The actress/comedian discusses her decision to drop her arrogant character in light of the changing comedic landscape and the rise of former President Donald Trump.
- May 30, 2024
AceShowbiz - Sarah Silverman, known for her comedic wit, has undergone a transformation in her approach to comedy. In a recent interview on "Fail Better with David Duchovny", she delved into the transient nature of comedy and her decision to move away from her former "arrogant ignorant" persona.
While acknowledging that audience reactions play a role, Silverman emphasized that her decision was not solely driven by a lack of laughter at her previous material. "It wasn't a conscious, 'Hey, that stuff doesn't work, so I'm going to go a different way,' " she said. "I think I just very naturally started changing."
Silverman's journey began with her first comedy special, "Jesus Is Magic", where she embraced a satirical character that evolved into the protagonist of her Comedy Central show, "The Sarah Silverman Program". However, with the rise of Donald Trump, that character's appeal diminished. "So having Trump win, not that it carried through up until Trump was elected, but especially when Trump was elected and how the world changed in that way, that character was no longer really amusing to me because he embodies that completely," she explained.
Silverman likened comedy to a painting that changes over time, reflecting the growth both in the artist and the world. "In some ways, the stuff I did doesn't hold up anymore," she said. "Comedy really dies in the second-guessing of your audience. You really have to stay with what is funny to you and that hopefully changes over time because it means you've grown, or you've changed, or the world has changed and you've changed with it, or the world has changed and you haven't changed with it."
Silverman's decision highlights the importance of relevance in comedy. As the world evolves, so too must the material that makes us laugh. "It's a hard lesson that not all comedians learn, or believe in, for that matter," she said. "But a huge part of what's considered funny in any given time is its relevance. And nothing and no one stays relevant forever - comedians or former presidents alike."
