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The USO and TV One are bringing the network’s top-rated original comedy
competition series, “Bill Bellamy’s Who’s Got Jokes?,” directly to U.S. troops in Germany, to film a special ‘tribute to troops’ episode as part of a USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour Saturday to Wednesday.
Traveling to the region to show their support of America’s heroes, the show will tape two live television shows at the U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern’s Rhine Ordnance Barracks Special Event Warehouse at 7 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday. The show’s cast – actors/comedians Bill Bellamy, Tommy Ford and Rodney Perry – will also visit wounded servicemembers at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center Saturday.
Dedicated to those serving both stateside and overseas, the show recently wrapped up filming in Birmingham, Ala., and Washington, D.C., and will tape its semi-finals round for troops in Germany. Closing in on the show’s third season’s quest to find and showcase some of today’s hottest talent, only two of the eight up-and-coming comics will advance to the finals at the Wilshire Theater in Los Angeles June 14.
The special episode will air in September and will feature personal messages from the show’s stars, exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of USO entertainment and shout-outs from servicemembers stationed in Germany. The segment will also feature a three-person panel composed of servicemembers stationed in the region.
“There are two things I enjoy most in life – laughing and making people laugh,” said Mr. Bellamy. “Laughter is important, it gets people through the best and worst of times, and today’s troops need it today more than ever. They work so hard and sacrifice so much, and my goal is to give them a show that brings smiles to their faces, even if only for a couple of hours.”
Mr. Bellamy made his national television debut on “Showtime at the Apollo” in 1990. Winning over audiences, he caught the attention of producers Russell Simmons and Bernie Brillstein, and was quickly signed to appear in HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam.”
Following his appearances on HBO, Bellamy enjoyed a five-year run as host of “MTV Jamz.” Among his many film credits are “Getting Played” with Vivica A. Fox, “Brothers” opposite D.L. Hughley, Shemar Moore and Morris Chestnut, and “Any Given Sunday” with Jamie Foxx. He is also the host of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.”
Best known for his role as ‘Tommy’ in the hit Fox sitcom “Martin,” Mr. Ford landed his first television role in NBC’s “A Different World” in 1989, after graduating from the University of Southern California. Shortly after his appearance, he was cast in
“Harlem Nights,” starring Eddie Murphy, and a string of hit films including, “Mr. Jones” with Richard Gere, “The Butcher’s Wife” featuring Demi Moore and “Class Act” opposite Kid ‘n Play. Among his many television credits are “The Proud Family,” “The Parkers” and “New York Undercover.”
Mr. Perry is fast becoming one of the next big comedians to take Hollywood by storm. He won over audiences with his role as ‘Cousin Lumb’ in the 2004 film “Johnson Family Vacation,” starring Steve Harvey and Cedric the Entertainer, and followed up with appearances on “The Tom Joyner Sky Show,” “Showtime at the Apollo” and “BET Comic View.”
In times of peace and war, the USO consistently delivers its special brand of entertainment and comfort to servicemen and women around the world. USO entertainment tours are essential to fulfilling the USO’s mission of boosting troop morale. In 2007, the USO produced 74 tours and staged 453 special entertainment events, to include music and comedy concerts, autograph signings, hospital visits and movie screenings.
For a list of USO tours, visit www.uso.org/whatwedo/entertainment/.
(Courtesy of USO Kaiserslautern)
