Fortunately, Jeff is funny enough to not let this ruin the jokes.Achmed and Jeff Dunham (Photo by: Todd Rosenberg / NBC)Ĭomedian and ventriloquist Jeff Dunham headlines a new special on NBC airing on Septemat 8pm ET/PT. Shannon frames Jeff and his puppets pretty well, but his sense of comic timing needs fine-tuning. The director, Michael Shannon, isn't as good as "Spark of Insanity's" Manny Rodriguez. The big-nosed superhero isn't as funny as Walter or Achmed, but he's a lot more entertaining than Peanut. Less successful is Melvin the Superhero Guy, but he can generate a few laughs. Dunham risked a lot by putting such a controversial character into his show, but Dunham is never insulting to anyone (except terrorists). The inept ex-suicide bomber is almost as funny as Walter. Achmed the Dead Terrorist is Dunham's most famous puppet, and there's a reason for it: he's hysterical. Or better yet, get rid of him as well and bring back a funnier doll, like Sweet Daddy D. Have the somewhat funnier Jose the Jalepeno pair up with another puppet. Dunham needs to take the hint and get rid of this irritating Muppet-wannabe. Here, he nearly brings the show to a dead stop. In "Arguing with Myself," Peanut boasted a few laughs. Unfortunately, Dunham brought back his weakest puppet, Peanut, who's worse than before. I was laughing so hard that I could hardly breathe. Walter, my personal favorite, is funnier than ever. Jeff Dunham brings back some of his most popular puppets (Walter, Peanut, and Jose Jalepeno), and brings on two new ones (Achmed the Dead Terrorist and Melvin the Superhero Guy). Watching his shows is a non-stop ticket to comedy heaven, and the acts do not get any less funny when watched repeatedly. I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to stand-up comics, but I don't think I've ever laughed harder at a single comedian than Jeff Dunham. But I'm not so sure this is true in Dunham's case. Someone here has suggested characters like Achmed and Jose Jalapeno are simply playing on American ignorance, which is exactly what Borat does. The guy is pulling in $30 million a year, so he must be doing something right. One way or the other, I believe Dunham is a truly gifted performer even if his humor does get pretty vexsome. Not so funny now, huh? Characters like Walter and Bubba, on th other hand, are right out of the Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy days, although I don't think I ever heard Bergen's puppets get that rude. Imagine Achmed as a Jewish moneylender or Jose as an Italian organ grinder. But it's easy for me, a white, English-speaking, Christian male, to laugh at what in truth is thinly veiled racial humor. So maybe Dnham is the equivalent of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog or Lisa Lampanelli, both of whom also push the envelope to the point of discomfort - even while they have me bending over in spasms of laughter. Or even Speedy Gonzalez and his siesta-loving buddies. Jose reminds me of Bill Dana's Jose Jimenez character or for that matter, the Taco Bell dog. I am amazed Mexicans haven't risen up in revolt, except they have no voice yet in America. Having said that, I have to pause for a moment to reflect on something: Achmed the Dead Terrorist is hysterical, and it's probably better to laugh at your enemy than fear him, but I think Dunham pushes the envelope a little too far with this character. Dunham has to be one of the funniest comedians working today, and note I didn't specify just as a ventriloquist.
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