Team Weird Portland United: The Unipiper and Sam 'the Cuddler' Hess
Representing Team Weird Portland United on the stage of the Celebrity Spelling Bee will be The Unipiper and Sam ‘the Cuddler’ Hess. We are thrilled to have these two amazing Portland personalities put their spelling skills to the test.
The Unipiper
You might not know the name Brian Kidd, but if you’ve spent any amount of time in the Rose City, you undoubtedly recognize his alter ego, the kilt wearing, unicycle riding, fire spewing, bagpiper, The Unipiper. Since 2007, Brian has roamed the streets of Portland standing up to those that would seek to silence the weird. Brian’s crusade against normal has even received national attention, with The Unipiper appearing on such television programs as ‘America’s Got Talent’, ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’, and ‘The Gong Show’. For the past 4 years running, The Unipiper has even been voted Portland’s ‘Best Local Celebrity’ by the Willamette Week. Now, with the help of the non-profit he started, Weird Portland United, Brian aims to use his Portland fame to take the weird to the next level and preserve it for generations to come. As Kidd puts it, “I want everyone in Portland to have a chance at success just for being themselves. It’s part of what makes us unique. In the words of Hunter S. Thompson, ‘When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.’
Sam “The Cuddler” Hess
Samantha Hess is a professional cuddler and owner of Cuddle Up To Me. Since 2013 she has completed more than 3,000 hours of cuddle sessions, hosted the world’s first cuddling convention, and started a professional cuddling certification company. Hess’ second book will come out this Spring. She is also a member of the newly formed non-profit Weird Portland United. Sam has appeared in over 400 interviews for The Wall Street Journal, Rolling Stone, Al Jazeera’s The Stream, and United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell. Hess first gained national attention by appearing on the 2015 season of America’s Got Talent. She’s on a mission to change the world, one hug at a time’
Cheer on Team Weird Portland United at the 2020 Celebrity Spelling Bee March 4th at Revolution Hall.