Challenge Accepted
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Series
Comedy, Game-Show
Challenge Accepted is a Philadelphia comedy competition show — Taskmaster made gritty. Four local comedians tackle secret filmed challenges, then watch the chaos unfold live. Philly's comedy scene is one of the country's best-kept secrets. Help us put it on stage where it belongs.
Challenge Accepted
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Series
Comedy, Game-Show
1 Campaigns | Pennsylvania, United States
31 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$3,835
Goal: $8,000 for production phase 2
Challenge Accepted is a Philadelphia comedy competition show — Taskmaster made gritty. Four local comedians tackle secret filmed challenges, then watch the chaos unfold live. Philly's comedy scene is one of the country's best-kept secrets. Help us put it on stage where it belongs.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
WHAT IS CHALLENGE ACCEPTED?
Challenge Accepted is a Philadelphia comedy competition show — Taskmaster made gritty. Four fan-favorite local comedians take on secret filmed challenges with little to no idea how they did. Six months later, we gather an audience at SideQuest Theater and watch the chaos unfold live for the very first time. My co-host Victoria Tellez crowns a winner. The comedians find out alongside everyone else. It's pre-filmed comedy. It's live theater. It's on-stage surprises, audience interaction, city-themed challenges, and in a world glued to screens, it is something rare: a packed room, a shared laugh, a Saturday night like no other. There's nothing else like it in the city and we built it that way on purpose.
FOUNDER'S STATEMENT
Challenge Accepted is my love letter to Philadelphia comedy, a city that I believe wholeheartedly has some of the best comedians around. I love this scene and I wanted to create something to celebrate just how amazing it is. Philly's comedy community is one of the funniest, most generous, most underrated rooms in the country, and the comedians in it deserve a stage built specifically for them.
Season One started as an idea in my "notes" app. An idea that I pitched to the right people, at the right time. I am lucky enough to be surrounded by talented, ambitious people who believed in my idea, who believed in me. The first season was entirely self-funded, made with a crew of people who believed in what we were creating so much that they waived their fees, offered up their spaces and donated their time. I couldn't believe the support this idea received from the improv community immediately and that support is what drove season one, but the question lingered in the back of my mind: "Would we gain support outside of our immediate community?"
I am so proud to say, we did! A show that once felt like a dream sold out SideQuest Theater with support throughout Philadelphia. The audience told us everything we needed to know: do it again and go even bigger than before! Creating Challenge Accepted has been the joy of my life and it is not lost on me how lucky I am to create this show and share it with the beautiful city that I love so much.
Season Two is in pre-production. We're heading into production this fall and returning to the stage in January 2027. With the same incredible production team, the same writers creating chaotic challenges and the same beautiful Rittenhouse venue. But this season we're going bigger: more all-star comedians, wilder challenges, more shows and overall more Philly. To pull this off, we need you. Your support directly funds an expanded cast, enhanced production values, more Philly locations on screen, and more live shows brought to our community. Every dollar gets us closer to a funnier Saturday night for this city.
Challenge Accepted?
Jillian Hartman (Founder + Executive Producer)
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
LED Lighting Kit
Costs $1,920
LED lighting kit from expressway to enhance the creative elements of filmed challengs
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Creator/Executive Producer: Jillian Hartman
Jillian is a versatile producer, director, writer and improv comedian based in Philadelphia, PA. She has over a decade of experience in the entertainment and media industry. Jillian has contributed her expertise to a wide range of projects, including reality TV productions, dynamic marketing campaigns and high-energy live events. She has performed comedy for the last seven years with studies including UCB LA and Second City Conservatory. She is known for her passion, ambition and deep industry knowledge.
Director of Photography: Sam Pappagallo
Sam is a seasoned video production professional. Sam offers over 10 years of experience in the television, commercial, and film sectors. His expertise encompasses both the creative and technical aspects of content creation, resulting in polished and impactful deliverables. Sam's client portfolio features multimillion-dollar film productions, Fortune 500 companies, and prominent television networks.
Creative Producer: Tom Hannigan
Tom is a Comedian, Writer, and Filmmaker based in his hometown of Philadelphia. With over 15 years of experience as a performer, Tom has studied and performed all over Chicago and the East Coast. Besides helping with Challenge Accepted, he also co-produces the Case Comedy variety show in West Philly. You can see him performing regularly at Case Comedy, the sketch team Gooses, and as a part of the long running improv show, Not Yet Rated.
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Producer/Writer: Katie Hewko-Dykes
Katie is a skilled Philly-based producer with a specialized background in event planning and corporate fundraising. With over a decade of experience in improv and sketch comedy, she is a staple to the Philadelphia comedy scene and has produced a number of high-energy community events and live shows. Katie most recently produced the improv comedy competition "Yes, end" which raised well over $1k for The Attic LGBTQ Youth Center. She is known for her personal ambition and dedication to lead every project she takes on towards success.
