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What to Know About the Controversial Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe Ahead of His Netflix Specials

BBG News

Stand-up comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who caused a stir with his act at a potential 2024 Trump campaign rally, is set to premiere on Netflix for the first time on April 7.

40-year-old comedian’s Netflix agreement encompasses the production of three comedy specials modeled after his popular podcast “Kill Tony“. In this show, up-and-coming comics perform for 60 seconds and receive feedback from Hinchcliffe and a group of fellow comedians. The first of these specials was filmed at the Comedy Mothership in Austin, Texas. Besides the three “Kill Tony” specials, which will showcase different comedians and guest stars, Hinchcliffe is also set to produce a one-hour stand-up special.

Hinchcliffe eagerly anticipates ‘Binge-watching and Solve’ as stated in a March 10th Netflix press release unveiling the agreement.

The unique content might spark surprise among many liberal viewers, but it’s not unprecedented for a Netflix comedy special to provoke reactions. In recent times, Dave Chappelle and Ricky Gervais have faced criticism for their jokes targeting the transgender community in their Netflix stand-up shows.

Here’s a rundown on Tony Hinchcliffe, key achievements in his journey, and the fresh wave of humor he embodies within the comedy world.

Let me fill you in on Tony Hinchcliffe, significant milestones in his career, and the innovative trend in comedy that he symbolizes.

How Tony Hinchcliffe got famous

Hinchcliffe, born and bred in Youngstown, Ohio, admired comedians such as Jim Carrey and Don Rickles. Similar to numerous comedians, his humor-making journey stemmed from a somber motivation. In an interview with Variety in 2024, he explained, “Whenever my father, who occasionally dropped by, would appear, my aim was to make him laugh because I believed that would encourage more visits.

2007 marked the year he decided to relocate to Los Angeles with aspirations of entering the entertainment industry. Subsequently, he managed to secure opening slots for comedians like Joe Rogan and Jeff Ross. This led him to a writing position on “Comedy Central Roast,” where he garnered recognition, particularly for the witty remarks he penned for Martha Stewart during her roast of Justin Bieber in 2015.

In 2013, he started the “Kill Tony” podcast alongside Brian Redban at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles. Hinchcliffe became well-known for picking names from a “Bucket of Fate” and then mocking them. The weekly show has over 700 episodes to its credit.

As a movie reviewer, I’d say that Hinchcliffe’s unique brand of comedy sets him apart from the usual celebrity roasts. According to Matt Sienkiewicz, co-author of “That’s Not Funny: How the Right Makes Comedy Work for Them,” this is partly due to who Hinchcliffe chooses as his targets. Unlike many other comedians, Hinchcliffe predominantly skewers individuals you may not recognize, which can lend a harsher, more biting quality to his humor.

Discussing the long-standing debate about where the boundary lies for comedians in their humor, it appears that Hinchcliffe seems unfazed by this issue. This is evident three years after a controversial joke involving a slur directed at Asian-American comedian Peng Dang, which garnered widespread attention. In an interview with Variety in 2024, he expressed no remorse, stating his belief that comedians should never apologize for a joke, should continue their work despite backlash, and even accelerate if they face criticism. According to him, such incidents can serve as inspiration for more material.

Nick Marx, co-author of “That’s Not Funny: How the Right Utilizes Comedy to Advocate for Free Speech,” notes that the comedy scene has traditionally leaned towards centrist and leftist figures. However, he observes an increasing presence of right-wing comedians who cloak their provocative, offensive humor under the guise of free speech advocacy.

Why Hinchcliffe is having a moment

In October, Hinchcliffe gained widespread attention for his comment at a Donald Trump rally in Madison Square Garden, referring to Puerto Rico as a “floating landfill.” This remark sparked criticism from celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Bad Bunny, as well as some GOP strategists. Despite this, Trump’s campaign distanced itself from the joke by stating that it did not reflect the views of Trump or his campaign. However, others defended the comment, suggesting people should learn to appreciate humor, with Vice President JD Vance stating, “We must stop being so easily offended.

Additionally, Hinchcliffe drew criticism by delivering homophobic jabs and insensitive comments regarding slavery while roasting NFL’s New England Patriots star Tom Brady during a comedy festival hosted by Netflix in May.

According to Sienkiewicz, being a comedian who specializes in shock humor, roasting, and insults that often touch upon sensitive topics such as race, anti-Semitism, and homophobia is something that transcends time and remains relevant.

In contrast to traditional television, where liberal comedians hold sway, some comedians leaning towards conservatism have found success in alternative online platforms such as podcasts and YouTube. They’ve also built connections with other right-wing media figures, appealing significantly to young men who supported the incumbent President Trump in the last election. Hinchcliffe and Joe Rogan are prime examples of this trend.

It appears that Netflix aims to attract more viewers like Hinchcliffe’s audience to their streaming platform. In an interview in March, co-CEO of Netflix, Ted Sarandos, mentioned that specials from Hinchcliffe were ordered, and when asked about any limits for standup specials, he suggested that comedians must be funny enough for a significant number of people, which justifies the risk. Sarandos expressed his personal admiration for stand-up comedy, acknowledging its need for a platform to experiment. He drew parallels between the debate over Hinchcliffe and past criticism faced by boundary-pushing comedians such as Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, and Richard Pryor. Sarandos stated that comedians play a crucial role in shaping culture by determining where the boundaries lie and crafting their jokes accordingly.

According to Marx’s explanation, Hinchcliffe possesses a unique ability to spark reactions among his audience, which is exactly what Netflix aims for. Engagement is crucial to them; they don’t care too much about the ideologies of their performers, as long as it keeps viewers subscribed and actively using Netflix.

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2025-04-07 16:06

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