Like many folks, I have mixed feelings about comedy festivals. On the one hand, maintaining the requisite energy to plow through days of programming and events is a tall order. On the other hand, so much awesome business happens that it’s usually worth the sleepless nights and inevitable exhaustion on the tail end.
SF Sketchfest announced their 13th annual comedy festival line-up this week, running Jan. 23 through Feb. 9 in San Francisco. And, yeah, those folks who are lucky enough to go will probably end up a little on the sleepy side, but man, what a small price to pay. And speaking of paying, tickets go on sale this Sunday, Dec. 15 at 10 am.
Although the full lineup is available at sfsketchfest.com (and pasted below), I’m gonna hit you with a few highlights. A conversation and performance with Tenacious D. Tributes to Alan Arkin and Key & Peele. Appearances by Doug Benson, Bobcat Goldthwait, Thomas Lennon, Jenny Slate, Paul F. Tompkins, Florence Henderson, Amy Schumer, Tim Heidecker, and more. A Revenge of the Nerds 30th anniversary cast reunion (neeeeeeerds!). Musical performances from Alison Brie, Megan Mullally, Loudon Wainwright III and Maya Rudolph and her Prince cover-band. Podcast tapings, improv shows, stand-up, film screenings, theatrical performances, and good God there’s too much going on I have to take a breath.
Okay. Get your coffee and Red Bulls ready. I don’t think any of that is miss-able. For more information, check sfsketchfest.com.
———————–
IN-PERSON TRIBUTES AND SALUTES:
The SF Sketchfest Tribute: Alan Arkin
In conversation with Kevin Pollak, plus a 35th Anniversary Screening of “The In-Laws”
The SF Sketchfest Tribute: Tenacious D
An evening of clips, conversation and songs with Jack Black and Kyle Gass
The SF Sketchfest Tribute: Key & Peele
with Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele in conversation
A Salute to Coyle & Sharpe
An Afternoon with Mal Sharpe
and special guests Matt Besser, Matt Walsh, James Reichmuth and host Jesse Thorn
FILM EVENTS:
“Napoleon Dynamite” 10th Anniversary screening
with Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez and Diedrich Bader
“Revenge of the Nerds” 30th Anniversary screening
with Curtis Armstrong, Robert Carradine, Andrew Cassese, Julia Montgomery, Larry B. Scott and Brian Tochi, moderated by Chris Hardwick
“Top Secret!” 30th Anniversary screening
with Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker, moderated by Thomas Lennon
“Cabin Boy” 20th Anniversary screening
with Chris Elliott and Adam Resnick
“Broken Lizard’s Super Troopers”
with Kevin Heffernan and Steve Lemme
“Footloose” 30th Anniversary Dance-and-Sing-Along Party
The Benson Movie Interruption — “Twilight: New Moon”
with Doug Benson and surprise guests
Totally Looped
with Dan Castellaneta, Keegan-Michael Key, Deb Lacusta, Joe Liss, Rick Overton and Vince Waldron
Club Chuckles Presents:
On Cinema with Tim Heidecker and Gregg Turkington with “Wired”
Say Hello To My Little Funny: A Night of Short Films
Bad Movie Night
TV SPOTLIGHTS AND REUNIONS:
Becoming “Enlightened”
with Laura Dern, Luke Wilson, Mike White, Timm Sharp, Sarah Burns, Jason Mantzoukas and David Bernad
Inside “Inside Amy Schumer”
with Amy Schumer, Dan Powell, Jessi Klein and Kim Schumer Caramele
Farewell, “Futurama!”
with John DiMaggio, Maurice LaMarche, Phil LaMarr, Lee Supercinski, Lauren Tom and Billy West
An Afternoon with “The Venture Bros.”
