The lowdown:  'The Sarah Silverman Program' is a US sitcom that is broadcast on the Comedy Central cable channel in
its home market and the Paramount Comedy 1 in the UK. The first episode debuted in the US on 1 February 2007, and a
total of 22 episodes over two seasons have been made to date, although a third series is in production. The series stars 
comedian and actress Sarah Silverman as a character called Sarah Silverman, in the same way that 'Seinfeld' starred
Jerry Seinfeld as a character with the same name, and like the earlier show, the series centres on Sarah and three of her
friends, who often spend a lot of time sitting around in a coffee house. The other main characters are Sarah's younger
sister, Laura Silverman (played by her actual sister, Laura, who is older than Sarah in real life), and a gay couple, Brian
Spukowski and Steve Myron, who live next to Sarah.

The episode: 'I Thought My Dad Was Dead, But It Turns Out He's Not' is the 14th episode of the second season, and
was broadcast on Comedy Central on 20 November 2008. Sarah had always believed that her father Max died when she
was young, but she is shocked to see him alive and well in a bookshop. After lying about being a CIA agent, he admits
that he simply couldn't handle being a father. Max and Sarah quickly reconnect and form a Lisa Loeb tribute band, the
Loeb Trotters, and go on tour, where they are a big hit. Meanwhile, Brian has paid $175 for the complete DVD box set
of his all-time favourite TV show, a science fiction series called Dr Lazer Rage. Brian and Steve fall out over the amount
that Brian spent on the box set, because it means they cannot pay for their rented sofa, and Steve goes on the road with
Max and Sarah. Brian is watching his DVDs when Dr Lazer Rage (Christopher Eccleston) speaks to him directly from the
TV screen, and urges him to make up with Steve. The two are reunited, while Max dies in a bus crash while he is touring
Canada in a production of Les Miserables.

The verdict:  Like many US sitcoms, particularly ones that are made for cable TV, 'The Sarah Silverman Program' is an
acquired taste that will not appeal to all viewers. However, people who appreciate the style of humour in this show will find
much to enjoy in this series. 

Video clip:  Dr Lazer Rage      8.3mb

 
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