Hi. Have you read the news today?
I’m sorry.
You know what 2026 is desperate for? Some bloody joy while we can still get it. I’ve had a really tough time doing the nerd’s guide this year because the onslaught of life under Trump 2.0 has been brutal. Which is also a good reason to get out and enjoy some laughs in a space where you can really be yourself as yourself, while it’s still kinda legal. So be your own kinda nerd. We’ve got three weeks of fun coming your way. Here’s a small sampling of events. The full schedule is here!
Thursday, January 15th
CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS
You probably know Connor Ratliff as the guy that Tom Hanks had removed from Band Of Brothers because he had “dead eyes.” If your eyes aren’t lively enough for a series about the suffering of war, then you probably aren’t the right person to take an acting class from. Hence, the beauty of Connor Ratliff hosting an entirely improvised acting class, and he is even bringing with him Griffin Newman, who, according to his bio, voiced Orko in a reboot of Masters Of The Universe that I never watched. But I had an Orko toy as a kid that I loved.
For: Acting Nerds, Theater Nerds
The Bay Area Pun-Off usually takes place at Rickshaw Stop and sells out every month. It boggles my mind that Fox News has yet to point this out as the most damning evidence of San Francisco’s decline. It shows that SF is no longer the home of depravity and godlessness but, sadly, a utopia for nerds. Watch out! Hayward is about to give you a wedgie!
For: Wordplay Nerds
Friday, January 16th
BATS Improv presents SF Noir: Fate Was Never Funnier
One of the hardest overlaps in Bay Area Events programming is between SF Sketchfest and Noir City Film Festival. But, after 20+ years, it seems like a crossover is far overdue. Thankfully, the good folks of BATS Improv, one of SF’s best-kept comedy secrets, are making it happen, albeit unofficially, with an entirely improvised Noir Film performed live in Fort Mason, which happens to be where Karl the Fog lives. I’m just wondering how they are going to pull off something in black in white with live actors…
For: Film Nerds, Hipsters & Goths (Two factions widely accepted as “nerds” by the mainstream, despite proper nerds having disdain for them)
Saturday, January 17th
Brian Henson Presents: Puppet Up Uncensored
Brian Henson was raised by one of the most universally appreciated artists of the 20th Century, Mr Jim Henson. Puppet Up Uncensored takes the artistry, humanity, and humor of the Muppets’ world and brings them into the world of, um, bawdy humor and improv? Yeah. This might be incredibly uncomfortable. And it’s 100% going to be AMAZING.
For: Puppetry Nerds, Adult-Humor Aficionados
Tinder Live with Lane Moore with Jeanine Garafolo
Tinder Live may be the first comedy experience of the decade that made me truly laugh. Like, to the point where I felt lightheaded and faint. I also recommend this show every year. It also sells out every year for that same reason. Because I recommended it. Also, my wife is out of town this weekend, and Lane Moore is, like, my #1 celebrity crush. However, I also really love my wife and believe in honoring my vows to her. That being said, you will probably see a LOT of profiles from people who clearly aren’t interested in that.
For: Romance Nerds, Mobile App Technology Nerds, Data Mining Nerds
Sunday, January 18th
The Mo & Co Show with Cher Williams and Kate Miccuci
I’ve got a kid. That kid really likes Elephant & Piggy. That same kid ALSO loves this graphic novel series about dragons who murder each other and are super condescending to boot. I 100% prefer the Mo Willems stuff. So, yes, I plan on taking my literature-loving kid to this thing. Kate Miccuci is a national hero, as well.
For: Kid Lit Nerds, Kids That Will Grow Up To Be Really Cool Nerds
The English Language really should have a better way to refer to this event. That said, the Devo frontman has had a long career making music you never would’ve known was by the same man who wrote “Uncontrollable Urge.” Mothersbaugh’s film and TV music has never really been given this kind of presentation, to my knowledge. I don’t know exactly what to expect, but I’m guessing we will get a healthy dose of Wes Anderson’s score, and I’m hoping we get some of his Powerpuff Girls and Rugrats work, as well as Pee Wee’s Playhouse.
For: Score & Incidental Music Nerds
Monday, January 19th
An Evening with Elizabeth Banks: An SF Sketchfest Tribute
The amazing Elizabeth Banks entered our hearts with Wet Hot American Summer, one of the finest moments in American cinema. Tonight she’s in conversation with Michael Ian Black, the one who actually got to make out with Bradley Cooper in that film. This woman balances the mainstream with the more eccentric, and she has some AMAZING comic chops. I often go back to 30 Rock and her arc as the conservative news reporter who has a child with Alec Baldwin when I need to feel some joy. Also, she directed Cocaine Bear. C’MON! WHAT IS NOT TO LOVE ABOUT ELIZABETH BANKS?
