Jeff Dunham is taking North America by storm. After selling out numerous comedy clubs and airing a Christmas special on Comedy Central that pulled in the most viewers in the network’s history, the ventriloquist has secured his very own series, The Jeff Dunham Show.
In it, Dunham’s popular puppets, Walter, Achmed the Dead Terrorist, Bubba J and Peanut all make appearances in front of a live studio audience. The series will also feature pre-taped clips of the dolls embarking on their own adventures, such as Walter and Dunham attending couples’ therapy or Achmed the Dead Terrorist recruiting students at a local job fair.
To get into the mood, Dunham brought a special guest with him to the TCA presentation, Walter, the cantankerous doll based on one of Dunham’s college friend’s father, a war vet who would always cross his arms and never look you in the eye.
Walter shared some of his and Dunham’s ideas for headlines TV critics could use for their write-ups on the session:
Jeff Dunham show – cast is kind of wooden
Show is for dummies
Dunham makes dolls talk, but can’t make audiences laugh.
Jeff Dunham show – funny as a block of ****ing Wood
Not funny, read my lips
Dunham Show dolls out cheap-ass laughs
Dunham Show needs helping hand
Dunham Show did not Keeeeell Me
After keeeeelling the audience himself, forcing some press members to tears, Dunham took a time out to share some humble insight: “You never know how long your 15 minutes will be, and I try not to take anything for granted,” he wrapped up.
Well, now that the man has resurrected a long-abandoned form of entertainment and become the third most-successful comedian behind only Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock, I’m banking that 15 minutes has some legs yet.
The Jeff Dunham Show airs this fall on Comedy Central and on The Comedy Network here in Canada.
Amber is currently reporting live from the TV Critics Press Tour in L.A. Check out complete coverage here. amber@tvguide.ca
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