What elevates Mr. Franken above your garden-variety comedian is an erudite wit and a highly developed sense of the absurd.
— The New York Times
Best Alternative to Psychedelic Drugs.
— San Francisco Bay Guardian
Quite simply, he does the smartest comedy I’ve ever seen. I laughed so hard when I discovered his act that my ribs couldn’t contain it all.
— The Oakland Tribune
Franken wanders through a parallel-universe city populated by hipsters who challenge John Milton to poetry slams and crass marketers of women’s empowerment symposia, among other fun-house imaginings.
— The Onion
It’s more acting than stand-up, and no race, minority, nor pet cause is safe. It belongs in some London theater and it’s way too good for cable TV.
— David Downs, Gelf Magazine
Every Will Franken show is like watching a cast of thousands, with a potpourri of voices and characters.
— San Francisco Chronicle
Instead of delivering one-liners, Franken simply becomes these diverse characters, something that a generic stand-up comic would be hard-pressed to replicate.
— San Francisco Herald
A hilarious, dryly intelligent comedian.
— The Reno News and Review
Dear San Francisco,
Will Franken joins San Francisco Sketchfest once again for three very special appearances this January and February. Also, the first of many piano-playing gigs to come (he's made a resolution to de-compartmentalize his musical talents for 2012) Interested? Want to learn more? No need to go to no fancy school and get no fancy degree -- just click here for info!
Saturday, January 28th
Headlining Comedy Off-Broadway
Miss Pearl's Jam House
1 Broadway Street (@ Jack London Square)
Oakland, CA; 8pm; $10
Thursday, February 2nd
Headlining A Grape In The Fog
A Grape In The Fog
400 Old Country Road
Pacifica, CA; 8pm
Friday, February 3rd
Double-header with Drennon Davis
The Eureka Theatre
215 Jackson Street
San Francisco, CA; 10:30pm; $20
Friday, February 17th
BRAND NEW ONE-MAN SHOW: "MEME & PEPE = BEBE"
The Purple Onion
140 Columbus Avenue (@ Pacific)
San Francisco, CA; 9pm; $20 GET YOUR TICKETS NOW BY CLICKING HERE
Wednesday, February 29th
Headlining the 10th Annual Rooster T. Feathers Comedy Competition
Rooster T. Feathers
157 W. El Camino Real
Sunnyvale, CA; 8pm; $10
Podcasts
Listen to Will's new podcast series, Strollers as well as the original Things We Did Before Reality.
Television
Watch Will's performance on England's The World Stands Up Programme!
“Dear NBC, I would like to audition for Last Comic Standing, but where should I go? What should I do? What does it mean to audition for Last Comic Standing? Will there be water there at the place I audition? What if I get sick the day of the audition? I have been divorced, is that okay? Signed Josh–I mean, Will Franken.”
After I sent the e-mail back, I waited and waited and waited. I looked at the computer screen for minutes, then hours, until the very next day when, right in front of my eyes–A NEW E-MAIL APPEARED!!!!
Radio
Explore
shop
That’s Not The Reason I’m Doing This
$20.00 (includes domestic shipping)
Ever the nomadic and oftentimes undefinable entertainer — a comedy club here, a rock club there — Will Franken the wanderer found a home for the fullest expression of his talents to date in the theatre. More...
Concert To Benefit The Victims Of My Father
$20.00 (includes domestic shipping)
This live CD contains some of Will's best-known pieces. Laugh along with audiences as Will frolics and cavorts from character to character like a caged animal finally released into his natural habitat: the stage. More...
Putting Smiles On The Faces Of Dead People
$18.00 (includes domestic shipping)
In the summer of 1997, a close friend convinced Will Franken to take some student loan money and purchase a small home recording studio. The result, over the course of two years — between Missouri and New York and North Carolina--was a 19 hour, 17 CD box set — of which Putting Smiles On The Faces Of Dead People is but one in a series of best-of volumes from that period. This 72 minute compilation contains some of Will's personal favorites, many of which — owing to the level of studio complexity inherent in purely audio comedy — he has never performed live. The studio Will is different from the live Will — even more cerebral, even more surreal — but still hilarious.More...
