DCist Interview: Sarah Silverman

Of the work you've done so far, what are you proudest of? What was the most fun to do?

I love the show and working with everyone there. We're all friends. Same with stand-up. Tig said, 'Let's all go to D.C. and be together and laugh and raise money for wounded soldiers.' We all get to hang out and see each other, and it's for such a good cause. It's gonna be super fun.

How much do you watch your previous work? What are the advantages & disadvantages of doing so?

Not much. Though I'm watching the show in all its incarnations as we edit. So, I'm kind of past the stage where you freak out seeing yourself.

It seems that at some point in the career of every comedian who goes into acting, there comes the inevitable "serious" lead role. Do you have any desire to go there? If you did, what sort of role would you like it to be or could you really see yourself doing?

Hmm...I don't know...Black Beauty's life story?

I once read you compare your approach to comedy to Peter Sellers' character in Being There, in that you just do what you do, and if people find something profound in it, that's mainly in their perception/reaction, because you're just trying to go for laughs. Are there comics who can TRY to say things of significance, and succeed at both that and being genuinely funny, or does the funny necessarily suffer when you've got an agenda to get across?

I don't know. I think when you see someone "trying," it's a turnoff. You can't force people to infer what you want them to infer. I think it's best not to control it or even consider it – best to focus on what's on your mind and what's making you giggle. And if it's aggressively dumb, great, and if there's something someone gleans from it, super. But once it's out there, it's theirs. It's not for you to define. Is that corny? I think I just preached not to deconstruct while deconstructing.

Since we've touched on a film there, what movies, or performances in the movies have really made an impact on who you are as a performer?

Rushmore, Defending Your Life, Ordinary People, The Squid and the Whale, Groundhog Day, Jesus' Son.

Without getting spoiler-y, is there anything you can tell us about what we can expect from the third season of The Sarah Silverman Program?

It's the best season yet, for sure.

How is your "Sell the Vatican, Save the World" campaign going?

I don't know. But doesn't it make sense?

The Bentzen Ball opens tomorrow and runs through Sunday. See their website for the full schedule, and purchase tickets here.