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Wilmer Valderrama, top-center with microphone, poses with performers and audience members Friday after a show at Kelley Lounge at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany.

Wilmer Valderrama, top-center with microphone, poses with performers and audience members Friday after a show at Kelley Lounge at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany. (Charlie Coon / Stars and Stripes)

STUTTGART, Germany — U.S. troops in uniform have seen him at airports and shaken his hand.

They’ve told Wilmer Valderrama that they take DVDs of his hit television series, “That ’70s Show,” to Iraq and elsewhere, saying the jokes make them happy.

Since Valderrama, 26, spent nearly a third of his life making “That ’70s Show,” such accolades help him know they were years well spent.

“How many times as a performer are you getting that kind of love?” Valderrama asked. “That’s really cool to hear.”

On Friday night, Valderrama and a cast and crew of nine performed a version of his new series, “Yo Momma,” before a packed, adults-only room at the Kelley Club on Kelley Barracks.

The crowd was warmed up by a DJ, emcee and video clips from “Yo Momma” before Valderrama and others launched into a side-splitting rendition of insults. (“Yo mother is so ugly, they put a plastic bag over her head, and the bag choked and died.” “Yo Momma is so fat, every time she has sex, she moans out recipes: ‘Ohhhh, one tablespoon butter.’ ” And “You’re so ugly, even Stevie Wonder doesn’t want to see you.”)

After the hourlong show, Valderrama and others signed autographs and posed for pictures as the crowd danced to the music of DJ Vice.

“It’s hard to get the USO to bring somebody here; they say it’s not a big community,” said Air Force Staff Sgt. Jason Benson of U.S. European Command headquarters. “The show was funny. I’m glad I came down.”

“It was a riot,” said Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Adam Bousquet of Intelligence and Security Command, fresh back from a tour in Iraq. “Shoot, it made me laugh; it made everyone laugh.

“For a public figure to come over here and spend time with the troops, it brings morale up. Just being away from home is exhausting. It’s good to hear guys outside of your own family say, ‘We support you; you’re doing a great job.’ ”

Valderrama and company performed Thursday night in Hohenfels, and was scheduled to play in Ramstein on Saturday and also visit Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.

The finale of Friday’s show featured contestants brought over from the States.

Harp Pekin, from Los Angeles, went insult for insult against a guy going by the name BGB, from New York City. The first round featured yo-momma jokes, the second round was freestyle insults, and the third round was the knockout joke.

The Germany shows almost did not come off, according to several officials, as some higher-ups fretted over the content of the programs.

Martha Povich, the Stuttgart garrison’s community recreation division officer, said she was not concerned that “Yo Momma” would offend the audience.

“If it helps people to recreate, relax and enjoy themselves, we’ve done our job,” she said.

Wilmer Valderrama, top-center with microphone, poses with performers and audience members Friday after a show at Kelley Lounge at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany.

Wilmer Valderrama, top-center with microphone, poses with performers and audience members Friday after a show at Kelley Lounge at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany. (Charlie Coon / Stars and Stripes)

Wilmer Valderrama autographs a fan's hand on Friday at the Power Zone at Patch Barracks.

Wilmer Valderrama autographs a fan's hand on Friday at the Power Zone at Patch Barracks. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Army)

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