SF Sketchfest 2025

Hilarious Habibis – hosted by Gena B. Jones and Lynn Maleh – is Hollywood's FIRST EVER standup showcase featuring Middle Eastern/North African [MENA] comedians. The show, which has been featured in Alaraby TV and Between East, aims to bring together a diverse group of artists and audiences to laugh about everything, from brown parent trauma and cultural hiccups to AMC commercials and lube. What began as a way for MENA comedians to get in front of agents and managers has evolved into something so much bigger: a countercultural hub for the MENA community in LA and beyond. Past shows have featured a range of up-and coming and established MENA comics, including Bassem Youssef, Maz Jobrani, Dina Hashem, Aristotle Athari, Dave Merheje, and Crystal Marie.

With guests Kari Assad, Christie Bahna, Reem Edan, Farzin Moradi, and Rubi Nicholas.

Rhys Darby is an actor, writer, podcaster and stand-up comedian originally from New Zealand.
 
Darby first captured US audiences as Murray, the loveable, but ultimately inept manager in HBO’s "Flight of the Conchords". He has gone on to star in a plethora of TV and film roles, from "Yes Man" and "Pirate Radio" to Nigel in the "Jumanji" reboots. Most recently he starred as the gentleman pirate, Stede Bonnet in "Our Flag Means Death".
 
Darby first hit the standup stage in University in Christchurch, New Zealand in the mid 90s, and has never looked back. Now recognised as one of NZs most successful comedy exports. His stand-up has been described as a sensational blend of sound effects, characterizations and askew observations. A consummate storyteller, Rhys is known for his silly stories and light hearted take on the world.
 
Rhys has five stand-up specials’, "Imagine That!" (2008), "It’s Rhys Darby Night!" (2011) and "This Way to Spaceship", (2012) and "I’m a Fighter Jet" (2017) and "Mystic Time Bird" (2021).
 
Darby has written four books, a loosely autobiographical end of world companion, "This Way to Spaceship", as well as three Buttons McGinty books for kids (or adults that like to laugh)
 
Rhys’ love of the weird is seen in his stand up and writing, and for ten years he has had first a radio show, then a podcast on cryptozoology, "The Cryptid Factor".
 
A prolific voice over artist, kids all over the world hear him in "Voltron: Legendary Defender", "Spirit", "TMNT", "Kiff", "Monsters at Work" and many more. Darby is excited to lend his voice to the upcoming film "That Christmas" and the classic story, "Badjelly the Witch".
 
In between his huge adventures Darby is based in Los Angeles with his family where they like to hike, eat tacos and explore the world.
 
You can follow Rhys' life, Facebook.com/rhysdarby or Instagram @rhysiedarby.
Photo credit: Robyn Von Swank

With Keith Lowell Jensen, hosted by Hunaid Shakoor.

Roz Hernandez (she/her) is a multi-talented transgender entertainer, comedian, actor, and host. She is a series regular on Hulu's hit show, "Living for the Dead", executive-produced by Kristen Stewart. Her podcast "Ghosted!", where celebrity guests discuss ghost stories, psychic experiences and "all things that go BUMP in the night," was named one of Vulture magazine's Best Comedy Podcasts of 2022. Roz has honed her comedic craft on stages across the country. For an impressive four years, she hosted a monthly show at the iconic Hollywood Improv. She also regularly graces renowned venues such as Largo, Dynasty Typewriter, Elysian Theater, and Permanent Records Roadhouse. Her infectious energy, style and humor have earned her a spot on "Watch What Happens Live" on Bravo in 2023. She's been featured on multiple top charting podcasts including "My Favorite Murder," "Lovett or Leave It" and Team Coco's "Scam Goddess." Roz lives in Los Angeles where she likes to collect kitschy antiques and bedazzle her extensive wardrobe in her spare time. 

