If you know Kill Tony, you already know Martin Phillips. But his one-minute sets only show part of what makes him interesting to watch live.
Phillips can turn a short set into a complete performance, moving quickly from a setup to a punchline, an impression, or another joke. That speed has made him one of the show’s most recognizable Golden Ticket performers and a familiar face to Kill Tony fans.
The story behind the martin phillips comedian started long before his first appearance on the show. Phillips is originally from Virginia’s 757 region and began performing in the Washington, DC comedy scene in 2013. Six years later, an unexpected bucket pull at his home club led to his Kill Tony debut and a Golden Ticket.
But seeing comedian martin on the Killers of Kill Tony tour gives fans a chance to see more than the comedian they know from the podcast. A live set gives Phillips more time for longer jokes, stories, crowd work, impressions, and character-based material.
That is where the martin phillips comedy experience becomes different from his Kill Tony appearances. The quick punchlines are still there, but a full live set gives him room to develop an idea instead of having to finish it within a minute.
Phillips is also known for an energetic stage presence and unusual interests outside stand-up. He is a professional tap dancer, blues harmonica player, film and music enthusiast, and RFK Jr. impersonator.
There is also much more to marty phillips than his Golden Ticket. His career includes comedy festivals, storytelling events, podcast projects with Jenny Questell, solo stand-up, and national touring.
For fans seeing the Killers of Kill Tony lineup live, that wider background makes Phillips worth watching beyond his most familiar Kill Tony clips. His career has been developing for years, and the tour gives audiences a chance to see what he does with a full stage rather than a one-minute slot.
This article looks at Phillips’ career before and after Kill Tony, his most memorable appearances, current tour dates, and the videos that showcase his comedy.
Martin Phillips Biography
Early Life and Background
Martin Phillips is originally from Virginia’s 757 region. He began performing in the Washington, DC comedy scene in 2013, building his early career through local shows, college events, and other live performances.
One of his first notable achievements came during college, when he was named “DC’s Funniest Student.” The award became an early milestone in a career that would eventually take him from the DC comedy scene to national comedy clubs, festivals, and theatres.
Phillips has also developed several interests outside stand-up. His official website describes him as a film and music enthusiast, professional tap dancer, blues harmonica player, and RFK Jr. impersonator.
Beginning of His Comedy Career
Phillips began performing stand-up in 2013 and spent his early years developing his material in Washington, DC. His career expanded through comedy clubs, colleges, festivals, corporate events, and other live shows.
His festival credits include the LA Diversity in Comedy Festival and Cleveland Comedy Festival. He also performed around the country, gradually moving beyond the DC scene and building experience in different types of venues.
This period laid the groundwork for the career that later brought him to Kill Tony. By the time he appeared on the show, Phillips had already spent several years writing jokes and performing for live audiences.
The Road to Kill Tony
Phillips’ connection with Kill Tony began in Washington, DC.
In November 2019, the show recorded episode #412 at the Comedy Loft in Washington, DC. Phillips was the final comedian pulled from the bucket that night. Instead of the short one-minute set normally associated with the show, he delivered a performance lasting about 9 minutes and 16 seconds.
The appearance became a major turning point in his career. Phillips’ set included jokes about substitute teaching, speed dating, and Maryland, and it ended with him receiving the only Golden Ticket awarded during the episode.
The moment was particularly significant because the bucket pull happened at Phillips’ home club in DC. His official biography still identifies the appearance as the performance that earned him his Golden Ticket and established his long-running connection with Kill Tony.
Golden Ticket on Kill Tony
The Golden Ticket changed Phillips’ relationship with Kill Tony. Instead of relying on another random bucket pull, he could return to the show as a returning Golden Ticket performer.
That gave him the opportunity to bring new material to later episodes and develop a recognizable place within the Kill Tony universe.
PunchNotes currently lists 26 documented Kill Tony sets for Phillips as a Golden Ticket winner. His later appearances include different combinations of material rather than simply repeating his original performance.
For example, the database breaks down his set on episode #655 into two bits containing three joke beats, while episode #712 contains three separate bits. These records provide a useful look at how his material continued to develop across different appearances.
From Golden Ticket to Fan Favorite
Phillips’ Kill Tony career continued well beyond his original 2019 appearance. He returned with new material and became one of the show’s recurring Golden Ticket performers.
His relationship with the show is slightly different from that of its official regulars. In a 2024 AMA, Phillips said he was comfortable remaining a Golden Ticket winner and did not want to appear so frequently that audiences became tired of seeing him.
