Sarah Silverman gives birth, experiences being homeless and ditches all her friends for better ones in the new season of her show, The Sarah Silverman Program, which premieres Oct. 8 on Comedy Central.

The Emmy-award-winning, controversial comedian, who generally jokes about racism, sexism and religion, debuts her latest acts on this season’s show. Silverman got herself in the election this year with a humorous project called “The Great Schlep”-which according the TheGreatSchlep.com, “Aims to have Jewish grandchildren visit their grandparents in Florida, educate them about Obama and therefore swing the crucial Florida vote in his favor.”

The Chronicle caught up with Silverman to chat about the show; her dog, Duck; and her bedtime routine that may be a little different from what most celebrities would brag about.

The Chronicle: What influences your writing for the show?[With] the songs, there’s no real format. A lot of times, Chris Romano, one of the writers, will start singing a line for like, days in a row; it will just be stuck in his head, and it will grow on us. A story will suddenly kind of fit with it, or it will inspire a story, even if it’s in a really weird roundabout way.

What kinds of topics are going to be parodied this season?

Well, there’s an episode where Laura [Silverman, Sarah’s sister] shaves her pubes. But it’s like, heartbreaking because her bush was her memory of our mother. Honestly, it’s so sweet. If I had to describe the show, it’s pubes with heart. You know the first episode, you can say, “This is just about diarrhea and wet dreams,” but for me, the first episode is about corporate America creating problems and then marketing solutions. So it depends on how you want to see it.

What’s the writing process like for ‘The Sarah Silverman Program’?

We usually sit around in my living room and we have a big board. Everybody pitches ideas, and we write it out on cards, unless I hate it. We kind of mix and match, see what fits, see what inspires us. See if one person’s idea becomes something. And someone will say, “Or what about this? Or this?” There are four acts to an episode and we prod out a really, really, really detailed outline. Once we have that, one of the writers, usually the one whose germ of the idea it was, will go off and write it.

How do you handle acting, directing and producing the show?

It’s totally overwhelming, but I go into a zone. I have a great group of people around me and we all want the same thing. I really thrive on being in charge. When we’re shooting and when we’re working, my friends don’t understand that I can’t hang out. I work all day, and then I race home and it’s just a race to get to sleep for the next day. I wash my face, I take my various medications, maybe [take] one puff of pot to help me sleep, watch a little “Law and Order” and by the time “order” happens I’m sleeping.

How did you get involved with the Great Schlep project?

There are some people that were kind of indirectly involved in the campaign. They came to me, and I was so excited because I really wanted to be able to do something. When they explained that the people that vote in Florida are these elderly Jews and they’re not planning on voting for Obama because his name is scary and [because of]tons of misinformation, that’s scare tactics that kind of make them all vote. But probably 100 of their grandkids love Obama. I’m actually starting to feel like Osama bin Laden. I never leave my apartment, and I make these videos.

What did you think of the vice presidential debate last week?

I wish [Gov. Sarah Palin] wasn’t so polished. She’s really scary, and I hate the thought that she might be appealing. The truth is, she’s got charisma, which sucks. Joe Biden is awesome, but he doesn’t have that actor thing. She’s from pageants, but, I hope that that doesn’t trick people. She charges women for rape kits. She’s a f—–g monster. And, I really want to cut the back of Joe Biden’s hair too. It makes me crazy, but I think he’s great.

You were called out for using a racial slur on Conan O’Brien years back, do you think being a comedian allows you to say things most people would get brutalized for?

I don’t think that just being a comedian gives me any sort of license, but I think that there’s a difference between people reacting to buzz words and people listening to the context of the joke and seeing that the butt of the joke is always myself, that I’m the ignoramus of the joke. I either say what I mean or the opposite of what I mean and hopefully, if done right, the kind of absolute power transcends. I don’t mean to use a math term. I’m also not for everybody, but certainly the joke in question was not in any way a racist joke, it was about an idiot.

What do you think about the change in comedy that is more focused on awkward humor rather than traditional humor?

We’re living in a really exciting time for comedy. Whenever things are tough in the country, comedy gets better. It’s bittersweet. Tina Fey has changed everything and taken things to a new level. She made “SNL” a place where a woman was head writer, which is crazy and amazing. From every direction, I think comedy has been pushed outward, and it’s really neat. It’s a different time and a new era. I think

there’s a lot of cool options for comedy, there’s a lot out there for everybody. It’s a lot of boutique comedy. There’s something for everybody that can be their own.

How did you get started in comedy and TV?

Well, I stopped getting fired from things. I got a part on “Seinfield,” and I would, like, check every day on the door that my name was still there. I was so used to being fired and I started keeping the jobs. And it was good. I hooked up with other comics in Los Angeles. Bob and David-I was on Mr. Show a lot-and I started being friends with all those guys. With that said, I’m the poorest celebrity that you could ever meet, but it’s worth it 1,000 percent.

Have you ever gotten feedback from Paris Hilton or Britney Spears after criticizing them?

The whole thing with Paris [Hilton] and Britney [Spears]-I actually feel bad [for]. Those jokes were good and I stand by them, but it’s not usually my nature to do jokes about celebrities; it’s not really my thing. That’s what Kathy Griffin does, and I think she’s amazing. I usually make fun of myself or “a people,” like the Jews. When you’re doing a roast it’s different, because you’re saying brutally mean things but you’re talking about people that you love and know. With that [MTV Video Music Awards:], I had to do jokes about pop culture, it was on TV. With Britney, I went on right after her, and when you’re a comic you’ve got to do a couple jokes about what you just followed and then move into the jokes you wrote. I didn’t know it was going to be a disaster. I had these jokes that I didn’t think twice about. With Paris, I didn’t want to hurt her feelings, but it was the nature of it. I think she’s fine about it.

What kind of music have you been listening to lately?

Jenny Lewis’ new CD. It is awesome. I love her, and I love Rilo Kiley. I love her first solo CD with The Watson Twins. The other CD that’s amazing [is], She and Him [She and Him’s self-titled album]. Get that album. It’s heartbreaking, but it’s awesome. I love lyrics, but when you have the great combination of lyrics and beautiful melody and a great voice, it’s awesome. Elvis Costello, always, too. I guess this isn’t good because on iTunes you can get individual songs, so you’re not forced to get the whole CD. There are so many individual songs I like, like that song “The Show” by Lanka or “No Children” by The Mountain Goats. That is so rad. It’s honestly, like, the first folk-punk song I’ve ever heard. It sounds like folk, but the lyrics are like, “Kill yourself, please kill yourself, I hate you, I want you to die.” It’s really great.

I love heartbreak. I don’t know why, but I do. I like the kind of music that you can sit in a ball in the corner of your room and rock back and forth and cry to. I love this singer, Patti Griffin. She’s kind of country-but not queer, new country-and she’s awesome.

How do you feel about winning your first Emmy?

It was awesome. It was really nice. I was excited that we won for “I’m F—–g Matt Damon”; it was bizarre. And we were up against great “Flight of the Conchords” songs. It was neat to be a part of this fancy night.

The Sarah Silverman Program premieres Oct. 8 at 10:30 p.m.