I too don't understand the Sarah Silverman phenomenon from the perspective of the underground comedy world, where there are so many people more talented than she is; having said that though, I think she's found her place at comedy central, where mean spirited 'comedy' seems to have a home all its own. --I haven't seen the show yet but I did go see Jesus is Magic when it was in theaters, having previously associated her with Mr Show and the alternative comedy scene, and having seen a couple internet stand up clips etc; and I was both bored and horrified by the Mind of Mencia racial shock humor repackaged under the pretense that it's smart, hip satire of middle class white racism. The corny cute songs were unbearable as well of course..By the time I saw The Aristocrats on DVD I'd pretty much dismissed her, but the dvd commentary over her part in the movie really sealed the deal, wherein Penn and Provenza hail her as great and the next Phyllis Diller, pushing the boundaries for women in comedy.. Listen to her interviews with Terry Gross on NPR's Fresh air, or the Sound of Young America, for a couple more examples of otherwise tasteful people fawning over her. I've never understood the fascination with naughty words and racial themes as instant "boundary pushing", which was of course the basis of "The Aristocrats", and that so many people have when classifying a comedian as 'great', most notably Carlin, of course, who we all know tops Tom's list of most unfunny people.. or was it Lenny Bruce. Same thing.
But it's on Comedy Central, so it'll be on for a month, promoted constantly, and if it's not getting Chappelle's Show ratings they'll scrap it soon enough..
