
Today’s guest is none other than the delightful comedian, actor, and writer Sarah Silverman! She talks with Ted Danson about her new Netflix special PostMortem, dealing with the loss of her parents, the origins of her now legendary song with Matt Damon, and why she doesn’t mind the pushback against “edgy” comedy. To help those affected by the Southern California wildfires, make a donation to World Central Kitchen today. Like watching your podcasts? Visit http://youtube.com/teamcoco to see full episodes.
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Ted Danson
Where everybody knows your name with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson sometimes is brought to you by progressive insurance. Do you ever find yourself playing the budgeting game? Well, with the name your price tool from progressive you can find options that fit your budget and potentially lower your bills. Try it@progressive.com Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and and affiliates price and coverage match limited by state law, not available in all states.
Woody Harrelson
There's no free speech. No. You can absolutely say anything you want. And the thing that makes edgy or dangerous comedy so is that there are consequences.
Sarah Silverman
Yeah.
Ted Danson
Welcome back to where everybody knows your name.
Sarah Silverman
Today I'm lucky enough be with a.
Ted Danson
Stand up comedian, actor, writer who radiates intelligence and charisma.
Sarah Silverman
I had to spend most of my.
Ted Danson
Brain cells, not all, but most, keeping up with her because she is so sharp. Sarah Silverman.
Sarah Silverman
You know her from her many roles across TV and film, including SNL, Mr.
Ted Danson
Show, the Sarah Silverman program, Wreck it.
Sarah Silverman
Ralph and many more.
Ted Danson
She's even written a musical. We also got to work together on the HBO series Bored to death. Her new comedy special is out now on Netflix.
Sarah Silverman
It's called post mortem and it's about.
Ted Danson
Grieving the loss of her parents. Here she is, Sarah Silver.
Sarah Silverman
I know it helps your menses if I massage your feet. If you want that later.
Woody Harrelson
Oh my gosh, that was so fun. Fun.
Sarah Silverman
I was dying to see their faces because we're talking about bored to death. And the scene that Jonathan Ames wrote and Jason and I did with you where you played a psychiatrist who oddly wanted us to massage your feet.
Woody Harrelson
Yeah, I made them rub my feet. It was such a great scene for me.
Sarah Silverman
It was.
Woody Harrelson
And I never got my toes painted before, but it was. I know. I did just say. And then the craziest thing. First of all, you are one of my all time favorite actors. All time.
Sarah Silverman
Woof.
Woody Harrelson
Yes. And at that time you were also in Damages, which is. I don't know why that show isn't like the hugest. I mean, that show was so brilliant and you were so mind blowing in it. But I, in the scene called you by the Frobisher's name.
Sarah Silverman
Frobisher?
Woody Harrelson
Yes, I called. What was his first name?
Sarah Silverman
Arthur. Arthur. Arthur.
Woody Harrelson
I called you Arthur. And I just remember you in the scene looking at me like, huh? And then they stopped the scene and I still didn't know what I had done. But I called him by the other character's name because I was so completely entrenched in Damages at that point.
Sarah Silverman
But was it that the PSYCH Your character's excuse to ask us. Or maybe it was part of therapy or something for us to do something together. But it also helped your mensis is. I just want to make sure that.
Woody Harrelson
That'S what it is. Yeah.
Sarah Silverman
You all know that I was not just deciding that would be good for Sarah Silverman.
Woody Harrelson
I made them rub my feet. My character did.
Sarah Silverman
Yeah.
Woody Harrelson
Yeah. That's like. Takes a lot of focus to say lines when you're in deep relaxation and also slight terror. Cause it's. My feet are invulnerable. My feet are. You know, I've got that second toe that's. I have finger toes. So I'm, you know, a little self conscious.
Sarah Silverman
I can't remember anything. Any fault of your feet ever? No. Sorry. I can't let you badmouth your feet.
Woody Harrelson
Thank you. You're right. My feet are beautiful just the way they are. Yes. They're strong and they work.
Sarah Silverman
I can't wait to see. And I thought, oh. Because somehow it was in my research that I somehow would magically be to see postmortem before its release.
Woody Harrelson
Oh, no. They could have sent it to you.
Sarah Silverman
No.
Woody Harrelson
Yeah, I would have. Sorry. But, you know, don't worry.
Sarah Silverman
Well, I'll wait. I'll wait. But I am so. I cannot wait to see it. I'm 77, and it's the time where you lose friends. And we have sat with. I sat with my mother who came home to die purposefully and in Herm vernacular, joyfully. And Mary and I sat with. We cooked and took care of a friend of ours, Mary's lifelong friend, for two and a half months. And it's one of the great hard privileges of my life. And I cannot wait to see what you do with it in postmortem.
Woody Harrelson
Oh, yeah.
Sarah Silverman
You're spectacular, by the way. I'm being cool. But you are. You are. I love your stand up. I love your sense of humor and I love your acting. And I. No, no. But also Maestro. You were wonderful. Wonderful in Maestro.
Woody Harrelson
Thank you so much.
Sarah Silverman
Really good. You're a really good actor. And Mary does send her love. And there you are.
Woody Harrelson
Oh, I love her. And Charlie. Charlie Mack.
Sarah Silverman
Yeah. Who directed a pilot. Yeah.
Woody Harrelson
That did not go. But it was great. And I loved working with him. I just fell in love with him. What a kid.
Sarah Silverman
Yeah. He's amazing.
Woody Harrelson
Yeah. Man, man, man.
Sarah Silverman
Yeah. We just spent a month and a half in the same little house together. He and Lily Collins had their little tove, who's now a little girl, who's, I think, eight And a half weeks.
Woody Harrelson
Maybe nine weeks, eight years old. Oh, delicious.
Sarah Silverman
Yeah, scrumptious. Life is very rich right now. Oh, that's really lovely.
Woody Harrelson
Yeah, that's great.
