Before this weekend, I considered myself fairly familiar with the comedy of Greg Behrendt. I knew about his history with Sex and the City, his book that turned into a movie (He’s Just Not That into You), the two books he then co-wrote with his wife, and I’ve seen his standup act multiple times. More importantly, I already subscribe to the Walking the Room podcast. I felt pretty confident that I knew what to expect from Greg (and in this case, Dave Anthony as well). As for the night’s live podcast guest stars, Dave Holmes and Patton Oswalt, I knew both of them from previous work (MTV and United States of Tara, respectively), so I settled into an early weekend with a great seat from the bar at the Punchline and as the show began with Dave and Greg in miscellaneous clown costume pieces, I was in on the joke. For those who were not, though… I can only imagine what the night might have been like for some unsuspecting soul who just happened to be in town on business or something and thought he’d catch a show at a nearby comedy club. I’m sure nothing could have prepared such a person for the foul-mouthed hilarity that took place. Continue reading “Sketchfest Review: Walking the Room Live Podcast at The Punchline, 2/2/2012”
Tag: SF Sketchfest
Sketchfest Review: Smug Shift 1/21/2012
After a certain hour, the nocturnal muse of midnight, the world gets weird. Sure, reality is eternally enveloped in curiosity and every “hour” on Earth is both day and night. Still, regardless of circumstance, there is a pivotal time drenched in ethereal giddiness that inspires irrational adventures. This is evidently the best time to start a comedy show. Continue reading “Sketchfest Review: Smug Shift 1/21/2012”
Sketchfest Review: Stella at Mezzanine, 1/21/12
Spinning Platters’ writers Christopher Rogers and Dakin Hardwick both got to enjoy a performance by Stella: Michael Ian Black, David Wain, and Michael Showalter‘s nightclub show.
Instead of boring you with a typical “review” of the show, Spinning Platters is opening the fourth wall, and allowing you into the personal lives of these two legendary journalists. This is a transcript of a private chat between the two, discussing the show on Google Chat.
After the jump, you will learn how a writer thinks.
Continue reading “Sketchfest Review: Stella at Mezzanine, 1/21/12”
Sketchfest Review: Comedy NightLife at the California Academy of Sciences, 1/26/11
When I saw the roster of performers playing at California Academy of Sciences I knew I had to check it out. Thomas Lennon, Robert Ben Garant, Greg Proops, Rick Overton and Will Franken were all scheduled to be there plus many more. I had no idea how they were going to pack in all of those performances, but with the entire California Academy of Sciences at their disposal it was easy to fit everyone in, but not so easy to see all the performers you wanted to. Continue reading “Sketchfest Review: Comedy NightLife at the California Academy of Sciences, 1/26/11”
Sketchfest Review: Drew Carey’s Improv-a-Ganza at Marines’ Memorial Theatre, 1/27/2012
I confess, I didn’t know that Drew Carey’s Improv-a-Ganza was a television show. I never had a chance to even watch it. What I did know, however, was Whose Line is it Anyway?, the long-running hysterical show imported from the UK and beloved by improv fans like me. With so many fantastically funny people roaming our fair city during Sketchfest, sometimes choosing the shows you’ll attend can be hard. Not for me, at least not last night: I couldn’t wait to get myself to the Marines’ Memorial Theatre for the second weekend in a row for an Improv-a-Ganza with Drew Carey, Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Chip Esten and Jeff B. Davis.
Sketchfest Review: Hill/Jones, Don’t We Boys, and Knuckles & Tits @ Dark Room Theater, 1/21/2012
Dark Room Theater, a charming, janky barge, landlocked in the heart of the Mission. People are packed to the hypothetical rafters, forced to face their obvious claustrophobia to catch a glimmer of comedy. Young professionals, holding burritos, are held in anticipation (and melancholy due to confiscated beer). Continue reading “Sketchfest Review: Hill/Jones, Don’t We Boys, and Knuckles & Tits @ Dark Room Theater, 1/21/2012”
Sketchfest Review: Charles, Stupid Time Machine & Justin Scrimshaw @ Dark Room Theater, 1/21/2012
People teemed into the Dark Room Theater, a black box in one of the City’s most colorful neighborhoods (i.e. a paradoxical place of real and fictitious danger). The lobby was littered with nonsensical paraphernalia (manikins, fake chickens, etc.). A one-eyed French Bulldog, Maggie, basked in the attention from adoring strangers. Sketchfest in the Mission, the largest focus of the festival’s freshest talent, was set to begin.
Sketchfest Review: Moshe Kasher/Jessi Klein, 1/20/2012
“The Price is Right Theme” played over the PA and the lights dimmed. It was 10:15 p.m. and the second half of the Sketchfest Dozen double feature was about to begin, this time featuring Moshe Kasher and Jessi Klein.
Continue reading “Sketchfest Review: Moshe Kasher/Jessi Klein, 1/20/2012”
Sketchfest Review: Ron Funches/Nick Thune, 1/20/2012
The SF Sketchfest Dozen is a noble and novel concept. Twelve vetted new headliners from across the country perform over three weeks at the Punch Line, one of the most revered comedy clubs in the country. Continue reading “Sketchfest Review: Ron Funches/Nick Thune, 1/20/2012”
Sketchfest Review: Pretty Good Friends at Cobb’s Comedy Club, 1/20/12
Eugene Mirman’s show Pretty Good Friends turned out to be a great start to my SF Sketchfest experience, in spite of the grim start to the evening. At 10:20 it was pouring rain and the line to get in to Cobb’s Comedy Club was around the block. I was umbrella-less, water dripping off my nose and actually thankful that I had forgotten my camera. But then the nice people behind me offered to let me huddle under their umbrella and I ended up meeting some fellow comedy nerds. And to think I was dreading going to a comedy show by myself. Continue reading “Sketchfest Review: Pretty Good Friends at Cobb’s Comedy Club, 1/20/12”