EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part three of a four-part series about Improv host and KRLT morning radio disc jockey Howie Nave’s visit in Kuwait and Iraq, where he and fellow comics Scott Kennedy and Graham Elwood entertained the troops.

How were the audiences? It must have been weird not be have any hecklers.

The first thing you notice at all of the shows is that everyone is packing some sort of weapon, so there was never any heckler — or drunks either because it is forbidden to consume any alcohol in Kuwait and Iraq. No wonder that part of the world is so mad all of the time. The audience at every show was incredible. It’s hard to describe, but they just seemed so appreciative of us just telling jokes, so making them laugh was a real reward. The best part of the show though was after when we do these meet-and-greet sessions where they set up a table for us and we sign posters and take pictures with whoever wants us to. Listening to their stories, where there hometown was and when they were going home was always the top discussion. It was different for me to actually listen for once and just let them talk about whatever.

You said they liked it best when you didn’t hold back?

Yes. Because apparently in the military it’s a little like being in the work force except that everyone wears the same kind of uniform. They’re subject to the same laws and regulations (even more) like being at work like not talking about co-workers in an unflattering matter where others can hear and sexual harassment laws too. On Armed Forces Network TV, the ads are about what not to do and say, and no ads about drinking were ever allowed on television. The shows were pretty much like doing a comedy except we never brought up the current administration but did talk about anything that wasn’t politically correct which the soldiers as a whole really liked. I did a lot of jokes about al-Qaida, such as an insurgent going out on a first date and she asks, “Does this bomb make my ass look too big?” which would probably get me banned from Berkeley or any other left-wing establishment, but over there when it comes to slammin’ the enemy, there really weren’t any limits.

Tell me about Scott Kennedy yelling at the commanding officer.

He didn’t actually yell at anyone, but like I mentioned we had our own version of “Shock and Ahhhh” when it came to comedy and pushed it at times yes but nothing that someone over here would say in private. We just sort of amplified our thoughts and turned them into jokes — that’s all. One CO had “suggested” to Scott that could we tone it down some, and Scott got right in his face saying, “Sir, we came for them (the soldiers) and not necessarily for you. So as long as they’re laughing and having a good time, I won’t be changing a thing, sir.” It reminded me of a scene out of that movie, “Good Morning Vietnam” where the one higher-up kept trying to shut down the Robin Williams’ character because in his heart he knew he was funny but in reality just didn’t get it.