In the previous two seasons of Comedy Central's "The Sarah Silverman Program," viewers have seen the show's protagonist Sarah Silverman, played by the comedic actress of the same name, have a one−night stand with God, accidentally molest her dog and start a social revolution by wearing blackface. Thus, one might wonder, what is left for this two−times silly (and three−times offensive) character to do?
Well, among other adventures, she can find out she was born a man, embrace a full moustache, live in the woods and fight off the ghost of her gay neighbor's murder victim. She could also find out that she has the gift of psychic predictions. Sure, the plot may not be the most realistic, but Sarah Silverman and her posse of ridiculous characters manage to continually shock and entertain audiences.
"The Sarah Silverman Program" is sort of like a sitcom. With poop jokes, adorable musical numbers and offensive gags, it's hard for even the most politically correct person to get mad. The show follows Sarah on her daily routine, which usually involves getting up to some ridiculous shenanigans with her gang of friends. Among her entourage are her sister Laura (played by her real−life sister, Laura Silverman), her sister's boyfriend, Officer Jay McPherson (Jay Johnston) and her two goofy, orange−haired, gay neighbors, Brian Spukowksi (Brian Posehn) and Steve Myron (Steve Agee).
Though some critics chide the show for being juvenile and others remark that the humor is in bad taste, "The Sarah Silverman Program" is a ton of fun, with hilarious characters and inventive charm for anyone who is not easily offended. The musical numbers are sure to delight, as they pay homage to the toe−tapping ditties of other humor shows like Comedy Central's "South Park" and Fox's "Family Guy."
In the first episode of this season, for example, Laura convinces Sarah that she was actually born a boy, in order to get her to "nut up" and get a job. After realizing that the baby penis her sister gave her as proof of her status as an ex−boy is actually just from the hospital refuse, the two sisters jump into a duet. The song, titled "The Baby Penis in Your Mind," serenades viewers with humor, reminding all that Sarah's power as a person doesn't come from her imagined masculinity, but from her inner strength.
Silverman mixes her sugary sweet voice and her character's deliberate dumbness with a flair for pointing out the stupidity of the real world. When Sarah believes she is psychic, she exposes her friends for their predictable natures. Her style of satire is extreme and shocking because it is packaged up in a cuteness matched only by kittens in teacups riding a rainbow rollercoaster.
When it comes down to it, if one can handle the toilet humor and complete disregard for political correctness, "The Sarah Silverman Program" is a television gem. The upcoming season promises to be even stupider, funnier and more outrageous than its predecessors, as guest stars such as Andy Samberg, Edward Asner and Bill Maher join the cast, promising recognizable faces and uproarious laughter. Silverman and her team of writers pack each episode with snarky and creative plots, simple but hilarious comic delivery and even more of the imaginary television show "Cookie Party!"
Audiences can tune in to see Silverman star in "The Sarah Silverman Program" on Comedy Central, Thursdays at 10:30 p.m. For those who have never seen Silverman before, her total disregard for social norms is worth watching, and fans of Silverman's work won't be disappointed with the ridiculous, and often revolting, plotlines of the latest season of "The Sarah Silverman Program."
