KT #748 - ARI MATTI + EHSAN AHMAD

First bucket pull of the night, 26 years old and about four months into stand-up. Previously managed a restaurant in Greenville, South Carolina and sold windows and doors door-to-door; now works at a hotel and resort in Austin. Grew up in a strict independent fundamental Baptist church and school, and admitted he avoids open mics partly out of fear of joke theft.

Austin comic making roughly his sixth appearance on the show, a regular bucket presence since the move to Texas. Works security on the door at Cap City Comedy Club at the Domain. Interview covered a bachelor party story, his roommate situation, and his complicated love life.

Two years into comedy, 24 years old and turning 25 on January 2nd. Lost a year of stage time to a Florida DUI that put him in an alcohol-sensing ankle monitor. Works as an arborist and is a Rush fan.

Kill Tony debut and the breakout of the night, praised by Tony as clearly made for stand-up. Five years in comedy, started in Cleveland, Ohio and has lived in Austin about four years. Trans performer, six years sober, formerly did adult film work; started comedy after a partner told her she was not funny.

Weekly regular introduced as the dark storm of Atlanta, delivering a new extended set as regulars get. Talked about missing the show during a stretch back in Atlanta, getting a Kill Tony tattoo with his regular date, and visiting David Lucas's house. Closed by debuting an original song with the band.

One-name bucket pull, about two and a half years in comedy, starting in San Marcos before moving to Austin. Army veteran (forward observer, 2016 to 2020) who herniated a disc and was prescribed gabapentin; he blames stopping it for a run of four seizures that has kept him from driving. On VA disability, lives alone with his cat, and recently turned 28.

Returning bucket pull, 31 years old and a Marine Corps veteran of four years. Stage name plays on a Spanish term of endearment meaning side dude; the interview dug into his history with married women and the pool-hall routine behind it. Tony leaned hard on his height and build throughout.

NOT a bucket pull: Tony gave him a pre-arranged special slot as a first-time-ever stand-up making his Kill Tony debut. He has been Woody Harrelson's stand-in for about 25 years and is on the upcoming Apple TV show Brothers with Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey. Set was built entirely on pedophile jokes written with help from crew members, and Tony offered him a spot at the Thursday secret show.

Fourteen years in comedy out of San Antonio, the most experienced bucket pull of the night. Full-time comic making around fifty thousand a year, with a podcast and a brief acting credit on Land Man. His first minute did not land, so Tony had him try a second joke; the interview turned into a long colonoscopy tangent with Redban.

Final bucket pull of the night and his second time on the show, 32 years old and four to five years into comedy, though only serious since moving to Austin about a year ago. Works the door at Cap City, the second Cap City employee pulled this episode, and previously worked doors at Comics Lounge in Melbourne and Yuk Yuk's in Vancouver. Had a mic malfunction mid-set, trains jiu-jitsu, and opened up about the affair that ended his marriage.

Hall of Fame regular closing the show, introduced as the Memphis Strangler and the vanilla gorilla, from Memphis, Tennessee and 38 years old. New minute of one-liners followed by an interview about buying hats on eBay, a grudge against a FedEx driver, his lapsed rowing machine routine, and a detailed account of his jigsaw puzzle method.