Sarah Silverman Gets in the Gutter for a Great Cause

By Kara Warner Posted Oct 30th 2009 02:42PM

At first glance, Project ALS' "Bowling Experience" benefit at NYC's Lucky Strike Lanes last night seemed primed for some cuthroat celeb competition. Who doesn't love a heated game of bowling? However due to a) the worthwhile purpose of the event: to raise funds for scientific research and, ultimately, a cure for ALS and b) the friendly celebs in attendance: Sarah Silverman, Jesse L. Martin, Justin Theroux, Caroline Rhea, Josh Charles, Anne Meara, Jerry Stiller, Janeane Garofolo, Katie Couric, Richard Kind, Tom Cavanagh, Fisher Stevens, etc., the atmosphere was one giant warm, non-confrontational fuzzy.

"I got involved through a mutual friend," Sarah Silverman told PopEater. "It seems so hopeful, they're making such strides. Whenever you can do something, it's easy to come." Silverman wasn't as hopeful about her bowling game though. "I never know if I'm going to have a good night or a bad night, bowling-wise. It's pretty unpredictable."

Anne Meara and her husband Jerry Stiller, who attended in place of their son, Ben Stiller (the event's co-chair, he couldn't attend due to the filming of his next "Meet the Parents/Fockers" installment) came to show their support for the organization.

"I don't do sports," Meara said of her bowling skills. "Look at me, why would you think I do sports?" Meara instead turned her sights on Sara Silverman. "I told her she should go back with Jimmy Kimmell, she doesn't listen," she said. "I thought they were cute together."

Stiller, who didn't hear the Silverman love advice comment, brought the conversation back to the topic at hand - bowling.

"I'm a non-bowler, I don't even go to a bowling alley. I was brought up in Brooklyn and in my part of Brooklyn they didn't have bowling alleys, they just had alleys. My recreation was going to baseball games, but bowling has eluded me."

TV's Tom Cavanagh (Ed) and Josh Charles (The Good Wife) shared hints of bowling skills, but were careful not to mention past prowess, not current.

"I spent four years on bowling lanes," Cavanagh said (if we remember correctly, a lot of scenes on "Ed" took place at a bowling alley his character owned). "I may not be a good bowler but I'm a very fancy bowler. When it comes to trick shots, I feel I can hold my own. Consider yourself warned."

"I bowled a 244 one time," Charles told us. "I got my own ball, had it fitted to my hand. I kid you not, I made a copy of the score sheet and the next time I went bowling someone stole my ball and I've never matched it since. So I'm not a great bowler but I had a game where I shot 244. I think maybe Richard Kind stole it."

Speaking of Richard Kind, Caroline Rhea had some surprising choice words (and the only trash-talk of the night) for the "A Serious Man" star: "I will totally kick Richard Kind's ass, no matter what it is," Rhea told us. "I'm not even talking about bowling, I'm going to kick his ass just because he's here."

Again, while we would have encouraged the competitive display Rhea mentioned, the warm fuzzy feelings dominated the evening. For the celebs who did bowl, it was sporadically, and we didn't see anyone keeping score. Mostly folks spent time catching up with old friends and making new ones. We spotted Cavanagh not showing off his fancy bowling moves, but chatting with "Law and Order" man Jesse L. Martin. Josh Charles, Justin Theroux and Fisher Stevens held court at a pool table, and Rhea, Silverman and Kind made the rounds talking with attendees and taking photos with fans.

Tags: caroline rhea, CarolineRhea, janeane garofalo, JaneaneGarofalo, katie couric, KatieCouric, sarah silverman, SarahSilverman