That has allowed him to maintain a recurring presence while continuing to bring new material to the show.
His Kill Tony appearances have also become an important part of his wider comedy career. The show introduced his work to a much larger audience and helped connect his DC comedy background with the national stand-up circuit.
Projects Beyond Kill Tony
Phillips has also worked on comedy podcasts with fellow comedian Jenny Questell.
From 2020 to 2022, Phillips and Questell hosted Rosé and Thorns: A Bachelor Podcast. The comedy podcast focused on The Bachelor, with Phillips and Questell approaching the reality series from very different perspectives.
In 2021, the pair launched Isn’t It Romantic?, a movie podcast built around a simple question: should a particular film really be considered a romance?
The project has continued into 2026, making it one of Phillips’ longest-running projects outside stand-up. Episodes cover films from different genres and periods, with Phillips and Questell debating their romantic credentials rather than simply reviewing them.
The collaboration also connects Phillips with another DC comedian. Questell has performed at venues including the Kennedy Center and DC Improv and has worked as a comedian, writer, and producer.
Festivals, Storytelling and Live Comedy
Stand-up is not the only live format Phillips has explored.
In 2023, he appeared at a Disability Pride Comedy & Storytelling Night alongside Sheri Denkensohn and Adrian Villalobos. The event brought together comedy and personal storytelling in a format different from a traditional club set.
Phillips has also performed at comedy festivals and venues across the United States. His work has included comedy clubs, colleges, corporate events, storytelling shows, and theatre performances.
These projects helped expand his career beyond the Washington, DC scene and Kill Tony. They also gave him different settings in which to develop material and perform for audiences outside the show’s regular fan base.
Moving to Austin and Current Career
Phillips is now based in Austin, Texas. His move puts him in the same city as the Comedy Mothership, the current home of Kill Tony. The martin phillips kill tony connection remains an important part of his career.
His current career combines several parts of his work: solo stand-up, recurring Kill Tony appearances, podcasting, comedy festivals, and national touring.
He is also part of the Killers of Kill Tony live tour, appearing alongside performers from the wider Kill Tony comedy scene. Depending on the city, the lineup can include David Lucas, Hans Kim, Dedrick Flynn, Ahren Belisle, Timmy No Brakes, David Jolly, and other comedians.
For Phillips, the live tour is another stage in a career that began in the Washington, DC comedy scene in 2013, expanded through festivals and independent projects, and reached a much larger audience after his Golden Ticket appearance in 2019.
Martin Phillips Stand-Up Style
Martin Phillips has developed a comedy style that works particularly well in the fast-paced world of Kill Tony. His sets can move through several jokes in a short time, but his comedy is not limited to one-minute performances. His wider live work includes observations, personal material, crowd interaction, impressions, and character-based comedy.
- One-Liner Comedy
One-liners are an important part of Phillips’ Kill Tony material. His jokes often have a compact structure: a recognizable premise, a quick turn, and a punchline that arrives without a long explanation.
His first Kill Tony appearance on episode #412 already showed that he could work through several ideas during a single performance. The material included jokes about substitute teaching, speed dating, and Maryland.
That ability to move between unrelated subjects gives his sets a quick rhythm. Instead of spending several minutes developing one premise, Phillips can introduce an idea, finish the joke, and immediately move to another.
- Observational Humor
Phillips often starts with situations that audiences can recognize before taking them in a less predictable direction.
His observations work particularly well when they are combined with short punchlines. The joke does not need a long explanation because the audience understands the starting point quickly.
This approach is one reason his material translates well to Kill Tony. The show gives comedians very little time, so a joke that establishes its premise quickly has an immediate advantage.
- Quick Punchlines
Speed is one of the most recognizable elements of Phillips’ delivery.
His Kill Tony sets show how quickly he can move from one joke to the next without leaving large gaps between ideas. The result is a dense performance in which the audience is rarely waiting for the next premise.
That does not mean every joke has the same rhythm. In a longer live performance, Phillips can slow down, develop a story, or spend more time interacting with the audience. The contrast makes the faster sections stand out even more.
- Crowd Work
Crowd interaction gives Phillips another way to build material outside his prepared jokes.
On Kill Tony, the interview after the one-minute set can become part of the performance. Phillips’ interactions with Tony Hinchcliffe often create additional jokes and give the audience a different look at his personality.
His ability to react in the moment is particularly useful on a live tour. Unlike a recorded Kill Tony set, a theatre or comedy-club performance gives him the opportunity to respond directly to the people in the room.
