Flicking between television channels last night, I stumbled upon a show which added laughter to my Sunday evening – The Sarah Silverman Programme. I had guffawed at Sarah’s brand of inappropriate humour at the MTV Video Music Awards and being the open-minded gal I am, I generously handed over all responsibility for my entertainment to her for half an hour. And blow me down, if she didn’t deliver.
For those of you, like myself, new to Sarah, I hand you over to the Paramount channel to introduce her sitcom: “Step into the incredible world of Sarah Silverman as she goes about her life, which on any given day, can include taking in a homeless man, exploring her sexuality or encouraging a young girl to enter a pageant to fulfill her Sarah’s childhood dreams. The Sarah Silverman Programme stars Silverman who plays a character (aptly named Sarah Silverman) whose absurd daily life is told through an array of scripted scenes and song. In each episode, Sarah manages to fall into unique, sometimes unsettling and always hilarious predicaments, with her sister (played by real-life sister Laura Silverman), her geeky gay neighbors, Brian and Steve and Officer Jay never far from her side.” Sound like a recipe for laughs? It could well be.
This was actually the second episode of the new season on Paramount, though this didn’t matter as Sarah’s sitcom is one of self-inclusive installments rather than one, long epic journey. Phew – that meant that I learned as I went along and didn’t feel stupid and lost like I would if I jumped straight into, erm Lost.
Last night’s comic capers involved our heroine’s bid to be considered a humanitarian. In the real world, this might mean donating a bit of money to good causes or maybe helping out at your local charity shop – not in Sarah’s world. Having met a former schoolmate living on the streets, she decided to take him under her wing and let him live with her. In true sitcom fashion this plan went awry with her new homeless chum trying to kill her.
Sarah’s comic persona is one of delusional and childish self-love and unintentional insults – she only takes in the homeless man to upstage her friend Jay who is winning a humanitarian award and is quick to appear on TV taking credit for her efforts. She overlooks the feelings of others and it is her inability to appreciate what is going on around her that adds to the comedy. The show cleverly mixes broad silliness with the delicate awkwardness of The Office – you wince at what’s going on while letting out a noisy chuckle.
Silverman has been a star in the US for a while and the show was an instant hit on release there and I can see why. The character of Sarah is both bizarrely lovable and instantly irritating, while the writer/actress behind her is boisterous, imaginative and inane. While many UK comedies struggle to find form and consistency with the task of being humourous all too often left to the men – it’s great to see a funny, capable woman take centre stage. Like all comedy (and Marmite), you might love or hate this – but either way, maybe give it a try. It could be the find of Sunday nights.
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