Fred Willard with special guests Christopher Guest, Robert Klein, Laraine Newman and Kevin Pollak

An SF Sketchfest Tribute
In celebration of our friend Fred Willard, who passed away on May 15, 2020, we are pleased to release this very special SF Sketchfest Tribute to Fred Willard video for all to view for free. This special event was recorded at the festival on January 22, 2017 with Fred joined by friends and collaborators Christopher Guest, Robert Klein, Laraine Newman and moderator Kevin Pollak. Fred Willard was a true American comedy treasure and an important part of SF Sketchfest's history, first attending the festival in its second year with his Hollywood Players. He was a frequent festival participant, appearing at reunions of "Fernwood 2 Night" and "Waiting For Guffman," and performing in the hit show Celebrity Autobiography. It was our great honor to be able to pay tribute to Fred and we hope you will enjoy this as much as we did. We will all miss him very much.
More shows available at www.sfsketchfest.com/watch
Recorded Live at SF Sketchfest on January 22, 2017 at the Marines’ Memorial Theatre
Videography by Danny Plotnick
Photography by Tommy Lau
Title Music written by Marc Capelle & Monte Vallier
Title Music performed by Marc Capelle, Bart Davenport, Devin Hoff, Todd Roper, Kelley Stoltz
Thank you to Christopher Guest, Robert Klein, Laraine Newman, Kevin Pollak, and Rory Rosegarten

[@FrankIsAlwaysRight]

Fred Willard is an absolute genius. Robert Klein is one the all time greats. One of my favorite Klein jokes: Neil Armstrong is a national hero. When he landed on the moon he said one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. If that happened today he would have said Coca Cola.

[@basehead617]

Wow what a treat..

[@jaowashingtune8729]

i dont think his mic is on

[@dontpanic1812]

That theory Robert Klein brought up about comedy and creativity being the product of hardship has always bothered me. Though it's true that life experience is necessary for great art to happen, I'm not completely convinced that misery is for it to be produced. Seems like there are plenty of examples of well-adjusted people who've pursued what's made them happy, having learned from the experiences of others, producing just as great things that can move us, that we enjoy. Think it's more true that life simply informs art, no matter from where it stems, that the tragedy inherent in comedy can be understood without experiencing it first hand.
Great art might be the product of great misery, but I don't think its experience is a prerequisite for great art, don't think great art is limited to only those who've experienced hardship. Could be that that's the meaning behind life imitating art, art imitating life's more hopeful and perfect inverse.