Sarah Silverman
Will you talk about it, the event and your special postmortem?
Woody Harrelson
Oh, my parents. My dad and my stepmother died. It'll be two years ago in May now. And, you know, we were really close. Very, you know, sadly rare. Kind of like I loved seeing them, you know, and they moved out here and they came to over every Sunday. And my sisters would come over and we'd have bagels and cream cheese and just belly laughs, you know, always. And, I mean, 20 questions was. I don't talk about this in the special, but we were just talking about it, how everything was 20 questions. We love playing 20 questions. And it was so dark. Like, it'd be like, guess who we found out has cancer? 20 questions. You know, it was, like, terrible. I mean, not, like, not to bring joy to it, but. I don't know, we made everything a game. But my dad was hilarious. You know, he was my best friend. And how old? He was 85 and Janice was 80. And, like, they were totally young. You know, they were. Had all their marbles. And my dad did stop driving after having an accident. And he always would, you know, he returned his license, driver's license. He didn't need to do this. He just stopped driving. But he, like, wrote a letter to the DMV returning his license. And I am not capable of driving capably. And, you know, that's hard. I know. But, yeah, you know, my stepmother got diagnosed with cancer and just stage four out of nowhere, wasn't sick or anything, and pancreatic cancer, and it was awful. And it was. You know, my dad was a total mess about it. And I remember comforting him because he was like, I don't wanna live in a world without Janice. And, you know, he's got a thick Boston accent. That wasn't a good example of it. And I wouldn't live without her. And I was trying to comfort him, and I was like, well, you know, statistically you won't. But I didn't know that would come true, you know, but, yeah.
Sarah Silverman
So did she pass away first?
Woody Harrelson
She passed away almost four months to the day. They were holding hands. We were all there, you know, and he really could have, like, probably gone to the hospital and gotten better with. With his condition, but he just wanted to go, you know, it was one of those things. It happened to Conan's parents shortly after, but he just wanted to go. He was Happy. The only thing that scared him was he was scared it was gonna hurt. Cause I remember a few years ago asking him when he was over on Sunday, like, are you afraid of dying? And he goes, not at all. I just don't want it to hurt, you know? But he always said, like, I don't remember before I was born. I'm not gonna remember after, you know, but surprise. Yeah. But he. He. He. He was scared it would hurt. He was a huge pain pussy. Like, he. One time he got, like, ekg, you know, the stickers. He wouldn't peel the stickers off. He was scared it would pull his hair.
Sarah Silverman
He was like, they had to kind of.
Woody Harrelson
No, he goes, I'm gonna let him wear off. Yeah. I have a picture of him, like, at the pool with, like, all these icky cages. He looked like a dog with that. Just had puppies or something. But, yeah, he was a real character. And. Oh, my God. Like, people, you know, when we were just taking care of him and this was it. Oh. And he. The doctor told me. So the doctor calls and says, this is it. Your dad's. He needs to go to the hospital. And I said, I don't know what to do, because we promised him no more hospital. Like, he fucking hates it there. And the doctor said, well, you know what? Maybe he'd live longer if he went to the hospital, but there'll be hospital days, and he's home, he's surrounded by family. I think that's just the ticket. And then he said, and the way he's gonna die is kidney failure, which just happens to be a painless death. You're there, and then you go into a fog and you're gone. And I was so excited. I should have taken a beat, but I ran into his room, and I was like, dad, great news. You know, which is.
Sarah Silverman
You know, it was, though, right?
Woody Harrelson
He was thrilled. He really was. He was so happy. It wasn't gonna hurt. We all got into bed with him, like, singing old camp songs. He loved camp. Telling stories and stuff, and it was a great way to go.
Sarah Silverman
How long was that process?
Woody Harrelson
You know, it should have been shorter. You know, there was that. And the same thing happened with his mother, where he'd wake up and be like, I'm still here. Like, ugh. Like he was ready. But what we realized. And I don't say this in the special, it was. Oh, well, it was nine days. It was nine days since when? Janice Past. And he had a. A. What's this?
Sarah Silverman
Monitor?
Woody Harrelson
Yeah. A pacemaker. A pacemaker. Thank you.
Sarah Silverman
The younger people in the room, I mean, truly, we don't.
Woody Harrelson
I mean, his pace. They never took his. Turned his pacemaker off. So there was a part towards the end where I was like, I don't know why he's gone, but it's like, he's gone.
Sarah Silverman
But his horse.
Woody Harrelson
But it was like he was a zombie. Like, he was just going like. And he was going like this. You can't see, but like this. And I said, what is this? Because there was a hospice worker came, and they see that. It's like scrolling his phone. He's doing muscle memory things that his body. But they finally turned the pacemaker off when we realized they hadn't turned it off. And then he peacefully went like that night. But it was. Oh. So people were saying goodbye. People came by to say goodbye. Jeff Ross, you know, the comedian Jeff Ross, he does all the roasts. He was very close with my parents. And he came in, everyone called my dad Schleppie. He goes, schleppy, I got bad news. I don't think you can be my emergency contact anymore. And, oh, my gosh. Jeff had introduced my dad and my stepmom Janice, to a friend of his who's a magician. His name is Bernie Schein, and he's older. And they became very good friends. And about maybe six months earlier, they had gone to see him do a show. So Jeff was sitting with my dad, and he said, do you want me to facetime Bernie so you can say goodbye? And my dad said, okay. And he called him and he held it up for him. And Bernie got on and he said, oh, Schleppy, I'm so sorry. And my dad goes, bernie, your show was so bad, it killed Janice. And then he goes, and I'm not feeling so hot either. He was so funny. He was killing while dying.
Sarah Silverman
And were you there when he passed?
Woody Harrelson
I wasn't. I left. I went home to sleep, and I knew this was it. But I don't know, there was something.
Sarah Silverman
Sometimes I think parents wait for you not to be there.
