Kill Tony #111 — Doug Benson, Jesse Joyce
Guests: Doug Benson · Jesse Joyce
Lineup
Set: Nervous set about turning 30, dating anxiety, working at Coffee Bean while peers have careers. Jokes about candy for dinner, boss being in high school, and coworkers inviting him to prom.
Interview: Tony and panel discuss nervousness, specificity of material, and Coffee Bean job. Doug notes he has good jokes but stammers through delivery. Discusses writing process and future goals in television.
- At 30, no longer acceptable to be shiny and single
- Works at Coffee Bean, boss possibly in high school
- Coworker asked him to prom, high school continues
- Set runs 50 seconds instead of 60; panelists note he could fill more time
- Tony coaches on joke specificity and delivery
Set: First-time comic from Colorado discussing security work. Makes vague jokes about security company, asks girls about jobs, compares himself to Jake from State Farm, gets mistaken for uncle Phil.
Interview: Panel discovers this is his first time on stage. Jesse notes he has potential but needs to be more specific about what he does. Kurt provides coaching on not wearing shorts and getting to punchlines faster.
- Works security, tells girls he's Jake from State Farm
- Calls work to check on him, records the call
- First-time performer on Kill Tony, documented in HD
- Panel critiques vagueness about job and misdirects
- Jesse points out he's from Bel-Air, not just visiting Colorado
Set: Polish-named comedian with 4 months experience. Opens with Supreme Court ruling congratulations, makes joke about being a cutter in school. Tight 36-second set with topical opening and self-harm callback.
Interview: Panel discusses his unusual Polish last name and hipster appearance. He reveals he's an electrician/grip and mentions a burn mark. Panel coaches on comedic structure and self-improvement.
- Supreme Court ruling congratulation (topical/misdirect)
- Used to cut as teen, realized hurt people in line behind
- Panel praise fresh jokes from very new comic
- Tony notes freedom from perfectionism after accepting 'failure'
Set: Mexican comedian discusses jealous girlfriend with low self-esteem, wants to kidnap someone in Mexico. Dark humor about ugly girlfriend cheating, brief Mexico travel plans. Fast-paced delivery with callbacks.
Interview: Panel discovers he only goes by Roger for anonymity reasons. Discusses Mexican nationality, first time on stage, security/protection work, smoking habits, and family support through school.
- Ugly girlfriend means less concern about cheating
- Going to Mexico to kidnap upon arrival
- Ends up marrying Eddie after gay guy misunderstanding
- Panel notes resemblance to Night Stalker Richard Ramirez
- Roger boos his own joke before audience can
- Mentions doing set an hour ago, very new to stage
Set: Self-deprecating set about appearance: beard like fake play beard, looks like redheaded girl who gave up in relationship. Notes racial makeup (quarter Russian, German, half Irish = 100% white). Gets laughs mainly on appearance.
Interview: Panel extensively roasts appearance, compares to various characters/creatures (Teen Wolf, anime references, Norse god). Kyle handles ribbing well. Discussed nervousness improvement, defending against references, fictional employment history.
- Beard looks like redheaded girl in dead relationship
- Claims 100% white based on racial quarters
- Extended roasting segment with multiple panelists contributing references
- Kyle handles ribbing gracefully, rarely offended
- Panel compares to various fictional/cultural references throughout
Set: Story-driven set about fight with gay man who hit on his friend Eddie at Halloween parade. Eddie responds by saying Jared was his boyfriend. Escalates to them joking about getting married. Long narrative with strong closer.
Interview: Panel discusses clarifying Halloween parade vs bar setting, specificity of details, and comedic structure. Jesse notes 75% homophobic but strong ending. Jared discusses comedy journey from Miami to Denver to LA.
- Gay man thinks Eddie (white dude) is his man
- Eddie throws Jared under the gay bus
- Mock marriage outcome from accusation
- Panel notes homophobic framing but appreciates strong ending
- Jesse coaches on avoiding unnecessary phrases
Set: Regular performer (2+ years, new joke each week). Delivers tight minute on awkward conversation during sex, porn costumes, pressure from obese scene partner. Confident closer about 'try to break me.'
Interview: Tony notes technical issue cut her off at 62 seconds. Panel discusses porn/obese word choice, double entendres, and tight structure. Kim explains she's doing new material weekly for the show.
- Guys talk too much during sex, asks to reshoot
- Works as comedian not porn star, they're close
- Pressure from obese costar, delivers 'try to break me'
- Technical glitch at 62 seconds, not 60
Set: Second regular (40-second set, shorter than usual). Jokes about beats headphones: bigger headphones = worse music taste, Dr. Dre doesn't have PhD, people wearing beats on neck are offensive, expensive beats paired with unemployed people.
Interview: Panel critiques delivery (dump-dump voice), Doug defends while Kurt suggests normal speaking voice. Discussion of Dr. Dre alternatives, Ludacris headphones/movies. Extended panel discussion about vocal character vs natural delivery.
- Bigger headphones correlate with worse music taste
- Dr. Dre doesn't have PhD, shouldn't trust ears to him
- Expensive beats headphones paired with unemployed people
- Panel critiques vocal delivery character as dump-dump voice
- Extended discussion of delivery vs. joke content
Interview: Doug serves as bandleader instead of Pat Reagan. Discusses movie 'A Life' on VOD/iTunes this Friday, starring Brian Redman and Joe Rogan from Chronic Comic-Con. Notes he didn't remember doing the film while high.
- Doug fills in as bandleader, recalls suggesting the role be eliminated
- Movie promotion with minimal recollection due to being high
Jesse Joyce
Interview: Jesse Joyce serves as panel guest. Discusses hotel marijuana incident with fine, provides tips for concealing smell in hotel rooms (soap helicopter technique), participates in roasting bucket pull performers.
- Jesse shares hotel fine for smoking weed, credits own paranoia
- Provides hotel smoke-concealment tips (soap helicopter method)
Kurt Metzger
Interview: Kurt serves as panel guest. Participates in roasting bucket pull performers, provides extensive coaching on joke structure, specificity, and delivery. Discusses Oscar writing experience and Ludacris roast.
- Kurt coaches Josh on specificity and punchline placement
- Criticizes Sara's vocal character delivery in jokes