- Personal Stories
Phillips’ comedy is not limited to short punchlines. He has also appeared in storytelling-focused events, including the 2023 Disability Pride Comedy & Storytelling Night.
Storytelling gives him more space than the Kill Tony format allows. Instead of having to reach a punchline within a minute, he can develop a situation, add details, and build toward a larger payoff.
That longer format is useful for audiences who know Phillips mainly from Kill Tony. His television and podcast appearances show his ability to deliver compact jokes, while longer live sets allow more room for stories and personal material.
- Impressions and Character Comedy
Impressions are another distinctive part of Phillips’ performance.
His official biography specifically highlights his RFK Jr. impersonation. He also uses character-based material as a way to change the voice and rhythm of a performance.
This gives his comedy another layer beyond traditional joke writing. A character can become the source of the joke through its voice, mannerisms, or exaggerated point of view.
Phillips’ other performance interests fit naturally with this side of his comedy. He is a professional tap dancer and blues harmonica player, giving him skills that extend beyond conventional stand-up delivery.
- What Makes Martin Phillips Popular?
Phillips’ appeal comes from the combination of speed, variety, and consistency.
His Kill Tony appearances demonstrate how efficiently he can build a short set. He can move between compact jokes, observations, impressions, and interactions without making the performance feel overloaded.
His relationship with Tony Hinchcliffe also adds another element to his appearances. The comedy can continue after the prepared set through the interview and back-and-forth between the two.
Most importantly, Phillips has more than one mode of performance. The martin phillips comedian disability aspect is part of his personal story, but it does not define his entire act. A viewer who knows him for his rapid Kill Tony sets can see a different side of his work in a longer live show, where he has time for stories, crowd work, impressions, and material that cannot fit into sixty seconds.
That range is a major part of what makes Martin Phillips worth seeing live rather than only watching his best-known Kill Tony clips.
Best Kill Tony Appearances
Comic Phillips has appeared on Kill Tony across several stages of the show’s history, from his first performance at the Comedy Loft in Washington, DC, to major arena episodes and his more recent appearances at Comedy Mothership in Austin. The Kill Tony Archives currently lists 32 episodes featuring Phillips, while his official website says that he continues to appear on new episodes regularly.
- Martin Phillips’ Kill Tony Debut
Martin Phillips made his Kill Tony debut in Episode #412 on November 7, 2019, at the Comedy Loft in Washington, DC. He was the final comedian in the lineup, and his set lasted 9 minutes and 16 seconds.
The episode is particularly useful for fans who want to see where Phillips’ Kill Tony story began. His first performance came from an impromptu bucket pull at his home club, and the set gave him considerably more time than the one-minute performances associated with his later appearances.
His debut material included jokes about substitute teaching, speed dating and Maryland. The appearance ended with Tony Hinchcliffe awarding him a Golden Ticket, turning a local bucket pull into a long-term connection with the show.
- Golden Ticket Performance
The Golden Ticket from Episode #412 became the defining milestone of Phillips’ early Kill Tony career. His official biography confirms that he earned the ticket after being pulled from the bucket at his home club in Washington, DC.
What makes the original performance worth watching is the amount of material packed into one appearance. Phillips was able to establish himself through several jokes before the interview, giving viewers a much fuller introduction than the short clips most people encounter first.
His later Golden Ticket appearances developed into a recurring part of the show. The official Martin Phillips website describes him as continuing to bring a new minute of stand-up to Kill Tony episodes before joining the conversation with the panel.
- Best One-Minute Sets
The one-minute format is where Phillips’ recurring Kill Tony appearances become particularly useful to study.
Rather than recommending every episode, three periods are especially worth comparing: his original 2019 appearance, his established Golden Ticket performances in the 2020s, and his recent Austin-era appearances.
Episode #720, recorded at Comedy Mothership on May 12, 2025, is one of the clearest later examples. The episode features Carrot Top, and the Kill Tony Archives lists Phillips’ performance at 7 minutes and 16 seconds, identifying it as his 25th appearance.
That episode is useful because it shows how different Phillips’ position on the show had become by 2025. He was no longer being introduced as an unknown comedian; he was returning as a familiar Golden Ticket performer with a substantial history on the podcast.
- Funniest Interviews
Phillips’ Kill Tony appearances are not limited to the material he performs before the interview. The conversation with Tony Hinchcliffe is often an important part of the segment, particularly because Phillips has appeared frequently enough for the audience and host to already know his personality.
His official website even describes the recurring format directly: Phillips brings a new minute of stand-up and then “breaks balls” with some of the biggest names in comedy.
