SF Sketchfest co-founder David Owen has a term for modern comedy: medicine.

The 22nd annual comedy festival could be the medicine many folks are looking for this January, as 190 shows will kick off on Jan. 16 and run through Feb. 2 in San Francisco.

There are events scheduled for every day but two: Jan. 20, the day of the presidential inauguration, and the following Monday.

“Depending on what’s going on in the world, especially in hard times, people always need comedy,” said Owen, who co-founded Sketchfest as a six-show event in 2002. “When we were planning the first festival, 9/11 happened. We’ve been through natural disasters, war, political upheaval, protests, pandemics. People have needed a laugh through all of that. It’s not just a distraction from problems but it’s good for your mental and physical health to get out and laugh.”

The artist-friendly festival takes pride in hosting a low-key environment that has been alluring to both young, up-and-coming comedians as well as some comedic legends.

Comedy icons Albert Brooks, Tim Curry, Bill Murray and Kathryn Hahn are among the headliners this year.

But Owen said he always encourages people to find a show with somebody you’ve never heard of and give some new comedians a chance.

Afterall, SF Sketchfest has quite the history of uncovering some hidden gems who have gone on to have remarkable careers in comedy.

“I think our performers like that there’s no pressure, they’re not auditioning for network executives, they’re just here to do what they love to do, hang out with their friends and make people laugh,” Owen said.

From left, Sketchfest founders and organizers David Owen, Cole Stratton and Janet Varney. (Joanna Jhanda/Bay Area News Group archives) 

If you’re looking for some shows that are off the beaten path, here’s a little help:

Dinner Date: Two real-life couples from Hollywood are sitting down for a dinner date in front of a live audience. In an intimate show featuring Rachel Bloom (“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) and Dan Gregor (“How I Met Your Mother”), and John Ross Bowie (“Big Bang Theory”) and Jamie Denbo (“Grey’s Anatomy”), this 90-minute improv is advertised as a dinner that “could end in anything from murder to polygamy depending on the suggestion!” Details: 7 p.m. Jan. 17, 9:30 p.m. on Jan 18; Great Star Theatre; $45-$57.

Rachel Bloom poses in the press room with the award for outstanding original music and lyrics for “Crazy Ex Girlfriend” during theCreative Arts Emmy Awards on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, at the MicrosoftTheater in Los Angeles. (Richard Shotwell/Associated Press ) 

Stamp Town: A wild, barely-controlled variety show with people on trapeze and roller skates, sometimes breathing fire, this promises to be one nutty, good time. Owen said some of the actors studied “under the best clown teachers in France,” while describing this show as “a combination between stand-up and vaudeville-style clowning; definitely not Barnum and Bailey.” Don’t bring the kids, this one is for the 18-and-over crowd.

Details: 7 and 10 p.m. Jan. 17; Club Fugazi; $50-$58.

Middle Aged Dad Jam Band: Comedian Ken Marino (“Party Down”) and David Wain (“Wet Hot American Summer”) once teamed up to create the hit comedy “Role Models,” but are now touring as amateur musicians. A legitimate band that usually practices in a garage, they’ll play anything from the 1960s all the way through the 1990s. And while they don’t bill themselves as “professional” singers, they’ll at least make you laugh. A little birdie shared this: Kathryn Hahn is expected to stop by to sing a song with them.

Details: 8 p.m. Feb. 1; Great American Music Hall; $45.

(L-R) John Gemberling as Gil, Ken Marino as Jake in in the sitcom ‘Marry Me.’ (NBC) 

Fake Ted Talks: Get ready to get dumber with these completely fake powerpoint presentations mimicking a Ted Talk. Created by musical duo Paul & Storm and Adam Savage (MythBusters),  guest comedians will whip out their flash drives for what’s sure to be a not-very-educational laughfest. Rob Corddry (“Hot Tub Time Machine”) is among the special guests this year.

Details: 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Jan. 31; Cobb’s Comedy Club; $54-$68.

Jeopargay!: An all-LGBTQ-plus cast of characters will host a spinoff of Jeopardy, where comedians will compete in a quiz game that expects to be full of goofs and spoofs. But lookout for this ringer: East Bay resident Amy Schneider, whose 40-game win streak on Jeopardy is second all-time to Ken Jennings (74 wins) helped net her $1.6 million in prizes, is on the guest list.

Details: 9:30 p.m. Jan. 24; Club Fugazi; $37-$48.

Oakland’s Amy Schneider, one of “Jeopardy!’s” all-time greatest winners, will appear at an SF Sketchfest show titled “Jeopargay!.”  (Sony Pictures) 

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Bad Dates with Joel Kim Booster: Comedian Joel Kim Booster (“Loot,” “Fire Island,” Netflix) hosts a panel of comedians on stage to share their most ridiculous dating stories. Produced by the same team that’s behind the hit podcast, “SmartLess,” Bad Dates will also feature Peaches Christ, Spike Einbinder and Dave Mizzoni as guests.

Details: 4 p.m. Jan. 25; Cobb’s Comedy Club; $43-$68.

The Crossword Show with Zach Sherwin: Crossword puzzle fans will get a kick out of this ridiculous 90-minute event that will feature host Zach Sherwin (“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” “Epic Rap Battles of History”) leading guest puzzle solvers Matt Walsh (“Veep”) and Ashley Ray on a wild adventure of comedy, music, wordplay and trivia, all tied together by the crossword answers. Details: 7 p.m. Jan. 24; Club Fugazi; $42-$53.

The SF Sketchfest Dozen: Every year, the Sketchfest team finds 12 up-and-coming stand-ups they think are on the verge of becoming the next big thing and features them at the Punch Line Comedy Club. The list of names that have catapulted their careers from there is impressive: Nikki Glaser, Kumail Kunananji, Chelsea Peretti, Natasha Leggero, Pete Holmes and Michelle Buteau, among others. Details: 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Jan 17, 18, 24, 25, 31 and Feb. 1; Punch Line Comedy Club; $34-$49.

Nikki Glaser is pictured on May 6, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SiriusXM)