Here’s the initial comedy lineup for 2016 SXSW

SXSW’s Comedy lineup once again will stretch across all three of the “formal” portions of Austin’s massive festival celebrating Interactive, Film, and Music, with shows, live podcasts, film screenings and more from March 11-20, 2016.

Plus an encore for SXSW’s live stand-up comedy showcase specials for Showtime. Last year, W. Kamau Bell hosted the twin specials. This year, it’s Natasha Leggero.

I previously shared with you the great comedy movie lineup happening at SXSW in 2016.

Here’s the initial lineup for all of SXSW Comedy 2016:

Adam Cayton­Holland • Andrew Orvedahl • Andrew Santino • Anthony Atamanuik • Arden Myrin • Baron Vaughn • Ben Roy • Brendon Walsh • Brooke van Poppelen • Cameron Esposito • Chris Cubas • Chris Gethard • Chris Hardwick • Colton Dunn • Dan Harmon • David Gborie • Doug Benson • Drennon Davis • Eddie Pepitone • Eliza Skinner • Emily Heller • Eric Andre • Gillian Jacobs • Horatio Sanz • Howard Kremer • Iliza Shlesinger • Joe Pera • Jon Gabrus • Jonah Ray • Judd Apatow • Kate Micucci • Kulap Vilaysack • The Lucas Brothers • Martha Kelly • Matt Besser • Matt Walsh • Megan Gailey • Mike Birbiglia • Mike O’Brien • Morgan Murphy • Moshe Kasher • Natasha Leggero • Nate Bargatze • Owen Benjamin • Paul F. Tompkins • Rhea Butcher • Ron Lynch • Rory Scovel • Scott Aukerman • Sean Patton • Shannon O’Neill • Tami Sagher • Thomas Middleditch • Todd Barry • Todd Glass • Zach Woods • and more!

plus:

@midnight • ASSSSCAT • the cast of Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ • Comedy Bang! Bang! • Doug Loves Movies • HarmonQuest • The Hooray Show • The Imaginary Radio Program • improv4humans • The Laugh Button Live! • Loud Village • Maltin on Movies • Sexpot Comedy • Spontaneanation • The Todd Barry Podcast • Trump Dump • Who Charted? • and more!

More from the official announcement:

This year’s festival kicks off on Friday, March 11​ at The Parish with Comedy Central’s @midnight with Chris Hardwick Live​, a very special SXSW edition of the internet’s favorite game show.

For the second year in a row, we’re recording two comedy specials with Showtime​, both hosted by Natasha Leggero with unique lineups of the country’s funniest comics. All SXSW attendees are invited to be part of the live audience for two shows at The North Door on Saturday, March ​12​.

That night, SXSW Comedy shows will also be streaming live from Esther’s Follies. The feed will be available exclusively on Seeso, from NBCUniversal’s Digital Enterprises, and will spotlight talent from some of the new digital service’s original shows, including HarmonQuest​, Bajillion Dollar Propertie$​, and Take My Wife​.

truTV ​will be on hand to celebrate the network’s first scripted comedy, Those Who Can’t​, by presenting an evening with its creators and stars, Denver­-based comedy trio The Grawlix ​and some of their funniest friends.

Comedy legends ­­ and longtime SXSW Comedy partners ­­the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre ​will be back, hosting events all week including their flagship improvised show, ASSSSCAT​(with an incredible cast that includes UCB co­-founders Matt Besser and Matt Walsh). They’ll also present Anthony Atamanuik’s brilliant satire Trump Dump​, and an all-­star evening with Above Average, ​the digital network launched by Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video.

As SXSW Music rages on, the comedy keeps going, with unmissable showcases from Denver­based production house Sexpot Comedy​, LA comedy­ party hosts Loud Village​, Broadway Video’s Latino­focused comedy studio Mas Mejor​, SXSW favorite Doug Benson​, and more; plus, Levity Entertainment Group​ will be presenting another edition of the hit Laugh Button Live!

Of course, there will be plenty of podcast recordings. All weekend SXSW Comedy will be highlighting some of Earwolf​’s biggest shows: Comedy Bang! Bang!​, improv4humans​, Who Charted?​, and Spontaneanation​. Plus, live episodes of The Hooray Show​, The Todd Barry Podcast​, Maltin on Movies​, and Doug Loves Movies​.

And, put two comedy parties on your calendar: the SXSW Comedy Opening Party hosted by Seeso on Saturday, March 12 ​will feature a DJ set from Lil Jon,​ and on Tuesday, March 15 ​we’ll be winding the week down at the SXSW Comedy Closing Party hosted by Budweiser.

This year’s SXSW Comedy is dedicated to Andy Ritchie​, a longtime friend and an unforgettable performer whose work we’re excited to share with everyone: head to sxsw.com/andyritchie ​for a free download​of his album, King Ding-­A-­Ling. We look forward to honoring the memory of Andy throughout the festival.

Full details and lineups will be live soon at sxsw.com/comedy/2016

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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