SF Sketchfest

SF Sketchfest, or The San Francisco Sketch Comedy Festival, is a comedy festival founded in 2002 by Bay Area actor-comedians David Owen, Janet Varney and Cole Stratton. It takes place every January in a variety of San Francisco venues and features primarily sketch comedy groups, as well as some stand-up comedy performers.

In its first year, SF Sketchfest presented six Bay Area sketch groups in the intimate 80-seat Shelton Theatre: The Fresh Robots, Kasper Hauser, The Meehan Brothers, Please Leave The Bronx, Totally False People and White Noise Radio Theatre.

In 2003, the second annual festival featured Fred Willard and his Hollywood Players, the Upright Citizens Brigade and The Sklar Brothers performing at the 200-seat Eureka Theatre.

In 2004, the third annual festival featured a tribute to Amy Sedaris; a panel discussion with Bill Corbett, Kevin Murphy and Michael J. Nelson from Mystery Science Theater 3000; and performances by Totally Looped featuring Dan Castellaneta and Rick Overton; Slovin & Allen; The Naked Trucker and T-Bones Show featuring David Koechner from "Saturday Night Live"; Girl's Guitar Club featuring Karen Kilgariff and Mary Lynn Rajskub, who plays Chloe on "24"; and current "Saturday Night Live" castmember Fred Armisen. Improvisational comedy was added to the festival with Beer Shark Mice featuring David Koechner and Neil Flynn. Film was added with the Bay Area premiere of "Martin & Orloff". The 400-seat Cobb's Comedy Club was added as a larger venue.

In 2005, the fourth annual festival featured a tribute to Dana Carvey; a panel discussion with writers and editors from The Onion moderated by author Dave Eggers and performances by Bruce McCulloch from The Kids in the Hall; comedian Demetri Martin; "Bizarro" creator Dan Piraro; Hard 'n Phirm; Elephant Larry and many more.

To celebrate its fifth annual festival in 2006, even more venues were added with the inclusion of The Punch Line, The Purple Onion and 142 Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley. The festival featured a tribute to Bob Odenkirk and David Cross from "Mr. Show"; a lecture by Michael Showalter and David Wain, formerly of MTV's "The State" and Comedy Central's "Stella"; and performances by Dave Foley from The Kids in the Hall; Tinkle, featuring David Cross, Todd Barry and Jon Benjamin with guests Bob Odenkirk, Brian Posehn, Paul F. Tompkins, Eugene Mirman and musical act Rogue Wave; The Paul F. Tompkins Show with guests Paget Brewster, Paul Gilmartin, Samm Levine and Colin Hay; The featuring Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, Rachel Dratch and Horatio Sanz with guest monologist Will Arnett; Naked Babies featuring Rob Corddry from "The Daily Show"; Doug Stanhope, Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players; Fred Armisen; Aziz Ansari; Will Franken and a surprise appearance by Dana Carvey.

In 2007, the SF Sketchfest tribute went to Paul Reubens. Performers included Stella, RiffTrax Live featuring Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett from Mystery Science Theater 3000, The Upright Citizens Brigade with Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, Matt Walsh, Sean Conroy, Andy Daly and guest monologist Bob Odenkirk, Comedy Death-Ray, Match Game Live, David Cross, Bruce McCulloch, Eugene Mirman, Naked Babies, Todd Barry, Jon Benjamin, Morgan Murphy, Doug Benson, Todd Glass, Hard 'n Phirm, A.D. Miles, Jimmy Pardo, Paul F. Tompkins, Maria Bamford, Dragon Boy Suede, Tony Hale and Will Durst.

In 2008, the Seventh Annual SF Sketchfest presented The Kids in the Hall, in performance and in conversation for the annual Tribute. Other performers included Aimee Mann, Paul F. Tompkins, Todd Barry, Rhys Darby, Kristen Schaal, Naked Babies with Rob Corddry, The Sound of Young America Live with host Jesse Thorn and guests Danny Hoch, Merlin Mann, Morgan Murphy, Bucky Sinister and musical guest Zach Rogue; RiffTrax Live at the Castro Theatre with the film "Plan 9 From Outer Space;" Dr. Katz Professional Therapist Live with guest patients Bob Odenkirk, Maria Bamford, Brian Posehn, Robin Williams, Jon Benjamin, Eugene Mirman, Andy Kindler and B.J. Novak; Michael Showalter, John Vanderslice, Match Game Live, Comedy Death-Ray, a "Freaks and Geeks" reunion with Linda Cardellini, John Francis Daley, Samm Levine, Martin Starr, Busy Philipps, Dave (Gruber) Allen, Steve Bannos and Paul Feig; Patton Oswalt, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Bro'in Out with Seth Morris with special guest Adam McKay; Upright Citizens Brigade with Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, Matt Walsh, Rachel Dratch, Rob Riggle, Kevin Dorff and guest monologist Neil Patrick Harris; The Whitest Kids U Know, Tim and Eric and many more.

External links

* [http://www.sfsketchfest.com SF Sketchfest official website]
* [http://effinfunny.com/Exclusive clips of sketch fest comedians on effinfunny.com]