Once something of an afterthought, comedy has ascended to Bumbershoot's best reason for being. This year's lineup is packed with the hottest-shit comedy stars of the day, alongside beloved locals, most performing multiple times. Here's a mercilessly concise guide to every single comedy act appearing at Bumbershoot 2013, telling you what everything is, when it's happening, and why you should go see it.
WTF Live with Marc Maron
WHAT: A live recording of the insanely popular podcast, wherein kvetching comedian Maron converses with comedian friends and celebrity guests. (Guests TBA. WTF?)
WHEN: Sun, 4:45 pm, Comedy at the Bagley.
WHY: Maron regularly lands amazing guest after amazing guest (from Louis C.K. to Lucinda Williams), and Bumbershoot should provide an avalanche of prospective winners (and material).
Doug Loves Movies
WHAT: A live recording of comedian Doug Benson's movie-obsessed podcast.
WHEN: Mon, 5 pm, Comedy at the Bagley.
WHY: Best known as a pothead (see Super High Me), Benson loves movies (see title) and has funny friends.
How Was Your Week? with Julie Klausner
WHAT: A live recording of what is widely considered the funniest podcast in the universe, in which comedy writer Klausner talks about stuff and interviews famous people.
WHEN: Sat, 4:45 pm, Comedy at the Bagley.
WHY: It's never not funny, and is often more than funny. And Klausner's Bumbershoot guest is musician Ted Leo!
Improv4Humans
WHAT: A live recording of Matt Besser's star-packed, fully improvised comedy podcast.
WHEN: Sat, 3 pm; Sun, 3 pm; Mon, 3:15 pm; Comedy at the Bagley.
WHY: Besser's Bumbershoot guests include SNL veterans Tim Meadows and Horatio Sanz and UCB veteran Brian Huskey.
The Comedy Bang! Bang! Experience
WHAT: A screening of a new episode of the IFC comedy series, with stars Scott Aukerman and Reggie Watts in attendance.
WHEN: Mon, 1:30 pm, Comedy at the Bagley.
WHY: People love the show, and here's a new episode! Plus onstage Q&A with Aukerman and Watts.
Patton Oswalt & Friends
WHAT: Writer, actor, and world-renowned comic force Patton Oswalt, with unnamed friends.
WHEN: Sat, 6:30 pm; Sun, 6:30 pm; Mon, 6:45 pm; Comedy at the Bagley.
WHY: From content to execution, Oswalt is just the best there is.
Todd Barry
WHO: American comedian and actor (didja see him in The Wrestler?).
WHEN: Sat, 8 pm (with Jerrod Carmichael); Sun, 2:45 pm (with Jerrod Carmichael and Emily Heller); Mon, 6:15 pm (with Jerrod Carmichael); Comedy at the Playhouse.
WHY: He's been doing this a long time and people seem to like him, and he shares the bill with other good folks.
Reggie Watts
WHO: Beloved interdimensional comedian and mouth-sound-maker (and former Seattleite!).
WHEN: Mon, 2:45 pm (with Mike Drucker and Joe Mande), Comedy at the Playhouse.
WHY: It's always a good idea to dip your psyche in Watts's ocean of bleepbloopculturalsatirebbbbzzzzzz.
Marc Maron
WHO: Famously failed comedian turned famously successful podcaster.
WHEN: Sat, 1 pm (with Mike Vecchione); Sun, 8 pm (with Mike Vecchione), Comedy at the Playhouse.
WHY: His standup should have made him the star he is now 20 years ago.
Doug Benson
WHO: A pothead who loves movies and does standup. (Or is he a standup who loves movies and pot?)
WHEN: Sat, 2:45 pm (with Kyle Dunnigan); Sun, 1 pm (with Kyle Dunnigan); Mon, 8 pm (with Emily Heller), Comedy at the Playhouse.
WHY: Good comedian, good costars.
Kyle Dunnigan
WHO: Actor (Reno 911!), standup (Comedy Central Presents!), and cocreator of the beloved Professor Blastoff podcast (with Tig Notaro!).
WHEN: Sat, 2:45 pm (with Doug Benson); Sun, 1 pm (with Doug Benson); Mon, 4:30 pm (with Mike Vecchione); Comedy at the Playhouse.
WHY: He's been dating Sarah Silverman since 2011, and might be willing to talk about what her pussy tastes like. (My best guess: the milk left in the bottom of a bowl of Fruity Pebbles.)
Morgan Murphy
WHO: Comedian of Comedy, TV writer, Northwest native!
WHEN: Sat, 6:15 pm (with Mike Drucker and Joe Mande); Sun, 4:30 pm (with Mike Drucker and Joe Mande); Comedy at the Playhouse.
WHY: She funny.
Natasha Leggero
WHO: Standup comic and Chelsea Lately roundtabler.
WHEN: Sat, 4:30 pm (with Matt Besser); Sun, 6:15 pm (with Matt Besser and Judah Friedlander); Mon, 1 pm (with Matt Besser and Judah Friedlander); Comedy at the Playhouse.
WHY: You love Chelsea Lately.
The World Champion Judah Friedlander
WHO: Standup comic, ironic-hat-wearing 30 Rock cast member.
