Kill Tony #745 – JAMES MCCANN + JEFF DYE

Recorded Live: November 25, 2025 – Comedy Mothership, Austin, TX
Guests: James McCann, Jeff Dye
Regulars/Band: Tony Hinchcliffe (host), Brian Redban (co-host), D Madness, Raul Vallejo, Fernando Castillo, Carlos Sosa, Michael Gonzalez, Matt Muhling, John Dees
House Guest Band: Straight No Chaser (acapella group)

Episode Overview

This dynamic “Kill Tony” show features high-energy stand-up auditions, wild interviews, surprise culinary moments, and razor-sharp panel banter. Tony Hinchcliffe welcomes acclaimed comedians James McCann (promoting his new special Black Israelite and poetry book Disquieting Levels of Egg) and Jeff Dye (touring, Die Hard Podcast). Both bring bold energy to a packed room, while the panel and audience ruthlessly critique bucket-pulled comedians. A live band and the acapella sensation Straight No Chaser set the tone for a chaotic and unforgettable night in Austin.

Key Segments & Highlights

1. Introduction & Guest Hype

• [08:30] Tony and Redban introduce the band and sponsors, then bring out guests James McCann and Jeff Dye.
• [09:10] James McCann plugs his special and poetry book (with signature irreverence).
  • “We are replacing Huckleberry Finn in American school syllabuses because there were too many n-words in Huck Finn. ... My book of poems, 38 n-words. We got it down as a gift for the people of this country.” — James McCann
• [09:40] Jeff Dye plugs Die Hard Podcast, jokes about touring.

2. Golden Ticket Opener: Kansai Yasuda Returns

• [12:30] Kansai opens with jokes about fentanyl in Japan and WWII history, blending edgy racial humor and accent bits.
• [15:10] The panel riff on Kansai’s accent, with Tony and Jeff Dye imitating and escalating his “Asian-ness.”
  • “He's getting more Asian while trying to sound less Asian.” — Tony Hinchcliffe
• [17:30] Kansai discusses his multicultural background (Japanese/Korean/Canadian/Philadelphian), reveals family history, and interactions with racism.
• [20:00] Brings out a surprise: ramen (from Toronto!) hidden on his back, prompting antics and taste reactions by the panel.
  • “You brought ramen from Toronto? … Noodles. Looks nothing like ramen. If I get food poisoning from this, I swear to God, I’m gonna be very mad.” — Tony
• [24:25] Tony highlights Kansai’s role connecting multiple cultures, leading to a joyful sendoff.

3. “Bucket” Standup Comedians & Interviews

Tariq Morales ([27:45])

• Boise-raised comic with a bit about being biracial and “blackness.”
• Fun interview covers stepdad memories, racial identity, and an unexpected obsession with Vietnamese gongs.
  • “What do you think the blackest thing about you is?”
  • “Really impressed by Close Up Magic.” — Tariq Morales

Diego Delgadillo ([35:27])

• Mexican-Colombian; jokes about getting Qurans in Ubers and OnlyFans cousin discounts.
• Reveals a meandering work history (barista/news producer), trying to stay housed by pleasing his girlfriend (failing).
  • “Just tell her you got a job, maybe she’ll come.” — Tony, on his romantic strategy

Frank ([43:24])

• Notoriously “booed” open mic’er returns, references previous bomb/Reddit death threats.
• The room recalls nothing about his previous set; offers a groan-worthy “boo jeans” joke.
  • “You had us at the 'ooh', we were waiting for a joke.” — Tony
  • Frank has to return his “joke book” for not putting in the work elsewhere—a brutal show first.

Bob (formerly Robert) ([52:30])

• Stoic, surreal comic with eccentric energy; shares he’s a Slovakian handyman/beverage inventor; muses on building pedicabs and pirate ships manned by Amazons.
• “Are you licensed?” — Tony
  • “No, he's completely unlicensed. This is the guy making a beverage with everything mixed together?” — Panel

Benny Benoit ([01:00:50])

• Louisiana pool boy with strong crowd work; confesses missing a spot previously due to being “cripple-catfished” on a Tinder date, then not-so-subtly alludes to car sex with his date.
• Admits to making a chlorine-based “chemical bomb” for dog poop—a darkly comic tangent.

4. Regular Set: Dedrick Flynn, “Dark Storm of Atlanta” ([01:15:00])

• Absolutely destroys with rapid-fire, personal, and original one-liners on age, acid reflux, using Ouija boards for illiterate dead friends, and country music obsessions.
• Energetic panel interview: Dedrick professes his love for monster trucks, screamo bands, and “being in there” wherever fun’s happening.
  • “I just realized: I could fight, but I can’t heal. I’m not gonna Reverse Wolverine. We just gotta die after this.” — Dedrick Flynn ([01:16:30])
• Massive standing ovation.

5. More Bucket Spots & Crowd Interplay

Charlie Shi / Chen ([01:27:00])

• Trans Asian comic, brings race and gender politics into edgy standup (“daily dose of racism” jokes), candidly details coming out, work struggles, and the nuances of their transition.
• Panel asks deep/funny questions about identity, relationships, and sexuality.
  • “Why do you want to be trans instead of like a pretty gay guy with nice tits?” — Redban

Asher Kasson ([01:40:00])

• Self-deprecating bit about remote-control penis measurements and porn preferences (especially “talking” in Black porn).
• Interview veers into his mixed dating/parenting/poverty/work life; reveals he has a Black son named Rocco, a history of addiction, and failed basketball stints in Puerto Rico.

