Why Bridget Everett & Murray Hill Will 'Never Do Trump Jokes'

American comedy stars Bridget Everett and Murray Hill are no strangers to Australian shores at this stage, but the pair are more than thankful for the love they receive Down Under. "I was in Sydney just a few months ago, sitting on Bondi Beach, having just had a great night before, and thinking, 'Man, this is the dream. This is definitely what I signed up for,'" says Everett, "I waited tables for 25 years so I'm very grateful for everything that I do. This is like my third trip down to Australia in about a year and Murray goes down quite a lot, and we do it because we just love it."

Hill himself can attest to the affection, adding, "There's a big difference to playing to, say, a room of young queers in San Francisco, to the Opera House where everyone just got off the cruise boat and don't know what the hell is going on!" He laughs, "You can't beat walking to that place for work every day."

Performing together for the umpteenth time this June, Hill and Everett have amassed a hodge-podge of fans around the country, including some less-than-obvious demographics. "One of the great things about Australia is that there are a lot of older people coming to the audience," Everett affirms. "There are middle-aged women with their mothers, you know? And you never really know who brought who, but either way it's fucking awesome." Hill also says that while he has total affection for his diverse crowd, it can be difficult to find the right feeling on the night. "My first three minutes of stage, where I might look super casual and having fun and all that... I'm doing these jokes that are sort of tests to see what the audience are going to be up for." He continues, "I just react to what's in the room and what's going on in the crowd that day, so it's a very fresh and in-the-moment type of vibe."

"My first three minutes of stage, where I might look super casual and having fun and all that... I'm doing these jokes that are sort of tests to see what the audience are going to be up for."

While the pair are constantly finding their way back to one another, on the surface, the two couldn't be more different. "When I stand next to her I look so short, it's terrible!" jokes Hill. "I've got to stand on a crate when I sing with her."

However, he digresses before sharing exactly what attracted him to performing with Everett. "In New York, you're always competing," says Hill. "You're competing with drag queens, lounge acts, bad venues, bad sound, everything. But Bridget, she is all guts. She is in that room. I have seen her show so many damn times but I am still thrilled by it."

Everett counters with just as much love for her occasional stage partner, saying, "[The audience] are watching people that are maybe not what you would necessarily describe as 'picture perfect people,' but if you ask me, Murray is perfect. He's so fun and he always makes people feel good and he's so positive and his shows are a total reflection of who he is. That's perfection to me."

While the world of comedy seems to be heading in one clear direction, Everett and Hill have resisted the urge to go full-blown political with their performances, with Hill saying, "I'm never going to do Trump jokes, because he doesn't even deserve my time and energy." He continues, "Bridget and I are everything that a certain sect of our population does not accept. So, rather than going out onto the street, we go on to the stage and we connect with folks on an emotional, human level." Everett adds, "The point of our shows is to unlock and let go, and you're with these two larger-than-life misfits that want you to be a part of their family, so hopefully everyone's along for the ride by the end."

With everything going on in the US, a change of scenery is a welcome treat to the pair, and they're ready to bring a whole lot of love with them. "I would love for a lot of queer people to come," says Hill of the upcoming Aus dates. "It's a show where these two entertainers can really relate to a lot of different types of people, and for me especially, with my background, I like when there's family in the house. We're not like 'gay acts', but queer people outside the mainstream have a place to come home to with us."

Everett concurs, adding finally; "Whether you're older, or you're a weirdo, or you're a misfit, your people will always find you, and your life will change in the room. More people accept it and love it now. We haven't really changed anything; we've just waited for everyone else to catch up, you know? So bring an open heart and an open mind and get ready to fucking party."