Comic Sarah Silverman talks about her comedy tour and latest film ‘Take This Waltz’ ; performs at Caesars July 7.
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The Jewish Queen of comedy. The School of Rock comedienne. And, according to Maxim, the 29th hottest woman on Earth.
For a woman who so strongly disapproves of labels, actress/writer/comic Sarah Silverman sure gets pinned with them a lot.
Known for her mildly offensive comedy routines, her one-year stint on Saturday Night Live and her most recent indie film Take This Waltz, Silverman has inhabited the entertainment world for 18 years, yet still has the chutzpah to shock an audience. And, not just with her infamous potty mouth (see “Sarah Silverman” on YouTube).
Silverman won an Emmy back in 2009, snagged her own series on Comedy Central and even wrote a memoir about her adventures as a child bedwetter.
So, what’s next for Silverman?
On July 7, she’ll bring her hilariously controversial one-woman show to Caesars Atlantic City. Disclaimer: This show is not for the faint of heart or for children under the age of 16. Flash photography prohibited. Laughter permitted and guaranteed.
We asked Silverman some questions...
What can we expect from the current and revamped Sarah Silverman comedy act?
Just me at a mic. I’ve got a plan, but it’s also loose. I’m a work in progress and try to stay in a constant state of discovery. It’s a live experience. So much depends on the energy of the audience. So the question is, what can I expect?
Do you still get nervous before you perform?
Yeah, but it’s a nervous excitement. I do get anxious to get out there and get a sense of the crowd.
How much of your performance is subject to change based upon the audience’s reaction, and how much is pre-transcribed?
I have bullet points of a set prepared, but the crowd is pretty much everything. You know, I’m not doing my jokes into a mirror, it’s a live experience and I think any comic would tell you that the audience and their energy is half of it.
Being that a lot of your past comedy routines were built upon “taboo” topics, did you ever worry about making your audience feel uncomfortable?
No. I think that second guessing what the audience might want to hear is a comedy killer.
Your character in Take This Waltz is a recovering alcoholic who obviously carries a heavy history. How did you go about creating that back story?
The writer/director, Sarah Polley, who is amazing, had a vision for the role and we had time to rehearse before we shot. But she was super supportive and warm and as far as playing an alcoholic it was interesting. I don’t drink, but I’m around drunks all the time, being a comic. One thing I’ve learned about alcoholics is that they know how to act not drunk when they are drunk. They’re pros at it. So it was more about acting very together and straight while saying drunk lines.
Who or what influenced you most to take on the role?
I’m a fan of Sarah Polley’s and was so excited to be a part of anything she did. I jumped at it.
What was it like to work alongside fellow comedian Seth Rogen on such a dramatic project?
I loved it. I adore Seth — I think he’s a great actor and he’s amazing in this movie. He is the least neurotic Jew I’ve ever met in my life. Maybe it’s the Canada in him. Or maybe it’s that his parents are still married and in love. But he’s just totally undaunted by the challenges of acting. He just says the words like they’re real for him — and isn’t that what great acting is? That simple. He was a blast to work with — there’s nothing I love more than trading funny stories and nightmare stories — and he was fun to do that with.
Do you see yourself taking on more dramatic roles in the future?
Sure, if they come along and they’re right. So much of comedy available to the ladies is the straight man anyway. I see no point in being the serious one in a comedy. That makes no sense for me to do. I have no desire to be the girlfriend who says, “you have to get your act together! Get a job!” Or whateverthefuck. I’d rather be in a drama where the characters have three dimensions. But I haven’t given up on comedy either.
The nude scene between you and your co-star Michelle Williams has sparked the interest of many. Did you ever question doing that scene, or did you feel from the start that it was essential to the artistic integrity of the film?
Sarah asked me to do it and I wanted to do whatever it took to facilitate her vision. Wow — what an actory answer ...What have I become?!
Sarah Silverman
Where: Caesars, Atlantic City
When: Sat., July 7, 9pm
How Much: $65-$105
cover photo by robyn von swank
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1. AnonyMOUS said... on Jul 3, 2012 at 06:24PM
“Logan Lerman, Mila Kunis, Natalie Portman, Kat Dennings, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are much better Jews.”