Sarah Sherman Unleashes Bizarre HBO Special With John Waters Cameo

Comedian Sarah Sherman is bringing her shocking stage persona to HBO. Her first stand-up special, “Sarah Squirm: Live + In The Flesh,” debuts on December 12. The show features grotesque practical effects and absurdist humor. It marks a major platform for her long-developing alter ego.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the special was years in the making. Sherman assured HBO that no real genitals are shown during the performance. The project blends her DIY aesthetic with professional production design.

A Visceral Assault on the Senses

The special begins with Sherman reassembling from a pile of fake guts. She describes the show as an “assault on the senses.” It aims to translate the intense energy of her live club performances to television.

She worked closely with director Cody Critcheloe for two years. The set was designed by the team behind the Broadway hit “Oh, Mary!”. Sherman calls the special a blend of old DIY videos and new professional prosthetics.

Her friend Izzy created labia prosthetics for the show. Sherman had attempted to make them herself years earlier. The final product represents a evolution in her craft.

Balancing “Sarah Squirm” with “Sarah Normal” on SNL

Sherman is also a featured player on Saturday Night Live. She is known for bizarre Weekend Update cameos aimed at Colin Jost. On the show, she pitches more conventional sketches she calls “Sarah Normal” ideas.

She admits her sketch pitch batting average is not high. The experience has rounded her out as a performer. She says getting the SNL job from her raw stand-up audition felt like a “freak accident.”

The special includes material from that very SNL audition. It features jokes about her family and her body. Sherman states this special is the truest expression of her comedic voice.

Sarah Sherman’s HBO special solidifies her unique place in comedy. The “Sarah Squirm” persona is a fully realized, intentionally disgusting art project. It proves alternative comedy has a home on major platforms.

Info at your fingertips

What is Sarah Sherman’s HBO special about?

“Sarah Squirm: Live + In The Flesh” is her debut stand-up special. It features her absurd, visceral, and intentionally gross comedy persona. The show includes elaborate practical effects and pre-taped video segments.

How did John Waters get involved?

Sherman wrote Waters a letter expressing her admiration. She included a drawing of her special’s opening scene. Waters called her from a Baltimore number and agreed to film the introduction.

What material did she use for her SNL audition?

Her SNL audition featured stand-up about her family and her body. Contrary to popular belief, she did not perform multiple characters. She was hired based on being her authentic, bizarre self.

How does she describe her comedy style?

Sherman calls it an “assault on the senses.” She is influenced by surreal and aesthetic-driven artists like Julio Torres. She aims to transport audiences away from a mundane world.