‘The Sarah Silverman Program’ Ends Season One
Sarah Silverman’s New Hit Leaves Comedy Central on a Ratings High
People love to throw around the adjective quirky when talking about things that don’t fit into the normal scheme of things, especially with regards to TV shows and characters. Well, I say if the word fits, then go right ahead and use it, which is why I’m applying it to actress-comic-writer Sarah Silverman‘s new series, descriptively titled The Sarah Silverman Program. An oddly hilarious mixture of scripted vignettes and musical numbers, the show became an instantaneous hit while familiarizing viewers with Silverman’s unconventional take on those little events in life that help define it.
The final installment of the 6-episode debut season closes out the successful rookie run with a cameo appearance by Heroes standout Masi Oka, who plays a store clerk, as well as former Oscar nominee Larry Hankin (live-action short film Solly’s Diner). Predictably, Silverman once again gets mixed up in all kinds of unexpected shenanigans during a simple trip to find new batteries for her TV remote in order to switch the channel from a never-ending charity marathon. Comedy Central officially renewed the half-hour program, its highest-rated new prime-time show in three years, for a sophomore season on February 13, meaning fans can look forward to another 14 quirky episodes starting next fall. [OnTV Wednesday, 7 March 2007, Comedy Central, 10:30pm EST]
Other Good Stuff on TV Tonight:
- Crash: Writer-director-producer Paul Haggis’ tepid new NBC crime drama The Black Donnellys might not be all that special, but Academy Award voters thought his 2004 Best Picture winner was. [TMC/8:00]
- Crossing Jordan—HUBRIS: Bloggers beware! In their first appearance in their new time slot, moved from Sunday nights at 10, Jordan and company take on a serial killer self-named The Hangman who likes to do his dirty deeds by blog. [NBC/9:00]
- Good Eats—FRUIT TEN FROM SPACE: Knowledgeable host Alton Brown tells us all about the mysterious, strange-looking, ridiculously red fruit called pomegranate. [Food Network/10:00]
- Sit Down Comedy With David Steinberg—ROSEANNE: Raucous comedian-actress Roseanne Barr discusses some of her personal business with host Steinberg. [TV Land/10:00]
- South Park—WITH APOLOGIES TO JESSE JACKSON: Oh boy! The tykes are at it again in the series’ 11th-season premiere. And with a title like this one, you can pretty much guess which racial slur is getting bandied about and causing a noxious stink. [Comedy Central/10:00]
- The Wedding Bells—FOR WHOM THE BELLS TOLL: In this new dramedy from ace series creator David E. Kelley (Doogie Howser, M.D., Picket Fences, Chicago Hope, The Practice, Ally McBeal, Boston Public, and Boston Legal, among others), the focus is on the lives of three sisters who inherit their parents’ nuptial business. [Fox/9:00]
All times are PM and EST/Eastern Standard Time
Sarah Silverman photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Times