Josh Kenyatta (Canada) ([01:51:00])

• Colorado comic, jokes about marriage, Superman, underlying Middle East analogies; performance roasted live by Straight No Chaser.
  • “That set was not funny. ... I rather hear bags and boxes and we are Straight No Chaser.” — SNC ([01:53:10])
• Attempts redemption; panel explores his family background and future plans.

6. Legendary Closer: “Lights Out” William Montgomery ([01:58:00])

• Closes strong with signature non-sequitur one-liners (“I hope I’m pronouncing Mamdani right so I don’t get jihadi after the show…”)
• Panel and William revisit his viral meltdown at a festival where he was heckled mercilessly by a crowd expecting musical crowd work—a vivid, hilarious story.
  • “Some idiot kept yelling, where are the tomatoes? But I had to power through because I have to get paid.” — William ([02:02:30])
• Reflects humorously and honestly about the comedy grind, mental health, and fan interactions.

Notable Quotes & Moments (w/Timestamps)

• James McCann on his poetry book’s racial calculus:
  “We got it down as a gift for the people of this country. … My book of poems, 38 n-words.” — [09:12]

• Kansai Yasuda’s accent escalation:
  “He’s getting more Asian while trying to sound less Asian.” — Tony Hinchcliffe [15:19]

• Frank’s unforgettable “boo jeans” punchline crash:
  “What kind of jeans does a ghost wear? Boo jeans.” — Frank [47:15]
  Harsh crowd reaction, and Tony repossesses his joke book:
  “The first man to return a little joke book. … You have to do at least three to five open mics.” — Tony Hinchcliffe [48:10]

• Dedrick Flynn’s rapid-fire old-age lament:
  “I just realized I could fight, but I can’t heal. … If you get acid reflux one time, nail me to the cross!” — Dedrick Flynn [01:16:37]

• Straight No Chaser’s withering bucket critique:
  “That set was not funny. You shouldn’t quit your day job. … Bags and boxes and we are Straight No Chaser.” — SNC [01:53:10]

• William Montgomery on the nightmare gig:
  “Within the first two minutes, some random person joins me on stage … and he’s like, ‘You’re garbage. This is garbage.’ That set a really good tone for the other 23 minutes I had to do after that fucking guy.” — William [02:00:30]

Additional Highlights

• Relentless Crowd/Panel Banter:
  Tony and the panel fire off jokes, roast comics, and escalate running gags on accent, race, family, and sexuality.
• Cultural Mashups:
  Multiple multi-ethnic comics, cross-cultural wordplay, and identity humor.
• Meta Moments:
  Direct engagement with Reddit/kills Tony forums, including on-stage reactions to online hate.
• Physical Comedy:
  Kansai’s ramen “reveal”—ramen pulled from his back—results in a minor digestive saga for Tony.
• Guest/Panel Chemistry:
  James McCann’s dry wit and Jeff Dye’s breezy crowd work create effective contrasts and riffs.

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------|--------------| | Guest intros/Jokes (James/Jeff) | 09:10–10:30 | | Kansai Yasuda returns/ramen moment | 12:30–24:25 | | Tariq Morales (Boise, gongs) | 27:45–35:27 | | Diego Delgadillo (job woes) | 35:27–43:24 | | Frank’s “boo jeans”/joke book repo | 43:24–52:30 | | Bob (eccentric handyman) | 52:30–01:00:50| | Benny Benoit (cripples/Tinder/chemical) | 01:00:50–01:15:00| | Dedrick Flynn (“Dark Storm” set) | 01:15:00–01:22:30| | Charlie Shi / Chen (trans interview) | 01:27:00–01:40:00| | Asher Kasson (black porn/kid/job) | 01:40:00–01:51:00| | Josh Kenyatta (roasted by SNC) | 01:51:00–01:58:00| | William Montgomery + viral heckle story | 01:58:00–End |

Tone & Atmosphere

As always, “Kill Tony” blends no-holds-barred comedy critique, roasting, and outrageous crowd work with a raucous, anything-goes vibe. The guests’ dry and irreverent humor, coupled with Tony’s surgical precision and Redban’s wildcards, keeps the audience and comics on edge and laughing. This episode is unusually meta, with self-referential jokes about Kill Tony’s Reddit, panel members’ own online notoriety, and the sometimes absurd mechanics of the show's live “bucket” format.

For First-Time Listeners

• Expect: Lightning-paced stand-up, unfiltered interviews, frequent jokes about race, identity, and sexuality, panel and crowd interaction.
• Don’t miss: Kansai Yasuda’s layered accent bits, Frank’s legendary flop, Dedrick Flynn’s rapid-fire ascent, and William Montgomery’s candid, viral meltdown description.

Catch James McCann’s new special “Black Israelite” and poetry book “Disquieting Levels of Egg” now; listen to Jeff Dye’s Die Hard Podcast and see him on tour.