with Steve Rattazzi, Michael Sinterniklaas, Dana Snyder and James Urbaniak
The Slipnutz Variety Show
with Andy Blitz, Jon Glaser and Brian Stack and guests Steve Agee, Jackie Kashian and more
“You’re Whole”
with Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter
LIVE RADIO EVENTS:
Wits with John Moe
and guests Nellie McKay, Paul F. Tompkins and Loudon Wainwright III
NPR’s Ask Me Another
with Ophira Eisenberg and Jonathan Coulton and special guests
THEATRICAL EVENTS:
Celebrity Autobiography: The Music Edition
with Pamela Adlon, Rachel Dratch, Florence Henderson, Michael Hitchcock, Laraine Newman, Eugene Pack, Dayle Reyfel and Fred Willard
The Thrilling Adventure Hour
with the Workjuice Players and very special guests
Wainy Days Live
with David Wain and special guests Joe Lo Truglio, Megan Mullally and more, with music by Amy Miles
One Star with Thomas Lennon and Matt Mira
with guests Eddie Pepitone and more
Stripped Down Shorts: One Acts by Eugene Pack
starring Pamela Adlon, Florence Henderson, Michael Hitchcock, Laraine Newman, Dayle Reyfel and Fred Willard
Uptown Showdown Debate: Breakfast vs. Dinner
with Michael Ian Black, Dana Gould, Myq Kaplan, Michael Showalter, Megan Mullally, Michael Showalter, David Wain and moderator Arden Myrin
The Realest Real Housewives
with June Diane Raphael, Morgan Walsh, Danielle Schneider and more
“Shakes The Clown” Live
with Bobcat Goldthwait, Julie Brown, Tom Kenny, Florence Henderson and more
Natasha Leggero in London! Paris! Costco!
Jamie Kilstein and John Fugelsang Debate the Existence of God
The Great Debate: Girls vs. Golden Girls – Who Empower Us and Who are a Bunch of Stunted, Oppressed Degenerates?
with Matt Price and Ilyse Mimoun
I Ink Alone with Michael Capozzola
140 Characters: A Twitter-themed solo show by Cole Stratton
Bayside Myself
IMPROVISATION AND SKETCH COMEDY:
Upright Citizens Brigade A.S.S.S.S.C.A.T.
with Matt Besser, Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh with Andrew Daly, Rachel Dratch, Chris Gethard and Shannon O’Neill
Naked Babies
with Rob Corddry, John Ross Bowie, Brian Huskey and Seth Morris
The Improvised Shakespeare Company
Theme Park Improv
with Ian Brennan, Rachel Dratch, Simon Helberg, John Michael Higgins, Michael Hitchcock, Jessica Makinson, Cole Stratton and Janet Varney
Gravid Water
with Andrew Daly, Rachel Dratch, Kevin Pollak, Ian Roberts, Stephen Ruddy, Matt Walsh and more
The Andrew Daly Show
(with a sneak preview of “Review with Forrest MacNeil”)
Facebook Improv
with Owen Burke, Chad Carter, Rob Huebel, Seth Morris and Paul Scheer
The Groundlings: The Black Version
with Jordan Black, Danielle Gauthier, Keegan-Michael Key, Phil LaMarr, Jordan Peele, Gary Anthony Williams and Cedric Yarbrough
The Groundlings: Personals
with Jamie Denbo, Kevin Kirkpatrick, Michael McDonald, Edi Patterson, Mitch Silpa and Mindy Sterling, hosted by Brian Palermo
313 Improv
with Keegan-Michael Key, Marc Evan Jackson, Maribeth Monroe, Jamie Moyer and more
The Birthday Boys
Shitty Jobs
with Sean Clements, Dominic Dierkes, DC Pierson and Ben Rodgers
Killing My Lobster
BriTANick
with BOAT
STAND-UP AND VARIETY SHOWS:
Baby Talk with Jensen Karp and Dan Levy
with guests Natasha Leggero, April Richardson and Nick Thune
Big Terrific
with Jenny Slate, Gabe Liedman and Max Silvestri and guests Jon Daly, Noah Garfinkle, Joe Mande and more
Bukkake of Smiles
with Matt Braunger and Dana Gould
The Business
with Caitlin Gill, Nato Green, Sean Keane, Anna Seregina, Bucky Sinister and guest Dan St. Germain
The Chris Gethard Show
with Jake Fogelnest, Shannon O’Neill and more
Crash Test
with Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer with guests Nate Bargatze, Eddie Pepitone and more
David Koechner
Eric Andre: A Night of Stand-Up
with Jesse Elias and Stroy Moyd
Gilbert Gottfried
Imaginary Radio
with Drennon Davis and Nick Stargu and guest Karen Kilgariff and more
Jenny Slate & Friends
with Max Silvestri, Jon Daly , Brett Gelman, Nick Thune and more
Kevin McDonald & Dave Foley
Club Chuckles Presents:
Kurt Tub
with Kurt Braunohler and guests Nate Bargatze, Todd Barry, Emily Heller and more
Megan Amram & Kate Berlant (Co-Headline)
The Meltdown
with Kumail Nanjiani and Jonah Ray and guests Steve Agee, Todd Glass, Dan St. Germain and more
Michael Winslow & Rhys Darby: Sound Effects Summit
Michael McDonald
Picture This!
