Kill Tony #752 – TOMMY POPE + STEVE BYRNE
Recorded Live at Comedy Mothership, Austin, Texas | January 20, 2026
Hosts: Tony Hinchcliffe & Brian Redban
Guests: Tommy Pope & Steve Byrne
Overview
This episode of Kill Tony features a rowdy, joke-packed lineup with legendary comic panelists Steve Byrne and Tommy Pope. The show features a rapid-fire succession of stand-up performances from a mix of comedy veterans, up-and-comers, and musical comedy wildcards, intercut with razor-sharp banter from Tony, Redban, the band, and the guests. Alongside recurring gags, roasts, and off-the-cuff crowdwork, two Golden Ticket winners (comics with an open invitation to perform) return for standout sets, and the judges award new opportunities to select comics. The night is marked by comic risk-taking, outrageous stories, and relentless riffing.
Key Discussion Points & Highlights
1. Kicking Off with Panel & Housekeeping
- Redban messes up YouTube episode upload, leading to Tony “handling” sound effects ([07:50]).
- The panel introduces guests Steve Byrne and Tommy Pope—veterans with a history on the show and at the Comedy Store ([09:10]).
- Tony plugs tour dates in Houston (Feb 28) and Dallas (Mar 28), reflects on the show's popularity and Netflix special.
2. J.J. Alexander (Golden Ticket Winner) – [12:40]
- Set: Hilarious Trump-as-Native-American-war-chief impression, riffing on history, politics, and negotiation; the delivery cracks up panel and crowd.
- Backstage: Discusses headlining Denver Improv and a wild gig in Sioux Falls: “I did an hour and 30 minutes… just a lot of Trump doing Native American impression. It was long.” ([14:50])
- Shares working at Dutch Bros, drinking 32oz of chocolate milk daily: “Largest five-year-old I’ve ever heard.” –Tommy Pope ([17:10])
- Refuses to show his "fat tits" despite Tommy's insistence, but shows his bellybutton.
- Belly-button-bill-Cosby impression gets laughs; overall, a loose, high-energy opener.
Notable Quote:
“I love you guys. We’re gonna have so much fun.” – Tony Hinchcliffe ([09:15])
3. Yehi (Comedienne from Houston) – [25:30]
- Set: Leans into her identity and disability, opening with “Most women get preyed on P-R-E-Y, I get prayed on P-R-A-Y,” nimble wheelchair and military men jokes.
- Interview: Details her journey from wheelchair to crutches (cerebral palsy), experience as an online math teacher, and wry romantic stories.
- Family is unaware she does stand-up; “My mom thinks I’m at the gym.”
- Tony gives her confidence to catch a joke book onstage: “You got to see someone facing their fears.” ([37:10])
Notable Moment:
Hilarious back-and-forth with Tommy and Steve about Asian loyalty to car brands and Korean/Japanese rivalry, plus attempts to expose her “secret” military boyfriend.
4. Blake Apatow – [41:15]
- Set: Edgy, risk-taking material (strip club with dad, cousin jokes, Asian massage parlor riff).
- Interview: Confesses to dating a 51-year-old, receiving a 30-minute hot oil massage: “She jacked me off for like 30 minutes…it was amazing.”
- Banter from panel about his hair and womanizing ways; pushes boundaries while charming the crowd.
Notable Quote (Tommy):
“I wish you were handicapped and Chinese.” ([44:39])
5. Tommy Tickles – [49:20]
- Set: Clean, old-school one-liners; jokes about aging, bald spots, looking like “fried chicken” to Black friends; lands best joke so far.
- Backstory: Ranch life; sheep and goats having babies, talks about a hermaphrodite sheep named “Shotzi.”
- Panel digs for dirt about actual sheep killing, probing Tommy’s murderer potential.
- Shares journey to over 100 open mics, finding true passion in stand-up comedy.
Notable Exchange:
Panel antics about “ranch hand” also being “Redban’s” secret show nickname.
6. Hassan Ahmad (Drop-in Spot) – [58:30]
- Set: Kyrie West/diamond-Swastika material, Jewish diamond dealer angle.
- Banter about the comfort of Yeezy shoes and what groups would accept anything for “really comfortable kicks.”
- Panel quizzes Hassan on Bengali stereotypes and spelling.
7. Tony Scar (Musical Comedian, 21 years old) – [1:08:55]
- Standup: Jokes about being autistic, getting crayons at Olive Garden.
- Musical Set: Original song about “homeless love,” packed with dark, clever lyrics and punchlines; literal standing ovation.
- Tony is floored: “That’s one of the best sets I’ve seen from a young comic in a long time. That’s how a star is born.”
- Tony awards him a Golden Ticket; crowd and panel agree he's a breakout act.
Memorable Lyric:
“Girl, you have the three prettiest teeth this world has ever seen. You make me wanna bend this used needle right into a wedding ring.” ([1:11:40])
8. Colin Sledge (Golden Ticket Winner) & Timely Rain – [1:21:00]
- Colin: Dark, deadpan takes on stalking, catcalling, and date rape tropes.