Cam Op/ Live Show Sound Tech/Lead Editor: Josh Johnson
Josh is a seasoned video production professional based in Philadelphia who specializes in cam ops, sound tech and post production. He has over a decade of experience in video production with an array of work. In addition to his video production skills he is a talented sketch writer and performer. Josh's most recent credits include director of photography for "Yes And" a web-series based in Philadelphia. He is a staple to the production work created in the Philly comedy scene.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
WHAT IS CHALLENGE ACCEPTED?
Challenge Accepted is a Philadelphia comedy competition show — Taskmaster made gritty. Four fan-favorite local comedians take on secret filmed challenges with little to no idea how they did. Six months later, we gather an audience at SideQuest Theater and watch the chaos unfold live for the very first time. My co-host Victoria Tellez crowns a winner. The comedians find out alongside everyone else. It's pre-filmed comedy. It's live theater. It's on-stage surprises, audience interaction, city-themed challenges, and in a world glued to screens, it is something rare: a packed room, a shared laugh, a Saturday night like no other. There's nothing else like it in the city and we built it that way on purpose.
FOUNDER'S STATEMENT
Challenge Accepted is my love letter to Philadelphia comedy, a city that I believe wholeheartedly has some of the best comedians around. I love this scene and I wanted to create something to celebrate just how amazing it is. Philly's comedy community is one of the funniest, most generous, most underrated rooms in the country, and the comedians in it deserve a stage built specifically for them.
Season One started as an idea in my "notes" app. An idea that I pitched to the right people, at the right time. I am lucky enough to be surrounded by talented, ambitious people who believed in my idea, who believed in me. The first season was entirely self-funded, made with a crew of people who believed in what we were creating so much that they waived their fees, offered up their spaces and donated their time. I couldn't believe the support this idea received from the improv community immediately and that support is what drove season one, but the question lingered in the back of my mind: "Would we gain support outside of our immediate community?"
I am so proud to say, we did! A show that once felt like a dream sold out SideQuest Theater with support throughout Philadelphia. The audience told us everything we needed to know: do it again and go even bigger than before! Creating Challenge Accepted has been the joy of my life and it is not lost on me how lucky I am to create this show and share it with the beautiful city that I love so much.
Season Two is in pre-production. We're heading into production this fall and returning to the stage in January 2027. With the same incredible production team, the same writers creating chaotic challenges and the same beautiful Rittenhouse venue. But this season we're going bigger: more all-star comedians, wilder challenges, more shows and overall more Philly. To pull this off, we need you. Your support directly funds an expanded cast, enhanced production values, more Philly locations on screen, and more live shows brought to our community. Every dollar gets us closer to a funnier Saturday night for this city.
Challenge Accepted?
Jillian Hartman (Founder + Executive Producer)
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
LED Lighting Kit
Costs $1,920
LED lighting kit from expressway to enhance the creative elements of filmed challengs
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Creator/Executive Producer: Jillian Hartman
Jillian is a versatile producer, director, writer and improv comedian based in Philadelphia, PA. She has over a decade of experience in the entertainment and media industry. Jillian has contributed her expertise to a wide range of projects, including reality TV productions, dynamic marketing campaigns and high-energy live events. She has performed comedy for the last seven years with studies including UCB LA and Second City Conservatory. She is known for her passion, ambition and deep industry knowledge.
Director of Photography: Sam Pappagallo
Sam is a seasoned video production professional. Sam offers over 10 years of experience in the television, commercial, and film sectors. His expertise encompasses both the creative and technical aspects of content creation, resulting in polished and impactful deliverables. Sam's client portfolio features multimillion-dollar film productions, Fortune 500 companies, and prominent television networks.
Creative Producer: Tom Hannigan
Tom is a Comedian, Writer, and Filmmaker based in his hometown of Philadelphia. With over 15 years of experience as a performer, Tom has studied and performed all over Chicago and the East Coast. Besides helping with Challenge Accepted, he also co-produces the Case Comedy variety show in West Philly. You can see him performing regularly at Case Comedy, the sketch team Gooses, and as a part of the long running improv show, Not Yet Rated.
Producer/Writer: Katie Hewko-Dykes
Katie is a skilled Philly-based producer with a specialized background in event planning and corporate fundraising. With over a decade of experience in improv and sketch comedy, she is a staple to the Philadelphia comedy scene and has produced a number of high-energy community events and live shows. Katie most recently produced the improv comedy competition "Yes, end" which raised well over $1k for The Attic LGBTQ Youth Center. She is known for her personal ambition and dedication to lead every project she takes on towards success.
Cam Op/ Live Show Sound Tech/Lead Editor: Josh Johnson
Josh is a seasoned video production professional based in Philadelphia who specializes in cam ops, sound tech and post production. He has over a decade of experience in video production with an array of work. In addition to his video production skills he is a talented sketch writer and performer. Josh's most recent credits include director of photography for "Yes And" a web-series based in Philadelphia. He is a staple to the production work created in the Philly comedy scene.