KT #779 - ADAM RAY

First bucket pull of the night. Asian comic living in Austin, 28 years old, about five years in comedy but with a roughly four-and-a-half-year break; second Kill Tony appearance (last one about two years earlier in August). Lays epoxy garage floors for a living after a bar regular offered him the job. Spent most of the interview pitching a movie he wrote with Redban and Adam Ray in mind, about two cancelled comedians who find their audience in the Middle East, with joke titles that became a running bit for the rest of the episode. Won an extra-large Martin Phillips t-shirt plus a joke book, and shouted out his co-writer on the way off.

Second bucket pull, introduced as a Comedy Store guy Tony has known for over a decade who now lives in Austin. Moved from China to America at 25, about ten years ago; roughly twelve years in comedy. Set was about becoming a 'real American', public bathrooms versus squatting in China, and the Squatty Potty. Two years into a relationship with a girlfriend named Caroline, met on Bumble, first date at a tiny-pie shop; two and a half years in Austin, favorite thing about Texas is Buc-ee's, and he won a custom Buc-ee's joke book. Tony gave his handle as FC8080.

Reality-TV star from 90 Day Fiance who signed up and got pulled; drew a near standing ovation and what Tony repeatedly called the longest interview in the show's history. Talked about meeting a woman on Facebook and flying to the Philippines, showering with rats, asking her to shave her legs and brush her teeth, and a last engagement that broke up sixteen times. Says he has not held a job in seven years: a Big Ed malbec in 500 Walmarts, real-estate flips, and being number one on Cameo with over 25,000 videos at $69 each. Recorded a live Cameo birthday message for Tony's mother Carolyn on stage, then got a make-out session with an audience member named Brooklyn, and closed by shouting out his tattoo artist. Lives in Arkansas with his mother Norma and three dogs, and was four days into an Austin visit.

Bucket pull who announced he was extremely nervous; jokes about a friend's dating complaints and a 1950s smoking/JFK bit. Nine years in comedy off and on, originally from the Cleveland/Youngstown area, in Austin about six years, and working in collections at a credit union, where he once refused to cash a legitimate check for a black man and got the interview's biggest reaction. Repeat guest whose only prior appearance was about six years earlier on a Jamar Neighbors episode. The interview turned into the centerpiece of the night when Tony kept digging and learned he had not had sex or kissed anyone in eight years despite dating trans comedian Alexis Alazari for a month. Got an on-stage kiss from an audience volunteer named Julia and a medium joke book, downgraded because he went in for a hug first.

Trans comedian and Michael Dragon's girlfriend; her name came out of the bucket in the same pull, and crew wrangled her from next door right after his interview. Second all-time Kill Tony appearance and, Tony noted, exactly a minute on the nose, with material on lying about her age on dating apps and running two profiles, one disclosing she is trans and one not. In the interview she explained she has not made a move on Michael because he is the first guy she has dated without a swastika tattoo, talked about being fetishized and about the roughly $20,000 out-of-pocket cost of surgery, and told a story about shopping for one with her father, who described the options like used cars. Adam Ray singled her out as having brought the most energy and best use of time of anyone on stage that night; she got a big joke book and a Secret Show booking.

First time on the show, second time signing up; moved to Austin about nine months earlier. Half Latino, with a set about Latinos having a rough stretch, the Venezuelan president being the only Latino to be forcefully imported, and a Trump impression. Makes a full-time living from online reaction content; his biggest video, a reaction to a man parallel parking, has about 58 million views. Described himself as a recovering sex addict, joked about measuring his worst stretch in pounds, said the best move on Tinder is to be mean, and claimed Tinder sponsored him in college off 2,000 matches. Tony ran a parkour bit through the whole interview and gave him a medium joke book.

Regular, introduced as one of the show's great regulars and 'the Dark Storm of Austin, Texas', whose story of time in a Japanese prison the show has followed and who is now touring the country. New minute was about how modern horror movies have no real monsters and just tell you not to fall in love or meet your neighbors, extended in the interview into a theory that AI and crypto want people isolated in apartments. Said he just recorded his first theater comedy special at a venue in Atlanta, for YouTube, and finally took a vacation, his first time at a beach in nine years, though he will not go deeper than waist-height water. During his panel time Tony jokingly awarded Redban a golden ticket for a run of good lines.

New name out of the bucket and the standout newcomer: only about one month into standup, which surprised Tony given her stage presence, mic technique and energy. Born and raised in North Austin, went to McCallum High School, and started because her best friend told her she was funny. Set was about telling men she is gay to get rid of them and debunking stereotypes about Asian women. Works as a fire inspector for businesses after changing careers about nine times, including stints at Child Protective Services and as a middle school teacher. Said she usually dates black guys but is currently dating a white guy, with a joke comparing him to 2% milk. Got a medium joke book and an explicit push from Tony to keep writing and sign up again.

Final bucket pull of the night. From Lake Charles, Louisiana, seven years in comedy, and runs the scene there, hosting open mics and booking touring comics; says he has driven the roughly five hours to sign up about fifteen times in the past year and has thirty minutes of material. Set was about being in Future Farmers of America and tearing his meniscus doing the Cha Cha Slide at FFA summer camp. Interview leaned on everyone assuming he is Jewish when he is actually Cajun, and his cross and St. Christopher pendant. Mentioned coming to Austin with the comics from a recent golden-ticket episode without getting pulled himself. Won a big joke book and, on the spot, an offer from Adam Ray to open two October theater dates in Birmingham, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia.

Closing regular, introduced by Tony as one of his favorite things in the history of the show and later as, without hesitation, the fastest rising comedian in the world. Short, punchy set with a swastika-on-my-Tesla bit, a Germany/hide-and-seek tag, a role-play joke about a jellyfish sting, and a women's self-defense tag; the crowd gave him a standing ovation. In the interview he and Adam Ray compared notes on following each other, including the night Pat's golden ticket was awarded, and he noted the pops get bigger every week. Told a story about Southwest Airlines rerouting him on the way to Lubbock and Midland, Texas gigs, leaving him in a middle seat next to a baby.