COVERING THE FESTIVAL
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7TH SF SKETCHFEST FEATURES TRIBUTE TO THE KIDS IN THE HALL, "FREAKS AND GEEKS" REUNION AND SALUTE TO GENE WILDER
Performers include Tim and Eric, Maria Bamford, Rob Corddry, Rachel Dratch, Neil Patrick Harris, Jonathan Katz, John Lehr, Aimee Mann, Eugene Mirman, Bob Odenkirk, Patton Oswalt, Brian Posehn, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Rob Riggle, Mort Sahl, Kristen Schaal, Michael Showalter, Paul F. Tompkins, The Whitest Kids U Know and more.
December 17, 2007 – Comedy fans need look no further than San Francisco this January as some of the biggest names in sketch, improv and stand-up comedy will gather for SF Sketchfest, the city's 18 day comedy festival. Running January 10 – 27, the 2008 SF Sketchfest includes a tribute to and a rare performance by the legendary sketch comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall, a reunion with the cast and creator of the cult favorite "Freaks and Geeks", and live commentary by RiffTrax Live (featuring Michael J. Nelson, Bill Corbett and Kevin Murphy of Mystery Science Theatre 3000) to Plan 9 From Outer Space at the historic Castro Theatre.
The festival will kick off on January 10 at Mezzanine with a spectacular variety show hosted by Kristen Schaal and Kurt Braunohler, featuring musician Aimee Mann and comedians Paul F. Tompkins, Todd Barry and Rhys Darby. The talented Schaal and Darby are perhaps currently best known from their roles in HBO's "Flight of the Conchords" (playing superfan Mel and manager Murray, respectively). Familiar faces from "The Daily Show", "30 Rock", "Saturday Night Live", "Mr. Show", "The State", and "The Comedians of Comedy" add to the impressive 2008 SF Sketchfest lineup. Rounding out the list is a very special post-festival event: a salute to Gene Wilder at the Castro Theatre on March 19.
Humble Beginnings
Originally started in 2001 by David Owen, Cole Stratton and Janet Varney to give exposure to their comedy troupe Totally False People and other local acts, SF Sketchfest has grown to not only be the place to showcase new comedic talent, but the place where the biggest names in comedy come to be themselves and try new things in a relaxed atmosphere. Along with new guests, the festival has many returning favorites such as Bob Odenkirk, Upright Citizens Brigade, Rob Corddry and Naked Babies, Paul F. Tompkins, and Michael Showalter, to name a few. From its humble beginnings, SF Sketchfest has become one of the most prominent and respected comedy festivals in the country.
Rare Treats
Highlights of this year's SF Sketchfest include a performance by The Kids in the Hall, who have not performed in San Francisco in five years. The Kids – Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney and Scott Thompson – will be the subjects of the SF Sketchfest Tribute on Saturday, January 26, as they will be interviewed onstage and will headline the Festival's closing night on Sunday, January 27 with a rare performance of new and classic sketches at the Palace of Fine Arts.
The cast and creator of the short-lived but much-loved television show "Freaks and Geeks" will reunite at Cobb's Comedy Club on January 20 for an onstage conversation moderated by Patton Oswalt. The festival is thrilled to welcome series creator Paul Feig and cast members Dave (Gruber) Allen, Steve Bannos, Linda Cardellini, John Francis Daley, Samm Levine, Busy Philipps, and Martin Starr for the largest onstage reunion since the show's unfortunate cancellation in 2000.
Legendary comedian Mort Sahl, who has been credited for influencing such comedians as George Carlin, Lenny Bruce, Woody Allen and more, got his start at the "hungry i" in San Francisco back in 1953. At his recent 80th birthday party tribute in Los Angeles, performers including Carlin, Jonathan Winters, Albert Brooks, Shelley Berman, Harry Shearer, Richard Lewis, Jay Leno, Drew Carey and Hugh Hefner all showed up to celebrate Sahl's career. Sahl returns to San Francisco for SF Sketchfest for one night of stand up on January 13 at the Eureka Theatre, a mere three blocks from the original location of the hungry i.
"Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist," an animated Comedy Central staple in the late nineties, makes a jump from the small screen to the stage as comedian/writer/producer Jonathan Katz returns to the couch for two rare evenings of comic therapy January 18-19 at the Eureka Theatre with guest patients Bob Odenkirk, Maria Bamford, Andy Kindler, Eugene Mirman and his animated son, Ben, played by H. Jon Benjamin.
Not Just Sketch Comedy
As SF Sketchfest continues to expand, it not only features the best in sketch comedy—from local favorites like Kasper Hauser to the popular Tim and Eric to icons The Kids in the Hall—but also improv, stand-up, musical performances, and more. Returning improv masters include The Daily Show's Rob Corddry and Naked Babies (Jan 11 & 12) and Upright Citizens Brigade: A.S.S.S.C.A.T. featuring Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, Matt Walsh, Rachel Dratch, Rob Riggle and special guest monologist Neil Patrick Harris (Jan 25).
Festival goers will be treated to a night of comedy, music and film on January 20, as Eugene Mirman and Jon Benjamin host Fresh Faces of Comedy. John Lehr, co-creator and star of the new TBS comedy "10 Items or Less" (which has its second season premiere on January 15th), will host the evening's short film contest. Five finalists will have their grocery-store themed films showcased and the winner, as determined by the SF Sketchfest founders and Sony Television executives, will receive a cash prize and a development meeting with Sony. The Fresh Faces of Comedy will also include performances by Bob Odenkirk, TIm and Eric, Michael Showalter, and a musical performances by Zach Rogue.
And the 20th is not the only night where music meets comedy. Musical guests at the 7th annual SF Sketchfest include renowned singer/songwriter Aimee Mann, John Vanderslice, Zach Rogue, Reggie Watts, and the comedic musical stylings of Hard 'n Phirm. Two of the most popular events from last year's festival—Comedy Death Ray and Match Game Live—return for 2008. Comedy Death Ray (Jan 21) is an evening of unpredictable stand-up hosted by The Fun Bunch (Scott Aukerman and BJ Porter) and will feature Patton Oswalt, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Brian Posehn, Maria Bamford, Paul F. Tompkins, and Doug Benson. Jimmy Pardo hosts Match Game Live (Jan 19 & 20), a modern update on the classic fill-in-the-blank game show, with panelists Patton Oswalt, Bob Odenkirk, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Doug Benson, Brian Posehn, Maria Bamford, Paul F. Tompkins and Scott Aukerman.
Another game show type performances include Nato Green's Iron Comic (Jan 22), a comedic take-off on "Iron Chef" and Joe Klocek's GET IT!? (Jan 13), with Arj Barker, Todd Barry and Morgan Murphy. Audience members picked at random compete head to head answering questions about sets just performed by top-notch comics, until one emerges victorious! Joe Klocek hosts this mix of stand-up comedy and game show.
Local Favorites and Up-and-Comers
In addition to the national headliners and special guests, SF Sketchfest continues to be the place where local favorites and up-and-coming acts can showcase their talent. Popular local acts like Kasper Hauser, Brent Weinbach and Drennon Davis will grace the SF Sketchfest stages, and the festival's Emerging Night will showcase SPF7, TV You Can Heckle, Kathleen Phillips and Bucky Sinister.
SF Sketchfest is pleased to welcome back returning sponsors SF Weekly, The Onion, PS Print, StreamSend and Club Quarters and to welcome new sponsors TBS's "10 Items or Less," WIRED Magazine, LRG Capital Group, The Hilton San Francisco Financial District and Sheridon Keith Design.
The 7th annual SF Sketchfest runs January 10 – 27, 2008. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, December 19 at 10 AM and are available at www.sfsketchfest.com
or 1-866-468-3399.
SF Sketchfest Information Line: 415-398-3125