For: Acting Nerds, A chance for mainstream folks to determine that they are, in fact, nerds.
Tuesday, January 20th
Cockettes Nouveau: Eternal Emissions
Anyone who’s spent any time looking into SF queer history has picked up on the avant-garde theater troupe, The Cockettes. They were integral in creating the LGBT community in SF and in helping them build an alliance with the counterculture hippy community of the late 60’s and early 70’s. They also gave us the disco legend Sylvester. Original Cockettes composer, Scrumbly Koldewyn, has put together a new Cockettes group and show in the spirit of the legendary troupe.
For: SF History Nerds, Avant-Theater Nerds, LGBT History Nerds
Wednesday, January 21st
Middle Aged Dad Joel Band: A Billy Joel Tribute
I saw Middle Aged Dad Jam Band last year, and I think they did 3 Billy Joel songs? So, yeah, it makes a lot of sense for them to do a full Billy Joel show. This band, led by The State’s David Wain and Ken Marino, does Billy Joel really well. And, since Billy Joel is off the road for the time being, why not get the next best thing?
For: Billy Joel Nerds.
Thursday, January 22nd
Not often is a musician’s show at SF Sketchfest simply billed as their name. But, for most artists, you should have *some* expectation of what they will do on stage based on their name. That being said, a man who once played an entire show via manipulating the sound of amplified popsicles being licked live by audience members should not be expected to play by any rules or expectations. So, yeah, who knows what he will do, but it’s gonna be weird and enjoyable.
For: Experimental Music Nerds
Friday, January 23rd
Thomas Lennon & Friends sing The Smiths with The Sweet & Tender Hooligans
Now that Morrissey has firmly planted himself into the MAGA-sphere, much to the dismay of, well, everyone who ever felt some connection to the music of The Smiths and his early solo work. I honestly couldn’t imagine myself buying a ticket to see him at this point. Thankfully, Thomas Lennon is here to save the day, as usual. I fully expect there to be plenty of poking fun at the decline of The Smiths’ former vocalist while enthusiastically paying tribute to this great music, as well as honoring the decidedly non-Fascist legacy of guitar god Johnny Marr and one of the greatest rhythm sections of the 80’s Britpop scene, Mike Joyce and the late Andy Rourke.
For: Classic Modern Rock Nerds, Popscene & Leisure Alumni, Anglophiles
Tight & Nerdy: “Weird Al” Burlesque
I mean, who doesn’t love Weird Al? And who doesn’t love burlesque? And, I think I said this last year, but the idea of women sexy dancing to the master is the type of thing that, when I was 12, put me in cardiac arrest. So, as a 46-year-old, I really, really shouldn’t go to this.
For: Nerds In Arrested Adolescence, Fans Of Things That Are Joyful
Saturday, January 24th
Remember when False Flag and Surprise Privilege played that guerrilla show on BART? Well, SF Sketchfest has learned the lessons of that bonkers event and is doing a legit, ticketed stand-up showcase ON A MOVING BART TRAIN! Picking up at 2 pm at 12th St/City Center in Oakland, riders will get to enjoy a rotation of sets from Brent Weinbach, Brittany Carney, Natasha Vinik, and Hunaid Shakoor. And, yes, BART can get loud and weird. To ensure patrons don’t miss a joke, they will be handed headsets, and the event will be enjoyed “Silent Disco”-style. In terms of “nerd,” this is the nerdiest thing of the fest. It’s got it all- trains, advanced logistics, some really nerdy comedians, occurring at a reasonable hour, etc.
For: Transit Nerds, Logistics Nerds
Chaos: Natasha Leggero + Chelsea Peretti + Sabrina Jalees
I’ve read and re-read the synopsis for this show about 200 times, and I haven’t the slightest clue what to expect from it. I do know that these three women are super smart weirdos, and I can only expect super smart weirdness from them.
For: Fellow Super Smart Weirdos
Honestly, I didn’t have Jodie Sweetin rising to become a hero of the alternative comedy movement (or becoming a left-wing political activist, for that matter, but her Instagram is pretty heartwarming that way) on my bingo card for the 2020s, but here we are! She’s bringing her beauty pageant satire show to SF, and I am very excited to see what happens.
