COVERING THE FESTIVAL
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SF SKETCHFEST: THE SAN FRANCISCO COMEDY FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES LINE-UP FOR 2009 FESTIVAL
Eighth Annual SF Sketchfest to Feature Appearances by The State, Bud Cort with Harold and Maude, Martin Mull, Fred Willard, Jon Hamm, Tim and Eric, Robert Smigel, Triumph The Insult Comic Dog, Dana Carvey, Michael McKean, Janeane Garofalo, Zach Galifianakis and Many More
DECEMBER 11, 2008 – The Eighth Annual SF Sketchfest: The San Francisco Comedy Festival (January 15 – 31, 2009) kicks off on January 15 with Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! and features 16 nights of some of the best sketch, improv, and stand-up comedy, plus tributes, panels, movies and more. Co-creators David Owen, Cole Stratton and Janet Varney, who founded the Festival in 2001 to showcase comedy groups in the San Francisco area, are thrilled to announce an outstanding line-up of shows, ranging from local up-and-coming acts to reunions of comedic legends.
THE STATE
For the first time in twelve years, all eleven original members of the classic MTV sketch-comedy group The State (Kevin Allison, Michael Ian Black, Robert Ben Garant, Todd Holoubek, Michael Patrick Jann, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Thomas Lennon, Joe Lo Truglio, Ken Marino, Michael Showalter and David Wain) will reunite and take the stage together. They'll perform two shows of new sketches at the intimate Eureka Theater on January 24 and then convene for The SF Sketchfest Tribute, a conversation at the Herbst Theater with moderator Janeane Garofalo on the afternoon of Janaury 25.
"Like Monty Python and The Kids in the Hall before them, The State is in that handful of sketch comedy groups that fall into the category of absolutely quintessential," says Owen. "We see their influence on nearly all of the young comedy groups that have cropped up in the last ten years. It is a particular honor for us that they have chosen SF Sketchfest as the venue for their first full reunion in twelve years."
SF SKETCHFEST HONORS
In addition to the SF Sketchfest Tribute to The State, the comedy festival will also recognize two very talented and distinct individuals. Robert Smigel will receive the SF Sketchfest Comedy Writing Award, and will join Dana Carvey for a conversation about his work at Cobb's Comedy Club on the afternoon of January 17. Smigel also brings a live version of his "TV Funhouse" show to The Eureka Theatre on January 16, where he will be joined by Dino Stamatopoulos, Doug Dale, the Anipals and everyone's favorite sarcastic canine: Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.
"Robert Smigel is a comedic genius," says Owen. "He's not just the voice and creator of Triumph. He's one of the people who made "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and "Saturday Night Live" what they are today. His work is always supremely silly and smart at the same time."
SF Sketchfest will salute actor Bud Cort, known by many from his title role in the classic comedy Harold and Maude, with a screening of that film at the Castro Theatre on January 22. Cort will participate in an onstage conversation following the film and take questions from the audience.
"Bud Cort has been in some of the most influential movies of our time, and his performances are always so thoughtful and inspired," says Varney. "Harold and Maude is just a beautiful, beloved film, and it's due in no small part to his incredible contribution. Honoring his work gives us the chance to thank him."
SF SKETCHFEST AND THE SILVER SCREEN
Following the salute to Bud Cort, fans will have a chance to see another dark comedy about a young man preoccupied with death, as Better Off Dead screens at the Castro Theatre the night of the January 22, with writer/director Savage Steve Holland and cast members Curtis Armstrong ("Charles De Mar") and Diane Franklin ("Monique Junot") in attendance.
No doubt a major event of the festival will be the midnight screening of Wet Hot American Summer, the cult summer camp satire, on January 24 at the Clay Theatre. The film, which features several members of The State, will be introduced by director David Wain who will be joined by cast members Michael Showalter, Michael Ian Black, Janeane Garofalo, Ken Marino, Joe Lo Truglio and Zak Orth.
TWO LEGENDS REUNITE
In 2003, Fred Willard performed at the Second Annual SF Sketchfest and now returns with an old friend in tow. The Festival is delighted to welcome the comedy legends behind "Fernwood 2Night" and "America 2Night" with a special Fernwood Reunion with Martin Mull and Fred Willard on January 28 at Cobb's Comedy Club.
"Martin Mull and Fred Willard's show was a perfect satire of talk shows, small town Americana and public television," says Stratton. "Mull's host Barth Gimble, and Willard's sidekick, Jerry Hubbard, were perfectly realized characters that they embodied to the fullest. Having these two comedy legends reunite at SF Sketchfest is an absolute thrill."
FROM THE SMALL SCREEN TO THE STAGE
The small screen dominates the stage at SF Sketchfest this year, for in addition to shows with "The State", "Tim and Eric," "Fernwood" and "TV Funhouse", the festival is also thrilled to present Sunday with Moral Orel on January 18, as co-creators Dino Stamatopoulos ("TV Funhouse") and Scott Adsit ("30 Rock") discuss the making of the stop-motion hit.
