Sarah Silverman Releases Netflix PostMortem Special on Parents' Deaths

Sarah Silverman's Netflix special "PostMortem" marks a deeply personal and comedic exploration of grief following the deaths of her father and stepmother just days apart in May 2023. The special, filmed mid-tour at New York's Beacon Theatre, blends Silverman's dark humor with heartfelt stories about her parents, especially her father, Donald “Schleppy” Silverman, whose eccentric personality and voicemails provide much of the material. Silverman balances the pain of loss with wit, sharing moments from caregiving to navigating funeral homes, and capturing the absurdity and emotional depth of mourning. Critics note the special's raw and vulnerable tone, highlighting Silverman's ability to transform her profound personal tragedy into a celebration of life rather than a somber memorial. This approach fits within a broader cultural moment where death and mortality are being explored with nuance and humor in various art forms, including Broadway's current season. Overall, "PostMortem" is described as a bold, fearless, and deeply human examination of love, death, and memory that resonates beyond Silverman's personal narrative.