Australian comedian Andy Lee has become an unlikely viral sensation in the United States after navigating the famous "Spirit Tunnel" on The Jennifer Hudson Show, with the clip drawing a wave of reactions from fans and celebrities back home.

Lee, 45, appeared on the program on Tuesday, taking on Hudson's well-known pre-interview backstage ritual in which guests walk a corridor lined with staff and crew offering an enthusiastic welcome. Billed on the same episode as actress Goldie Hawn, Lee made his way solo down the tunnel as the assembled crowd chanted "the funny Andy Lee" in a catchy call-and-response harmony.

Kangaroo Hops and Confidence: Andy Lee's Spirit Tunnel Moment

What set the clip apart was a brief but memorable detour mid-walk, when Lee paused to perform a kangaroo hop, drawing instant comparisons to breakdancer Raygun, Australia's most talked-about athlete from the 2024 Paris Olympics. The moment, described by one observer as being like watching Raygun drop a kangaroo hop on the Olympic stage, had an undeniable "you can't look away" quality about it.

The social media clip, captioned "Andy Lee got moves", quickly flooded with comments from Australian fans, friends and media personalities. Among those reacting was Brooke Warne, who wrote "OMFG this is EPIC!! 👏👏👏", while Lisa Wilkinson suggested Lee had a future on the US version of Dancing With The Stars, adding: "If Bindi and Robert can do it… 👏👏👏".

Waiting for Lee at the end of the tunnel was a familiar face: his new wife, Rebecca Harding, who Lee married in New York City in October.

The Wedding, the Guests and the Surprise Speech Game

Speaking with Hudson on the show, Lee opened up about the couple's Manhattan wedding, which was held at a Chinese restaurant converted into a reception venue for the occasion. The guest list read like a who's who of entertainment, with long-time friend and collaborator Hamish Blake, actor Hugh Jackman and comedian Nikki Glaser among those in attendance.

Lee revealed the couple had thrown a curveball at their guests with an unconventional speech format. Rather than the traditional best man or father-of-the-bride address, every guest's name was placed in a barrel, and those drawn at random were required to deliver an impromptu speech on the spot.

"As a surprise to all the guests at the reception, everybody's name was in a barrel, and we pulled out their number. They had to make a speech on the spot," Lee told Hudson.

Lee said Glaser, a friend of many years, had spotted the game coming and immediately began scribbling down jokes on a sheet of paper in anticipation of being called. As it turned out, her name was never drawn. "I saw her when the idea came up, she just quickly grabbed a sheet and started writing down jokes. I'm like, 'Oh, I hope she gets pulled', but no, she didn't get pulled," he said.

Bridge Jumps, Whiplash and Hamish and Andy's Greatest Hits

While the studio audience appeared largely unfamiliar with Lee's profile and career, the comedian kept the conversation moving with colourful anecdotes from his long partnership with Blake. He touched on the duo's reputation for high-stakes stunts, including the moment they both jumped from a bridge in Mostar, Bosnia, an experience considered a coming-of-age ritual for locals and featured in a 2012 episode of their Hamish and Andy's Gap Year series.

The jump left both men worse for wear. "I bruised every vertebrae in my back. Hamish and I both got whiplash. And driving back into Sarajevo, we both couldn't look at each other because we couldn't move our heads, and so there was a lot of just eye darts," Lee said.

Beyond the television world, Lee and Blake are also co-founders of Old Mates, a pub the pair established in New York City alongside a group of friends, cementing their ties to the city where Lee has now also started his married life.