The History of Kill Tony | The #1 Live Comedy Podcast

Kill Tony is one of the most influential and controversial shows in modern stand-up comedy and comedy podcasting. Hosted by Tony Hinchcliffe and Brian Redban, the live podcast began at the legendary Comedy Store in Los Angeles before eventually moving to Austin, Texas and becoming a centerpiece of the Joe Rogan comedy scene at the Comedy Mothership. In this episode of Why Are You Laughing?, we break down the full history of Kill Tony, from its origins as a simple open-mic format where comedians pull their names from a bucket for one minute of stand-up, to its rise as one of the most talked-about platforms for discovering new comedians. Along the way, the show became a lightning rod in the stand-up world — praised by some comedians and criticized by others. The discussion traces the show’s early evolution, including chaotic recurring characters like The Iron Patriot, the polarizing house band era led by comedians such as Jeremiah Watkins, and the development of the show’s modern format built around rising regulars like William Montgomery, Kam Patterson, and Ari Matti. We also examine how Kill Tony exploded in popularity after moving to Austin and becoming closely connected to the rapidly growing Joe Rogan comedy ecosystem. Viral episodes featuring comedians like Shane Gillis and Adam Ray, including their appearances portraying Donald Trump and Joe Biden, helped introduce the show to a much wider audience. At the same time, Kill Tony has sparked ongoing debate within the comedy community. Comedians such as Marc Maron and Anthony Jeselnik have publicly questioned whether the show’s format is good for stand-up comedy, while supporters argue that Kill Tony has become one of the most effective platforms for discovering new comedic talent. Rather than simply celebrating or criticizing the show, this episode looks at why Kill Tony became such a major force in stand-up comedy, live podcasting, and the modern Austin comedy scene — and why it continues to divide comedians and fans about what comedy should be. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Show intro 5:59 The Early Days 16:53 Iron Patriot & Jeremiah Watkins 29:05 Guests & Roasting 34:01 Golden Ticket Winners 45:30 Rise of the Regulars 55:54 Austin Comedy Scene 1:04:01 When the podcast exploded FOR ALL THINGS BLIND MIKE http://blindmike.net FOR ALL THINGS CRAIGGERS http://www.verygoodshow.org FOR ALL THINGS HACKRIDE http://hackridethedemon.com FOR ALL THINGS DJ ELECTRA FRY http://djelectrafry.com #killtony #tonyhinchcliffe #comedypodcast