complaint into grist for her stand-up act, saying that the experience helped teach her the important lesson that racism is bad: "''And I mean 'bad', like in that Black way.''" Her stand-up act is similarly charged with outrageously ironic racist statements, delivered in a serious manner:
:"''Everybody blames the Jews for killing Christ, and then the Jews try to pass it off on the Romans. I'm one of the few people who believe it was the Blacks.''"
:"''I was raped by a doctor, which is ''so'' bittersweet for a Jewish girl.''"
:"''Everyone knows that the best time to get pregnant is when you're a Black teenager.''"
:"''“Nazis are assholes,†she repeats for added effect. “They’re cute when they’re little, though. Why can’t they just stay small?''…"
Her smile disappears. ''"But the Holocaust isn’t always funny. And I will tell you something that I truly believe: That if Black people were in Germany during World War II, the Holocaust would've never happened."'' She pauses. "''Or, not to Jews…''"
:"''"I dated a Mexican guy for a while. But, I had to end it -- everytime we had sex I had diarrhea for, like, a week.''"
Another classic snapshot of Silverman is what Paul Provenza called a "disconcerting and sexual" performance of the infamous joke called ''The Aristocrats'' in his documentary of the same name. In her version of the joke she accuses Joe Franklin of raping her, in a deadpan manner. On the DVD release of the film, Provenza joked that Silverman had planned a publicity stunt in which she filed rape charges against Franklin.
Personal life
Silverman talked about having dated Dave Attell on one of her appearances on the Howard Stern radio show. Silverman was also romantically linked with Colin Quinn during her ''Saturday Night Live'' career, which is referred to humorously by both parties. In her first appearance on the Stern show in June 2001, she said she was dating someone named Tom who wrote for ''SNL''.
Since 2002, Silverman has been in a relationship with Jimmy Kimmel, host of ''Jimmy Kimmel Live.'' It is a relationship she refers to in some of her comic material:
:"''I'm Jewish but, I wear this Saint Christopher medal sometimes, my boyfriend is Catholic—but you know … it was cute the way he gave it to me. He said if it doesn't burn a hole through my skin it will protect me.''"4
On the Comedy Central Roast for Hugh Hefner in 2001 -
:"'' Jimmy Kimmel, everyone. He's fat and has no charisma. Watch your back, Danny Aiello!''"
Silverman is a fan of Jenny Lewis and appeared in one of Lewis's music videos. She also is a fan of comedian Steve Martin and got a lot of inspiration from him while growing up.5
Silverman is very open about her lifelong battle with clinical depression, crediting her freedom from attacks of emotional despair to her use of prescription Zoloft. Silverman has said that she is a teetotaller because alcohol nauseates her. She has, however, claimed that she smokes marijuana at least four days out of each week.
Silverman says she doesn't want to get married until same-sex couples are able to.[12] She also says she doesn't want to have biological children to avoid the chance that they might inherit her depression.[13]
She enjoys playing internet Scrabble and one of her regular opponents is Alyssa Milano, who lives in the same building.[14]
Trivia
★ She was a guest star in a second season episode of the USA cable program ''Monk'', playing an obsessed fan of a fictional television detective. The show therefore featured a good deal of meta-humor, of which she had a core part. She returned as the same character in the sixth season premiere.
★ On ''The Howard Stern Show'', she admitted to struggling with bedwetting when she was a teen.[15] She said the last time she wet her bed was when she was fired from ''Saturday Night Live''.[16]
★ She was a guest star in the science-fiction series Star Trek Voyager, whose character, Rain Robinson was romantically involved with Lt Tom Paris in the two-part episode Future's End
★ In an episode of ''Seinfeld'', she played Kramer's girlfriend who suffered from the 'jimmy legs', medically known as ''Nocturnal myoclonus''.
★ According to the audio commentary on the ''Clerks 2'' DVD, director Kevin Smith offered her the role that eventually went to Rosario Dawson, but she turned it down out of fear of being typecast in "girlfriend roles." However, she told Smith the role was "really funny" and mentioned that if the role of Randal Graves was being offered to her she "would do it in a heartbeat."
★ She appeared as herself in the HBO series, ''Entourage'', in which she speaks with the character Ari Gold at the set of ''Jimmy Kimmel Live''.
★ She credits comedian Tig Notaro as one of her best friends in ''The Advocate''[17]
★ She lent her voice to Fry's long-lost girlfriend in an episode of ''Futurama''.
★ In the episode "Pipe Camp" of ''Tom Goes to the Mayor'', Silverman donned a fat suit to play camp counselor Barb Dunderbarn.
★ Silverman voiced Princess Clara's mentally challenged cousin, Bleh, on the animated show, ''Drawn Together''.
★ Silverman appeared in an early episode of JAG from 1997 entitled "Blind Side" as Lieutenant Tina Schiparelli.
★ During a Rolling Stone interview Sarah Silverman joked: "I didn't lose my virginity until I was twenty-six. Nineteen vaginally, but twenty-six what my boyfriend calls 'the real way.'"