For fans exploring the interviews rather than only the stand-up sets, Episode #412 is the natural starting point because it captures Phillips before he became a familiar Kill Tony personality. Later episodes provide the opposite experience, with Phillips returning to an audience that already knows him.
- Best Crowd Interactions
The strongest examples of Phillips’ crowd and panel interactions are found in the longer episodes where the lineup gives him room to stay on stage after his set.
Episode #682 is particularly notable. Recorded at Madison Square Garden in New York on August 10, 2024, it featured Dave Attell, Shane Gillis, Adam Ray and Harland Williams. Phillips performed eighth in a 24-comedian lineup, with his set listed at five minutes.
The scale of the episode makes #682 different from his original DC appearance. It places Phillips in one of the biggest live Kill Tony productions, surrounded by a large lineup that also included Ahren Belisle, Joe DeRosa, Jim Norton, Ari Shaffir, Ari Matti, Sal Vulcano, Casey Rocket, Jeff Ross, Hans Kim and David Lucas.
- Fan-Favorite Moments
For fans putting together a Martin Phillips watchlist, the most interesting moments are spread across different eras rather than concentrated in one episode.
Episode #412 shows the original Golden Ticket moment. Episode #682 places Phillips on the Madison Square Garden stage during one of the show’s major live events. Episode #720 marks his 25th listed appearance in the Kill Tony Archives. Episode #734 then puts his name directly into the episode title alongside Dusty Slay.
Episode #734 was recorded at Comedy Mothership in Austin on August 18, 2025, and was released as “DUSTY SLAY + MARTIN PHILLIPS.” That makes it a useful choice for fans who want to see Phillips in the show’s more recent Austin era.
- Recent Kill Tony Appearances
Martin Phillips has remained part of the Kill Tony lineup throughout 2026. Recent episodes include #775, #776, #777, #778, #779, #780, #781, #782, #783 and #784. These appearances put him alongside performers including Timmy No Brakes, Pat O’Neill and Dedrick Flynn, as well as different weekly guests.
The most recent documented appearance is Kill Tony #784, released on September 7, 2026 and recorded on August 31, 2026. The episode is titled “Yakov Smirnoff + Ari Matti” and includes Martin Phillips alongside Ari Matti, Brian Simpson, Pat O’Neill and Dedrick Flynn.
For someone discovering Phillips now, #784 is the best episode to pair with #412. The two appearances are separated by almost seven years and show how long Phillips has remained connected to Kill Tony.
Martin Phillips Tour Dates
Martin Phillips is touring with Killers of Kill Tony in 2026 and also performs solo shows. His official website confirms the 2026 tour and says that new solo shows are being added in Austin and across the United States.
Upcoming Martin Phillips Shows
The following 2026 Killers of Kill Tony dates are currently listed with Martin Phillips in the official tour schedule:
The official tour listing identifies Martin Phillips in the advertised lineup for these dates, with the other performers changing by city.
Killers of Kill Tony Tour
Killers of Kill Tony features comedians from the podcast performing longer stand-up sets. The San Diego event, for example, lists David Lucas, Hans Kim, Martin Phillips, and Dedrick Flynn.
The Cincinnati show on November 14 has the same four-comedian lineup: David Lucas, Hans Kim, Martin Phillips, and Dedrick Flynn. The Taft Theatre notes that the lineup is subject to change.
Other 2026 dates feature different combinations, including Ahren Belisle, Timmy No Brakes, David Jolly, and Pat O’Neill.
Solo Stand-Up Shows
Martin Phillips also performs solo outside the Killers of Kill Tony tour. His official website currently says that new solo shows are “popping up” locally in Austin and nationally across the country.
At present, the official Martin Phillips website does not provide a complete text-based list of specific solo dates. For that reason, no unverified solo dates are included here.
Ticket Information
Tickets for Martin Phillips and the Killers of Kill Tony 2026 shows can include different seating options, depending on the venue:
- Standard tickets: approximately $45–$100
- Reserved seating: assigned seats with prices based on location
- Premium seats: better views and locations closer to the stage
- VIP tickets: available for selected shows and may include premium seating or additional benefits
As a general guide, standard tickets usually fall around $45–$100, while premium and VIP tickets can cost more. Prices vary by city, venue, seat location, and demand. Additional fees may also apply.
For the best choice of date, seating, and current price, we recommend buying your Martin Phillips tickets through the ticket listings in our table above.