The MTV sensation "The Hills" will be at SF Sketchfest as well—but not in a traditional manner. On January 24, the festival presents The Hills: A Staged Reading, with comedians reading transcripts of the reality show. Narrator Tom Kenny will be joined by Janeane Garofalo, Rachael Harris, Rob Huebel, Mike Phirman and more. And on January 19, the Festival presents Celebrity Autobiography, a hit from New York that has been featured in Time and NPR, as Michael McKean, Annette O'Toole, Rachel Dratch, Laraine Newman, Scott Thompson, and co-creators Eugene Pack and Dayle Reyfel take to the stage to read about the lives of celebrities in their own words.
"We can't wait to introduce San Francisco to this show, which has been playing to sold-out audiences in Manhattan," says Varney. "There's something pretty delicious about the idea of hearing celebrated performers giving their rendition of the life stories of other famous people. We feel really lucky to have it at SF Sketchfest."
IMPROV AND STAND-UP
Celebrities and the cast of "The Hills" aren't the only ones who will fall victim to the sharp wit of comedians of this year's SF Sketchfest. Facebook Improv, at the Eureka Theatre on January 23, features Rob Corddry and Rob Riggle from "The Daily Show," Paul Scheer and Rob Huebel from MTV's "Human Giant", Seth Morris, Owen Burke and Chad Carter improvising sketches based on a person's Facebook profile.
Totally Looped, with Laraine Newman, Maria Bamford, Oscar Nunez, Rick Overton, and more, features the comedians improvising new lines over old film, television and commercial clips, will show at the Eureka Theatre on January 17 and the Smith Rafael Film Center on January 18.
The stellar improv lineup continues as Upright Citizens Brigade: A.S.S.S.S.C.A.T., always a fan favorite, returns this year with Matt Besser, Matt Walsh, Tim Meadows, Danielle Schneider and more at the Eureka Theatre on January 30. Other returning favorites include Game Show Explosion! with Jimmy Pardo based on classic celebrity panel game shows on January 30 and 31 with panelists including Jon Hamm ("Mad Men"), Mary Lynn Rajskub ("24") and more; and Comedy Death Ray, a night packed with stand up comedy with Zach Galifianakis, Bob Odenkirk, Paul F. Tompkins, Andy Kindler, Chris Hardwick and hosts The Fun Bunch, on January 30.
Those searching for more stand up at this year's festival can check out Invite Them Up with Eugene Mirman & Bobby Tisdale, who will welcome Janeane Garofalo, Rob Riggle, Todd Barry, Rob Huebel, Paul Scheer and Tig Notaro to the stage on January 23 and 24. Jimmy Pardo and Aziz Ansari headline three evenings each of SF Sketchfest Stands Up at the Punch Line, on January 15-17 and January 22-24, respectively. Sean Cullen from "Last Comic Standing" will headline one night at Cobb's Comedy Club on January 22.
Other unique shows include Scott Thompson ("The Kids in the Hall") performing his one-man show Scottastrophe! January 18 at the Eureka, the pseudo-religious musical duo God's Pottery at the Punch Line January 29-31 and Frank Conniff ("Mystery Science Theater 3000") with his Cartoon Dump show with guest Andy Kindler at the Eureka on January 31.
FROM THE BEGINNING
As SF Sketchfest was originally launched to showcase local sketch comedy troupes, the festival is always thrilled to showcase up-and-coming acts from the Bay Area and beyond. Returning favorites include local sketch heroes Kasper Hauser, Will Franken, Brent Weinbach as well as BriTANick, Pangea 3000, and Elephant Larry.
About SF Sketchfest
SF Sketchfest was founded in 2001 by David Owen, Cole Stratton and Janet Varney as a way to showcase the talents of six Bay Area sketch comedy groups: The Fresh Robots, Kasper Hauser, The Meehan Brothers, Please Leave the Bronx, Totally False People and White Noise Radio Theatre. The festival debuted in January of 2002 at the Shelton Theatre in downtown San Francisco and has grown rapidly into a nationally recognized comedy festival that mixes national headliners, local favorites and the best up-and-coming groups from throughout North America for a month of sketch, improv, stand-up and alternative comedy. A favorite with audiences, critics, and performers alike, the festival has grown substantially to become a highly anticipated artistic showcase that consistently delivers top quality comedic performances, tributes and panel discussions. Audiences have overwhelmingly responded to SF Sketchfest's diverse programming which has featured performers from every major North American television comedy smash of the last 25 years including Saturday Night Live, The Kids in the Hall, Mr. Show, Arrested Development, The Upright Citizens Brigade, The State, Mystery Science Theatre 3000, Strangers With Candy, The Simpsons, The Daily Show and more. SF Sketchfest offers its audiences the rare opportunity to see their favorite performers in intimate live performances and discussions.
Tickets on sale this Sunday, December 14 at 10AM.
Visit www.sfsketchfest.com for ticket and schedule information
