Open Letter to Sarah Silverman

Sarah,

Well, you've done it yet again.  You have found a way for me to feel bad for a starlet who, under normal circumstances, I'd be carrying on and on over her 2 digit IQ qualifying/self-entitled/train wreck antics.

Somehow, some way, you managed to score yet ANOTHER hosting gig for an MTV awards show.  My theory is that you must have something on the network, because after your last gig this past spring, where you took cheap, disgusting shot after cheap, disgusting shot at Paris Hilton, I honestly can't imagine why they'd hire you again.

You make me want to have a person like Paris Hilton's back, Sarah.  THAT'S NOT COOL.

Last night, after Britney Spears's mailed-in "performance", you got up and went on about "Britney Spears! Amazing, right?" only then to proceed to do your bit that made reference to how her kids were "the most adorable mistakes".  Then, as if that wasn't enough, compared them to be as "cute as the hairless vagina they came out of", topping off the routine by contorting your face/lips to resemble to said vagina. 

I was so uncomfortable, so outraged with your whatever you want to call that, I changed the channel immediately.

I get it; Brit-Brit is a self-imposed target with all the crap she pulls. Love her, hate her, love-to-hate-her, whatever.  But her children, these babies, seriously, what the hell have they ever done to you to be referred to, on a nationally televised program, as a mistake?  To be compared to a vagina?   And just because you proceeded it with the word "adorable" does not offset the word "mistake", which you made sure to repeat a few times. I have seen many comedy acts in my time and I can't recall of one,  not ONE that has taken a shot at a celebrities' kids, let alone at a couple of toddlers. 

From what I've read, MTV specifically requested that there was no reference to Britney's children**.  I mean, it's an MTV awards show, how hard a request is that to honor? Is there not enough material out there? It's like fish-in-a-barrel season right now, seriously, her kids were a must?   But apparently this was red cape  being waved in front of the bull "artistically" speaking, the opportunity to wave the "Free Speech" pass we enjoy, and you made it your mission to be offensive. Not funny-offensive, just offensive-offensive.

Material that is mean does not = funny. Being mean does not equate to comedic gold. 

Being mean simply put means this: You're an asshole.

It's not "brave", it's not "edgy", it's not "intelligent" or "clever", it's not "out there", it's not "your truth".   You're no Kaufman, Ms Silverman.  R.E.M. will not be penning a song with the lyric "Sarah Silverman was not afraid".  They may, however, feel compelled to write, "Sarah Silverman was quite a bitch."

I don't have children but I think I can imagine how upset, how completely bullshit Britney must have been to hear what you said about her babies.

Really, you must be so proud.

With disgust,

Jen

Edited to add: There has been discussion that no such conversation  existed, that her rehearsal went, "joke, joke, joke, 50 Cent, joke joke joke, Britney Spears...".  Regardless, still maintain it was a pretty shitastic thing to do.

Comments

[w]

AGREE

[Contrary]

I didn't watch the show, but have seen many online references to Britney's performance having been phoned in. I can't believe most people think a bad performance is more noteworthy that what Sarah Silverman said afterwards.

What a smug little bitch.

[Abe Froman]

Hooray to your absolutely necessary nod to common decency!

[Abe Froman]

Hooray to your absolutely necessary nod to common decency!

[Miguelina (Reluctant Housewife)]

Sarah Silverman was not funny. In fact, she rarely is. She's just mean and sadly, there's nothing unique about being mean.

[Nap Queen]

I cannot stand her. I hate to say this, but she's obviously sleeping with someone because there's no reason for her to have gotten that gig. She's an angry little woman. Angry. And Bitter. They should have given it to Gaffigan.

[jen from boston]

Gaffigan's a little too high brow for this crowd- too many jokes about food (specifically Hot Pockets and bacon) and napping.

I think Kathy Griffin would have been the better choice, what with her encyclopedia brain of pop culture and her sharp wit that blends snark and self-depracation --goes to the edge but not to the point where you're thinking, "man, who pissed in her Cheerios?"

For example, from her show this summer, she had a bit where she repeats an actual conversation with Paris Hilton from a photoshoot they were on together and she's asked by Paris about a word she'd just read in a text mssg from a friend:

"um, what's Ver-sah-tile?"

"Uh, first of all it's [quickly]'ver-sah-til' and second, it's something that that'd would never be used to describe you."

snarky, brings the point home that Ms PH aint so bright, gets a laugh, but not going to leave the audience with a "are we supposed to...should we...laugh...now?"

[gimpbully]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kHmvkRoEowc
that is all