August brings us the skewering of super-cheesy romantic vampire movies, improv shows as far as the eyes can see, Muppets, and Fred Armisen, of course.
He's appeared on nearly every late night show (and was a regular contributor to The Tonight Show when Jay Leno was hosting). He's had best-selling comedy albums, top rated comedy specials, and has appeared on Inside Amy Schumer, Chelsea Lately, and tons of other shows. The next step in his career is obvious: world domination.
When: Various times, August 7-9
Where: Cobb's Comedy Club, 915 Columbus
BATS' 20th Annual Summer Improv Festival
For the next eight weeks, BATS will host ten shows every Friday and Saturday starting Friday, August 8. Now in its 20th year, the city's popular improv group will present shows like "Improvised Downton Abbey" and "Spontaneous Broadway." The fest will also include five new shows including "Improvised Prison Drama," "Improvised Epic Brecht Musical," "Pulp Playhouse, San Francisco Secrets," and "Improvised Game of Thrones."
When: 8 pm, Every Friday & Saturday, August 8 - September 20.
Where: BATS' Bayfront Theater, Fort Mason Center, Building B, Third Floor
Many of her fans know her from her role as Chloe on the uber-popular TV series, 24. But for those of you who get crucified for not watching a TV show that changed the game when it comes to TV action dramas (myself included), then you probably know her for her stand-up. It's just as fun…with less violence than 24...I think.
When: Various times, August 12-13
Where: Punch Line Comedy Club, 444 Battery
Some of the nation's top Desi comedians gather for a night of great comedy:
Samson Koletkar (co-producer, NBC, CBS, NPR), Abhay Nadkarni (co-producer, SLO Comedy Festival), Dhaya Lakshminarayanan (Comedy Central Asia), Imran G (Walk The Plank Comedy Competition Winner), Kabir Singh (featured on Starz Network), Priya Prasad (Boston & LA Comedy Festival), Rajeev Dhar (Host of Troubled Comedy Night), Richard Sarvate (Redwood Comedy Festival), and Shanti Charan (SF Weekly’s Best Stand-Up on the Way Up).
When: 8 pm, Wednesday, August 13
Where: Cobb's Comedy Club, 915 Columbus
He's won major comedy competitions, was a fan favorite on Last Comic Standing, and is a US paralympic soccer player. He'sn living with cerebral palsy, but does that really matter in comedy? Not really. When you're funny, you're funny.
When: Various times, August 14-16
Where: Punch Line Comedy Club, 444 Battery
He once held the coveted position of snarky host of E! Entertainment's go-to pop culture news source, Talk Soup, and starred in five seasons of the before-there-was-Looking Showtime show, Queer as Folk. And yes, he does stand-up comedy as well.
When: Various times, August 15-18
Where: Cobb's Comedy Club, 915 Columbus
Breathe Entertainment Presents Laugh Out Lounge
A new comedy series is starting in our fine city and it's good. Breathe Radio presents a night of local comedians including Justin Harrison, Kabir Singh, Chunk from 99.7 NOW, and Josh Waldron. Added bonus: after the show, you can mix and mingle with the comedians. It's like a petting zoo, but with comedians, cocktails, and no petting…because that would be creepy.
When: 8 pm, Friday, August 15
Where: Fame Venue, 443 Broadway St.
The Muppet Movie 35th Anniversary Family Matinee
The one and only Dave Goelz (a.k.a. voice and puppeteer of Muppet icon Gonzo the Great) makes an appearance at a family-friendly event that includes a screening of one of the finest piece of Muppet cinema which will also include a Q&A with Goelz. The event is part of SF Sketchfest's Summer Social.
When: 11 am, Saturday, August 16
Where: Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St.
The Benson Movie Interruption: Twilight: Eclipse
In the second part of SF Sketchfest's Summer Social, comedian and movie podcaster Doug Benson brings us his third installment of skewering the moodiest, lovelorn tween vampire franchises of all time by providing appropriately and inappropriately funny commentary to Twilight: Eclipse with some surprise guests.
When: 4:20 pm, Saturday, August 16
Where: Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St.
Office Space 15th Anniversary Screening
Mike Judge's cult classic, Office Space, celebrates its 15th anniversary with a screening of the movie and a special guest appearance by Stephen Root (a.k.a. the lovable, muttering Milton). Make sure you bring your red staplers.
When: 9 pm, Saturday, August 16
Where: Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St.
Rounding out SF Sketchfest's Summer Social is Fred Armisen. In case you don't know who he is, he's the guy that co-created Portlandia, is currently the bandleader for Late Night With Seth Meyers, and was one of the best cast members of Saturday Night Live. He'll be joined by '70s era English punk-rock musician Ian Rubbish (that's Armisen's alter-ego, BTW) and his band. And of course, there will be a Q&A with Fred after.
When: 8 pm, Sunday, August 17
Where: Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St.
For one night and one night only local comedian Yayne Abeba waxes poetic about growing up as a first generation Ethiopian in San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury. She will be joined by fellow locals Ronn Vigh and Kaseem Bentley. When: 8 pm, Tuesday, August 19
Where: Punch Line Comedy Club, 444 Battery
