Kill Tony Erik Griffin, Michael Kosta
Guests: Erik Griffin · Michael Kosta
Lineup
Set: Dark, intense character work about a threatening persona who stands in crowds with knives and saves people's lives by traumatizing them.
Interview: Jonathan discussed his 10 years of stand-up, boxing job in Scottsdale, marriage to someone in Tucson, and had awkward interactions with the panel while eating pizza.
- Saved a man's life by choking him and warning him never again.
- Stands in crowds with sharp knife, people bump into him until they die.
- Jonathan eats pizza during interview, making the panel uncomfortable with mouth spray.
- Tony and Eric expressed initial discomfort with Jonathan's intimidating stage presence.
Tam Pham
Set: Comedy about his father's Vietnamese name (An Van Pham), how he named himself upon arriving in the US, and references to Jean-Claude Van Damme.
Interview: Tam discussed his dad being a machinist, being Vietnamese, working at Trader Joe's and as an extra, and his comedy roots in his Asian heritage and naming.
- Father's name is An Van Pham, only real part; he named himself poorly.
- Never refers to himself as Van Damme fan despite loving Jean-Claude Van Damme movies.
- Panel engages in extended Ninja Turtle riffing with Tam, with musical accompaniment from band.
- Jeremiah and Pat Reagan do voices and movements, turning interview into comedic bit.
Set: Vegas casino dealer material about slot machines everywhere in Vegas, taking a bathroom break and hitting a royal flush on a poker machine.
Interview: Ron revealed he's an elderly first-time comic, Vegas craps dealer, has two kids, shows a prominent hernia, discusses racquetball and handball hobbies.
- Vegas has slot machines everywhere including bathrooms; he hit royal flush on toilet.
- Ron's prominent hernia is visible and becomes focus of extended panel discussion.
- Tony and panel encourage Ron to describe phone sex experience, which confuses him severely.
- Extended uncomfortable bit where Ron doesn't understand internet or porn terminology.
- Ron reveals he's a dog trainer who bred dogs; panel makes dark comparisons.
- Ron makes Hitler/train reference when asked about least favorite race; panel reacts with shock.
Set: Self-deprecating Mexican-American humor about being light-skinned, adoption confusion as a child, hating tamales, and relating cultural foods to identity.
Interview: Julian discussed working as a tour guide at Universal Studios, doing open mics daily, living inland, his small eyes, and living a normal life.
- Brother/sister convinced him he was adopted; mother said she'd never adopt him.
- Hates tamales as Mexican; compares to Asian hating rice or Black person hating chicken.
- Jaws tour joke: mechanical shark named Bruce after Spielberg's lawyer.
- Panel extensively comments on Julian's inability to open his eyes, describing them as very small.
- Michael Kosta coaches Julian on tagging his jokes properly for better laughs.
Set: Observational humor about talking to yourself as genius, ambulances as drag queens, and being a morbidly obese gay man versus lesbian visibility standards.
Interview: Anthony just moved to LA three days ago from Portland, Oregon; discussed being gay, Latino, and how those identities affected him in Arizona.
- Talking to yourself is genius; Safeway bus stop is full of philosophers.
- Ambulances are drag queens of the road; people move and someone's dead inside.
- As morbidly obese gay: deal-breaker. As lesbian: perfect body standard.
- Tony immediately recognizes Anthony's comedy as strong and genuine after previous weaker sets.
- Panel jokes about Jonathan Gregory's missing wedding ring ending up with Anthony.
Set: Star Wars-themed material about getting a lightsaber with dead batteries for Christmas and wearing a helmet as an adult to avoid trouble.
Interview: Melissa is new to comedy, comes prepared with written material each week, discussed her nervousness on stage, and received coaching on joke structure.
- Got Jedi lightsaber with generic batteries; parents had to go buy real ones.
- Wearing helmet at 26 prevents anyone from messing with you, even villains.
- Eric Griffin provides detailed coaching on tagging jokes and personal connection in comedy.
- Panel notes visible nervousness but praises her for pushing through and delivering clearly.
- Michael Kosta compares her performance improvement from previous week to this week.
Set: Material about not having a college degree affecting job prospects and a controversial joke about people with Down syndrome working retail.
Interview: Vanessa discussed her job interview where lack of college degree was issue, and panel debated the viability of her Down syndrome material.
- Interviewed for assistant job; interviewer implied coffee makers complicated without degree.
- College useless for 80% of jobs; offering degrees to people with Down syndrome.
- Panel reaction to Down syndrome joke is mixed; Tony coaches her on difficulty of material.
- Red Band plays sea lion sound effect in response to the joke.
- Tony and panel discuss how attractive women face different standards for controversial material.
Ichabod
Set: Material about liking hookers because they won't bug him about voter registration, genetically modified foods with perfect beef fat balance, and bonus chickens going too far.
Interview: Ichabod revealed he's from Las Vegas, this is his first time doing comedy, he came with Uncle Ron, and doesn't listen to podcasts on computers.
- Likes hookers because they won't ask about voter registration like normal women.
- GMO foods like giant red tomatoes and watermelons; bonus chickens are too far.
- Revealed to be Uncle Ron's nephew; both visiting LA for Kill Tony podcast for first time.
- Extended panel confusion about how Ichabod and Ron listen to podcasts (thought it was radio/police scanner).
- Ichabod reveals childhood nightmare about drowning in bathtub, mother's freakout response.