Comedian and entertainer Christopher Waldeck (B.S. ’13) appeared on Kill Tony this past April and received the Golden Ticket, a recognition that gives comedians a guaranteed spot to return to the show and showcase their work. 

 Kill Tony is a live stand-up comedy show and podcast that features aspiring or amateur comedians who must perform a one-minute set and do an interview with the panel. Depending on those two factors, they are either given no joke book, a little joke book, a big joke book, or the Golden Ticket. Winning the Golden Ticket on a given episode is a major accomplishment in the comedy industry.  

“The moment I won the Golden Ticket was absolutely surreal and amazing. I’ve never had an experience like that before in my life,” said Waldeck. “It’s probably the greatest comedy experience I’ve ever had, honestly.” 

Before his career in comedy, Waldeck learned valuable lessons during his time at Florida State University’s (FSU) School of Communication, where he gained experience in public speaking and audience engagement.  

“Working with Dr. Stephen McDowell definitely helped me because the Honors in the Major research I did in his class was about analyzing speeches, which helped me see how people connected with audiences and what hit and what didn’t,” said Waldeck.  

 The recognition represented more than an outstanding performance and interview; it was the culmination of nearly a decade of dedication to his comedy. Behind the achievement were years of performances, including those at his home club, the LA Comedy Club in Las Vegas, and guidance from mentors, including his best friend, the Kaptn – the leader of the Quantum Algo Trading group – who helped him grow as a comedian.

“I’m in my ninth year of comedy. It’s a grind. You get up there, and you’re fun and engage with people, and it’s one of those big opportunities that you can’t get anywhere else in the comedy scene,” said Waldeck. 

While earning the Golden Ticket marked a defining moment in Waldeck’s career, the path to that milestone was shaped by years of resilience. Along the way, Waldeck overcame various personal challenges and used those experiences as motivation to continue pursuing the dream that led him to the Kill Tony stage. 

“Comedy actually helped me develop a lot as a person because before I used to be in denial that I was just awkward and stuff, because I didn’t get diagnosed with autism until I was 28 years old,” said Waldeck. “Then before my 35th birthday I was the victim of multiple car accidents and was diagnosed with cancer but still pulled through simply because I had a dream and didn’t want it to die.” 

Throughout those challenges, Waldeck remained committed to pursuing comedy, using his experiences to shape both his perspective and his performances. While his determination carried him through adversity, his time spent at CCI helped him develop the confidence and communication skills to share those experiences with audiences through his comedy.  

“It helped me find my inner sense of self that I bring to my performances, as well as gain experiences. Comedy is all about talking about yourself and your views and experiences in a way that brings people into the conversation, and the school helped me with that,” said Waldeck.