Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie McKnight.
Annie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have performed through out the USA and Japan, Korea, South America or wherever I am at because comedy is a mobile bizness! I got started a long, long, long; did I say a long time ago in Columbus, GA. A country southern girl before the South got dirty. I was in the backyard sitting on a cold cement block. Gazing at the stars in the beautiful night sky. It was dark everything was dark including me. It was a sudden thought that hit me like a meteorite so hard my two front teeth fell out. I got the message loud and clear “FUNNY”! People would always laugh at me why I didn’t know, but most of the time I thought it was my southern dialect, big eyes, big butt it all kept me in a rut. Until the positive outside reinforcers started coming in with the reason for the laughter. The first poem I wrote was written while I believe the 2nd or 3rd grade and published in my elementary school’s booklet titled Little Toot.
My next understanding moment was from my dear aunt Emma rest her soul was an outstanding school teacher in Alabama. She would read to us, “oh I forgot to mention my siblings not surprising since I was the middle child they have stolen enough of my thunder”. An older brother and a younger sister. My brother got away with everything he played the drums and guitar. I spent most of my time following behind him. My younger sister was more like my mom pretty and more girly than me. I was torn between being Bewitch, Julia or Frankenstein. My days were plagued with my mom’s echoes “you’re not a boy put on a dress remember to take care of your sister after school, wash the dishes, and do your homework. Yes, ma’am I would say then start imitating her as I put on every pair of jeans in the house to wear while I washed the dishes. She never knew lol. Anyway, back to my moment!
My second positive outside reinforcer of my moment for understanding the laughter was as a child its seems that I was the only one that could make my grandmother respond even a smile or laugh. She was stricken with Alzheimer’s those days called “ole timers’ disease.” I remember my aunt Emma saying “your funny only you can make mama laugh I’m going to nickname you Bozo because you make us laugh”. The power of words. Bozo was this white man back in the day running around in this clown suit. He was funny. Bozo the Clown is a clown, created and introduced in the United States in 1946, and to television in 1949, whose broad popularity peaked locally in the 1960s as a result of widespread franchising in early television. Wikipedia Creator: Alan W. Livingston. Funny how life unfolds my first job in LA working as a hostess in Beverly Hills at Hamburger Hamlet guess who came walking through the door BOZO! I briefly shared with him that was my nickname he said lets take a picture. Cool man I was elated.
As you can see, it started off Funny then the funny started focusing on a reason for being funny. I had performed in many school plays, upon entering high school I ran for Freshman class treasure and won, two years later started an all-girls singing group in the 11th grade we performed on the local radio talent show singing the Emotion’s song, “A Feeling Is”. I believe that was the beginning biggest sensation for me. I learned that being in front of an audience is a feeling beyond no other and I like it! From that moment, I knew my next step was to educate my self on this entertainment thing.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Naive to the business I had to educate myself, lack of support from family members who thought my desire was far fetched. Also as I grew in the business what my other aunt Carrie warned me about kicked in being African American a woman. I noticed how often others Caucasian women those with lesser comedy skills would get club bookings or surpass me. As well as through all this having to bring my mom to CA due to Alzheimers I cared for her until her demise in 2000.
McFunny Biz – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My challenges doing big things in a small town. You know God, the universe will shift things to get you to your destiny often we are not paying attention. My part-time job was working at McDonald’s. Yes, another clown in my life, but this day at work was different a special design. This day it popped me like hot grease when a bus loaded with the Army’s Boxing team came in nice strong hard bodies. I was working fries, shake uhm, shake uhm salt. One of the boxer’s a handsome stuttering guy trying to ask for my number. He said misssiisssiiisis I thought he was asking for directions to Mississippi. Is he punch drunk what spit it out! He finally got it out I gave him the number. I know your thinking is this a love story keep to the right side of the road Annie. Okay fast forward a year later, he was discharged from the Army asked me to come to his hometown RI. My mom said I wouldn’t go if I was you. Yeah right who listens to mom when a man is in your face, nobody, thank you! I took my behind on to his armpit of a city and after three days he put me out. Well my period last longer than that. It was awful his mom gave me bus fare back to GA. Thank God for still watching over me. I had a cousin who lived there and their job had ended she was leaving in 1 day for Columbia SC well I was already packed.
So, I took the ride. In Life sometime the wrong decision is made into a right decision that’s covering. Well when I got to Columbia, I was too embarrasses to go home. I didn’t want to hear the “what happened, I told you so, you should have listened”. So, I stayed at my cousin’s house every night I would cry myself to sleep listening to the radio Luther Vandross’s A House is not a Home would tear me up. One night while lying there crying a commercial came on said Allen University is auditioning for the “Sty of the Blind Pig.” I thought to myself they need me. I auditioned and landed the lead role of the mama. This started my acting career! In Columbia, my standup career started also because when I ran for Miss Black Columbia for my performance, I revised Paul Laurence Dunbar “The Party” into 3 minutes dressed as an old lady. My character Grannie Annie was born. Grannie really took off bookings from the Rotary Club, Shriners, night clubs they really thought it was an old lady. This character leads me to stand-up after performing Grannie at the Punch Line Comedy club in Columbia SC the manager of the club asked me if I had considered stand up he continued to say it will free you up you can be whoever you want to be on stage. Annie go write 5 minutes of comedy then come back next week. I did they laughed at me without Grannie. Stand-up was born.
