Like any scene in the entertainment business, comedy has changed significantly in recent years. In the not-so-distant past, a coveted spot on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson meant you’d hit the big time – an achievement accentuated if you were invited to sit on the host’s couch following a successful set. Today, this honor has been replaced by invitations to podcasts like The Joe Rogan Experience and Tony Hinchliffe’s Kill Tony, and while many comedians have accomplished this goal, few have done it quite like Kim Congdon.
Florida Girl
Being considered a successful woman in comedy is far rarer than its male counterpart, but Kim Congdon has unquestionably joined the ranks of some of her idols – including Roseanne Barr and Sarah Silverman – on the proverbial Mount Rushmore of female comics. But this wasn’t always the plan.
A Florida native, Congdon’s comedy career began at The Swamp, a restaurant in Tom Petty’s hometown of Gainesville, where she worked while attending the University of Florida. However, an encounter at a different swamp nearly landed the comic in the obituaries instead than the entertainment section.
At eight years old, a young Congdon was floating in Florida’s Ginnie Springs when the mother of a friend – likely after consuming a bit too much wine – decided that the group should play a game in the alligator-infested waters. It was at this point that our young heroine was greeted by “two pairs of yellow eyes.” After paddling to safety, she overheard another adult proclaim, “You’d better get those kids out of there – this thing is full of alligators at night.”
Luckily, Congdon survived the ordeal unscathed and eventually found herself at the aforementioned, considerably safer Swamp, where she discovered a new passion for filming events at the restaurant. That led her to accept an internship in Los Angeles, a move that would prove to be the catalyst for her rise in the comedy world.
Tragedy Inspires Comedy
Narrowly avoiding an alligator attack may have been one of the biggest hurdles in Kim Congdon surviving long enough to become a successful comedian, but it was a different tragedy that inspired her to enter the field.
While interning in Los Angeles and living with her cousin, a man tragically lost his life in a freak sinkhole accident. The incident inspired Congdon to come up with a joke on the spot. That same evening, the cousins watched Dane Cook – then at the height of his career – tell his own joke about the incident. Congdon decided she could do better.
This revelation inspired Congdon to give comedy a try, which turned out to be a more than moderately successful endeavor. It also led to a chance meeting with her future frequent collaborator Sara Weinshenk, as well as a then-relarively unknown Tony Hinchcliffe, who approached the two budding comics about appearing on his new podcast. It was at this moment that the stars aligned for both Congdon and Hinchcliffe, and Kill Tony was born. Congdon would become known as the show’s first regular, but appearing nearly every week for the next two years.
It was also around this time that she discovered another seemingly hidden talent: the art of the roast.
A Worthy Adversary
Kill Tony’s format heavily emphasizes trash-talking – something Kim Congdon excels at. She recognized this gift at an early age, but it was her entry into comedy that made it truly pay off.
Early in her career, Congdon began participating in – and winning – roast battles. The phenomenon caught on quickly, and the Los Angeles-based battles drew some of the biggest names in comedy, including Jim Carrey, Dave Chappelle and the Roastmaster General himself, Jeff Ross.
After recognizing Congdon’s ability to verbally tear other comics to shreds, Ross enlisted her as a ghostwriter for some of the biggest roasts in recent history. While she typically declines to specify exactly which material she wrote, her work has appeared in the work of Tom Brady, Rob Lowe, Justin Bieber and, most recently, Kevin Hart.
Congdon doesn’t limit herself to verbal sparring, either. She is also known for her skills on the mat as a Jiu-Jitsu practitioner – a passion she discovered while living in New York City and still pursues today.
Riding the Wave of Success
Kim Congdon’s accomplishments as a stand-up comedian, comedy writer and all-around creative force are not to be taken lightly. At 35, she has worked on numerous television projects – including Impractical Jokers and a Super Bowl commercial – has written numerous feature films, and is preparing to publish a memoir titled Blunt Force Trauma – Stories I Think I Remember.
As impressive as her résumé is, Congdon never strays far from the art form that started it all: stand-up comedy.
She’ll be making her way through Colorado and Wyoming this summer, performing at The Moxi Theater in Greeley on July 23, The Rialto in Casper on July 24, and two sets at The Black Buzzard at Oskar Blues in Denver on July 25.
