Good year to laugh it up — here’s what to see
It’s indisputable: San Francisco is a comedy hub.
It’s a breeding ground for standup, with prominent comedians growing up here (Margaret Cho, Ali Wong) or moving here to hone their skills (Lenny Bruce, Patton Oswalt, many others). On top of that, comedy venues of all sizes dot the region, creating a laugh scene that stretches from Santa Rosa down to Santa Cruz.
So it’s no surprise that 2020 is already shaping up to be a hilarious year. Here are a few of the new year’s mustsee comedy shows:
SF Sketchfest :SF Sketchfest turns 19 this year and as always, it plans to get fans rolling in laughter. Lots of notable names are receiving the tribute treatment, like Tony Shalhoub, George Wallace and the Monkees; and there’s much more — like a
sneak preview of “Medical Police,” the new project from the creators of the spectacular Adult Swim show “Childrens Hospital.”
Add the many standup comics and troupe performances (Groundlings, anyone?), and the growing number of popular podcast live recordings, and it becomes clear: SF Sketchfest is a comedy lover’s paradise.
Thursday, Jan. 926. Venues throughout San Francisco. For a full schedule and ticket details, go to www.sfsketchfest.com.
Ali Wong: Since Netflix released Ali Wong’s hilarious special “Baby Cobra,” tickets for the “Always Be My Maybe” star’s local shows have been in high demand.
Thankfully she’s added some bonus sets to her current “Milk and Money” tour. But act fast.
7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Jan. 1819. $69$335. The Masonic, 1111 California St., S.F. www.aliwong.com/tour; 8 p.m. Feb.15. $49$279.50. Luther Burbank Center, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. www.lutherburbankcenter.org.
Taylor Tomlinson: Taylor Tomlinson’s recent appearances on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and “Conan” are like barrages of pitchperfect comedy. She’s only 25, but she says she’s been doing comedy for a decade — and it shows. She owns the stage like a standup veteran.
See for yourself when Tomlinson visits San Jose.
7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Jan. 2326. $20$70. San Jose Improv, 62 S. Second St., San Jose. www.improv.com/sanjose
Dominique Gelin: Gelin is a ubiquitous figure in the Bay Area comedy scene, running several shows around Oakland, including “Man Haters” at the White Horse and “Tokens” at the Layover. But this month also features Gelin performing a halfhour set at the All Out Comedy Theater for a special show tentatively called “Crazy/Funny.”
8 p.m. Jan. 24. $10. All Out Comedy Theater, 2525 Telegraph Ave., Suite B, Oakland. www. alloutcomedytheater.com
Michelle Wolf: The world learned who Michelle Wolf was after she ripped into President Trump at the 2018 White House Correspondents dinner. But in addition to political humor, Wolf ’s comedy includes unforgettable bits about everything from superhero movies to lady farts. Her upcoming series of shows at Cobb’s are notable as she’s certain to be working on new material, having released her latest Netflix special “Joke Show” in December.
7 and 9:30 p.m., Feb.68. $36$51. Cobb’s Comedy Club, 915 Columbus Ave., S.F. www.cobbscomedy.com
“The Dollop”: The format for this podcast is simple: Comedian and television writer Dave Anthony reads a story from American history to his friend, genius improviser Gareth Reynolds. While Anthony reads, Reynolds riffs on what he’s learning, which is usually some strange or horrendous moment in history, like the Emu War or Thomas Kincade’s career. Anthony knows exactly what details of a story make for a good joke, and Reynolds’ improv skills must be seen to be believed.
8 p.m. Feb. 13. $35$80. San Jose Improv, 62 S. Second St., San Jose. www.improv.com/sanjose; 8 p.m. Feb. 14. $35. Palace of Fine Arts, 3601 Lyon St., S.F. www.palaceoffinearts.org
Jo Koy: What makes Filipino American comic Jo Koy worthy of the 2018 StandUp Comedian of the Year award is his high energy and hilarious jokes about family. Even if you aren’t Filipino, you can laugh about that strict parent, crazy aunt and silly kid in your life.
“I love relatable humor,” Koy told The Chronicle in 2018. “My fan base is broad . ... We all have the same mom; it’s just that ours has an accent.”
8 p.m. Feb. 13. $39$435. Chase Center, 1 Warriors Way, S.F. www.jokoy.com
“Whose Live?”: The shortform improv TV game show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” started in England back in 1988 and aired for a decade there before coming to America, where it ran for another 15 seasons with recurring players