After my heart healed with my new found success my mind again said go back to school remember what your aunt said there is a difference. I started school that fall attending Columbia College Methodist college all females. The drama department professor Ms. Sara Nalley knew who I was when I told her my name. She said so you are Annie McKnight I said yes ma’am I’am. She had read about Grannie Annie performing for Mayfest Festival. I grew as a person/ talent in theatre. Many opportunities came as I attended college commercials, television shows, my first movie CRIMES OF THE HEART starring Diane Keaton, Jessica Lange, Sissy Spacek Sam Shepard and Tess Harper, Freddie Fields was the producer all A-listers my blessed beginning. I am so grateful. It has continued taking my skill level to an all-time high. Graduation came quick within those years. Before graduation, I auditioned for the SETC South Eastern Theatre Conference. I was offered two opportunities first a full ride for the MFA program to attend the University of Louisville; however, I was still pursuing my bachelor’s degree at Columbia College. Second, proposal was to join the Lime Kiln Arts in Lexington VA, theatre summer program that produced two plays Stonewall Jackson, McBeth this gig funded my trip to Cali. This residency was awesome the experience of working in the Appalachian mountain community was totally different. I was introduced to the culture, bluegrass band, country band, underground canyons great experience and gig.
After returning to South Carolina for two weeks, I loaded up the car and moved to Hollywood, California! I was equipped mentally, felt good, looked good, determined and positive, but no agent. I only knew one person here comedian J Anthony Brown allowed me to sleep on his sofa while he was on the road. Everything was different so was this country girl. I stayed to my discipline of eating, worship, and steadfastness. I was pursuing my dream and it was becoming true. I got that agent. My first professional staff writer’s gig was working for BET early 90’s on their sitcom Blackberry Inn the following year. I was cast as a regular to play Cha Cha the mail lady in that show which was part of my belief to become a cast member. Then on to their next show THE WAY WE DO IT starring on this show it was similar to Saturday Night Live aka the Black Saturday Night live with less recognition extremely popular with awesome talent. I remember driving down La Brea avenue when I heard the people in the car next to me screaming, I watch you on BET! I was on the road had a gig in Atlanta went to the McDonald’s drive-thru the worker said you that lady on tv Ms. Pearl. I thought wow sista’ got a lil fame going on. I was happy and didn’t know how much more was coming my way the people I would meet, stories I would hear, the hate I would face.
This is a business competitive, exciting, disappointing, various colors like a Twill. Components the writers, actors, directors, producers, and the important viewing audience are weaved together like a homemade blanket a scrap here from an old favorite dress a memory there we bring our stuff with us. We display it on the screen, we are often judge, depending on your popularity sometimes followed. LOVE IT my world continued with more TV roles, movies, major commercials, writing gigs, creating content, writing children songs while working as a child development specialist, gained another credential AS from Pasadena City Community College SPLA Speech-Language Pathology Assistant, this was a double whammy because my daughter Miracle and I graduated from here at the same time. Go for what you want as you see this ole country girl did how amazing was the spiritual guidance blessed by God. I probably would have never left GA if it wasn’t for that stuttering man. I’m glad that I followed my gut which has added many layers we all can look back and see the navigating of our lives without you having your hand on the wheel, but you made it you got there. Stay in it be positive no matter what.
As I sit here at 5:23 a.m. teary eye after finishing this reflection of my Voyage. I want to thank my family, all those that cast me, believed in me, laughed at me, loved me, threw shade at me, even cried with me. Thank you its part of my Twill.
I’m open for club bookings, also I’m a writer and content creator of all genres comedy,love stories, and horror please check this awesome talent out.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Reaching my goal of completing college A.S. SLPA, B.A. Communication/Theater. Winner of Gong Show with Grannie Annie when I came to LA needed that money we were sleeping on the floor. I bought a sofa bed with the money thank you GONG SHOW got a sista off the floor. Winner of America’s Funniest People I was pregnant with my first child. I wrote a skit of me being Tina Turner’s “What Love Got to Do With It”. In Lamaze class, I won first place $10,000.00 1993 thank you! Winner HAPA Awards 2018 (Hollywood African Prestigious Awards) funniest comedian in the US.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Annie-McKnight.com
- Phone: 661-312-8247
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @comediananniemcknight
- Facebook: Annie McKnight
- Twitter: Annie McKnight comic@Annie_McFunny
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