Sarah Silverman's Brief But Spectacular take on saying goodbye

Transcript

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Geoff Bennett: Sarah Silverman is known as one of the sharpest, most fearless voices in comedy, pushing the art form in many new directions.

In her new Netflix special out now called “PostMortem,” she talks about losing her father and stepmother just days apart. Tonight, she shares her Brief But Spectacular take on the synergy between humor and grief.

Sarah Silverman, Comedian: My dad was the funniest in the family, Donald “Schleppy” Silverman. Everybody called him Schleppy. and he owned a discount ladies clothing store called Crazy Sophie’s Factory Outlet.

Well, my dad did his own radio ads, and they were terrible. At the end, he’d say. So if you care enough to buy the very best, but you’re too cheap, come to Crazy Sophie’s.

Going to hold for this plane. I’m in show business. I know that works. Holding for the plane.

He made me the funniest, because he taught me a bunch of swear words and stuff. He was that dad. My mother, she was Diane Chambers from “Cheers.” She said when and where and was very passionate about diction and grammar.

My stepmom, Janice, she calls herself a wicked stepmother. Janice was nails and makeup and hair and outfits. So she’d be like, did you talk to that boy Jeff from three weeks ago you told me in your history class?

And they were both wonderful. They actually loved each other very much. When my mother died about nine years ago, she was holding Janice’s hand. Life is long if you let it.

My special is called “PostMortem,” the most surface meaning just literally after the death of my parents. My dad and my stepmom died nine days apart last may. So the stand-up I did was about them dying. I was lucky. I actually adored my parents. They came over every Sunday. It was my favorite day of the week.

My stepmom, Janice, had passed away and my dad was going and we were taking care of him at home. He was not afraid of death at all. I asked him if he was scared to die. And he said: “Not at all. I don’t remember before I was born. I’m not going to remember after.” But he said: “I am scared, though. I’m scared it will hurt.”

He was terrified of pain. The doctor called and he said, this is it. He’s dying. But he did say it’s going to be — the way he’s going to die is kidney failure, which just happens to be a painless death. And I was so happy for him because I knew his one fear was that it would hurt. And I ran in, I was like, great news, you know?

You really got to take a beat sometimes. There really is no age where you are ready to be without your parents. I need them all the time. I still will e-mail them sometimes. And I know they’re not online. Or are they? But it just feels nice to send them an e-mail sometimes or a text.

Question: I have heard people say that the last thing your parents teach you is how to die.

Sarah Silverman: Yes.

Question: What do you feel like your dad taught you?

Sarah Silverman: Well, being a comedian, I have learned how to die several times. Now that I have been through this side of it, I feel like people are like, oh, I could never, like, change my parents’ diaper or care for them in that way.

Yes, you can. You’re going to find that you can and that you’re so grateful to do it.

My name is Sarah Silverman, and this is my Brief But Spectacular take on saying goodbye.

Geoff Bennett: Wow.

You can watch more Brief But Spectacular videos on our Web site, PBS.org/NewsHour/Brief.