Many of the headlines related to the debut of Sarah Silverman's latest stand-up special "Someone You Love" in late May noted the ways that Silverman wasn't trying to make headlines. It's not as if she ever has over her 30 years in the comedy game, although she's certainly fueled her share of outrage over the years. But she's aware of the expectations some attach to new comedy specials from one of the "greats," as she somewhat jokingly refers to herself in the special.
"Someone You Love," though, operates with clear and simple aims. First, it fulfills Silverman's contractual obligation to produce a special for HBO, her fourth in 18 years. Second, it is earnest in the way it pokes at its targets while consciously refraining from provoking the audience — a change from the supposedly "equally opportunity offender" comedy she and her peers plied in the early 2000s.