Woody Harrelson
Yeah, I mean, my sister Susie was there, and I think that she's the oldest, and she was the one that if she walked out of the room, he'd go, where's Susie? Where's Susie? You know? So I think he. And she's a rabbi, and I just think he felt like he could die with her there. But I went home to sleep, but he was pretty much cognitively not there. Yeah.
Sarah Silverman
My mother got pneumonia. She was sharp tack 88, 89, and slowing down, but totally there. Enjoyed her walks, all of that. And she got pneumonia. She couldn't shake, and she had aspirated the night before or something, choked on something. So she had horrible laryngitis, couldn't really talk. I flew in. This was Sedona, Arizona, and my sister lived next door, so she had been part of this whole process. And I flew in, and we took her to a clinic in Sedona, as opposed to the hospital further away. And the doctor said, I'm going to have to put you in the hospital, Jessica. She went, no. And he said, jessica, if I don't, you will die. And she went, thank God. And it was so strange to go from keeping a parent alive, doing everything you can to make them happy and more energetic and live longer and all of that, to, oh, we're now by her choice, happily, consciously wants to go home and be home and pass away. And she was a very spiritual, religious woman. And so it was real, totally for her, this was going to be a joyful event. And we went home, and the hospice person was there, and they take you through what to expect, what your. You know, your body will. How it will shut down and how long it will take and all that. And she was so disappointed because she had. This was it. I said, I'm coming home to die. This will be fine right now. And to hear that there were 10 more days, I think kind of disappointed her, but she couldn't talk. And they said, and at some point, we will give you morphine so there will be no pain. And she went, no. And she said something that sounded like burn. And. And my sister and I literally were playing charades, Charades with my mother, trying to figure out what it is she meant. And it fi. We finally pieced together she wanted to burn. And then it kind of dawned on us. Oh, in some religious, philosophical, whatever, if you choose to consciously suffer at the end, you can burn off karma or you can whatever, burn off some of that stuff that you want to not go to this next place with. And so, by God, that was her. And then her voice came back, and we spent about a week of pulling her up to the dining room table. And my only regret is she told a joke, a genuine joke that made everybody laugh. And I cannot remember what it is. I would have loved to have known what. That my mom's last joke was so.
Woody Harrelson
Funny, because my brain went to what a comedian would think, which is, kill her right away. Let her end on that.
Sarah Silverman
Get the hook.
Woody Harrelson
I was sure that's where you were Going, oh, yeah, no, of course. You want to remember. Oh, yeah.
Sarah Silverman
And I woke my sister up several times because I took the night shift and talking about, you know, bodies. Y' all can tune out now or tune back in, whatever you want to do. This. This. I like this conversation.
Woody Harrelson
I do, too.
Sarah Silverman
She. She had kind of left, although her body was still pumping away. She was no longer able to open her eyes or anything. She. But her body was going, and. And then I watched her stop breathing, and I counted, and then I looked at my watch and counted, and I picked up the phone and I called my sister, Jani. Mom's a passive. Oh, wait, hold on.
Woody Harrelson
Boop.
Sarah Silverman
And another day and a half. It's so strange.
Woody Harrelson
It's so. And it's. You know how, like, watching childbirth for me, like, you're like, oh, my God, we're animals. We're animals. And death is similar where you're like, we're like animals. You know, like, it's so interesting, and it's. And. But it. We're kind of. I mean, you. It's going to go in a really funky place. I don't know. It's not a complete thought, but just like, I always think, like, when you see the deep ocean or you see the outer space or you see, like, molecular, like, inside of our bodies, it always looks the same, and there's, like. There's some kind of connection. I don't know.
Sarah Silverman
But someday we might. But, yeah, that was the other thing that happened to me. Sorry, I'm full of. Like, I had read over the years this book and that book and studied with so and so. And I had all my little spiritual, religious, you know, philosophical thoughts, and I watched my mom towards that last day or two going. And all of those thoughts went flying out the window. And I realized. I don't know. I don't. She may be about to know, but I don't know. And I kind of left that from that moment on, and I try to be a little bit better every day, and that'll do it, Teddy. You know, just do that.
Woody Harrelson
Yeah.
Sarah Silverman
The rest you'll find out.
Woody Harrelson
I mean, I have no religion, but grief felt like the closest to that for me because it's. We're trying to understand something that is maybe beyond our comprehension, you know, like a sister. We're on our sister's chain, you know, on WhatsApp. And one sister will be like, you know, two birds landed in my window, and I know it was them, and we're like, it was them. And I go, oh, this must be. This is religion. You know, it's trying to understand something that is very possibly, at least for now, beyond our comprehension, you know, But I, you know, I'm interested, but even, like, I wouldn't even call myself an atheist just because I think that's as definitive as saying, like religion is this.
Sarah Silverman
That's a real hard belief. That's a belief system.
Ted Danson
That's a belief.
Sarah Silverman
This is what you believe, you know.
Woody Harrelson
And it's I love well, there's a rel kind of religion or a theory that I always was so tickled by called Last Thursdayism. And it's the belief that everything was created last Thursday and you can't disprove it because even our memories, even what we perceive as history, everything created last Thursday. And I just like that. It can't be if the onus is on you to disprove it, you can't necessarily disprove it.
Sarah Silverman
But that's great.
Woody Harrelson
Last Thursday is.
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Sarah Silverman
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Sarah Silverman
So for now, something Completely different. I fucked Matt Damon is the funniest thing. I, for some reason missed that huge cultural event. It was huge.
Woody Harrelson
It was. And it's so long ago now, but I watched it maybe a year ago and I was like, this actually holds up.
Sarah Silverman
It does. It was great.
Woody Harrelson
So much of my comedy and comedy in general, just not evergreen. But that one felt pretty evergreen.
Sarah Silverman
Who came up with that idea?