with Brandie Posey and guests George Chen, Jake Fogelnest, Caitlin Gill, Sean Keane, Mike Lawrence and more with animation by Grif Kimmins and Sam Varela
The Prompter
with Wil Anderson, Nate Bargatze, Matt Kirshen, Aparna Nancherla, Eddie Pepitone and more
Put Your Hands Together
with Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher and guests Jon Glaser, Todd Glass, Josh Gondelman, Jackie Kashian and Andy Kindler
Set List: Comedy Without a Net
with Eric Andre, Bobcat Goldthwait, Gilbert Gottfried, Wil Anderson, Matt Kirshen and Emily Heller
Smug Shift with Moshe Kasher and Brent Weinbach
and guests Graham Elwood, Natasha Leggero, Sara Schaefer and Nick Thune
Stand-Up Spotlight: James Adomian and Baron Vaughn
Stand-Up Spotlight: Dave Hill and Wil Anderson
Stand-Up Spotlight: Joe Mande
Stella
with Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, David Wain and surprise guests with music by Amy Miles
Todd Barry: Crowd Work Tour
Hosted by Red Scott
Totally J/K with Joe Mande and Noah Garfinkel
Characters Comedy Night
hosted by Seth Morris
with Backstage Paige, Brian Barlow as Poppa Proppa The World’s Oldest Prop Comic and Kristen Studard
The SF Sketchfest Dozen: The Next Wave of Stand-Up Comedy Stars:
Guy Branum, Janine Brito, Dominic Dierkes, Cameron Esposito, Emily Heller, Ian Karmel, Matt Kirshen, Mike Lawrence, Aparna Nancherla, DC Pierson, Phoebe Robinson and Sara Schaefer
Rooftop Comedy Stand-Up Showcases
STORYTELLING:
Competitive Erotic Fan Fiction
with Bryan Cook and guests Guy Branum, Matt Braunger, Jesse Elias, Cameron Esposito, Caitlin Gill, Josh Gondelman, Barbara Holm, Myq Kaplan, Ian Karmel, Jackie Kashian, Andy Kindler, Arden Myrin, Steve Agee and more
The Mortified Sessions Onstage
RISK! with Kevin Allison
with guests Dana Gould, Nato Green, Stephen Tobolowsky and more
Porchlight with Beth Lisick and Arline Klatte
and guests Anthony Bedard, Caitlin Gill, April Richardson and more
MUSIC MEETS COMEDY:
Maya Rudolph and Gretchen Lieberum are Princess
An Evening of the Music of Prince
w00tstock Founders’ Night 3: Day of the Founders
with Adam Savage, Paul and Storm and Wil Wheaton
Nellie McKay
and Tom Brosseau
Watkins Family Hour
with Sara and Sean Watkins and guests Tom Brosseau, Paul F. Tompkins and Loudon Wainwright III
Megan Mullally in concert with her band Nancy and Beth
with The Lampshades
Wheels Off: The Rhett Miller Show
The Girls with Alison Brie
Heidecker and Wood
Bring the Rock
with Greg Behrendt and The Reigning Monarchs
and guests Matt Nathanson, Bobcat Goldthwait, Karen Kilgariff, Bridget Everett and Chris Hardwick
The Greatest Concert Ever
with Matt Besser, Andy Daly, Dave Hill, Brian Huskey, Eddie Pepitone and more
Bridget Everett Live
with special guest Dave Hill
Eli Braden
with Reformed Whores
PODCASTS:
Accordingly To Jim
with Jon Glaser
The Adventures of Danny and Mike
with Danny Tamberelli and Michael C. Maronna
Before You Were Funny
with Justin Michael and Jacob Reed
Chewin’ It
with Kevin Heffernan and Steve Lemme
Comedy Film Nerds
with Graham Elwood and Chris Mancini
Dale Radio
with James Bewley
The Dana Gould Show
Dead Authors
with Paul F. Tompkins
Deep Shit
with Baron Vaughn
Dork Forest
with Jackie Kashian
The Fogelnest Files
with Jake Fogelnest
Gelmania
with Brett Gelman
Harmontown
with Dan Harmon and Jeff B. Davis
I Seem Fun
with Jen Kirkman
Improv4Humans
with Matt Besser
Jonah Raydio
with Jonah Ray
Jordan, Jesse, Go!
