POP CULTURE
Grand National Rodeo; “Kamau Right Now!”
San Francisco Comic Con: The comic book and pop culture convention won’t replace San Francisco’s departed WonderCon, but there’s still a strong collection of celebrities and artists. “Star Wars” emperor Ian McDiarmid, Krysten Ritter of “Marvel’s Jessica Jones” and Janet Varney are among the guests. Sept. 2-4. Marriott Marquis, 680 Mission St., S.F. www. sanfrancomiccon.com
Grand National Livestock, Horse Show and Rodeo: Cow Palace livestock fun fact: Sen. Dianne Feinstein was once a teen livestock queen. The Cow Palace was built for livestock exhibitions in the 1940s, and the tradition holds in the tech era, with a centerpiece Grand National Rodeo event. Oct. 14, 15, 22, 23. Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Ave, Daly City. www.cow palace.com
Tracy Morgan: Another Planet Entertainment and the Fox Theater will host Morgan on his Picking Up the Pieces tour, referencing the auto accident that almost ended the comic’s life. Morgan visits the Wells Fargo Center in Santa Rosa on the same weekend. Expect a funny and emotional night from the “Saturday Night Live” and “30 Rock” actor. Oct. 2. Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. www.apeconcerts.com
“Kamau Right Now!”: W. Kamau Bell brings his funny, lively and topical KALW podcast to City Arts & Lectures, recording at the Nourse Auditorium. The stand-up comic, writer and podcaster has chosen fun locations around the Bay Area for “Kamau Right Now!” The Nourse is the biggest. Oct. 27. Nourse Theater, 275 Hayes St., S.F. www.cityarts.net
“Whose Live Anyway?”: Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops and Jeff Davis, veterans of the “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” improv TV show, storm four Bay Area counties this fall, joined by Joel Murray. Venues include the Mountain Winery in Saratoga (Oct. 7), Nourse Theater (Oct. 8), Marin Center (Nov. 4) and Wells Fargo Center in Santa Rosa (Nov. 5). Oct. 7-8, Nov. 4-5. Various locations. www. whoseliveanyway.com