Woody Harrelson
It was someone between two writers on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Tony Barbieri and Sal Icanno. Jimmy's cousin Sal. And they had some kind of idea. I don't know if it was to be a song or not, but I was on tour and I was going through Miami and that's where Matt Damon was living at that time. So we planned to do something when I was there. And it was. I remember I was like, you were.
Sarah Silverman
With Jimmy at the time?
Woody Harrelson
We were together. We were a couple. And I remember I had to lie to him about where I was on tour. And I'm not good at that at all. I was just, you know. But I go, okay, just commit to this. But the night before, we got together and we just wrote the song in a studio and recorded it.
Sarah Silverman
You and Matt?
Woody Harrelson
No, me and Sal and Tony and a producer in Miami. There. We wrote the song in a fury of just like, wah. And we recorded it and one of the guys did Matt's voice. Then we had three hours at this hotel the next morning. And Matt had given us also three hours because he had to have a heart out at noon because of his daughter had a Halloween pageant.
Sarah Silverman
Nice. But he was all in.
Woody Harrelson
Oh, my God, he was amazing.
Sarah Silverman
And they'd already had that battle. He and Jimmy. The. Matt and Jimmy.
Woody Harrelson
Well, that was actually an idea that I had, which was Jimmy at the time, he couldn't get. I remember his second guest was a man with the longest arm hair. Like, it was really slim Pickens. He couldn't get anyone. And he was, like, embarrassed, you know. And I said, you should say, take the biggest movie star. You know, Matt Damon. Say sorry, Matt Damon. We ran out of time at the end of the show and he started doing that. And then when Matt started engaging in it, he was like, I wanna do this, but don't ever stop doing it. And I think he still to this day says, sorry, Matt Damon ran out of time. So he came in and learned it in a closet in one of the hotel rooms, recorded it, his part. And then we just played the audio and lip synced it. And we had like four different locations. And it was just Like Run and Gun. And it came out so great. And it's. I think you'd like this story. We were, remember, we were standing with all the. There were dancers. There's one part with like dancers and we're all in red outfits.
Sarah Silverman
Damn it. He did that fitted. He fit that in that three hour space.
Woody Harrelson
That was all in three hours. Burning it, recording it and shooting it. It was like just run and, and run and go. But there's a moment where we're kind of standing between shots and the dancers are around and we're talking about movies. And I said, did you ever see the dvd? Did you ever see the DVD of, you know, DVD at that time of the Shining? Because I wanted to talk about. There was like this featurette on it. That's incredible. So I go, have you seen the DVD of the Shining? And one of the dancers cut in and goes, I was gonna say, you look like her. And we just started laughing so hard because it was, you know, you don't listen. She's a lovely, interesting looking woman, you know. But that. What did he think I was gonna say, have you seen the Shining? I look like Shelley Duvall. But it was so uncomfortable and we were just. It was like that. Crying, laughing, you know. Cause it was so funny in the moment.
Sarah Silverman
But yeah, so wait, let me keep going. Cause when I. Did Jimmy know anything about this?
Woody Harrelson
Nothing.
Sarah Silverman
So when he cut. We'll be back. When he, when you showed it on air, that was his first time seeing it.
Woody Harrelson
Yeah. And he.
Sarah Silverman
Oh, wow.
Woody Harrelson
I think he acted mad. Cause he felt like he needed to, but he loved, you know, of course he loved it. And I remember we were brushing our teeth before the show, like in his dressing room. And he goes, everyone says this video is great. And I go, I mean, keep your expectations low. It's just like a funny video. Because I, you know, but it really, it really was kind of one of the first like viral videos. And it's so funny because after that people would, would try to hire me to make a viral video. And I was like, you. I. Everyone wants to make a viral video. That's everyone's intention. I'm sure. I don't, you know, I don't. That's not something you can make. Yeah.
Sarah Silverman
But yeah, when I watched it, I went, oh, wait, did he. No, he must have known. But he played it.
Woody Harrelson
He did not know so well, he knew there was a video and it was for, I think his, maybe his birthday or the five year anniversary. It was supposed to be for his birthday. And then that was around the writers strike, so it must have been 2007 or 8.
Sarah Silverman
How did you get the courage to go anywhere with your comedy? I am so full of shoulds and should nots in my life, raised by the people who said, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all kind of thing. And yet comedy depends on surprising and delighting and going where no man has gone before. Woman has gone before. That takes a lot of guts to do that. Did you always have that? Did you always have the I'm okay to shock you right now?
Woody Harrelson
Yeah. And I mean, listen, I got famous from comedy that I would not do today, you know, because it's not evergreen. It's funny. I started out as a.
Sarah Silverman
What do you mean, because it's not evergreen?
Woody Harrelson
Racist. And, you know, and in my view, it was like. Like it was. I wouldn't have articulated it this way, but I articulate it now, which is like, I'm liberal. I'm not racist. So I can say racist things in comedy. And in this moment in time, I would not do that and I wouldn't feel. But I do accept that comedy is not evergreen. And I, you know, I accept myself and everything I am and have changed into and even the girl I was then. And a lot of the comedy was great, but there's a lot that is, you know, I can't watch now, but in my mind, I was playing a character that was an ignorant, arrogant person. And the irony, as I look back on it, was that I was actually an ignorant and arrogant person. But I got. And I got.
Sarah Silverman
Do you really feel that way?
Woody Harrelson
Yeah, I mean, I do.
Sarah Silverman
I watched it today and yesterday, so that's.
Woody Harrelson
You watched my first special, Jesus is magic.
Sarah Silverman
Parts of it.
Woody Harrelson
Yeah, parts of it are great. Parts of it are like, wow, you know.
Sarah Silverman
Sure. But I mean, don't you see people now still pushing the envelope with everything, including race and gender and all of that?
Woody Harrelson
Totally. And I think there's probably a great way to do it. There's probably a cheap way to do.
Sarah Silverman
It, but for you, it doesn't feel right anymore.
