An interview conducted by Josh Horowitz
May 12, 2003
When you’re a stand-up comic seemingly on the rise in a tough business, eager to make a mark, one probably wouldn’t recommend using a racial epithet used for Chinese people before a national late night network audience. Then, again, you’re not likely to get the bitingly caustic takes on humanity that Sarah Silverman delivers from too many making the comedy rounds nowadays.
Silverman has come to be known for a number of reasons. Her famous 2001 appearance on LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O’BRIEN is one, as is her subsequent clash with Guy Aoki, the president and co-founder of the Media Action Network for Asian Americans. For those who follow comedy, she’s tough to miss, acting in THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY, or pranking (sorry Ashton, not Punking) the unsuspecting on Comedy Central’s CRANK YANKERS.
She’s also one half of a new comedic couple to be reckoned with. Her boyfriend is the newest late night host, Jimmy Kimmel. Silverman’s next stop is New York City where she’s bringing her one-woman show, JESUS IS MAGIC, to The Zipper Theater. Presumably trying to head off a restraining order, Silverman agreed to answer a few of my questions via e-mail.
Josh Horowitz: If I'm choosing between seeing GYPSY and JESUS IS MAGIC in New York now, what should I do? Can you make a compelling case for your show?
Sarah Silverman: Well, I want to see GYPSY, because I'm a total musical theater fag, but, if you are a musical theater fag, but want to seem cooler while still seeing musical theater, you can see my show, which is sure to offend, but also has some music and singing. Not too much--just enough to be awesome.
JH: You recently signed a development deal with HBO. What's your show going to be about?
SS: It's about a suburban family whose father is the head of the mob.
JH: Did any of your Chinese friends give you hell for the infamous "joke" that got you in hot water when you were on Conan?
SS: No--not at all! (I don't have any Chinese friends.) The truth is, the sheep that follow that guy, Guy Aoki, hate me, but I have lots of Asian fans and have been stopped many times by Asian people who tell me they think I'm funny and that Guy Aoki does not represent their opinion. I tried to do a sketch about Guy Aoki in an early incarnation of my show, and when I was casting it, there were a lot of Asian actors who didn't want to do it, even though they thought it was funny, because they were afraid that this guy (Guy) would have them fucking blacklisted from acting. He's supposed to be an advocate for Asians in media, and he's a fucking threatening douche bag with father issues. (His dad owns Bennihanas and his sister is a super-hot model.) He is a nerd with a porno moustache.
JH: Between CRANK YANKERS and GREG THE BUNNY, you've been a part of at least two puppet shows on TV. Anything we should know?
SS: Puppets are into ass-play.
JH: You were hired by SNL at 22. Can you sum up the experience for me?
SS: It was good. The nightmare stories are all true, but it was good. Made me so strong after that year of getting my confidence beaten out of me. Heals like a broken bone, you know?
JH: You've been doing this comedy thing for a while. Any subjects that are off limits for your act?
SS: I've been threatened not to do any “Kevin Smith is gay” jokes. I never even thought he was gay until the day I was roughed up and told, "don't do any fucking ‘Kevin Smith is gay’ jokes!! Don't even think about it!!" and then left for dead with a single pink rose dropped on my face. I looked up and saw the shape of a heart made by the silhouette of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon kissing. That's the last thing I remember.
JH: You were in BULWORTH. Did Warren Beatty ever make a move on you while Annette was in the bathroom?
SS: (to be read sarcastically) No, he didn't.
JH: You were a guest star on STAR TREK VOYAGER. Are you a nerd-magnet now?
SS: What do you think, Nerd?
JH: JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE: how long do you give the show?
SS: I give it 25 years.
JH: Colin Quinn once said you had a punch like a Guatemalan heavyweight. Pound for pound, are you the strongest female comic out there now?
SS: That's not for me to say, asshole. Also, I don't like to be judged as a "female" comic. I like to be judged as a "black" comic.
JH: Speaking of Colin, I lost out on a job over at TOUGH CROWD. You're on it all the time. What's wrong with those pricks anyway?
SS: Colin tends toward outwardly racist black guys and outwardly racist white. And it really bothers me that he has hired NO Mexican women. What--does he think Mexican women aren't funny??
JH: Why do we have to do this on e-mail? Are you afraid of me? What have you heard?
SS: My boyfriend forbids me to talk to male strangers. Unless it's through a penis-sized hole at fun world. Is there still a fun world or does Disney own that now too?
JESUS IS MAGIC is playing at New York's Zipper Theater
on 336 West 37th street. Tickets are on sale now
through Telecharge - (212) 239-6200
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