with Jesse Thorn and Jordan Morris
The K Ohle Podcast
with Kurt Braunohler
Lady to Lady
with Tess Barker, Barbara Gray and Brandie Posey
The Laughspin Podcast
with Dylan Gadino
Nerdist Podcast
with Chris Hardwick
Never Not Funny
with Jimmy Pardo, Matt Belknap and Pat Francis
Owen and TJ Read the News
with Owen Burke and Adam McKay
Probably Science
with Andy Wood, Matt Kirshen and Jesse Case
Road Stories
with Murray Valeriano
Roderick on the Line
with John Roderick and Merlin Mann
Ronna & Beverly
with Jessica Chaffin and Jamie Denbo
Scott Capurro’s Position
Superego
with Jeremy Carter, Matt Gourley and Mark McConville
Talkin’ Toons
with Rob Paulsen
Terrified
with Dave Ross
Throwing Shade
with Erin Gibson and Bryan Safi
The Tobolowsky Files
with Stephen Tobolowsky
The Todd Barry Podcast
Topics
with Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter
Vague Stories
with Greg Behrendt
The World of Phil Hendrie
You’re The Expert with Chris Duffy
and guests Josh Gondelman, Myq Kaplan and more
INTERACTIVE EVENTS AND GAME SHOWS:
Iron Comic
with Nato Green and Moshe Kasher and guest Brent Weinbach and more
Stardumb
with Bil Dwyer and Erica Rhodes and guests Andy Kindler, Mike White and more
Guy Branum’s Talk Show the Game Show
with Myq Kaplan, Arden Myrin, Dan St. Germain and more
Singin’ & Pingin’
with American Tripps Berlin-Style Ping-Pong and DJ Purple Karaoke Dance Party
Tournament of Nerds
COMEDY MEETS SCIENCE:
SF Sketchfest Comedy NightLife at California Academy of Sciences
with Dork Forest with Jackie Kashian, Competitive Erotic Fan SCIENCE Fiction, Roderick on the Line with John Roderick and Merlin Mann, You’re The Expert with Chris Duffy, Caitlin Gill, Todd Glass, Josh Gondelman, Myq Kaplan, Sean Keane and more
WORKSHOPS:
Alan Arkin Improv Workshop: Crossing The Chasm From Theater To Life
Kevin McDonald Improv and Sketch Workshop
Storytelling Skills: Wow Your Crowd Workshop with Kevin Allison, founder of RISK!
