12 compelling Sketchfest shows
The 15th year of SF Sketchfest is a throbbing beast of humorous podcasts, film tributes, concerts, readings, re-enactments, intimate conversations and other creative happenings.
[...] staid stand-up comedy is in the minority among the 200 events that are scheduled in 19 San Francisco venues between Thursday, Jan. 7, to Jan. 24.
Sketchfest has no peers of note when it comes to a festival of this size and scope, and events are open to the public at various affordable prices.
Take in an intimate recording of Rock Solid, a weekly podcast that features humor mixed with new and classic rock.
The local edition of this SoCal show will get pumped up with an appearance by the Bay Area’s own fun rock icon Sammy Hagar.
Featuring Pat Francis, David Wild and Kyle Dodson and special guest Sammy Hagar. 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9. $25.
Sesquicentennial + 20: A SF Sketchfest tribute moderated by Kevin Pollak, features Bob Balaban, Christopher Guest, Parker Posey and Fred Willard in time to mark the milestone of the cult comedy film.
If you’re not a Bastard Person, perhaps you’ll get a shot at asking a burning question during the Q&A session that follows the film’s screening.
Spotlight on “Drunk History”: Find out why Comedy Central’s “Drunk History” has the rabid cult following it does as host Derek Waters reveals behind-the-scenes secrets, shows clips that never aired and chops it up with surprise guests.
Laugh with your mouth full at this live show with optional brunch buffet.
The guest of honor is Ron Funches, who appears on the NBC sitcom “Undateable” and has won over stand-up aficionados with his understated yet wickedly sharp appearances in front of late night hosts Conan O’Brien and Jimmy Fallon.
Check out a live recording of the Nerdist Network podcast hosted by Bryan Cook that’s usually broadcast live from Los Angeles once a month.
Comics are challenged to tell freestyle saucy, over-the-top tales based on audience suggestions, a premise that never fails to achieve the money shots.
Ghostwritten rock star and Hollywood actor biographies are usually filled with salacious stories and high drama, but they’re given fabulous new life when their words are breathed live onstage.
“Celebrity Autobiography” is an annual affair at SF Sketchfest, and this year there are two editions to consider, featuring Pamela Adlon, Scott Adsit, Laraine Newman, Eugene Pack, Dayle Reyfel, Michael Urie and more.
Found Footage Festival Meets Everything Is Terrible!: Two archival titans meet up for a mashup of video kitsch and assorted detritus polished up into television gold during this event.
Expect regional commercials and weird home movies, but really expect to be surprised and relieved of the need not to laugh when New York’s Found Footage Festival joins friendly forces with “Everything Is Terrible!,” the Los Angeles Internet sensation video collective.
Come up with the craziest big movie you can think of, and the African American alums of L.A.’s improv specialists the Groundlings will render the “black version” for the audience right on the spot.
While the Oscar-bedecked actress Sally Field will also appear as the subject of a tribute event during SF Sketchfest, her willingness to join forces with the New York’s improv group and “Wet Hot American Summer” star Michael Showalter for an epic installment of UCB’s weekly live show steals the limelight.
Go crazy and close out your SF Sketchfest experience with a musical performance from seriously good Prince cover band Princess, led by Maya Rudolph (best known her years on “Saturday Night Live”) and singer-songwriter Gretchen Lieberum.
The two longtime friends and Prince obsessives have honed a solid set of classics over performances at venues like Carnegie Hall and at SF Sketchfest, where Princess has performed annually since 2012.