Gallery: Comedy Gold: Scenes From SF Sketchfest
01Neil Patrick Harris, Brian Henson Play Puppets
Scores of the most brilliant minds in comedy — some already famous, others rising stars — descend on San Francisco each year for SF Sketchfest, the city's homage to all that's great about live jokes. This year's [Sketchfest](http://sfsketchfest.com/home/) is no different, with performances by David Cross, John Hodgman and the creators of *Wet Hot American Summer*, as well as special events dedicated to honoring comedy legends. "It would be impossible to list what we're most looking forward to this year," said the festival's co-founders David Owen, Janet Varney and Cole Stratton in an e-mail to Wired.com. "Because we hand-pick every show and love them all, but being able to pay tribute to comedy heroes like [Eddie Izzard](http://www.sfsketchfest.com/performers/index_autoselect.php?performer=eddieizzard.jpg) and the [Upright Citizens Brigade](http://www.sfsketchfest.com/performers/index_autoselect.php?performer=sfsketchfesttribute.jpg) is extremely exciting." In years past, Sketchfest brought in many now-familiar performers long before they became megawatt stars, making the annual event a playground for young comics looking to get noticed. Knowing the Sketchfest archives were probably rife with great moments in comedy history, Wired.com asked the founders to reminisce about their favorite moments from previous performances. They came back with some pure-comedy-gold moments from the festival's 10 previous years — Neil Patrick Harris playing with puppets, Jon Hamm and Zach Galifianakis closing down a club, and Michael Showalter rocking out his iPod DJ skills. Check out their photos from previous years in the gallery above, then head to the [SF Sketchfest site](http://sfsketchfest.com/home/) to find out what's up for this year, like performances by the folks behind RiffTrax and the (eep!) *Wet Hot American Summer* live radio play. Sketchfest starts Thursday and runs through Feb. 4 at San Francisco venues. __Above:__ Neil Patrick Harris Plays Puppets With Brian Henson (2010) ---------------------------------------------------------- "This was one of my most favorite Sketchfest events out of all 10 years. Neil Patrick Harris and I are both huge [Henson Company](http://henson.com/) nerds, and putting Neil onstage with Brian Henson for a puppet demo was just incredibly awesome." *—Janet Varney* *Photo: Liezl Estipona*
02Rachel Dratch, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett Backstage
Comedy Gets Serious: Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch Backstage (2006) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- "This is backstage at the Eureka Theatre before a performance of the Upright Citizens Brigade's [ASSSSCAT](http://losangeles.ucbtheatre.com/shows/view/741 ). It looks like we’re discussing something important but I was just giving Rachel Dratch, Amy Poehler and Will Arnett advice on what restaurant to go to. Wait, that is important." *—David Owen* *Photo: Jakub Mosur*
JAKUB MOSUR03David Cross, Bob Odenkirk Mr. Show Sketch
David Cross (Really, Really) Loves Bob Odenkirk (2006) ------------------------------------------------------ "We did a tribute to [*Mr. Show*](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Show) and part of that weekend was a sketch show from those guys at the intimate [Eureka Theatre](http://www.theeurekatheatre.com/). They did some new sketches, including this one about a grandpa (Bob Odenkirk) in a retirement home coming out to his grandkids and introducing them to his lover (a shirtless David Cross). It was fearless and hilarious." *—Cole Stratton* *Photo: Jakub Mosur*
Tommy Lau04Jon Hamm and Zach Galifianakis
Jon Hamm and Zach Galifianakis Close Down the Closing Night Party (2009) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ “This was right around the time people were starting to go nuts for *Mad Men* but also realizing what a comedy nerd Jon Hamm was. And it’s a few months before *The Hangover* came out and changed everything for Zach Galifianakis. Here, they were just two dudes who closed down our closing night party.” *—David Owen* *Photo: Tommy Lau*
Dan Dion05Fred Willard, Martin Mull Fernwood Reunion
Martin Mull and Fred Willard at the *Fernwood* Reunion (2009) ------------------------------------------------------------- "We were excited to bring Martin Mull and Fred Willard \[seen here with Sketchfest founders Owen, Varney and Stratton\] together for a [*Fernwood Tonight*](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075505/) reunion. After the show, a choked-up Mull confessed to me that it had been 20 years since they had been onstage like that performing in character, and that it felt like no time had passed at all. It was nice to see it meant as much to them as it did to us." *—Cole Stratton* *Photo: [Dan Dion](http://www.dandion.com/)*
06Dick Cavett Paparazzi Shot
Dick Cavett Gets Stalked by Paparazzi (2010) -------------------------------------------- "Even after all this time, Dick Cavett still gets hounded by relentless paparazzi. I think this was taken after the Dave Hill Explosion. One thing's for certain, though: We *definitely* weren't just cheekily posing to *pretend* there were paparazzi." *—Janet Varney* *Photo: [Dan Dion](http://www.dandion.com/)*
JAKUB MOSUR07Gene Wilder
Greetings, Willy Wonka! (2008) ------------------------------ "I never thought I'd get to meet my hero Gene Wilder and that SF Sketchfest would get to present a salute to him at my favorite cinema palace, [The Castro Theatre](http://www.castrotheatre.com/), with a screening of my favorite comedy, *Young Frankenstein*. Surreal." *—David Owen* *Photo: Jakub Mosur*
08iPod DJ Michael Showalter
iPod DJ Michael Showalter (2006) --------------------------------- "Before we were able to reunite [The State](http://www.the-state.com/) at the fest, David Wain and Michael Showalter came and did a comedy lecture at Cobb's \[Comedy Club\]. That night, Showalter DJ'd our closing night party. It was so cool to have a comedy hero being that hands-on in the festival! Plus, he's got great taste in music." *—Cole Stratton* *Photo: Jakub Mosur*
09Polygamist Comedy Wedding
The Polygamist Comedy Wedding (2007) ------------------------------------- "Oh, I don't know how this got in here. This isn't a festival photo. It's just that time a bunch of us got married to a polygamist." *—Janet Varney* (seen here with [Ernie Grunwald](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0344649/), [Irene White](http://ioimprov.com/west/performers/irene-white), [Bruce McCulloch](http://www.brucio.com/) and [Stephen Brophy](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1723789/)) *Photo: Jakub Mosur*
