Uplifting Humor Is the Sweet Spot for Family-Friendly Comedian Tim Hawkins

From the time he was a little kid growing up in St. Charles, Missouri, Tim Hakwins understood the importance of levity.

“One of the best things of my life was watching ‘The Johnny Carson Show’ in the family room with dad and just us laughing together,” Hawkins told The Epoch Times in a recent interview.

Hawkins, early on, understood and appreciated the powerful way humor brought people together. “One of the greatest gifts my parents gave [me] was that environment where laughter was accepted and encouraged,” he said.

Once Hawkins, whose new stand-up special, “Fist Bump,” will be available to stream on March 17, figured out that he himself could make people laugh, he couldn’t get enough of it. “My goal when I was a kid was to make my father laugh so hard, he had to pull the car over,” Hawkins recalled.

“I did it twice. It was pure joy.”

As he got older, sports became his dominant passion. He went on to play baseball at the University of Missouri, assuming he’d pursue a professional career in athletics. But that didn’t happen, and Hawkins cycled through many post-collegiate jobs, including as a rental car employee, a substitute teacher, in various customer support positions, and as a grocery truck driver.

While working as a waiter at an Olive Garden in 1991, he was reminded of his younger self and that gift he had of making people laugh. Co-workers who enjoyed his humor and found him funny encouraged him to sign up for an open mic night.

“When I started comedy, the good thing was I wasn’t replacing a six-figure salary,” Hawkins said. “Financially, it wasn’t that much of a risk.”

Over the past three decades, Hawkins went from open-mic nights to opening for regional comedy clubs to headlining his own 90-minute sets nationwide, where he performs in front of audiences numbering in the thousands.

The shows are a combination of storytelling, musical parodies often featuring Hawkins on guitar or piano, and a light touch of physical comedy.  Each performance is different, he said, with the audience often leading the direction.

“I’m a frustrated rock star,” said Hawkins, who cites “This is Spinal Tap” as an early inspiration.  “I loved musical comedy growing up.”

He’ll be out on the road again starting March 5 in Jackson, Tennessee, and traveling to cities all across the country.

“Twenty-five shows in the spring, then I do 25 shows in fall,” Hawkins said of his 2026 touring schedule.

“I used to do 100 shows a year. Now it’s about 50—with grandkids, you need to conserve that energy for them. Find that sweet spot.”

The father of four and now grandfather of four first built his following on YouTube by sharing his own relatable anecdotes about homeschooling, family life, and real-life mishaps. His online and in-person performances are a family affair that audiences of all ages can enjoy.

“That’s just who I am,” he said. “I don’t begrudge people who work ‘blue’ or whatever you want to call it. I respect anybody who has the guts to get onstage and do it.”

In fact, it’s his own day-to-day reality with his wife, kids, and grandkids that provides him with some of the best material.

“I just live my life,” Hawkins said.

“I used to think you sat down with a piece of paper and tried to write funny stuff. I learned real quick that people laugh harder at relatability. I’ve  been more successful and learned to just have your radar up. That’s what makes it fun because you’re not grinding it out all stressed out. You’re just waiting. The important thing is writing it down. Or you forget it.”

Does that mean he’s not the only funny one in the family?

“She’s hilarious,” said Hawkins about Heather, his wife of 31 years.

“She’s the best person I know. We laugh all the time. And that’s my favorite noise. Her laughter is my favorite sound. So why not make that a career?”

After more than two decades, Hawkins said he has learned to “travel better” while on the road for work.

“The toughest challenge with traveling is boredom,” he said. “You have to have a plan. Try to use that time. I’m getting better now. When I’m working, I’m working. And when I’m home, I’m home.”

Hawkins, who will turn 58 at the end of March, sees his age and years in the business as an advantage.

“The toughest thing about doing comedy and stand-up is just being yourself,” he said.

“The quicker you can be comfortable in front of a group, the better, because they can feel it. They want to trust that you can drive the bus.”

Where does a funny guy with 2.4 million-plus social media followers want to go from here?

“I’ve done some film stuff; I would like to do more of it,” Hawkins said about his professional future.

“I don’t care about being a star or breaking into the mainstream. It’s just fun. I’m talking to a couple guys about some scripts and doing movies later. I know comedy, but film not so much, so that’s a good challenge to pursue.”