Woody Harrelson
Not as a blanket. You know, there's always an angle. There's always something interesting that I. Yeah, I mean, I'm interested in it, and that's why I came. I talked so much about race in the beginning because I was interested in it. It was. And I. And also, in my view is playing a character that said the opposite of everything I felt with the hope that the kind of absolute value of that to Use a math term is what transcended.
Sarah Silverman
It did. It did.
Woody Harrelson
I think for a lot of people, it did. But I do think that I'm a big Law and Order fan, and as Jack McCoy would always say is like, you can't unring that bell. So if you find that this. You know, it's like, I remember when. It wasn't that long ago when Bill Maher said the N word on an episode in a joking way. That was. Anyway, but the following week, he had some black thought leaders on, and basically, I remember Ice Cube was also on, and he said, you're cutting people. There are people that are cut from just that word, you know? And you can know that and you can still say it, but as Jack McCoy, that's what I was getting at. Would say, you can't unring that bell. So if you know you're hurting people, listen, I still do pretty hard comedy, and there are gonna be people that don't like it or are offended by it, and there's only so much I can do, but in, like, large swaths in ways where I saw a lot more of the world when social media came along, I remember going, this is so embarrassing. But I remember going like, oh, my God, there's like an epidemic of cops killing unarmed black teenagers. And then it was just a few beats later when I went, oh, right. That's how it's always been. And I'm just seeing this now.
Sarah Silverman
Yeah, yeah.
Woody Harrelson
So, you know, I mean, listen, I love being changed, and I love learning new things and being, like, changed at a molecular level from. I can't put words together, but you know what I mean, I think we all.
Sarah Silverman
I went through the thing of. Well, I know what my intention was. I had a pure heart. Doesn't matter. No, it doesn't. Because things live forever. Especially now. Things live forever. And somebody who thought one thing of you and then sees this thing, then you are cutting them.
Woody Harrelson
Yeah. And also, listen, this is hard for comics. And a lot of comics get so pissed at me when I go, oh, I wish I could erase that, but I can't. I can just only be changed. And I do accept myself or whatever. Or if I've apologized a couple times for things I've done in the past, and I don't apologize if I'm not sorry.
Sarah Silverman
I like that quote.
Woody Harrelson
And then I always apologize when I am. It's, like, so simple.
Sarah Silverman
But apologizing for things that I.
Woody Harrelson
Are you bad? It's hard.
Sarah Silverman
It's like a.
Woody Harrelson
It's very hard for men, too.
Sarah Silverman
Say the word sorry. Like commas.
Woody Harrelson
Like what?
Sarah Silverman
Like it's a comma. I say I'm sorry way too much.
Woody Harrelson
Oh, you say it too much.
Sarah Silverman
Yeah. Oh, yeah. So, I mean, I'm all right with saying it when I should say I'm sorry, but I also say it just like.
Woody Harrelson
Right. Yeah.
Sarah Silverman
Yeah. I think it's probably. Sorry. Don't hit me.
Woody Harrelson
Sorry. Sorry. But, well, that's like someone once said, what we say to our dogs is what we want to hear. And at the time, I thought about what I would say to my dog all the time, and it was, everybody likes you. But the example that my friend who told me this said was they had an older, hunky actor friend, and he would come over and he'd go, oh, you're old, but you're still sexy, you know?
Sarah Silverman
Yeah, yeah, that's what I want.
Woody Harrelson
Yeah.
Sarah Silverman
I'm gonna start saying it to my dog.
Woody Harrelson
You still got it.
Sarah Silverman
You got it.
Woody Harrelson
But, yeah, I don't know. There are comics and there are people who are like, you can't even say anything anymore. There's no free speech. No. You can absolutely say anything you want. And the thing that makes edgy or dangerous comedy so is that there are consequences.
Sarah Silverman
Yeah.
Woody Harrelson
Right. So, like, they. They have any consequence, and they're like, oh, you can't. You can say it. It's very brave if you do, and then you suffer the consequences. Right. I mean, it's so wild when people. When the comics. Comics that sell out, you know, stadiums that are like, I can't even say anything anymore. Like, I'm pretty sure you could say anything you want.
Sarah Silverman
Yeah. And you'll be criticized or not.
Woody Harrelson
Yeah.
Sarah Silverman
Yeah.
Woody Harrelson
And then you can take it, or you can be changed by it, or you can not be changed by it. And there you go. You're a dangerous comedian.
Unknown
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Sarah Silverman
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Sarah Silverman
Is going for ones you don't want anymore.
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Sarah Silverman
And Woody okay, so I am going to change because I am curious. Have you ever directed a movie?
Woody Harrelson
No.
Sarah Silverman
Aren't you thinking about it?
Woody Harrelson
I don't. I. Yeah, well, now I'm thinking about it only because I just joined the Director's Guild because I directed my special and I didn't know I'd have to join the Director's Guild, but I guess I did. And so now I'm in it. And I was like, well, I should direct something.
Sarah Silverman
You should.
Woody Harrelson
You're hired to star in it.
Sarah Silverman
Oh, yes.
Woody Harrelson
Okay.
Sarah Silverman
You do need older people standing next to young people. You don't realize how young those people are. So I figure I've got a job forever.
Woody Harrelson
Oh, my God, you're gorgeous and brilliant.
Sarah Silverman
See, that was false humility. Thank you. But go on. This is what I was trying to elicit.
Woody Harrelson
Yeah, yeah. This is you. I feel like you have not even reached the sweet spot.
Sarah Silverman
Yeah. It's so egotistical. People ask me about career, and I don't want to think about career because that ego in me goes, no, you haven't really done it yet, Ted. And I know that's insane because I've had lovely blessings and wonderful writers and all that stuff for so long, but I do feel that way in a rocking chair when I'm immobile, I'll think about my career.
Woody Harrelson
No, I think your career is mind blowing. And I honestly believe that you have not reached the pinnacle of it. I've said this without you in the room. I feel this way. I find your acting absolutely thrilling.
