Army veteran and Navy spouse reach finals of 10-tour stop to select America’s funniest military-affiliated comedians.
Jeremy Jonas, an Army veteran who served from 1995-2004, saw comedy as something new to try during the pandemic.
“Comedy seemed like something to do to get out of the house,” he deadpanned. “I always liked writing but you sit in your closet writing for hours and nobody reads it. In comedy, you get immediate feedback.”
Jonas received immediate feedback from the judges during the Operation Heal*arious semifinal round July 15, hosted by American Legion Alamo Post 2 in San Antonio. As the winner of the contest, Jonas now advances to one of two championship rounds this fall that will crown two winners in the competition to find America’s funniest veteran or military spouse.
He delivers his comedy — and interviews — with a tongue-in-cheek sarcastic wit. What was his first time on stage like?
“It was amazing, got a standing ovation, everybody thought I was very funny, got a contract immediately from Netflix,” Jonas says, pausing. “It was awful. It’s always terrible, very bad. It was embarrassing, a lot of shame, a lot of hidden sorrow.”
During his performance, he entertained more than 200 veterans, family members and others at the post. This was the first Heal*arious comedy show hosted by an American Legion post.
“My wife and I have the same set of values,” he said. “She’s Catholic and I was raised superstitious.”
He continued, “I never really understood communion. The church will tell you that the crackers are actually Jesus. But there are historians who say that Jesus wasn’t a cracker.”
The competition was so close that a special Golden Ticket was awarded, which means Navy spouse Sean Flanagan, of Boston, will also be advancing to the finals.
“It’s really exciting that this competition is for military spouses,” he said. “My husband and I have been together for 7 ½ years.”
Flanagan found his path to comedy after working in the corporate world. “I’m a recovering tech worker. The only part of my job I liked was the public speaking and presentation part of it.”
While living in New York City, he took a comedy workshop, and continued on that path. Like a “fish out of water” is how Flanagan describes his brand of comedy.
“Coming to comedy late in life, and coming out as gay later in life, there’s a lot of material there,” he said, noting they are based in Tokyo now. “My husband is out at sea right now for six weeks. It’s really an opportunity for me to focus on my career now. It would be really easy to be lonely and miss him, which I do. But I am able to turn my attention toward this and pursue my own goals.”
Other finalists selected so far include:
• Army veteran Chris Karwoski, who won the inaugural competition April 1 at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio.
• Army spouse Gigi Bledsoe.
• Air Force veteran Jeff Norris, who won the event in Tacoma, Wash., after also participating in the April 1 contest.
• Marine veteran Stephanie Kline.
The American Legion is among the tour sponsors, which is produced by Best Medicine Brigade (BMB).
Robin Johnson, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, is the executive producer for Operation Heal*arious and founder of the BMB. Headlining the comedy tour is American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast co-host Ashley Gutermuth, a member of The American Legion Auxiliary and spouse of an Air Force pilot.
“We’re doing this to bring these comedians to the public and show everyone how funny veterans and military spouses can be,” she said. “We’ve traveled all across the country, from East Coast to West Coast. We have seen so many hilarious comedians.”
She enjoys the camaraderie that is formed and underscores how comedy ties into The American Legion’s Be the One campaign, which is prominently featured throughout the tour. The goal of Be the One is to reduce the rate of veteran suicide.
“The Be the One program is so important,” she said. “One suicide is too many. The more we can do to pull people from feeling that that is their only option, the better we are. With Operation Heal*arious, we are teaching the military community how to take their negative experiences and turn them into something positive. The American Legion and the Be the One program are so integral to Operation Heal*arious.”
Therapy through art forms like comedy serves as a linchpin for veterans who are struggling.
“It’s incredibly meaningful for me personally, and Heal*arious, to have this show hosted by an American Legion post,” said Johnson, a member of American Legion Post 166 in Goose Creek, S.C. “As a longtime member, it fills me with joy to entertain my fellow veterans, see them smile and laugh, and know that we are supporting mental wellness through Be the One.”
Alamo Post 2 Historian Joseph Sanchez sees the comedy show as a way to support not only the veteran but their family members as part of Be the One.
“This event is all about service and community, two concepts The American Legion is all about,” said Sanchez, a Vietnam War and Desert Storm veteran who retired from the Air Force. “A laugh explains everything. It brings a pitter-patter to the heart and it takes the mind off what may be bothering those going through PTSD and other illnesses. A good laugh makes them forget what is hurting them.”
Halfway through the inaugural competition, Johnson is looking ahead to crowning two champions in November. One championship will be held at Hollywood (Calif.) Post 43 and the other in Las Vegas.
“I’ve been so impressed with the talent level of these veterans and military spouses tonight and at previous shows,” she said. “I look forward to the rest of the season and the two finales. It will be extra special to crown a champion at the Hollywood post.”
- Be the One