KT#784 - YAKOV SMIRNOFF + ARI MATTI

Abandoned his prepared material after seeing the crowd and did roughly a minute of thanking Tony and the audience with no jokes. Tony savaged him for wasting the slot and banned him from signing up for a year. Second appearance; Tony remembered hating the first.

Third time on the show. About 15 years in comedy, mostly out of Chattanooga, two years in Austin. Works IT help desk, plays D&D. Long interview about car sex in a Kia Soul. Formerly toured in a metal band.

Three and a half years in comedy; her first appearance was at three months in. Age 35. Set was about being robbed at gunpoint with her roommate. Yakov compared her intensity to early Roseanne Barr. Given a Thursday Secret Show spot.

First big stage ever, only poetry-style open mics before. Adopted out of a Russian orphanage at age six in 1997, raised near Ames, Iowa. In Austin two months, works full-time at Tesla. Uncanny pairing with Yakov, whose Branson show he had attended as a kid.

Weekly regular, billed as 'the former Dark Storm of Atlanta, the current Dark Storm of Austin.' New set about a fight with his girlfriend over Uno and a Botox salesman. Is an ordained officiant and had just conducted his first Jewish wedding.

A standout debut. Three years in comedy, primarily Dallas; born in suburban Detroit. PhD in electrical engineering, designs computer chips, holds many patents including one for a poop detector for a robot vacuum. 6'5". Hit the minute precisely; Tony urged him to sign up again.

Said it was his 116th sign-up and his first time getting pulled. Age 58, in standup since 2019. Former drug dealer, clean 13 years after flatlining in a Riverside hospital. Works as a street barker on Sixth Street and is known to Tony and Redban from the street.

First time on the show. From Bergen, Norway, age 31, almost three years in comedy mostly in Norwegian. Flew in from Bergen that same day in basic economy. Long bit with Tony and Ari Matti about his deadpan, emotionless delivery.

First time on the show, only her second sign-up. From Venezuela, formerly LA-based. Deadpan delivery; set covered kidnapping ransoms in Venezuela and dirty talk in Spanish. Currently touring with Kim Congdon. Given a Secret Show spot.

Final bucket pull, added after Tony said the bucket was done. Had not done the show since it was at Vulcan Gas Company, where he was the longest-serving door guy. Set was a true story about a date with a woman who defeated her car's breathalyzer with an air mattress inflator.

Closed the show as the headlining regular, introduced as a phenom with pure momentum. New set on taking Krav Maga and on Black Panther. Tony noted he is now getting laughs on his setups.