Sarah Silverman
This is so cool, because I was. I knew how much I liked you and I had been. No, no. And I've been around you, and I know you're totally wonderful to be around, but you're so smart, bright and fast that I thought I was a little nervous to be talking to you because you're so smart. I know. That's my truth. And now I'm just a pussycat. I am so mellow and happy. All those things.
Woody Harrelson
Oh, I can Tell you fun memories I have with just the few times we've been together.
Sarah Silverman
Oh, let's do it. We'll just fade the sound as we go. Out of view. Complimentary.
Woody Harrelson
Remember when songs used to fade? Fade out?
Sarah Silverman
Yes.
Woody Harrelson
That's interesting. Like, how do they do that live, anyway? Yeah. I'm smart and bright, but I'm not fast. I'm slow.
Sarah Silverman
Slow.
Woody Harrelson
Like, I don't know. My brain. Yeah. I don't think fast. Terrible at improv.
Sarah Silverman
Me too. I get scared. I will improv. I mean, improv is really just working off the other person and not saying no. Kind of basically, you know, and it's what you're taught in acting classes. You know, don't do anything until the other person makes you. And so I don't know where I was going with this.
Woody Harrelson
Oh, I think in a scene, you could do it because you're just being truthful with the part that you are. But, like, when you go see an improv show.
Sarah Silverman
No, no, no.
Woody Harrelson
I'm not that kind of comedian. I have rules.
Sarah Silverman
They wrap it up and bring it back, and an hour later. Yes. No, I couldn't do that either.
Woody Harrelson
I'm gonna tell you a story that you. And I'm gonna try to remember, and then you can fill it in, because it's a story you told when I did Born to Death. And it was so funny where you. Everyone was getting into having beehives to save the bees. And you and Mary had just bought the whole thing, the outfits and the equipment and everything, but then you never did it. And then you ended up just wearing the outfits for Halloween for many years.
Sarah Silverman
Many years. And then also we even bought fake bees so that they could hang from our.
Woody Harrelson
Fake bees.
Sarah Silverman
Yeah, actors. I mean, we. We had the bees, and we were going for it, and then we got. We went out and bought the wardrobe. Because that's important.
Woody Harrelson
Yes.
Sarah Silverman
And we looked fantastic. And then we both got jobs out of town. When we came back, the bees had swarmed and left. They were so totally bored. But we loved our outfits, and we made use of them.
Woody Harrelson
I love it so much. And then also, we were talking. We had so much. I had such a good time talking with you guys and just gabbing in between shots. It was just a fun.
Sarah Silverman
It was a great set.
Woody Harrelson
Yeah. And you started talking about something that happened while you were doing Becker. And Jason Schwarzman was like, ted. And he goes. And you go, I'm sorry. He doesn't like when I talk about the Becker years. It's just so funny. I'M not reiterating it. Well, it was so good.
Sarah Silverman
I've never had more fun. That was a great trio.
Woody Harrelson
The dynamic between you guys.
Sarah Silverman
Zach Galvanakis was just.
Woody Harrelson
Oh, God, right, Zack. Who's in that?
Sarah Silverman
Yeah, he wasn't in your scene, but.
Woody Harrelson
And what a mensch.
Sarah Silverman
What a mensch. Yeah.
Woody Harrelson
His wedding. And that was the other story. I was sitting with you guys at the wedding.
Sarah Silverman
That's right.
Woody Harrelson
And I just remember a couple of things from that wedding, but one with you, which is someone was making a toast, and this happens to you all the time. So it was. And then the toast was over, and everyone was to say cheers and clink glasses. And you were across from me, and I went, cheer. And you were like, I know, I know. Cheers. But the other thing about that wedding was so great, and the thing I loved the most was. I don't know if you remember this, his brother Greg. Greg, yeah. You know, he's from North Carolina. And, you know, and his brother Greg got up and made a toast, and all these brilliant, pithy, you know, comic minds had gone up and gave brilliant toasts. And here comes his brother. And his brother's like. It was just such a beautiful flip. He goes. He tells a story. And I think everyone. We're all kind of. Our hearts are sinking because he's like, you know, I was. You know, I'm Zach's big brother, and I bully him. And I remember one time I pulled all his clothes off and I. And I pushed him outside, and I locked the door, and he's saying it like it's funny. And I think all of our nerd hearts were breaking. Like, oh, he's a bully. And he ends it by saying, and you know what Zach did? And then he gets completely choked up. And he said he loved me anyway. And it was like. It went from a bummer speech to the most beautiful speech I've ever heard. It was so beautiful.
Sarah Silverman
I also remember Zach's vows, where he broke into tears four or five times, and then he finally finished. Then he went to Quinn. His wife top that.
Woody Harrelson
Well, I guess the Galifianakis men are big criers.
Sarah Silverman
Marriage. How do you feel about marriage?
Woody Harrelson
You know, never was.
Sarah Silverman
Never one way or the other.
Woody Harrelson
No, never was. I never wanted to get married. I just never. I always. With people would push it off. And then with my love. Now, Rory, five years ago, I said, well, let's wait five years and we'll talk about it. And he goes, recently, well, there's like, this. August is five years. And I was like, what I realized is, I mean, I love him and I want to be with him forever, but I don't know. Marriage, of course, started out as, like, the woman was property. And of course, it grew into something equal and beautiful, but now in this world, it feels like property. I know that wouldn't be for us. I just. I don't want to do it. I don't want to get the government involved. I don't want to get this government involved. I will promise him to love him forever.
Sarah Silverman
I know many couples that have never gotten married and are madly in love with each other.
Woody Harrelson
Yeah. And I also don't want him to relax.
Sarah Silverman
Nice. Okay, this is the first thing you said that really makes sense.
Woody Harrelson
Yeah. You know what I mean? I don't want him to relax. I want him to always try. And he does. He does.
