Sarah didn’t end the Jewish mother phenomenon; she just brought it kicking and screaming into the 21st century, literally. She changed the context, tweaked the perspective and goosed up the volume, way up, to prescribe it for a generation who can’t hear the music because it’s too loud. (Full disclosure: The X Generation, i.e., my generation.)

What, no reference to her joke about her having mixed feelings about being raped by a Jewish doctor? I’m actually surprised that Sarah hasn’t to my knowledge riffed on that bit with regard to how perhaps her mother wanted in some way for Sarah to play down that whole rape thing on account of the doctor not being married. Not that m’lady’s losing her edge or anything.

There’s a great movie called Mr. Saturday Night, Billy Crystal’s homage to comedians in the Alan King/Catskills crew. Buddy Young Jr. (Crystal) is an aging comedian who gets up to speak at his mother’s funeral and says, “When my brother first told me our mother had died, my first thought was: ‘Did you get her recipe for kugel?’” It’s a rather touching scene, in which he tearfully confesses to having loved making her laugh. See it, Emily. It’s a great peek into the exact era of comedy we’re all talking about here.

Silverman should do the riff on the dr rape joke you suggest--and then we can add it to the slideshow. or she could joke that her mother didn't have mixed feelings: it was a dr, after all.

will check out Mr. Saturday Night--love the kugel joke. Thanks for the recommendation.

Emily

HEEB magazine did an interview with Sarah Silverman in the Sex issue last year. The joke was brought up in the piece. I actually think her brand of humour is necessary because it gets under your skin and hits home on the truth of things.

hi switters!