★ Silverman voiced the character, Robositter, in an episode of ''Aqua Teen Hunger Force''.
★ She was the host for the 2007 MTV Movie Awards on June 3, 2007.
★ In an episode of The Sarah Silverman Program called Batteries, God calls her Sarah Jane Anastasia Silverman, rather than her real name Sarah Kate Silverman.
Filmography
Features:
★ ''Who's the Caboose?'' (1997)
★ ''Overnight Delivery'' (1998)
★ ''Bulworth'' (1998)
★ ''There's Something About Mary'' (1998)
★ ''The Bachelor'' (1999)
★ ''What Planet Are You From?'' (2000)
★ ''Screwed'' (2000)
★ ''The Way of the Gun'' (2000)
★ ''Black Days'' (2001)
★ ''Say It Isn't So'' (2001)
★ ''Heartbreakers'' (2001)
★ ''Evolution'' (2001)
★ ''Run Ronnie Run'' (2002)
★ ''School of Rock'' (2003)
★ ''Hair High'' (2004) (voice)
★ ''The Aristocrats'' (2005) (documentary)
★ '' (2005)
★ ''Rent'' (2005)
★ ''I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With'' (2006)
★ ''School for Scoundrels'' (2006)
★ ''Fired!'' (2007) (documentary)
★ ''Certifiably Jonathan'' (2007) (documentary)
★ ''
Short Subjects:
★ ''Strippers Pole'' (2002)
★ ''Nobody's Perfect'' (2004)
★ ''Supermarket'' (2004)
★ Give The Jew Girl Toys (satirical music video)
Television Work
★ ''Saturday Night Live'' (cast member from 1993-1994)
★ ''Star Trek Voyager'' (1996) (Two episode arc)
★ ''Seinfeld'' (1997) (Main role in "The Money")
★ ''Smog'' (1999) (unsold pilot)
★ ''Late Last Night'' (1999)
★ ''Super Nerds'' (2000) (unsold pilot)
★ ''Rocky Times'' (2000) (unsold pilot)
★ ''Greg the Bunny'' (2002-2004)
★ ''Crank Yankers'' (2002-present) (voice)
★ ''Pilot Season'' (2004) (miniseries)
★ ''Aqua Teen Hunger Force'' (2004, ''Robositter'' [credited as "Big S"])
★ ''American Dad!'' (2005), ''Stan Knows Best'' (voice)
★ ''The Sarah Silverman Program'' (2007-present)
★ ''Monk'' (Two appearances, 2004 and 2007)
★ ''Futurama (2000)
References
1. Sarah Silverman at the IMDB
2. Musto, Michael; "Sarah Silverman is My Kind of Cunt"; Village Voice; January 24, [2007]; Pages 16–20
3. Comedy Central's Silverman Spells Ratings Gold
4. Questions for Sarah Silverman, ''The New York Times Magazine'' January 21, 2007
5. If women aren't funny, how come the world's hottest, most controversial comedian is female? Article at the Guardian Observer. Retrieved February 16, 2007
6. http://www.maximonline.com/slideshows/index.aspx?imgCollectId=94&slideId=1955&src=wiki Hot 100 Maxim Magazine
7. [1] Box Office Mojo
8. tvsquad.com article on The Sarah Silverman Program
9. IMDB news blurb on the Conan O’Brien incident
10. Politically Incorrect; July 26, 2001
11. Politically Incorrect; August 22, 2001
12. http://www.advocate.com/currentstory1_w.asp?id=42245
13. http://archive.southcoasttoday.com/daily/11-05/11-14-05/b03li300.htm
14. Howard Stern Show News Archives at marksfriggin.com, Sarah Silverman and Scrabble
15. Hancock, Noelle. (15 May 2007) Sarah Silverman's Depression Confession ''Us Weekly''. Issue 642. pg.10. Accessed 29 May 2007.
16. Howard Stern Show News Archives at marksfriggin.com, Sarah Silverman and bed-wetting
17. The Advocate: March 13, 2007.Retrieved May 18, 2007.
★ Grossberg, Josh. "PC Police Bust Conan O'Brien Show" ''E!''. July 18, 2001.
★ Paul, Pamela. Sarah Silverman Interview ''Slate''. November 10, 2005.
★ Anderson, Sam. "Irony Maiden" ''Slate''. November 10, 2005.
★ Daniel Robert Epstein. Suicide Girls interview—Sarah Silverman.
External links
★ Sarah Silverman Online - Fan Site
★ Sarah Silverman - Fan Site
★
★ What I've Learned interview with boyfriend Jimmy Kimmel for January 2007 Esquire.
★ Sarah Silverman at the Television Critics Association on her Comedy Central series ''The Sarah Silverman Program''.
★ The Sarah Silverman Program - official site
★ Jesus is Magic - official site
العربية
ä¸å›½
Français
Deutsch
Ελληνική
हिनà¥à¤¦à¥€
Italiano
日本語
Português
РуÑÑкий
Español
