Public Service Comedy Night

July 30, 2025

Comedian and Army combat veteran Thom Tran has been a longtime friend of KPBS and the GI Film Festival.  Earlier this week, and in response to the defunding of public media throughout the nation, we heard from Tran with a very simple message: “I want to help.”   

The help comes in the form of a night of comedy at the Laugh Factory in San Diego, where Tran and fellow veteran comics will dedicate their set as a fundraiser to support KPBS and its GI Film Festival.

This special night of military comedy takes place this Thursday, July 31 at 8 p.m. and will feature fellow GIs of Comedy members James P. Connolly (USMC) and Steve Mazan (US Navy) alongside headliner Thom Tran (US Army). Geoff Grooms (US Navy) is also scheduled to appear. All ticket sales for that night will support KPBS, San Diego’s public media organization and the producer of the GI Film Festival.

“We served our country in uniform, and public broadcasting stations like KPBS serve the American people with educational programming and by telling the warrior story through the GI Film Festival,” said Tran. “And they need our help right now.”  

Tickets are available through the Laugh Factory and start at $28.48.  A two-item minimum purchase per patron is required. 

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