Best Medicine Brigade, a stand-up comedy group, is slated to tour with Armed Forces Entertainment (AFE) in February of 2024. The tour features comedians Christian Johnson, Ashley Gutermuth and Robin Phoenix in nine performances at bases across the Pacific.
Christian Johnson is a clean comedian, husband and father from Charlotte, N.C. Since starting his standup comedy career, Johnson has been traveling from city to city and using his comedic talents to grow his social media fanbase. Johnson has worked with some of the biggest names in comedy, such as Ali Siddiq, Eddie Griffin, Damon Wayans, Damon Wayans, Jr., Marlon Wayans, Sinbad and many more. After diligently honing his craft, Johnson made his television debut in 2021 on “Funny Not Famous”, on Afro TV. In May of the following year, Johnson was a finalist in Kenan Thompson’s Ultimate Comedy Experience showcase. With more than 500,000 followers on his social media platforms, Christian Johnson is a rising star with contagious good energy, unique style and refreshingly clean comedy.
Ashley Gutermuth is a stand-up comedian and actor. Gutermuth appeared on “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon, where Jerry Seinfeld chose her as the winner of the “Seinfeld Challenge.” Gutermuth regularly posts hilarious videos of her stand-up and life as a spouse of a servicemember, which have garnered more than 300 million views on her social media channels. In 2023, Gutermuth was named the Armed Forces Insurance Air Force Spouse of the Year. The Military Times, Military.com and Yahoo News have featured her comedy. Gutermuth has appeared on shows with Mark Curry (“Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper”), Chris Kattan (“Saturday Night Live”), Steve Hytner (“Seinfeld”), Michael Winslow (“Police Academy,” “America’s Got Talent”) and many others.
After 26 years in the Army, Robin Phoenix found her new mission in healing people, organizations and communities through humor. She created the Best Medicine Brigade to give veteran and military spouse comedians performance opportunities and to heal people with humor. Phoenix is passionate about the applied and therapeutic use of humor for mental health. She also facilitates HEAL*ARIOUS, a humor therapy program for veterans. She is a certified level 3 Humor Professional with the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor and a comedy boot camp instructor for the Armed Services Arts Partnership. Phoenix has been featured on USA Today, ABC and Fox. Voted as Charleston’s Best Comic of 2022, Robin has performed at Carolines on Broadway, Atlanta Comedy Theater, Comedy Zone, Bricktown Comedy Club, StarDome, Louisville Comedy Club, Zanies, Stand Up Live and for corporate audiences all over the country.
AFE has been committed to boosting the morale and well-being of service members and their families stationed overseas through world-class live events and performances since 1951.