Sarah Silverman
Boy, Mary's got me on my toes. I find her the most fascinating person I've ever met. And one day my farts are funny, the next day she's outraged. I can never quite tell where we're gonna go.
Woody Harrelson
It's so true.
Sarah Silverman
Have you got to hang with her?
Woody Harrelson
No, no.
Sarah Silverman
And I love split seconds.
Woody Harrelson
Oh, I. I love her.
Sarah Silverman
I love women who are sisters. I love women who love men, but are sisters.
Woody Harrelson
Yeah, yeah. You know, yeah. That's like you have your girlfriends and they're your ride or dies. And sisters, too. I have three sisters.
Sarah Silverman
My wife is a full on feminist, and you'd never know it. Do you know what I mean? It's not something she wears on her sleeve because she also happens to love men. But don't get confused.
Woody Harrelson
Well, feminists look like all sorts of people. I bet you're a feminist.
Sarah Silverman
I am in the making. No, not in the making. In the constant growing and learning.
Woody Harrelson
Yes.
Sarah Silverman
I was stunned to discover that 90% of what comes out of my mouth is mansplaining. And I don't mean just technically. I mean, I fucking do it constantly.
Woody Harrelson
But I mean, also, sometimes Rory will go to explain something to me, and he goes, well, do you want me to tell you what I know, or would that be manslaying? No, no, no. I want you to tell me what you know. But it's nice that he takes a beat.
Sarah Silverman
Mansplaining is when the woman has to patiently go along with it to not hurt the person's feelings. But they already know this information.
Woody Harrelson
Yeah, women aren't perfect. But the thing is, we have all been raised in a toxic patriarchy, and it's hurt all people. I mean, listen, my boyfriend, Rory, is just in these past years, realizing what he was raised in and what he was terrified of to be called gay. You're gay. You know, he's, he's working on it. I, I think he's working on stand up on this. And it's so brilliant. But just the conceit is just he was so afraid of being gay, you know, quote unquote, whatever, like you're gay, you know, whatever that would mean. But.
Sarah Silverman
Right.
Woody Harrelson
That he didn't experience things. You know what I mean? Like he, he kept himself from doing any kind of thing he might be interested in because of terror. I mean, masculinity is terror. It's fear. It's fear based. I mean, that he would say the thought of being sad or expressing a vulnerable feeling was not an option. So what he's fighting now in unlearning and re. Educating himself is that what would happen is he would feel, and this is true with so many people, and specifically men, is you feel shame or you feel sadness and it instantly converts into outward rage because that's the only emotion that's okay for a man around sad. Do you feel this?
Sarah Silverman
Yeah. I don't know.
Woody Harrelson
I mean, you're really one of a kind, but not really.
Sarah Silverman
But I'm also full of shit. And Mary calls me her foe. Christ. F A, U, X. It's like I'm always pretending to be holier than thou and all of that, but I was raised. Yeah. I mean, I, I never, I never had. It didn't come up where you were allowed your flaws or. Yeah, oh, def. Here's my problem.
Woody Harrelson
That's the biggest thing.
Sarah Silverman
I saw my father, who was kind of not emotionally available. He loved me, he was proud of me. He was all of those things, but he was not really, truly emotionally truthful with himself. And so I'd. So he'd be gruff when he got to an emotion or something.
Woody Harrelson
Right.
Sarah Silverman
And I'd watch then my mother be kind of the pacifist and the understanding and the taking care of people's feelings. I went, ah, okay, I'm going that way. But that way wasn't a choice. It took me therapy in many years, into my 40s before I went, okay, yes, I am the silhouette won't change that much. That I am a sensitive, kind, nurturing, thoughtful kind of person. But I'm also an asshole, a dick, and a vengeful, pissy little. All of those things are true. And if you. But if you don't acknowledge the dark side of yourself, then when you be nice, you're choosing to be nice if you know that you're both.
Woody Harrelson
Yeah.
Sarah Silverman
And I wasn't allowed to be both. I was only allowed to be kind, gentle, nurturing, and all of that. So I'm getting better.
Woody Harrelson
That's interesting. I think that's a unique, fairly unique male experience in America. Would you think they're more.
Sarah Silverman
They're more out there than you'd think? I really do believe. But. But no, it's not the vocal verbal one you get thrown at you most of the time.
Woody Harrelson
Well, the loudest. You know what I mean? I mean, and also there are. There are just things men. Good, kind, loving, you know, eager to do the right thing. Men have no idea about the female experience because whereas women have always had to be able to see the world through a male lens in order to survive, men don't need to do that in order to survive. So there are so many things that I'll tell Rory that he absolutely never knew about women or women's rights in this country.
Sarah Silverman
We are so entitled that it's hard to let in how entitled we are as a male.
Woody Harrelson
I said, when do you think women got the right to get a loan at a bank?
Sarah Silverman
God, when was it?
Woody Harrelson
1988. Without her husband's signature.
Sarah Silverman
Wow.
Woody Harrelson
I was 17. Crazy.
Sarah Silverman
Yes. When is it that women get equal pay? Oops. Not yet. No, not yet.
Woody Harrelson
And people say, well, women only get paid 77, 78 cents on the dollar. That's white women.
Sarah Silverman
Yeah.
Woody Harrelson
And in closing, I. I am so.
Sarah Silverman
Tickled pink to sit next to you and talk. I admire you so much and I'm sorry, I don't that I put up all these barriers of who am I? I just have had so much fun talking to you.
Woody Harrelson
No, I.
Sarah Silverman
And you're so sweet and generous.
Woody Harrelson
I love you. I want to be friends in real life.
Sarah Silverman
And you would love, love.
Woody Harrelson
Mary, come on. Rory and I are going to come visit you.
Sarah Silverman
Yeah. All right. That was truly an honor to have that time with Sarah. I delight in how bright and serious.