Videos
Martin Phillips’ video library covers more than his most recognizable moments on Kill Tony. It brings together performances from different stages of his career, making it possible to compare his short podcast sets with longer stand-up appearances and less structured conversations.
The selection below is organized around the main types of footage available. Some videos are useful for following his Kill Tony history, while others give a better idea of how Phillips performs when he has more time on stage. Together, they provide a broader look at his work than any single appearance can show.
Best Martin Phillips Videos
Video clips are one of the easiest ways to see how Martin Phillips’ comedy works in different formats. His official YouTube channel brings together Kill Tony appearances, stand-up clips, and other original content.
The videos below are grouped by type so you can quickly find his best-known Kill Tony performances, one-minute sets, interviews, stand-up material, crowd work, and podcast appearances.
Best Kill Tony Performances
If you are new to Martin Phillips, his Kill Tony appearances are the best place to start. His performances show how he developed from a comedian making a memorable first appearance into one of the show’s recurring Golden Ticket performers.
Start with his debut and then explore some of his later appearances to see how his material and stage presence developed over time.
Golden Ticket Performance
The Golden Ticket performance is an essential video for anyone interested in Martin Phillips’ Kill Tony story. It captures the performance that turned a bucket pull at his home club into a much bigger opportunity.
Watch this set first if you want to understand how Phillips became connected with the show and why the performance remains an important moment in his career.
Best One-Minute Sets
One-minute sets show Phillips working within the format that helped make him a recognizable Kill Tony performer. With only a short time on stage, every setup and punchline has to be carefully timed.
These clips are particularly useful for seeing his fast delivery, compact joke structure, and ability to move quickly from one idea to the next.
Roast and Interview Moments
Phillips’ interviews offer a different look at his Kill Tony appearances. Instead of relying only on prepared jokes, these moments show how he reacts to Tony Hinchcliffe, other comedians, and unexpected questions.
They are worth watching alongside his sets because they reveal more of his personality and his ability to turn conversation into comedy.
Stand-Up Clips
For a broader view of Martin Phillips’ comedy, move beyond the one-minute Kill Tony format and watch his longer stand-up clips.
These performances give him more time to develop jokes, tell stories, interact with the audience, and move between different types of material. They provide a better idea of what to expect from his solo live shows.
Crowd Work
Crowd-work videos show Phillips in a less predictable setting. Instead of following a prepared set, he has to respond to audience members and build jokes from their reactions.
These clips are a good choice for viewers who want to see how he handles spontaneous moments and keeps a live audience engaged.
Podcast Appearances
Phillips also appears in longer-form video through his podcast work. He co-hosts Isn’t It Romantic? with Jenny Questell, a movie podcast that discusses whether different films should be considered romances.
These episodes give fans a chance to hear Phillips outside the stand-up format, with longer conversations about movies, comedy, relationships, and pop culture.
FAQ
Who is Martin Phillips?
Martin Phillips is a stand-up comedian and Golden Ticket winner known for his recurring appearances on Kill Tony.
Where is Martin Phillips from?
Martin Phillips is originally from Virginia’s 757 region and began his comedy career in Washington, DC.
How old is Martin Phillips?
Martin Phillips’ exact age is not publicly confirmed by a reliable source.
When did Martin Phillips join Kill Tony?
Martin Phillips first appeared on Kill Tony in November 2019 in episode #412 at the DC Comedy Loft in Washington, DC.
Did Martin Phillips get a Golden Ticket?
Yes. Martin Phillips received a Golden Ticket after an impromptu bucket pull at his home comedy club in Washington, DC.
Is Martin Phillips still a Kill Tony regular?
Martin Phillips continues to appear regularly on Kill Tony as a Golden Ticket performer.
What is Martin Phillips known for?
Martin Phillips is best known for his Kill Tony appearances, Golden Ticket performances, and stand-up comedy.
What type of comedy does Martin Phillips perform?
Martin Phillips performs stand-up that includes one-liners, observational comedy, storytelling, impressions, character work, and crowd interaction.
Is Martin Phillips touring in 2026?
Yes. Martin Phillips is touring in 2026 with solo comedy dates and appearances on the Killers of Kill Tony tour.
Is Martin Phillips part of Killers of Kill Tony?
Yes. Martin Phillips is part of the 2026 Killers of Kill Tony tour lineup.
Where can I see Martin Phillips live?
You can see Martin Phillips on the Killers of Kill Tony tour and at selected solo stand-up shows in 2026.
Where can I watch Martin Phillips videos?
Martin Phillips’ official YouTube channel features his Kill Tony appearances, stand-up clips, and other original videos.