NBC Combat comics Looking for laughs dealing with the Iraq war? Possibilities include: "Standup For the Troops," 8 p.m. today, Connxtions Comedy Club, 2900 N. East St. No cover charge; donations will be taken, with the money going for the USO, the VFW's "Operation Uplink" and a national newspaper ad supporting the troops. Other stand-up acts at Connxtions occasionally have topical material. Shows are at 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays ($8), 7:45 p.m. and 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays ($12). "The Bob and Tom Show," 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. weekdays; radio syndication, including WJXQ (106.1-FM). "The Daily Show," 11 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, Comedy Central cable channel. Late-night talk shows, especially "The Late Show With Jay Leno," 11:35 p.m. weekdays, Channel 10 (NBC). "Saturday Night Live," 11:35 p.m. Saturdays, Channel 10. Overheard The people who are doubles for Saddam Hussein were called in and told there is good news and bad news. The good news: "Our glorious leader is still alive." The bad news: "He's lost his right arm." -- "The Bob and Tom Show" Martin Sheen is telling us to oppose the war. Taking political advice from Martin Sheen is like taking parenting advice from Martin Sheen. -- Wild Bill Bauer, stand-up comic The Tigers need this Iraq information guy. He'd tell us, "They have not lost a game all year. They have defeated the infidels at every turn." -- Rico Bruce Wade, stand-up comic who lives in Lansing The French have helped us after all. We dropped pamphlets on Iraq, telling how to surrender. Actually, that's the first page of the French army manual. -- "Bob and Tom"

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By Mike Hughes
Lansing State Journal

The worlds of comedy and war will blend tonight.

The event is billed as "Standup For the Troops." It's a free show - with donations taken - at various clubs around the country, including Connxtions in Lansing.

"I sent the idea to lots of people," said Wild Bill Bauer, a Minneapolis comedian. "The first person to respond was Frank Stevens."

He's the Connxtions owner. He's also an Army veteran who endorses the general notion.

"There are a lot of different opinions about the war," Stevens said. "But once you make a commitment, you have to get behind it."

That's the idea of the stand-up night, said Bauer, a Vietnam vet.

People assume that show-business opposes the Iraq war, Bauer said. "I'd say that over half the comedy people are in favor of it."

That may be especially true in the Midwest. The stand-up night has lined up 14 comedy clubs, half in Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio.

Comedy and warfare don't always mix, of course.

"They say that the formula for comedy is tragedy-plus-time," Stevens said. "We haven't had the time yet for this war."

So comedians approach the subject gingerly. "There are so many opinions and emotions coming down on this," said Mark Irish, the Connxtions manager.

Rico Bruce Wade, a comedian who lives in Lansing and will perform tonight, echoed that. "The support for the troops is definitely there," Wade said, "but not necessarily support for the war. There are so many different opinions."

Still, Wade said, there's always something that's funny.

"The Iraqi information minister is great for material," he said. "Wouldn't it be great to have that guy with you when you come home late: 'No, no, he is definitely not drunk.' "

War-related material can work in comedy clubs, Stevens said. "When you go through these doors, anything goes," he said. "It's a politically correct world, but between these four walls, it's not."

In the rest of that world, people are cautious. War-related comedy is avoided by some spots, embraced by others, including: