USO tour brings jokes to Germany

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Cheryl L. Toner
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany --  In what Bill Bellamy called an "amazing experience," the actor/comedian had no idea that the last stop on his USO tour to Germany would include getting "Punk'd" on Spangdahlem's flight line. 

Wrapping up a four-day tour to Germany, Bellamy's "Who's Got Jokes" entourage arrived at Spangdahlem May 27, 2008, where they immediately met with Airmen at the Mosel dining facility. Airmen there were surprised to see Bellamy, as well as Rodney Perry and Tommy Ford, standing next to the salad bar. 

'Punk'd' 

After lunch and getting situated in their rooms, the USO crew and entertainers were able to get up close and personal with an F-16, thanks to the 22nd Fighter Squadron. As TV-One filmed the entertainers around the aircraft, talking to security forces, getting interviewed and sitting in the cockpit, everyone in the hangar knew what was coming next ... well, almost everyone. 

While doing an American Forces Network interview with Staff Sgt. Onika Banks and Tech. Sgt. Szu-Moy Ruiz, Bellamy stopped mid-sentence as security forces shouted to one of the TV-One videographers. The videographer was perched on a ladder, filming another entertainer sitting in the F-16 cockpit. The cops and pilot Capt. Colin "Big Tastee" McNamme, aggressively told everyone to stop filming, "freeze!" and, well, you can guess the rest. The crew, when asked by security forces "who's in charge?" pointed to Bellamy. 

As Bellamy held his hands above his head, one of the security forces patted him down, asked a few questions, cuffed the entertainer and started walking away. Suddenly, one of the producers yelled "cut!" and everyone - except Bellamy - started laughing. While the comedian appeared to be calm and following orders, he said afterwards that he thought the situation was real. "As the cop was patting me down, he asked, 'Where's your passport?'" Bellamy's only response: "Back left pocket." 

Being a great sport, Bellamy's getting "Punk'd" was a topic of conversation for the rest of his day. Amid laughter and various people recounting the events, he laughingly said, "I've never had handcuffs on before." 

The tour 

Getting tickets to the USO event here that evening was akin to fighting over the last slice of pizza, but it was well-worth the fight. Six entertainers filled more than two hours with side-splitting jokes. The entertainers even went more than an hour past their scheduled time at the club, and yet they sat and signed autographs until the last Airman left for the evening. 

"I think it's really important to be here," said Bellamy of his first USO tour. "After everything you guys have done for us, it's the least we can do." 

The entertainers were in the Kaiserslautern Military Community area, as well as Stuttgart, before bringing down the house here. Of their visit to Landstuhl Army Medical Center in the KMC area, Bellamy said he felt "humbled talking to the soldiers ... warriors. They aren't feeling sorry for themselves ... they can't wait to heal and go back downrange ... they're true warriors." 

Obviously, the fare was a little lighter at Spangdahlem, but the respect and appreciation for what the military does on a day-to-day basis was expressed by every performer. Rodney Perry, who's known for his "man on the street" interviews, spent more than an hour asking customers as the gas station questions about themselves, as well as asking if they had any good jokes. 

Prior to the crew taking the stage, Bellamy sat down with a few lucky people backstage. One young lady was Astrid Pickett out of the Vogelweh area. Bellamy joked with her about the base exchange being like Costco: "You go in for oatmeal, and you come out buying a car!" Pickett's Army husband, who is currently serving a 15-month tour in Iraq, said, "I love Bill. He's so cool!" 

Opening the show and introducing each comic at Club Eifel was Tommy Ford, noting that "Who's Got Jokes" is in its third year. "It's like 'American Idol' for comedians," he said. And he wasn't playing. The three comedians who competed to be on the tour were just was funny as the well-known comics. Ford said the competition is typically narrowed down to the final two, and those two go on tour; however, he said this year that all three were so good, that the producers didn't want to cut anyone. 

Judging by the crowd's reaction, it was a wise decision. 

The entertainers 

Bellamy has been on "Showtime at the Apollo," HBO's "Def Comedy Jam" and "MTV Jamz." He has also starred in "Love Jones," "Getting Played" with Vivica A. Fox, "Brothers" with D.L. Hughley, Shemar Moore and Morris Chestnut, and "Any Given Sunday" with Jamie Foxx. Bellamy is also the host of NBC's "Last Comic Standing." 

Ford is best known for his role as 'Tommy' "Martin," He has also been in "Harlem Nights," with Eddie Murphy, "Mr. Jones" with Richard Gere, and "Class Act" with Kid 'n Play. He is also a TV star, performing in "The Proud Family," "The Parkers" and "New York Undercover." 

Perry was in the "Johnson Family Vacation," with Steve Harvey and Cedric the Entertainer. He has also been on The Tom Joyner Show, "Showtime at the Apollo" and "BET Comic View," Showtime's "Laffapalooza" and HBO's "Def Comedy Jam."