Fresh Air Best Of: Sarah Silverman / Cole Escola
May 31, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Sarah Silverman, a celebrated comic and author, opens up about her Netflix special, Postmortem, which poignantly tackles grief after losing her father and stepmother. Cole Escola, the creative force behind the Broadway comedy Oh Mary!, whimsically reimagines Mary Todd Lincoln's life, adding a humorous twist with themes of addiction and longing for cabaret. Their conversations explore the healing power of comedy, the intricacies of family dynamics, and the art of storytelling in performance, balancing laughter with heartfelt reflections.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Father's Final Moments Story
- Sarah Silverman used a funny and touching story of her dad and Jeff Ross during her father's dying days as part of her comedy special.
- She captured a video of their interaction that she included in the special's credits, adding a personal, heartfelt touch.
Comedy as Grief Therapy
- Sarah Silverman found stand-up comedy a way to process grief awkwardly but meaningfully after losing her parents.
- Using humor helped her rebuild her act from zero and connect with audiences authentically during healing.
Dad's Comic Reaction to Diagnosis
- Sarah Silverman shared a clip about her father's reaction when her stepmother was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer.
- Her dad comically referred to himself as a "widow," showing humor even in difficult moments.
