One Funny Bugger! The Comedy of Chris Knight

7th April 2025 John Hernandez

Australian funny bear Chris Knight joins us for an exclusive interview.

Ask anybody what they look for in a guy and almost all of them will tell you they like a man with a good sense of humor. There is something about a funny man that helps set a person at ease because after all, laughter is the best medicine.

Now what if that sense of humor came attached to a big strapping bear?! Well, now we’re talking, aren’t we? Meet Chris Knight – talented, handsome and funny as all get out. As organizer of the monthly comedy show “Funny Buggers” in Sydney, Australians are already very familiar with Chris’ unique brand of comedy and we are certain the rest of the world will be soon enough.

As a travelling standup Chris has performed at several festivals and comedy clubs Down Under and is currently working on a comedy podcast and an hour long top secret comedy special. So sit back, relax and allow us to introduce you to Chris Knight!

John Hernandez (JH): When did you start performing stand up and why?

Chris Knight (CK): People always told me I was effortlessly funny and I made people around me laugh, so deep down I always thought I would be naturally gifted at standup. I did a best man speech at a friend’s wedding that proved me so very WRONG. No laughs, lots of awkward stares and the groom’s hot brother didn’t want to hook up with me anymore. The speech was BAD, I hadn’t written anything and thought I could just get up and riff. But after that I decided I needed and wanted to get good at being funny and went to an open mic and did so so much better.

JH: Your jokes are very versatile and cover different styles of stand up – narrative, observational and roasting for example – how do you develop your sets?

CK: Versatile… someone’s seen me on scruff.

I love all types of jokes from hacky dad joke puns to storytelling and roasting. My sets come out of whatever is happening in my life, this can include important topics like LGBTQIA Rights or slightly less important topics like the dangerous rise of Twinks in Bears spaces.

JH: Who are some of your comedic influences?

CK: Being in Australia we got to see the best of the UK and the US comedy on our TVs growing up. I fell in love with the incredibly well written and fast pace of jokes on tv shows like The Simpsons and the quirkiness in shows like Garth Mehrehi’s Darkplace.

JH: How does Australian humor and audiences differ from others around the world?

CK: Aussie crowds are wild! While British crowds will be some of the most supportive and Americans will Cheer so loud you think you’re a rock star! Aussies crowds are a wild and unruly bunch. While on stage I have been offered threesomes and drugs, but I’ve also had to dodge glass bottles. I think humour is universal. We all like to poke fun at ourselves and at those in power, but the delivery of that humour changes country to country. Australians tend to be much rougher and use some very foul language… We are all descended from Convicts, so it shouldn’t be a surprise.

JH: Would you say being a bear has helped or hindered your career? Is your audience primarily bears?

CK: Being a bear has helped massively! Being part of the bear community gave me the confidence to be myself and be happy and comfortable in front of others. I was a kid who wore a Tshirt in the swimming pool because of my low body confidence. Now I take my pants off on stage just for laughs.

I would love it if my audience was only Bears. I usually perform around Australia in fairly heteronormative comedy clubs. But when I get to do a show just for Bears I have the most fun. It’s like a big sweaty, hairy party.

JH: Give us your best one liner or joke.

CK: I’m like a fridge in a sharehouse, I’m big, white, and full of beer and pizza.

Also if you’ve ever lived in a sharehouse you know at 3am you’re gonna find a fat guy eating out of that fridge.

JH: Woof! Do you have any upcoming gigs or projects to promote?

CK: I run a monthly queer comedy show called “Funny Buggers” on Oxford street in Sydney. It’s so much fun and so nice to get to work with other LGBTQIA+ comedians. If you’re ever in Sydney come by! It’s so much fun.

I’m currently working on an hour special but that is all top secret… so keep your eyes out for that!

JH: What are your career goals for the future?

CK: I’m terrible at setting goals, I just like to see what happens and be excited when new opportunities knock. I would love to get over to the states to perform at some point and will have a new hour show later this year.

Will have a podcast called “FUNNY BUGGERS” coming out later this year too.