Ted Danson
And funny and fully human she is. I hope you love that as much as I did. That's our show for this week. Special thanks to our friends at Team Coco. If you enjoyed this episode, send it to a loved one. Find us on YouTube where you can.
Sarah Silverman
Watch full length episodes.
Ted Danson
As always, subscribe on your favorite podcast.
Sarah Silverman
App and leave a great rating and review on Apple Podcasts. We'll have more for you next week. Where everybody knows your name.
Nick Leow
To where everybody knows your name with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson. Sometimes the show is produced by me, Nick Leow. Our executive producers are Adam Sachs, Jeff Ross and myself. Sarah Fedorovich is our supervising producer. Engineering and mixing by Joanna Samuel with support from Eduardo Perez, research by Alyssa Grohl talent booking by Paula Davis and Gina Bautista. Our theme music is by Woody Harrelson, Antony Yen, Mary Steenbergen and John Osborne.
Unknown
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*Podcast Summary: "Sarah Silverman" Episode of Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson
Release Date: May 28, 2025
In this emotionally resonant and intellectually stimulating episode of Where Everybody Knows Your Name, hosts Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson engage in a heartfelt conversation with acclaimed comedian Sarah Silverman. The discussion delves deep into personal experiences, the evolution of comedy, and the complexities of grief, offering listeners a blend of humor, vulnerability, and profound insights.
The episode opens with Ted Danson warmly welcoming Sarah Silverman, highlighting her multifaceted career as a stand-up comedian, actress, writer, and even a musical composer.
Ted Danson [01:05]: "Sarah Silverman. You know her from her many roles across TV and film, including SNL, Mr. Show, the Sarah Silverman Program, Wreck-It Ralph, and many more."
Sarah’s latest endeavor, her Netflix special Post Mortem, is introduced, focusing on grieving the loss of her parents. The hosts express excitement about her work.
Sarah Silverman [01:30]: "It's called Post Mortem and it's about grieving the loss of her parents."
The conversation transitions to Sarah and Woody's collaboration on the HBO series Bored to Death. They reminisce about memorable scenes, including a humorous moment where Woody's character asks them to massage his feet.
Woody Harrelson [02:04]: "Yeah, I made them rub my feet. It was such a great scene for me."
Sarah shares her anticipation for Woody’s upcoming special, expressing admiration for his comedic talents.
Sarah Silverman [04:15]: "I cannot wait to see what you do with it in Post Mortem."
A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to discussing the profound topic of grief. Woody opens up about the passing of his parents, sharing poignant memories and the emotional turmoil he experienced.
Woody Harrelson [06:11]: "Oh, my parents. My dad and my stepmother died. It'll be two years ago in May now. And, you know, we were really close."
Sarah parallels her own experiences with losing her mother, detailing the emotional challenges and the coping mechanisms she employed.
Sarah Silverman [14:49]: "I watched my father, who was kind of not emotionally available... and I'd watch my mother be kind of the pacifist and the understanding and the taking care of people's feelings."
Their candid exchanges provide listeners with a raw and authentic look into how public figures handle personal tragedies, emphasizing the universal nature of grief.
Shifting gears, the trio discusses a viral moment involving Matt Damon on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Woody shares the behind-the-scenes effort to create a humorous song, highlighting Matt Damon's commitment and the spontaneity of the project.
Woody Harrelson [23:42]: "We wrote the song in a fury of just like, wah. And we recorded it and one of the guys did Matt's voice."
Sarah reflects on the enduring humor and relevance of the sketch, noting its "evergreen" quality.
Sarah Silverman [23:25]: "It was great. It does."
A substantial segment of the conversation delves into the challenges comedians face in the current socio-political climate. Woody candidly discusses his past comedic material that he no longer finds appropriate, reflecting on the responsibility that comes with humor.
Woody Harrelson [29:32]: "Racist. And, you know, and in my view, it was like... I'm liberal. I'm not racist. So I can say racist things in comedy."
Sarah adds her perspective on the permanence of comedic content in the digital age, emphasizing the importance of intent versus perception.
Sarah Silverman [33:29]: "I had all my little spiritual, religious, philosophical thoughts... but I realized... I don't know."
They explore the fine line between edgy comedy and offensive material, acknowledging the evolving standards and the need for continual self-reflection.
The dialogue transitions to more personal topics, including Woody's thoughts on marriage and his relationship with Rory. Woody expresses his unconventional views on marriage, highlighting the desire for lifelong commitment without formal ties.
Woody Harrelson [45:16]: "I don't want to do it. I don't want to get the government involved. I will promise him to love him forever."
Sarah shares her journey towards self-acceptance and the challenges of balancing vulnerability with her public persona.
Sarah Silverman [50:36]: "I was raised... It took me therapy in many years, into my 40s before I went, okay, yes, I am the silhouette won't change that much."
They also discuss the impact of societal expectations on personal identities, particularly focusing on masculinity and feminism.
Woody Harrelson [52:11]: "Women have always had to be able to see the world through a male lens in order to survive, men don't need to do that in order to survive."
As the conversation wraps up, there is a heartfelt exchange of admiration and gratitude among the hosts and Sarah.
Sarah Silverman [53:27]: "I admire you so much and I'm sorry, I don't know that I put up all these barriers of who am I... I've had so much fun talking to you."
Woody Harrelson [53:44]: "I love you. I want to be friends in real life."
This episode stands out for its profound exploration of personal loss, the evolution of comedic expression, and the intricate dynamics of human relationships. Sarah Silverman's openness about her grief and Woody Harrelson's reflections on his parents' passing offer listeners a deeply personal glimpse into the lives of these beloved figures. The conversation seamlessly blends humor with serious discourse, making it both engaging and enlightening.
Notable Quotes:
This episode of Where Everybody Knows Your Name masterfully balances humor with heartfelt conversations, providing listeners with both laughs and meaningful reflections. Whether you're a long-time fan or a first-time listener, this episode offers valuable insights into the lives and minds of some of the most influential figures in entertainment today.