Kat Timpf tour mines individual thinking for laughs
Kat Timpf wears a lot of hats. She’s a New York Times bestselling author, a libertarian commentator on the Fox News show “Gutfeld!,” a touring comic and, in a few months, a first-time mother. Saturday, she brings her comedy show, based on her new book “I Used to Like You Until (How Binary Thinking Divides Us)” to the Miller Theater. Timpf spoke recently with WGAC-FM radio personality Austin Rhodes, explaining how different outlets – writing, performing, and television – allow her to express herself and her ideas in a variety of ways.
“My comedy show is quite a bit different than what you will see on “Gutfeld!,” she said. “It’s straight comedy. There is a little bit of a Q&A about the book after, but it really is just a great time to, you know, get out and laugh and just be kind of silly.”
Her book, she said, was born out her work on Fox. She said that people often make assumptions and associations based on perceptions rather than facts. She said she found herself silenced not because of her opinions, but rather her work on the right-leaning network.
“It’s crazy how it affects conversation,” she said. “As soon as I say hey, I’m from Fox News, sometimes people don’t want to talk to me at all.”
Timpf said that while she finds that disheartening, it has also proved inspirational. She said it prompted not only the writing of “I Used to Like You Until,” but also re-enforced her belief that there is value in contrary opinions.
“I’m also, you know, an independent voice on the network,” she said. “And also, to an extent, my book and comedy are kind of a guide for how to, you know, get along with people who might have written you off. More so the book.”
She said her position with Fox, aligned with her perspective on people being more than merely their politics, has allowed her the opportunity to meet, greet, and often converse with a variety of people. She has been a guest on both Bill Maher and Joe Rogan’s shows, and has also met President-elect Donald Trump.
“There’s things I disagree with him about,” she said. “And I’ve been open about that. There are things I like about him. I’ve been open about that too. But you know, I was not sure how he was going to treat me. But he was so nice and very funny. That is one thing about him. He’s very funny.”
Timpf said that the Miller date will be one of her first post-election performances. She spoke to Rhodes prior to election day and said that the mood of the country, one way or the other, was certain to have an effect on the show. That, and having dropped her ADHD medication during pregnancy.
“It’s definitely going to be very interesting,” she said with a laugh. “Also, because I’m not medicated, I’m not thinking before I talk. I may be giving away some inside baseball because it feels a lot like friends just hanging out.”
WHAT: Kat Timpf | The I Used to Like You Tour
WHEN: 7 P.M. Saturday, November 9
WHERE: The Miller Theater, 710 Broad Street, Augusta, Georgia
COST: $36-$79. For tickets or more information, go to millertheateraugusta.com.