- Personal connection: Shoutout to Yehi, who had reached out to him a year prior for Houston comedy advice.
- Timely Rain: After waiting years to get pulled, delivers well-crafted jokes about her comedian boyfriend and Austin men (“half root for you, other half are like ‘actually, it’s called Rohip-no’”).
- Fun Moment: Renaissance Fair bartender roleplay; the couple’s adorable duet tease (“Wicked”); panel prods for more embarrassing/traumatic family stories.
9. Biddy O’Laughlin (Australian Single Mom) – [1:37:30]
- Set: Jokes about gun violence, abortions, gym, and mental health; sly delivery.
- Story: Blacklisted in Australia for trans jokes; panel demands to hear the material.
- Background: Reverted to Catholicism; shares sweet story about daughter doing “sign of the cross” on a bus.
10. Other Notable Acts
- Jimmy Prescott: Tech worker, late-in-life stand-up, finds out he has a 16-year-old son via 23andMe. Exchanges toe photos with Redban/Tommy. ([1:47:40])
- Matt Reavis: Sleepy, low-energy (panel jokes about “exhausted Mexicans”); riffs on OnlyFans and Pokémon cards.
- Saul Wilson: Ride-share comic, awkwardly attempts beatboxing and impressions; panel dubs him "most untalented man in the history of the show" but in endearing fashion.
- Daniel Shepherd: Trades rapid-fire, edgy one-liners; discusses working as a wire stripper; panel relentlessly pressures him for proof of Black and Asian friends.
11. Aaron Belial (Golden Ticket Winner, Closer) – [2:18:00]
- Set: Jokes about being mistaken as mentally challenged, charades at the airport.
- Panel Roasts: Tony, Tommy, and Redban riff on Aaron’s "let me cook" banter and physical quirks, volleying barbs and affection.
- Life Update: On the road with Steve-O, keeps the crowd and panel entertained with quick-witted back-and-forth.
Notable Quote (Tony):
“You bring it every time. You did it again.” ([2:23:45])
Notable Quotes
- “It’s so fucking easy to do Redban’s job…Who would have possibly guessed?” – Tony Hinchcliffe ([11:00])
- “If you don’t want to bang your cousin, you just don’t have a cousin hot enough.” – Blake Apatow ([41:40])
- “That’s one of the best sets I’ve seen from a young comic in a long time. That’s how a star is born.” – Tony Hinchcliffe on Tony Scar ([1:13:18])
- “You owe me a gold [bar] for being here. You are the opposite of a talented human.” – Tony Hinchcliffe to Saul Wilson ([2:03:15])
- “Timely Rain…that sounds like a Prince album.” – Steve Byrne ([1:29:00])
- “[Y]ou might see him improve…anything can happen.” – Tony Hinchcliffe on Saul Wilson ([2:11:50])
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Opening & Panel Introduction: 0:00 – 11:45
- J.J. Alexander (Golden Ticket set): 12:40 – 25:15
- Yehi: 25:30 – 39:30
- Blake Apatow: 41:15 – 49:05
- Tommy Tickles: 49:20 – 58:10
- Hasan Ahmad: 58:30 – 1:05:15
- Tony Scar (Musical Set): 1:08:55 – 1:16:40
- Colin Sledge & Timely Rain: 1:21:00 – 1:33:30
- Biddy O’Laughlin: 1:37:30 – 1:46:20
- Jimmy Prescott: 1:47:40 – 1:57:45
- Saul Wilson’s Beatbox Journey: 2:02:15 – 2:11:40
- Aaron Belial (Closer): 2:18:00 – 2:25:00
Memorable Moments
- Running Jill on “fat tits”: Tommy Pope’s obsession with getting comics to show their chests (esp. J.J. Alexander and, jokingly, each other).
- Audience Participation: Tony makes Yehi attempt to catch a joke book onstage as “facing her fears.”
- Panel Roasts: Relentless and affectionate ribbing between Tony, Redban, Pope, and Byrne—particularly around crowd work, sheep on the ranch, and personal idiosyncrasies.
- Tony Scar standing ovation: Musical comedy set brings down the house and earns Golden Ticket.
- Cameo by a comic’s girlfriend: Timely Rain’s debut after years of waiting.
Summary
This Kill Tony episode is a textbook example of the show's signature mix—brutally funny crowdwork, no-holds-barred roasting, real-time comedy development, and unpredictable off-the-cuff moments from both professional and first-time stand-ups. The combination of hard-hitting panelists Steve Byrne and Tommy Pope brings veteran timing and sharp wit, while the night’s standout sets deliver both edge and heart. The episode crescendos with Tony Scar’s breakout and Golden Ticket win and closes with top-tier banter with the legendary Aaron Belial.
Whether you’re new to Kill Tony or a devoted fan, this high-octane episode showcases everything that makes the show a cult favorite in today’s comedy scene.