It’s that time of year again! Time to scour through pages and pages of SF Sketchfest listings, trying to decide what shows to buy tickets for, and never actually going to anything because it’s all too intimidating. Well, fear not! Instead of thinking for yourself, just go to everything I tell you to. Because I have fantastic taste, and you’ll love all of these.
Don’t trust me? Well, you can always go straight here to pick out shows and buy tickets.
Thursday, January 10th
SF Sketchfest Tribute: In Conversation with Margaret Cho
San Francisco has a long, rich history of stand up comedy. Margaret Cho is one of the most captivating and divisive comics to come out of our fair city. This woman has been through hell and back, and definitely has stories to tell.
For Comedy Nerds, Social Justice History Nerds
Jen Kirkman is a long time favorite of Spinning Platters. She’s one of the best improvisational storytellers out there, and this night is going to feature her doing what she does best: creating stories out of nowhere, among a crowd, in a bar.
For Historic Cosplay Nerds, Improv Nerds, Theater Nerds
Todd Barry: The Crowd Work Tour
Todd Barry is a crowd work expert. If you are going to be mocked by somebody as an audience member, he’s pretty much the only person to get mocked by.
For Nerds that like being called “NERD”
Saturday, January 12th
Reductress Satire Writing Workshop
Reductress is one of the best news satire blogs around. This weekend, we get to learn how to write successfully on-point political satire, which is going to be a great skill to learn once we find ourselves in a time again when news satire DOESN’T write itself.
For Political Nerds
SF Sketchfest Tribute to Superstore
Superstore is one of the most underrated shows on TV. It’s got a fantastic cast, and some of the sharpest writing on TV. It’s also a rare show that manages to humanize blue collar work, without pity. Tonight we are going to get to enjoy some Q+A with the cast to learn more about how this fantastic program came to be.
For Television Nerds, Economic Nerds
It’s a competitive punnery competition. That’s about all you need, right? Also, the cast is spot on:. Natasha Muse is one of the best in the Bay; Paige Weldon is a comedy genius; Andy Rider and Ronn Vigh are both probably all right, too?
For Dad Humor Nerds
Sunday, January 13th
SF Sketchfest Tribute: W Kamau Bell in conversation with Hari Kondablu
I interviewed W. Kamau Bell a few years ago. He’s actually just as good at getting interviewed as he is at interviewing people! Bell is open minded, insightful, and fearless. Chances are you will leave this session a little scared, a little more conscious, and maybe even a little more optimistic about the future!
For Political Nerds
Monday, January 14th
SF Sketchfest Tribute: Carol Burnett, In Conversation
Carol Burnett is a national treasure. The Carol Burnett Show basically changed what a variety show was on TV. As this is “Sketchfest,” it seems that the most Sketchfest thing you could do is learn about sketch from the queen of sketch comedy, especially since she’s fresh off her special award win at the Golden Globes!
For Comedy Nerds, Sketch Nerds
Thursday, January 17th
This one needs no title. Rhea Butcher is one of the sharpest human beings alive. I had the honor of getting to interview her last year ahead of her set, and this is her first time doing a full solo show SF Sketchfest, and it’s going to be amazing.
For Nerds that also like good things
We’re No Doctors with Steve Agee and Busy Phillips
This is a podcast about health issues, and they are talking to The Go-Go’s Jane Weidlin tonight. If you don’t know, a full Go Go’s tour was canceled a few years back due Weidlin injuring herself in a lightsaber accident. I really hope they discuss this…
For Healthcare Nerds
Friday, January 18th
I have been fascinated by the place music keeps in the lives of people pretty much my whole life. Even at a young age, I’d inspect people’s music collections. Later, I’d try to sneak a peak at people’s iPods on public transit, just to see what they were listening to. So, tonight we get to actually snoop into people’s listening habits… A slew of famous comics just sharing playlists. How could that not be a great time?
For Music Nerds, Voyeurism Nerds
There are a lot of shows where people riff on movies. But nobody riffs on art. Which is a bummer, because there is so much mildly uncomfortable art out there! So, tonight, we will get to enjoy comedians tearing apart art they found at a thrift store. It’s gonna be lovely.
For Judgmental Art Nerds
Saturday, January 19th
You are reading a “Nerd’s Guide” to Sketchfest. So, how meta is it that we are recommending a podcast about nerding out about things? Seriously, it’s like we put some nerd in your nerd because we heard you like nerds.
