SF Sketchfest offers an exhaustingly inexhaustible variety of comedy shows in theaters and comedy clubs all over San Francisco. More than 200 shows, in fact, in 17 venues over the course of 18 days.
There’s no way anyone could catch them all, not least because there’s often several going on at the same time. Standup, sketch comedy, game shows, improv, celebrity tributes, staged readings, movie screenings and cast reunions, podcasts, storytelling, funny songs, workshops — you name it, and it’s happening somewhere in the city.
In addition to performers including Bill Irwin, Kids in the Hall and “Yo, Is This Racist?” podcaster Tawny Newsome, here are a dozen other Sketchfest highlights worth checking out, just for starters.
Eric Idle but Jeff B. Davis: The festival opens with an evening with Monty Python legend and “Spamalot” writer Eric Idle, performing his first North American show in seven years. Joined by American comedian Jeff B. Davis (“Whose Line Is It Anyway?”), Idle promises an evening of songs, stories and scenes including the world premiere of a heretofore unseen Monty Python sketch. Details: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18; Castro Theatre; $75-$95.
David Cross and Friends: The “Mr. Show” and “Arrested Development” veteran reflects on the weirdness of the pandemic years in a new evening of standup, joined by comedy pals including San Francisco’s own Kevin Pollak (“The Usual Suspects,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”). Details: 9:45 p.m. Jan. 19; Club Fugazi; $45-$55.
The State: Hits and Misses: Members of the fabled New York comedy troupe known for its ’90s MTV sketch comedy series reconvene for a staged reading of new and otherwise unseen sketches. The show is sold out, but some tickets may be available at the door. Details: 12 p.m. Jan. 19; Cobb’s Comedy Club; $45-$65.
Celebrity Autobiography: Comedy stars act out some of the funniest bits from celebrity memoirs in this perennial festival favorite. Whose new tell-alls will the stories be ripped from the pages of this time? Prince Harry? Britney Spears? Find out in this latest edition performed by luminaries including Jennifer Tilly, Tony Hale of “Arrested Development,” original “Saturday Night Live” cast member Laraine Newman, “Daily Show” correspondent Dulcé Sloan and more. Details: 4 and 7 p.m. Jan. 20; Cobb’s Comedy Club; $45-$75.
Tinder Live!: Comedian, writer and musician Lane Moore (“How to Be Alone”) brings her hit show to town in which she browses dating app Tinder and the audience votes whether she swipes left or right, messaging some of the profiles she finds in real time. Her hilarious wingman for the evening is David Cross of “Arrested Development” and “Mr. Show” fame. Details: 9:45 p.m. Jan. 20; Cobb’s Comedy Club; $25-$45.
Exorcistic: Orgasmico Theatre Company’s “Unauthorized Rock Musical Parody of ‘The Exorcist’” comes to S.F. after a hit run in L.A. and its off-Broadway premiere. The show takes on the horror classic in all its glorious 1970s-ness with hilarity, blasphemy and rock ’n’ roll. Details: 9:45 p.m. Jan. 20; Club Fugazi; $25-$55.
Mo Willems & The Storytime All-Stars Live: Beloved children’s author Mo Willems (“Knuffle Bunny,” “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!”) teams up with a passel of comedy stars to act out some of his stories and more. Performers include W. Kamau Bell (“United Shades of America”), Kerri Kenney-Silver (“Reno 911!!”), Jo Lo Truglio (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”), Dulcé Sloan (“The Daily Show”), Pamela Adlon (“King of the Hill”) and legendary parody songster “Weird Al” Yankovic. Details: 11 a.m. Jan. 21; Castro Theatre; $25-$45.
An Afternoon with Amber Ruffin: Sketchfest pays tribute to the host of “The Amber Ruffin Show” and writer for “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (who also rewrote the book of “The Wiz” revival now playing in S.F.) with an onstage conversation moderated by fellow comedian Zainab Johnson. Details: 1 p.m. Jan. 21; Cobb’s Comedy Club; $35-$45.
Stupid Songs and Stories with Kevin McDonald: Joined by guitarist and fellow Canadian Allyson Baker, the Kids in the Hall’s Kevin McDonald promises a fine evening of funny songs and stories, though he says he can’t sing and is a terrible storyteller. Details: 7 p.m. Jan. 21; Gateway Theatre; $35-$45.
Triumph the Insult Comic Dog’s Let’s Make a Poop: The notoriously rude, cigar-chomping hand puppet from “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” hosts a live quiz show podcast with special guests including Adam Savage of “Mythbusters” and national treasure “Weird Al” Yankovic. It should be a hell of a show … for him to poop on. Details: 8 p.m. Jan. 21; Castro Theatre; $45-$65.
The Red Room Orchestra Plays the Music of “Twin Peaks”: The Red Room Orchestra returns to the Red Room of “Twin Peaks” in the also very red Great American Musical Hall with special guest Kyle MacLachlan, also playing selections from other famous MacLachlan projects. Guests include comedian Margaret Cho, musician Petra Haden and “Twin Peaks” giant Carel Struycken. Details: 8 p.m. Jan. 21; Great American Music Hall; $55-$125.
Puddles Pity Party: A melancholy, very tall and otherwise silent clown with a heartbreakingly beautiful singing voice, Puddles has wowed audiences around the world as well as the judges on “America’s Got Talent.” Details: 4 p.m. Feb. 4; Great Star Theater; $45.
Contact Sam Hurwitt at shurwitt@gmail.com, and follow him at Twitter.com/shurwitt.
