TL;DR: Sarah Sherman (aka Sarah Squirm) is the neon-clad, body-horror-loving disruptor of Saturday Night Live. Her comedy is loud, "gross," and surreal—which is exactly why Gen Z and Gen Alpha are obsessed with her. If your kid is watching clips of a woman with giant prosthetic eyeballs or a talking "Meatman," don't panic. It's not "brain rot"; it's a high-art version of the absurdist humor they already see on TikTok and YouTube.
Ask our chatbot if your middle schooler is ready for SNL's "gross-out" era
If you’ve tuned into Saturday Night Live lately, you’ve probably noticed someone who looks like they fell through a 1990s Nickelodeon slime vat and landed in a high-fashion dumpster. That’s Sarah Sherman.
Before joining the cast, she was a legend in the Chicago "alt-comedy" scene under the name Sarah Squirm. Her brand is "body horror"—think practical effects, fake blood, bulging eyes, and skin-crawling textures—mixed with a manic, 1950s-game-show-host energy. On SNL, she’s become the go-to for sketches that feel less like traditional political satire and more like a fever dream.
She is famous for her "Weekend Update" segments where she relentlessly bullies Colin Jost, and for sketches like "The Meatman" or "Eyes," where her body undergoes some kind of bizarre, prosthetic transformation. It’s loud, it’s messy, and it’s a massive departure from the "polished" comedy of the 2010s.
To understand why Sarah Sherman is a viral sensation, you have to understand the current state of internet humor. Our kids are growing up in a digital landscape defined by Skibidi Toilet and "deep-fried" memes. They find the "uncanny valley" (stuff that looks almost human but is slightly off) hilarious rather than scary.
- Anti-Aesthetic: In a world of filtered Instagram faces, Sherman is intentionally "ugly" and "gross." It’s a rebellion against the pressure to be perfect.
- Visual Overload: Her sketches move at the speed of a TikTok feed. There’s always something bright, loud, or shocking happening.
- Surrealism as Relatability: For a generation dealing with some pretty heavy global vibes, absurdist humor—where nothing makes sense and everything is a bit grotesque—feels more honest than a traditional sitcom.
While SNL has always had its "weird" performers (think Gilda Radner or Chris Farley), Sherman is pushing the boundary of what broadcast TV allows. For parents, this means the "safe" legacy show you used to watch might occasionally feature a sketch where someone's intestines are played like a xylophone.
However, there’s a silver lining here: Sherman’s work is incredibly creative. She isn't just being gross for the sake of it; she’s a master of practical effects and costume design. If you have a kid interested in theater, makeup, or film production, her work is actually a masterclass in how to build a visual brand.
If your teen is a fan of the "Squirm" style, they’re likely looking for more "alt-comedy"—humor that breaks the fourth wall and embraces the weird. Here are a few ways to channel that interest into other high-quality media:
This is the gold standard of modern absurdist comedy. It’s awkward, loud, and frequently features people who don't know how to behave in social situations. It’s a favorite among the same crowd that loves Sherman’s "Weekend Update" segments.
- Age Range: 14+ (due to language and some mature themes).
If you have younger kids (10-12) who are drawn to Sherman's colorful, slightly creepy visual style, this is the perfect bridge. It’s a cartoon that starts simple but dives deep into surrealist lore and "body horror lite" elements that feel very much in line with the Squirm aesthetic.
- Age Range: 8-12+
If you want to show them the "ancestor" of Sarah Sherman’s humor, this 90s classic is it. The close-up, detailed drawings of gross-out moments (sweat, hair follicles, rotten teeth) are exactly where Sherman’s visual language comes from.
- Age Range: 12+ (It's weirder than you remember).
For a cinematic touchpoint, the original Tim Burton classic (or the 2024 sequel) captures that same "spooky-meets-funny" vibe. It uses practical effects to make the grotesque look whimsical.
- Age Range: 10+
Sarah Sherman’s content generally falls into the 14+ category, mostly because it airs on Saturday Night Live and deals with "adult" themes (though usually through the lens of a giant puppet).
The "Gross" Factor: If your kid is squeamish, Sherman is a "no." But if they are the type of kid who likes Roblox "horror" games or watches special effects makeup tutorials on YouTube, they’ll likely handle it fine. The "horror" is almost always played for laughs, not for scares.
The "Mean" Factor: On "Weekend Update," Sherman’s character is a classic "mean girl" who picks on the host. It’s important to talk to younger teens about the "roast" culture in comedy—understanding that she and Colin Jost are actually friends in real life and the "bullying" is a scripted bit.
The term "brain rot" is thrown around a lot lately to describe low-effort, high-stimulation content like Skibidi Toilet. Parents often lump Sarah Sherman into this category because her sketches are loud and nonsensical.
But here’s the No-BS take: Sarah Sherman is the opposite of brain rot.
Her work is deeply intentional. She’s bringing a specific art history (Vaudeville, 1980s splatter-horror, Chicago clowning) to a mainstream stage. Watching her work can actually be an entry point into talking about:
- Practical Effects: How do they make those giant eyes move?
- Satire: Why is she making fun of the "perfect" SNL host?
- Gender in Comedy: How she uses "grossness" to reclaim her space in a male-dominated field.
Ask our chatbot for tips on discussing satire with your kids
If you find yourself watching a Sarah Squirm sketch with your kid and you’re feeling that "what am I looking at?" cringe, use it as a bridge.
- Ask: "What part of this is actually funny to you? Is it the look of the character or what she’s saying?"
- Observe: "The makeup work on that prosthetic is actually wild. I wonder how long she had to sit in the chair for that."
- Contextualize: "She reminds me of Beetlejuice. Do you think she’s trying to be scary or just weird?"
Sarah Sherman is the "Queen of Gross" because she speaks the visual language of the internet fluently. While her sketches might make you want to look away, they are a fascinating look at what the next generation finds funny: the messy, the surreal, and the unapologetically weird.
As long as your kid understands the difference between "TV gross" and "real-life gross," there’s no harm in letting them enjoy the Squirm. In fact, it might be the most creative thing they’re watching on a screen all week.
- Watch together: Check out the "Sarah News" segments on YouTube to see if her vibe fits your family's humor.
- Explore the art: If they love the look, look up behind-the-scenes clips of the SNL makeup department.
- Set boundaries: If the body horror gets too intense, stick to her more traditional character work.