For: Beauty Pageant Nerds, Xennials who feel great relief when they find out the icons they grew up with did not turn to fascism
Sunday, January 25th
The Groundlings Children’s Show
My kid is currently OBSESSED with jokes. Like, she is always coming up with them on the fly, and loves being around laughter in general. The problem? There aren’t many live comedy events designed for kids. Happily, once a year, we get SF Sketchfest programming with young ones in mind. And it’s REALLY amazing that one of the most outstanding improv schools in the US has brought their kid-friendly improv show to SF.
For: Nurturing the inner nerd in your child
The Women of SNL: An SF Sketchfest Tribute
There is always one “batshit bonkers event” that shouldn’t ever happen. This year we have a significant number of the finest SNL performers of the first two decades of the show: Laraine Newman, Robin Duke, Nora Dunn, Julia Sweeney, Ellen Cleghorne, Melanie Hutsell, Cheri Oteri, Ana Gasteyer, and Rachel Dratch will all take the stage to discuss their legacies and how SNL broke quite a few barriers of ensemble sketch comedy. This is unlikely to happen again, and if someone bombed this theater during this event, it wouldn’t be someone on stage because they are all legends. (What a dumb joke! I’m sorry.)
For: Television Nerds, Sketch Nerds
Tuesday, January 27th
The Wolves Of Glendale with OCT: On Company Time
It’s been a long time since we’ve had a good, old-fashioned nerd rock band break out. Power pop with a punchline, and they’ve yet to leave the safe confines of the San Fernando Valley to see if the hardened nerds of Silicon Valley can withstand their whimsy. Will the Wolves get eaten alive by the tech overlords on a weeknight in the Tenderloin?
For: Power Pop Nerds
Thursday, January 29th
I love a good high-concept, physically disarming show. Especially if it’s in a small space. In this case, Bill O’Neil is, somehow, planning on playing two different brothers who are attempting to slip and fall on 1,000 banana peels.
Brilliant.
For: Logistics Nerds
Friday, January 30th
So many of these are special shows unique to SF Sketchfest and geared toward a specific audience. I kind of need that to fit the whole “Nerd’s Guide” concept. Maria Bamford, however, is really just a one-woman nerd magnet. All of your favorite nerds find great comfort in Bamford’s dry, confident analysis of lacking confidence. She explores mental health in such a lovely way, where the laughter doesn’t punch anywhere, but hugs. Nori Reed is her own type of comic genius as well.
For: Nerds.
Kristen Schaal: The Legend Of The Crystal Shell
Kristen Schaal has long been a favorite of both mine and SF Sketchfest. She is a unique comic genius with a great sense of timing and is unafraid to draw on unexpected sources. This one seems especially fun, as it’s her first (to my knowledge) to move into the fantasy realm, as well as, um, ballet? The show takes place inside a crystal shell during a performance of Swan Lake.
For: Ballet Nerds, Fantasy Nerds
Saturday, January 31st
Alex Bennett & Friends: An SF Sketchfest Tribute
Remember back in the day when you could listen to Live 105 and not worry about whether or not the artist you were listening to was a flaming fascist (I’m looking at you, Steven Patrick Morrissey and John Lydon), and the morning show was smart and funny and paid tribute to the local stand-up scene. Well, SF Sketchfest is bringing that back for one lovely afternoon at Cobb’s!
For: Bay Area Radio Nerds
Sunday, February 1st
Bruce McCulloch: Brand New Songs & Brand Old Songs
Did you know that the “hot” one in Kids In The Hall is also an old, angry punk? (Is Bruce McCulloch the hot one, or is that just what my wife said to me once 11 years ago?) Well, he’s going to be playing a bunch of his signature Canadian absurdity alongside fellow Canadian and the “hot” one in Dirty Ghosts (I mean, Dirty Ghosts is a solo project now, so this is pretty much inarguable).
For: Canadaphiles
Courtney Pauroso: Vanessa 5000
I’ve been, like, really depressed lately. And how do I know that I’m depressed? I mean, other than, you know, being me and all? All of my Facebook ads are for various AI girlfriends. Including one that looks distressingly like Christie Brinkley during her tenure on Parks & Recreation (and, like, an absurd amount of various different types and sizes of female bodybuilders). I’m also very happily married, and hate AI, so this is all lost on me. But it does make me wonder what a show like this, where Courtney Pauroso actually plays the role of a sex robot with artificial intelligence, over a decade removed from the movie Her, when all of this is more than plausible, yet we are actually beta-testing it.
For: Science Nerds, Sex Nerds
