Sarah Sherman: Embracing the Absurd in Comedy's Gross Realm

A Comedic Monstrosity

Sarah Sherman isn't afraid to embrace the grotesque to evoke laughter. A standout on Saturday Night Live, she's known for her bizarre and outrageous sketches that toe the line of sanity.

From SNL to a New Stage

In her latest special, Sarah Sherman: Live + in the Flesh, she reveals a different aspect of her comedic identity. The special opens with a cringe-worthy poop joke, immediately signaling the audience's journey into a world of blue humor. “It's a more rude, abrasive, disgusting version of what [audiences] see on SNL,” she said in an interview with Newsweek. “I think some people have been very shocked of what monstrosity I'm capable of.”

The Aesthetics of Absurdity

“If you tell a butthole joke for two minutes, maybe you'll lose some people. But if you push it to four minutes, maybe you win people back again, because it's just so crazy.”

Her special takes visitors on a colorful, chaotic journey—akin to a twisted version of Pee-wee's Playhouse—where crass jokes meet vibrant aesthetics reminiscent of Nickelodeon cartoons. This juxtaposition of the absurd and the vivid is where Sherman feels most at home, revealing life's grotesquery while beckoning laughter.

The Heart Behind the Shock

Despite the outrageousness, Sherman's humor often reflects a deeper truth about navigating one's identity in a judgmental society. “For years before SNL, I went by my alternate persona, Sarah Squirm, a name that encapsulates my comfort in this bizarre lens,” Sherman noted. “But I felt like it was a less vulnerable persona.”

Audiences are often confronted with topics that many avoid discussing—body image, societal expectations, the experience of growing up Jewish, and navigating personal political beliefs. Sherman's comedy invites audiences to engage in dialogue around these often-taboo subjects while feeling discomfort and, ultimately, connection.

The Political Underpinnings of Her Humor

Her Jewish identity informs not only her comedic style but also her political consciousness. “I support a free Palestine; of course I do, I'm Jewish, and it's free,” she quipped, blending humor with political commentary. It's an unapologetic stance that showcases the responsibility she feels in addressing complex issues while captivating her audience.

An Evolving Craft

“SNL is a really hard job; I always feel like it's the first day of the job every day.”

Sherman speaks poignantly about her experiences in SNL as she continues to refine her craft. Surrounded by a collaborative and creative team, she finds inspiration not just in script writing but in the intricate makeup and props that help bring her outrageous characters to life.

Confronting the Audience

Through her self-deprecating humor, Sherman levels the playing field with her audience—roasting them while simultaneously holding a mirror to herself. This vulnerability enhances the comedic experience, inviting shared laughter amid discomfort.

“I'm being tongue-in-cheek and I try to use self-deprecation to show them that I can be just as mean to myself as I'm being to them.”

Conclusion: A Journey of Validation

Ultimately, Sherman reflects on the paradox of her art. “I deal with a lot of repulsive subject matter, so I'm purposely repelling people away from me. But ultimately, I'm a comedian, and I need to hear laughter, or I might slice my own head off,” she candidly revealed. In a world often stifling of voices, Sherman invites us to embrace humanity's complexities through laughter, introducing each audience member to both the grotesque and the deeply relatable elements of our existence.

Her latest special reminds us that beneath the absurdity lies a kernel of truth that binds us all, and it is through humor that we can begin to explore the often uncomfortable realities of life.