Tony Hinchcliffe recently appeared on the All-In podcast, where he found himself defending Austin’s comedy scene and pushing back against critics of what some call the ‘Rogansphere.’ The Kill Tony host’s appearance alongside tech industry figures revealed his sensitivity to mounting criticism of the comedy community centered around Joe Rogan’s Austin-based Mothership Comedy Club.
During the conversation, Hinchcliffe addressed his controversial performance at a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden, where his jokes about Puerto Rico generated significant backlash.
While critics accused the set of crossing the line from provocation into cruelty, Hinchcliffe framed the reaction as overblown and media-driven. He emphasized that the controversy didn’t hurt him professionally, noting that he went on to sell out Madison Square Garden three more times after the incident.
What stood out, however, was Hinchcliffe’s candid admission that the MSG appearance wasn’t merely a comedy booking. He acknowledged that part of the motivation was political, an opportunity to sway younger or undecided voters to “vote what [he] thought was the right way.” For critics, that admission blurred the line between standup comedy and political advocacy.
When asked about the best city for comedy, Hinchcliffe didn’t hesitate. “There’s no question about it. It’s Austin, Texas,” he declared, though this claim drew skepticism from traditional comedy centers.
He became noticeably defensive when the hosts mentioned comedians from Los Angeles and New York who criticize the Austin scene. “Some comedians when they’re trying to promote their specials or whatever now from LA and New York will say things like, ‘Oh, Austin,’ so that they can get hits on their clip,” Hinchcliffe complained.
He insisted that Austin comedians aren’t deliberately provocative, stating, “We’re not like let’s go to Austin and get even crazier. We’re the exact same people that were in the middle of the lineup at the comedy store.” However, he also revealed the political motivations behind the migration, citing California’s pandemic response and handling of protests during 2020 as reasons for leaving.
The All-In hosts praised Hinchcliffe’s approach, with one remarking that his show reminded them of what standup comedy was like “from the late ’90s, early 2000s” before performers became “so guarded.” They credited him with giving “everyone permission to find the limits, to find real humor.”
Yet critics, including comedian Marc Maron, have accused Hinchcliffe and similar performers of “punching down” rather than challenging power structures.
Hinchcliffe defended his track record by pointing to his work on Comedy Central roasts and his diverse lineup on Kill Tony. “With a simple Google, you see that I have the most diverse comedy show in the world,” he argued, framing his style as “equal opportunity” rather than targeted.
