Tim Hawkins Is Still Delivering Clean Comedy and Musical Laughs: ‘I Still Love It’
Michael Foust
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By Michael Foust, Crosswalk.com
Tim Hawkins will be the first to tell you his comedy has changed over the past two decades. He’s older, he says with a grin – and he moves a little slower on stage, too.
“I don't sweat as much, you know?” he adds with a laugh.
Hawkins became one of the most popular comedians in the clean comedy and Christian world in the early 2000s with a mix of physical comedy, hilarious songs, and bits that poked fun at church life – many of which went viral on YouTube and across social media.
Hawkins is in his 50s now and has four grandkids – yet he’s not that different from yesterday, even singing a new original song packed with jokes about Buc-ee’s. He’s a blend of early-era Steve Martin and “Weird Al” Yankovic, and he’s still hilarious.
His latest comedy special, Fist Bump, is available to stream on major platforms on March 17. It was filmed before a live audience in Franklin, Tenn.
“My kids used to make fun of me. They go, ‘Dad, you just do animal noises, and people laugh at you – and they're not wrong,’” he told Crosswalk Headlines. “But I think the show's as good as it's ever been. It's more like you're just hanging out in my living room. I wanted to create that kind of a feel.”
Hawkins gained popularity despite – or perhaps because of – delivering a clean routine that’s appropriate for all ages.
“I grew up watching Johnny Carson and shows like that, where everybody has to work clean – [although] if you saw their club act, it would be a different story.
“It's just who I am,” he added, referencing clean comedy. “And it’s a really cool challenge to be funny in that context. Can you be as funny talking about certain topics and things without using certain phraseology?”
Hawkins’ guitar and music are as much a part of his new act as they were in his earlier routines – such as when he went viral with comedic songs like the Chick-fil-A Song, Things You Don’t Say to Your Wife, and The Government Can.
“I kind of learned guitar the same time I started doing comedy – and learned at the same rate,” he said. “And I grew up loving musical comedy – ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic and Ray Stevens and those guys. I just love music – music inspires me more than anything. And when you're doing multiple-age audiences, it really helps. It adds energy to the show and just adds some variety. It's a great way to deliver a comedic message.”
Asked to describe his new routine, Hawkins joked with a deadpan: “It’s just mayhem.”
“It's just me doing my thing,” he said with a smile. “I still love it – creating comedy, and I still love making music and performing.”
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Photo Credit: ©Tim Hawkins
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
