San Francisco is rife with venues that comedians big and small flock to pretty regularly. That being said,Sketchfest is comedy nerd Christmas! The fest, which spans from January 22 to February 8, will be packed with great shows featuring music, stand up, improv, movies, workshops, and more. Here for your comedy education is a list of 10 acts not to miss this Sketchfest (and grab tickets quickly, as Sketchfest events tend to sell out).
You Made it Weird With Pete Holmes
January 23
Pete Holmes’ brilliant yet short lived late night show the first introduction to this great comedian for many people. The gregarious Holmes, who also famously voiced the E*TRADE Baby, created a podcast called You Made It Weird where he grills famous people about uncomfortable subjects. Guests have ranged from Dana Carvey to Deepak Chopra and Holmes uses his cheerful wit to have meaningful conversations with them. The live version of this podcast is not to be missed and this year will feature Emo Philips and Charlie Sanders but Holmes is notorious for adding surprise guests at the last minute. Think of YMIW as a kinder gentler version of Marc Maron’s WTF.
NightLife: What’s So Funny About Love, Sex, And Science
January 29
The California Academy of Science has a reputation for flawlessly incorporating citywide events into their programs. Sketchfest is no exception. The NightLife party during the fest will feature improvisers from The Groundlings troop as well as locally famous stand ups from LA and SF. There will be dating centric improv (scenes based on dating profiles) and lectures about modern sexuality. At $12 this is one of the most “bang for your buck” in terms of entertainment you are likely to get during the fest.
Maria Bamford
January 30
Maria Bamford really encapsulates what is good in comedy: 50% zany and 50% extreme vulnerability. Her stand up ranges in topics from suicide to fashion to her parents. She is somehow both frantic and controlled and it keeps you riveted. The show will also feature Erin Foley and local SF comedian and podcaster Ron Chapman.
Mortified
February 2
Remember that rush you got when you snuck a peek at your sister’s diary in 6th grade? Feel that giddiness all over again withMortified, a show where people volunteer to read sections of their childhood journals. You will laugh and cry and cringe as brave performers share stories that will make you happy that somehow you too made it out of adolescence alive.
Women Improv Showcase
February 7
Long-form improv is something that the comedy civilian rarely gets to experience. This event will showcase three improv troops from SF and LA who excel at this kind of hilarious storytelling. The cool thing about improv is that you can never ever see the same show twice so everything onstage is one hundred percent original and once in a lifetime. Special mention to Keara McCarthy who performs with SF troop Vagina Jones. McCarthy is a powerhouse of comedy, so much so that I once saw her perform a hilarious hour-long improv scene while eight months pregnant. These women are forces to be reckoned with.
Mo Willems Don’t Let The Comedians Do Story Time
February 8
If you are ever forced to read books to children, read anything by Mo Willems. Willems is a writer for the Cartoon Network andSesame Street and his books are snarky and funny in a meta way that adults can enjoy. He has amonster list of cool comedians and actors — Janeane Garofalo, John Hodgmen, Scott Adzit, Kate Micucci and more — who are going to read and act out children’s stories. This event is so star studded and silly that its humor will likely transcend the kiddies in the audience.
Princess Bride Quote Party
February 8
It’s inconceivable how one event could draw such a variety of talent. But if there are two things I know it’s never get involved in a land war with Asia and always expect great things from Sketchfest. The Alamo Drafthouse will be hosting an interactive screening of The Princess Bride that will include a full prop bag and post show conversation with the Dread Pirate Roberts aka Cary Elwes. Have fun storming the castle!
Broken Lizard Tribute
February 7
Add this event to your calendar right meow! The masterminds behind Super Troopers, Slammin Salmon, and my favorite BeerFest will be doing an exclusive reunion and Q&A at Cobb's theater. Relieve your favorite memories of these iconic films with the dudes that made them happen.
Sketchfest Tribute to Weird Al
February 6
Many of our childhoods were made by Weird Al’s song parodies. Some of us have even spent adulthood following him from county fair to county fair. Well now the performer, whose latest album rocked the charts, is coming to SF. This tribute will not only feature songs by Al himself but also songs from other comedy music groups like Garfunkel and Oates and Chris Hardwick. This is definitely THE musical event of the fest.
Photo courtesy of Flickr user, Terry Presley.
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