SHOWCASES:
Sketch and Improv Showcases:
3 Woman 1 Woman Show (with 3 Women), Aunty Donna, Bellevue, The Best of Craigslist, The Blank Experience, Bonafide, Charles, Cheap Smokes, Classy Pants, Colin Mahan’s Ball Trap: A Crock Opera, Cossbysweater, Convoy, Don’t Watch This Show Live!, The Dress Up Gang, Duchess Riot, Endgames Improv, Femikaze, Foil Arms and Hog, Frange & Stern, Hip.Bang!, John Velvet, Killing My Lobster, Ladystache, Lester Milton, Lost Moon Radio, Manboobs Comedy featuring Danny Tamberelli, Matt&Sam, Medium Friends, Miles and Jesse, Mission CTRL, Nephew, The Norwegians of Comedy, Oh Brother!, Oh Theodora, Peter n’ Chris, Pianofight’s Chardonnay, Robber Barons, Sad Vicious, Speechless, Suspicious Luxury presents REMEMORY, Time Capsule, Tony Ho, Unsuspectingly Sponsored By…, Vagina Jones, Whiskey Tango and Winslow.
Local Stand-Up Shows:
Avengers of Comedy; Talkies with George Chen; Cynic Cave with George Chen and Kevin O’Shea; Some People Like Us with Casey Ley and Kaseem Bentley; The Mission Position with Kate Willett and Matt Lieb; The Romane Event with Paco Romane; Get Yucked Up with Andrew Holmgren and David Gborie; Hand to Mouth with Trevor Hill; Storking Comedy with OJ Patterson; Attractive Camp with Nicole Calasich; Fun Times With Friends with Ron Chapman, Aly Jones, Scott Simpson and Brendan Stokes; and Funny Shits with Jeff Cleary and Justin Frahm.
Stand-Up Showcase and Hosting Comics:
Adam Newman, Adam Sokol, Amber Preston, Andy Hendrickson, Anita Drieseberg, Asif Ali, Barbara Gray, Barbara Holm, Ben San Del, Brandie Posey, Brendan Hines, Brendan Lynch, Brian Frange, Cameron Vannini, Carlos Rodriguez, Casey Ley, Clara Bijl, Clare O’Kane, Claire Titelman, Cody Melcher, Colleen Watson, Coree Spencer, Cory Loykasek, Curtis Cook, Danny Jolles, Dave Ross, Dave Thomason, David Angelo, David Drake, David Gborie, David Studebaker, Donny Divanian, Drew Platt, Eloisa Bravo, Emmett Montgomery, Ever Mainard, Gabe Dinger, Gavin Stephens, Irene Tu, Ivan Hernandez, Jarret Berenstein, Jason Downs, Jason Saenz, JC Coccoli, Jeff Cleary, Jen D’Angelo, Jess Saloman, Jesse Elias, Jim Tews, JoAnn Schinderle, Joe Tobin, Joey Devine, Johan Miranda, Johnny Taylor, Jonathan Rowell, Joselyn Hughes, Joseph Scrimshaw, Jules Posner, Julia Hladkowicz, Andrew Holmgren, Julie Lofrano, Kaseem Bentley, Kate Willett, Katie Crown, Keith d’Souza, Keith Lowell Jensen, Kevin Anglin, Land Smith, Lauren Ashley Bishop, Lauri Roggenkamp, Loren Kraut, Luke Lockfeld, Lydia Popovich, Mary Patterson, Matt Ingebretson, Matt Knudsen, Matt Lieb, Matt Morales, Matt O’Brien, Matthew Nouriel, Mike Spiegelman, Miles K, Mo Welch, Moses Storm, Natasha Muse, Nick Flanagan, Nicole Calasich, Nina Manni, Paco Romane, Philip Schallberger, The Puterbaugh Sisters, Ramon Rivas II, Red Scott, Renee Gauthier, Rob Christensen, Rob Schultz, Rob Stern, Ron Babcock, Ronn Vigh, Ryan Schutt, Shanti Charan, Stacey Hallal, Sam Sagheb, Sammy Obeid, Saurin Choski, Scott Vermeire, Steph Tolev, Steve Lee, Stroy Moyd, Tommy Dassalo, Trevor Hill, Xander Deveaux, Yogi Paliwal and Yuri Kagan
Sign up to get funny daily videos and headlines delivered to your inbox every day!
Be sure to subscribe to the weekly Laughspin Podcast on iTunes or on SoundCloud for all the latest comedy news, audio clips and more! Listen to the most recent episode below!