Comedian Tim Hawkins talks faith, family and the Almighty ‘Fist Bump’

The origins of comedy are rooted in ancient Greece, evolving from rituals and performances linked to festivities surrounding Dionysian celebrations.

From there, comedy has evolved over the centuries to serve not only as entertainment but also as social commentary, allowing audiences to reflect on their society’s follies and vices. So, in a sense, it became a way for people to laugh at the absurdities of society that was being marked by injustice and social change.

In the late 20th century, comedy became a staple of modern society as satire and farce, and stand-up comedy explored different aspects of human behavior and societal norms.

If the aforementioned statements seem a bit "high falutin," well, they are. Simply put, we all like to laugh at ourselves and the world around us. We know funny when we see and hear it. From early Vaudevillians to Bob Hope to Jerry Seinfeld, we all seem to gravitate toward someone who can bring out the mirth and merriment in us.

Tim Hawkins is just that sort of person. Over the past three decades, the veteran comedian has gone from open mic nights at regional comedy clubs to headlining theaters and arenas across the United States with his own special brand of humor. 

“I wasn't a goofball or class clown kind of guy,” Hawkins shares. “I loved musical comedy growing up. I enjoyed Ray Stevens, Weird Al Yankovic and Dr. Demento. I came from a pretty musical family. My music adds an energy to a show for everyone. Sometimes I get tired of listening to myself talk, so let's pick up a guitar and do something different. It's just a gimmick I use to convey my ideas in a comedic way.”

A committed family man, Hawkins, who is a father to four and a grandfather of four, has become a YouTube sensation over the years for “songs” like “Cletus Take the Reel” and “Pretty Pink Tractor.” Genuinely funny and values driven, he has a new comedy special debuting this month called "Fist Bump."

“'Fist Bump' just came out of COVID material,” explains the 57-year-old Missouri native. “It was nice to see people's faces and shake hands. The fist bump joke is all about when no one would shake your hand, and even worse, people started fist-bumping all the time.

"One of my jokes in the new special is that COVID couldn’t make it around to the back of the knuckles. They thought that was safe, which was ridiculous. People would literally turn their backs to me when they would walk by. Then you would see a guy on a motorcycle with no helmet but wearing a mask. "Fist Bump" is rooted in a lot of funny stories like that.”

I recently sat down with Hawkins to discuss how he decides which real-life moments turn into comedic material, why music plays such a vital role in his work, and why he didn’t pick up a guitar or write a joke during COVID.

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