WHEN: Sun, 6:15 pm (with Matt Besser and Natasha Leggero); Mon, 1 pm (with Matt Besser and Natasha Leggero); Comedy at the Playhouse.
WHY: According to his bio, Judah is the greatest comedian in the world and an extra-dark black belt in karate.
Joe Mande
WHO: Standup and staff writer for Parks & Recreation.
WHEN: Sat, 6:15 pm (with Mike Drucker and Morgan Murphy); Sun, 4:30 pm (with Mike Drucker and Morgan Murphy); Mon, 2:45 pm (with Mike Drucker and Reggie Watts); Comedy at the Playhouse.
WHY: Tells really good jokes.
Matt Besser
WHO: Standup, actor, Asssscat regular.
WHEN: Sat, 4:30 pm (with Natasha Leggero); Sun, 6:15 pm (with Natasha Leggero and Judah Friedlander); Comedy at the Playhouse.
WHY: You like your comedy both literate and surreal.
Mike Drucker
WHO: Standup, Twitter comic, staff writer for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
WHEN: Sat, 6:15 pm (with Morgan Murphy and Joe Mande); Sun, 4:30 pm (with Morgan Murphy and Joe Mande); Mon, 2:45 pm (with Joe Mande and Reggie Watts), Comedy at the Playhouse.
WHY: Misery is hilarious.
Jerrod Carmichael
WHO: Seriously up-and-coming comic from LA by way of North Carolina.
WHEN: Sat, 8 pm (with Todd Barry); Sun, 2:45 pm (with Emily Heller and Todd Barry); Mon, 6:15 pm (with Todd Barry); Comedy at the Playhouse.
WHY: He is smart and funny.
Mike Vecchione
WHO: Standup comic, former wrestler, fledgling bear icon.
WHEN: Sat, 1 pm (with Marc Maron); Sun, 8 pm (with Marc Maron); Mon, 4:30 pm (with Kyle Dunnigan); Comedy at the Playhouse.
WHY: So wrong he's wry.
Emily Heller
WHO: Standup comic you've likely seen everywhere.
WHEN: Sun, 2:45 pm (with Jerrod Carmichael and Todd Barry); Mon, 8 pm (with Doug Benson); Comedy at the Playhouse.
WHY: Explicitly addresses feminism, remains hilarious.
Competitive Erotic Fan Fiction with Bryan Cook
WHAT: A live recording of Seattle-based comedy podcast, featuring 10 comics writing and reading sexy fanfic based on audience suggestions.
WHEN: Sun, 4:45 pm, Comedy at Vera.
WHY: It's hilarious, and you might get to hear about Chris Brown rimming Suge Knight.
Hot Comedy with the Spicy News
WHAT: Comedians read celebrity gossip after eating extremely hot chilies.
WHEN: Mon, 4:45 pm, Comedy at Vera.
WHY: Includes a live Spicy News/Spicy Interview, plus "Hot Comedy," in which comics attempt to do their act under the influence of a habañero.
SketchFest
WHAT: A Bumbershoot-specific download of Seattle's legendary sketch comedy festival.
WHEN: Sat, 4:45 pm, Comedy at Vera.
WHY: You love good sketch comedy.
NorthWest Comedy Fest's Canadians of Comedy
WHAT: "Vancouver's favourite comedians"—Dan Quinn, Kyle Bottom, and Katie-Ellen Humphries.
WHEN: Sat, 1:15 pm; Sun, 1:15 pm; Mon, 1:15 pm, Comedy at Vera.
WHY: Canadians smell good.
Podaholics Comedy Stand
WHAT: An hour-long standup comedy show/podcast showcasing Northwest talent.
WHEN: Sun, 3 pm, Comedy at Vera.
WHY: Bumbershoot performers include Duane Goad, Jay Hollingsworth, Kane Holloway, Kelsey Cook, Mike Coletta, Tyler Smith, and Phil Fox.
Best of Tacoma Comedy Club
WHAT: Exactly what it says above.
WHEN: Sat, 3 pm, Comedy at Vera.
WHY: Tacoma residents are required by law to have a really good sense of humor about everything, and this show features T-town favorites Aaron Kirby, Jonas Barnes, and Brad Upton.
Comedy Jam (Preserves)
WHAT: A showcase of comics ranging in age from 55 to 70, including Ron Reid, Peggy Platt, Geoff Young, and Jay Wendell Walker.
WHEN: Mon, 3 pm, Comedy at Vera.
WHY: When LOL meets AARP, everybody wins.
Laff Hole
WHAT: The flagship show of Seattle's beloved People's Republic of Komedy.
WHEN: Sat, 6:30 pm; Sun, 6:30 pm; Mon, 6:30 pm; Comedy at Vera.
WHY: For Bumbershoot, Laff Hole is presenting three complete shows: Saturday is Fresh Faces (featuring up-and-coming NW comedy talent), Sunday is the Idiot Brotherz (comedy puppeteers!), Monday is Funny Over Everything (where national comedy acts mingle with locals).
Punch Pod
WHAT: A live recording of "Seattle's only weekly standup comedy clip show podcast."
WHEN: Sat, 11 am; Sun, 11 am; Mon, 11 am; Comedy at Vera.
WHY: The Bumbershoot show features the greatest hits from Punch Pod's history. 