Bo Johnson is a comedian from Seattle, Washington. He can be found headlining clubs, breweries, and appropriately sized theaters across the United States and Canada. His stand up has been featured on Netflix Is A Joke Radio, Kevin Hart Presents: Hart of the City on Comedy Central, Don’t Tell Comedy Secret Sets, and LOL Live! at the prestigious Just For Laughs comedy festival in Montreal. He was a finalist in the 39th annual Seattle International Comedy Competition and is a regular at festivals including Bumbershoot, SF Sketchfest, the Double Down Comedy Experience sponsored by Zappos, Life is Beautiful in Las Vegas, Rifflandia in Victoria BC, Prizefest, and Big Pine Comedy Festival in Phoenix. With a growing online audience Bo’s jokes have been viewed millions of times online.
Separate from stand up comedy one time Bo and his best friend from high school snuck into a movie theater as one person. That video was broadcast on TV shows like the now cancelled "Caught on Camera with Nick Cannon" on NBC and lowest rated daytime talk show at the time, "The Meredith Veira Show". Bo still gets messages each year from friends seeing the video go viral on different meme accounts. Numerous magazines and newspapers also wrote about the hijinks, including an article in Cosmopolitan titled, “Man Sneaks His BFF Into Movie Theater by Stuffing Him Into His Pants.” More recently Bo trained his roommates dog by walking her to Shania Twain's "Man! I feel like a Woman!" in a viral stunt earning over 7 millions views on Tik Tok and press coverage in both major and incredibly minor publications.

Hosted by Brooke Heinichen.

SF Sketchfest presents some of our favorite hand-picked emerging stand-ups comics from around the country and beyond!

With Sergio Blanco, Colin Braun, Jordan Cerminara, Steve Hernandez, Jared Kassebaum, Molina Molina, Shivaan Nadan, and Celeste Winter, Hosted by Annette Mullaney.

Roz Hernandez (she/her) is a multi-talented transgender entertainer, comedian, actor, and host. She is a series regular on Hulu's hit show, "Living for the Dead", executive-produced by Kristen Stewart. Her podcast "Ghosted!", where celebrity guests discuss ghost stories, psychic experiences and "all things that go BUMP in the night," was named one of Vulture magazine's Best Comedy Podcasts of 2022. Roz has honed her comedic craft on stages across the country. For an impressive four years, she hosted a monthly show at the iconic Hollywood Improv. She also regularly graces renowned venues such as Largo, Dynasty Typewriter, Elysian Theater, and Permanent Records Roadhouse. Her infectious energy, style and humor have earned her a spot on "Watch What Happens Live" on Bravo in 2023. She's been featured on multiple top charting podcasts including "My Favorite Murder," "Lovett or Leave It" and Team Coco's "Scam Goddess." Roz lives in Los Angeles where she likes to collect kitschy antiques and bedazzle her extensive wardrobe in her spare time. 

Bo Johnson is a comedian from Seattle, Washington. He can be found headlining clubs, breweries, and appropriately sized theaters across the United States and Canada. His stand up has been featured on Netflix Is A Joke Radio, Kevin Hart Presents: Hart of the City on Comedy Central, Don’t Tell Comedy Secret Sets, and LOL Live! at the prestigious Just For Laughs comedy festival in Montreal. He was a finalist in the 39th annual Seattle International Comedy Competition and is a regular at festivals including Bumbershoot, SF Sketchfest, the Double Down Comedy Experience sponsored by Zappos, Life is Beautiful in Las Vegas, Rifflandia in Victoria BC, Prizefest, and Big Pine Comedy Festival in Phoenix. With a growing online audience Bo’s jokes have been viewed millions of times online.
Separate from stand up comedy one time Bo and his best friend from high school snuck into a movie theater as one person. That video was broadcast on TV shows like the now cancelled "Caught on Camera with Nick Cannon" on NBC and lowest rated daytime talk show at the time, "The Meredith Veira Show". Bo still gets messages each year from friends seeing the video go viral on different meme accounts. Numerous magazines and newspapers also wrote about the hijinks, including an article in Cosmopolitan titled, “Man Sneaks His BFF Into Movie Theater by Stuffing Him Into His Pants.” More recently Bo trained his roommates dog by walking her to Shania Twain's "Man! I feel like a Woman!" in a viral stunt earning over 7 millions views on Tik Tok and press coverage in both major and incredibly minor publications.

Hosted by Brooke Heinichen.