For Nerd Nerds
Were you a fan of the original MST3K but kinda bummed about the reboot? Don’t you wish there was a reboot of the original team? Well, tonight the Gateway Theater has a show for you! Original MST3K voices / riffers Trace Beaulieu and Frank Conniff will be watching a less than great film tonight, while gently mocking it for the entertainment of the audience.
For Film Nerds, Nerds that are nerdy about things that aren’t good.
Sunday, January 20th
People have been telling me for years that I need to see this movie. I guess it’s a kinda of subversive comedy about an oil exec who ends up finding himself while on a trip to ruin a village in Scotland. I should finally see this film…
For Film Nerds, and me, somebody that procrastinates about seeing movies.
Audible Presents: The Pole Vault Champion Of The Entire Universe
This is a comic, sci-fi radio show about aliens taking over a sports competition to prove that they are “The best in the universe” at pole vault. Oh, and it’s got one of the best casts in the known universe: Andy Richter, Janet Varney, Lucy Davis, Eliza Skinner, Paul F. Tompkins, RiffTrax/MST3K’s Kevin Murphy, Bill Corbett, & Conor Lastowka. Oh, and WEIRD AL YANKOVIC!!! And, normally, I’ll put a clip from the show here, but I love this bit where Tompkins thinks he knows Weird Al. Curious as to how that will play out live.
For Sci Fi Nerds, Radio Nerds
Tuesday, January 22nd
There are a ton of viral phenomena that try to take their act on the road and make a career out of it, and they are hugely successful for a short period of time, before petering out. Puddle Pity Party, however, seems to only be growing. Each time the “sad clown with a golden voice” comes to town, he plays a bigger venue. He has managed to take the kitschy act of pop songs done sad and turn it into to full art form. There is nobody like Puddles.
For Music Nerds, Nerds conquering their fear of clowns.
Wednesday, January 23rd
The premise is hard to wrap my head around: comedians tell jokes head to head, but they get scored like baseball, somehow? I really don’t get it, but if you are the type to complain about the lack of local talent in the stand up world, this show has ten of the finest comics in SF battling each other for, um, the World Series Pennant?
For Local Nerds, Baseball Nerds (somehow)
Thursday, January 24th
SF Sketchfest Threesome: Alex Koll, Amy Miller, Clare O’Kane
Yesterday you had the ten best local comics. Tonight you get some of the best local comics to EVER MOVE AWAY FROM THE BAY AREA!!! Amy Miller and Clare O’Kane are old friends to Spinning Platters. Heck, Miller even guest wrote for us once! Also, they are two of the funniest humans alive. I’m not sure about that Koll guy; I’m sure he’s good, too. But you should come to this show just to show Miller and O’Kane how much they miss us!
For: Everyone! Not just nerds!
Friday, January 25th
Bring The Rock with Greg Behrendt & Electrik Snöfläke
I LOVE this show. So much. The premise is simple- comedians talk about their relationship with music, and are then forced to sing a song backed by Greg Behrendt’s amazing band, Electrik Snöfläke. It’s such a fun show, and I highly recommend attending it whenever you can.
For: Music Nerds
Natasha Leggero & Moshe Kasher: The Endless Honeymoon
Sure, we are all sad that Moshe Kasher married some Hollywood star and deserted his loving home in Oakland. Just like Tom Hanks. Since Oakland is coming up, he’s missing out now. But at least he is home for a little while tonight! And he brought his lovely wife with him!
For: Some kind of nerd… I don’t know. Just go to this show.
Saturday, January 26th
Hound Tall Podcast with Moshe Kasher
Hound Tall is a show hosted by Moshe Kasher where a group of comedians get together to discuss a topic. Sometimes these chats get very, very heated. There have been many that made me cry. Today the topic is “How To Be Good At Sex.” So it’s going to get very, very heated.
For: Sex Nerds, Former Debate Team Nerds
Sunday, January 27th
Next Big Thing with Courtney and Dara
Tech, even in the diverse Bay Area, is largely a white, male world. We need more diverse voices opening up technology to more people. That brings us to the excellent Next Big Thing podcast:a space for tech advancements from people of color to get amplified. You know, as they should.
For: Tech Nerds
