Comedian uses comic relief to relay valuable messages

Comedian Bernie McGrenahan entertains Andersen Airmen during his “Comedy is the Cure” show May 29, 2015, at the Coral Reef Fitness Center on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The comedian uses jokes and humor, as well as a 30-minute testimony on what he’s been through to relay the importance on alcohol, drug and sexual assault prevention, and risk-reduction safety. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Robert Hicks/Released)

Comedian uses comic relief to relay valuable messages

Comedian Bernie McGrenahan tells a joke during his “Comedy is the Cure” show May 29, 2015, at the Coral Reef Fitness Center on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The comedian uses jokes and humor, as well as a 30-minute testimony on what he’s been through to relay the importance on alcohol, drug and sexual assault prevention, and risk-reduction safety. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Robert Hicks/Released)

Comedian uses comic relief to relay valuable messages

Published June 1, 2015
By Staff Sgt. Robert Hicks
36th Wing Public Affairs

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Alcohol, substance abuse and suicide are never laughing matters, but one comedian managed to entertain Andersen Airmen with jokes before teaching them valuable life lessons on these serious topics.

"Comedy is the Cure," as Bernie McGrenahan calls his show, catches the audience's attention by breaking the ice through comedy, earning their trust and respect before diving into tough and sensitive topics through his personal testimony.

"Telling jokes for the first 30 minutes was a great idea," said Staff Sgt. Brandon Whittaker, 36th Wing communications security manager. "By the time he started getting into the serious topics, he had everyone's full attention. In briefings such as these, that doesn't happen much."

He explains the goal of this approach is not only to keep people interested, but also to send them away with tools and information to better prepare them for challenges in their personal and professional lives.

"I understand there's a lot of training presented by PowerPoint slides and videos," McGrenahan said. "Those are great educational tools, but i wanted to put something together that doesn't have any of that, and actually bring some laughter, humor, humility and a personal testimony to the stage that people can learn from."

For the past 10 years, McGrenahan has been visiting bases sharing his story on his personal experience on losing his younger brother, scholarships and being arrested several times due to alcohol and substance abuse.

"When I leave the stage I want people to do a personal evaluation on themselves," McGrenahan said. "I want them to go over if they are in charge of their social behavior, if they are treating their family and friends with respect, or is drinking affecting who they are and how they perform the mission."

McGrenahan explained he has no problem sharing his story with others if it's going to help even one person get through a difficult time in his or her life.

"The performance that he put on was fantastic and hilarious," Whittaker said. "He really put it in perspective how fast you can lose everything with a few poor choices."