Sketch Fest Seattle (Slide Whistle) Opens Tonight

Sketch comedy isn't rocket science. Get some funny jokes, present them in a scene, and get off the stage.

Simple enough, yet most sketch comedy isn't good, it's pretty groan inducing. Relying too much on bad/tired jokes, yelling, cursing, and sketches that drag on long after the joke has been made.

Sketch Fest Seattle goes out of their way to make sure you won't sit through too many of these groups. Now in its ninth year, the festival boasts fifteen troupes over two weekends, with comedians coming from as far away as Bellingham (as well as New York, Chicago, LA, and our little buddy to the south, Portland).

The first weekend of the festival kicks off tonight with local favorites the wonderfully funny Cody Rivers Show, and continues through Saturday.

For our money the highlight of the weekend will be Kasper Hauser. The last time they were in town we wrote that they were smarter, faster, and more creative than any sketch comedy group performing today -- and they didn't disappoint. They also write these Craigslist postings, which are one of our most favoritest things on the internets.

All the details of the festival are here, and sorry, there will be no Australian groups.