Comic Sarah Silverman talks about her new Netflix special, PostMortem, about the death of her father and stepmother, 9 days apart. She talks with Terry Gross about how the special came to be. Also, we hear from Cole Escola, creator and star of the hit Broadway comedy Oh Mary! It's an intentionally ridiculous reimagining of first lady Mary Todd Lincoln. It portrays her as having become addicted to alcohol, not because of the Civil War, but because she's desperately yearning for her only true love, cabaret. Plus, Ken Tucker reviews new albums by Willie Nelson and Ken Pomeroy.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Chapter 1: What is Sarah Silverman's new special about?
From WHYY in Philadelphia, this is Fresh Air Weekend. I'm Sam Brigger. Today, comic, actor, and writer Sarah Silverman talks about her new Netflix comedy special, Postmortem, which is funny and emotional. It's about the death of her father and stepmother nine days apart. Also, we'll hear from Cola Scola, creator of the Broadway comedy Oh Mary.
It's an intentionally ridiculous reimagining of First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln. It portrays her as having become addicted to alcohol, not because of the Civil War, but because she's desperately yearning for her only true love.
You are not going back to that. It has a name. It doesn't deserve one.
Say it.
No.
The thing I love more than anything on earth is cabaret. Yeah!
Plus, Ken Tucker reviews new albums by Willie Nelson and Ken Pomeroy. That's coming up on Fresh Air Weekend. This is Fresh Air Weekend. I'm Sam Brigger. Terry has our first interview. I'll let her introduce it.
I'm happy to say that comic writer and actor Sarah Silverman is back for a return visit. Her stand-up comedy is always original, brave, and funny. Whether it's talking about sex, abortion, being Jewish, racism, or just daily life, she's willing to take risks to make a point and make it funny. She regrets a few jokes she told in the past and later apologized for them.
She has a new surprising comedy special, which I'll tell you about in a moment. But first, more about Sarah. She was a writer and featured performer for one season on Saturday Night Live. She played a writer on The Larry Sanders Show. From 2007 to 2010, she starred in the series The Sarah Silverman Program.
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Chapter 2: How does Sarah Silverman incorporate personal loss into her comedy?
My first year of college, I had all my classes, and I was a drama major at NYU. I think I felt, well, one, I went to class all day and then I worked passing out flyers for a comedy club in New York City that was called the Boston Comedy Club. It was in New York City. And I would pass out flyers every day from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. And then, you know, my first class would be in mid-tone at like 8 a.m.
And I was falling asleep during my classes, and teachers were getting mad, and I was horrified. This is not me at all. The thought that I would be sleeping in class, it was very reminiscent of being at sleepovers as a bedwetter. I would pinch myself to stay awake. I just couldn't fight it, and I felt so guilty. Also because NYU is so expensive, I had a small... scholarship.
You know, at the time, it wasn't that small, but today it would sound very small. I had $1,500 per semester. And my dad paid the rest. And I felt so guilty. And they gave me no guilt about it, but that I'm this drama major, that I, you know, I had academic classes, but mostly it was voice and movement and drama. And I just thought, geez, that's so much money. And I took a year off.
And when I was returning, about three weeks before I was going to return, I had changed to the arts and sciences school because I really – I knew I wanted to be a comedian. I wanted to be an actor. But I knew I could take an acting class. I wanted to – if I was going to be in college, I wanted academics. I wanted information I could draw on, you know. And –
But about three weeks before I started back, and I had been doing stand-up, and I think I had passed at my first club by then when I was 19. And... My dad called and said, you know, listen, if you, I believe in you. I wouldn't, you know, I believe that what you're going to do, you don't need a diploma.
And if you want to drop out, I will pay your rent and utilities for the next three years as if it were your sophomore, junior, senior year. So that saves him a ton of money, right? I think my rent was $350. It moved up to $450 at one point. And, you know, I had roommates and everything. And he didn't have to pay for college anymore. And it really worked out.
You know, by the time I would have graduated college, I was a writer at Saturday Night Live. And I never needed money from my parents. And, you know, I was independent, financially independent from then on.
Sarah Silverman, it's been such a pleasure to talk with you again. And, you know, I'm sorry about the loss of your parents. Thank you. Thank you. So be well and thank you. Oh, man, thank you.
Sarah Silverman's new comedy special Postmortem is streaming on Netflix. She spoke with Terry Gross. Our rock critic, Ken Tucker, has been listening to new music, looking for something that's not just entertainment. He thinks he's found it in two new albums by musicians who are both influenced by country and folk music, but who otherwise could not be more different.
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