!["Masterbeat_Gossip_125x125"]("http://web.masterbeat.com/linkshare/MBgossip_125x125_50k.gif")
You may have seen talking dummies on David Letterman's show - the puppets, that is. You may even remember Edgar Bergen and his "Charlie McCarthy" sidekick The voice behind the 'dummy', of course, is that of a ventriloquist. Since somewhere around the 6th century A.D., these "voice throwers" have practiced their art. Whatever your concept of ventriloquism in general, it is about to be upgraded. Once you see Jeff Dunham and his suitcase full of way smart (and smart-mouthed) dummies, the word 'ventriloquist' will be re-defined. Jeff Dunham is so talented you hardly notice him. You'll just be listening to and watching his menagerie of extremely odd and eerily familiar puppet-people - and laughing your ass off!
Jeff says that "throwing your voice" is something most anyone can learn, like juggling. Of course, he doesn't "throw" his voice. He just uses it in conjunction with a couple of his other amazing talents, like engineering and comedy. Add to all that a super-quick mind and an irresistible personality, and you've got a knockout. Jeff Dunham and his oh-so-believable, obnoxious and hilariously funny bunch of 'dummies' have insulted and enthralled just about everybody they've met.
The breakthrough appearance for Jeff Dunham was probably in 1990, when he was invited to join Johnny Carson "on the couch". He's one of only four comedians to enjoy that honor in all of Johnny's 30 years as host of The Tonight Show. He has since appeared on the Tonight Show more often than any other comedian. In between a staggering number of shows at comedy clubs all over the country, Jeff Dunham has made guest appearances on numerous TV shows and specials, even doing a TV commercial for Hertz, playing straight man to Walter the Curmudgeon. Jeff's first solo appearance on Comedy Central Presents was in 2003. It wasn't really solo; he brought Walter and Peanut and Jose and Melvin along - quite a line-up!
Among the many high points in Jeff Dunham's career are appearances on Good Morning America, 60 Minutes II, Entertainment Tonight and Comedy Central Presents. The American Comedy Awards has twice voted him "Funniest Male Stand-Up Comic", and he is the only one ever to win "Ventriloquist of the Year" two times. His unique brand of pointed and biting humor is irreverent and completely non-partisan: no one is exempt, and hardly anyone can stop laughing long enough to complain!
Jeff Dunham (and company) has had, so far, three specials. The first Comedy Central special, Jeff Dunham: Arguing With Myself was taped in 2006. The second, Jeff Dunham: Spark of Insanity was taped in 2007. The premiere of Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas Special in 2008 had the highest rating in the history of Comedy Central. Jeff has also released an album called Don't Come Home For Christmas, which contains music from the special, including the parody "Jungle Bombs", as sung by Achmed the Dead Terrorist.
All of the characters Jeff Dunham has 'brought to life' so believably are familiar stereotypes-to-the-max! If old Walter, the penultimate curmudgeon, ever cracks a smile, it may be the last crack he'll ever make. Melvin the Super Hero has only a couple of powers, and they're pretty questionable. Peanut is a Woozle (sorta indescribable) who cracks himself up . . . and the audience as well. Sweet Daddy D is a P.I.M.P. and proud of it. Bubba J is the redneck to end all rednecks. Jose Jalapeno is "a Mexican condiment" on a stick, and his morbid outlook is too funny to explain in a few words, but he does it. Achmed the Dead Terrorist is, in his own opinion, "a terrifying terrorist." He might be dead, but Allah! he's funny!
In technical language, the illusion Jeff Dunham creates is called 'capture'. It occurs when one of the five senses dominates another, as it does when Jeff performs with his "dummies". You know that there is really only one man producing all those voices. It's not really Walter, or Achmed or any of the others yelling, or singing, or belching. But Jeff Dunham's talent is such that even the most blas? viewer will find it difficult to believe. That's a "captive audience", all right! Those puppets literally capture the audience's attention to the extent that Jeff is just background.
There's a whole lot more that can be said about Jeff Dunham, but you don't need to read it. Go see him! That's all the confirmation you'll ever need that this man is a Puppet Master of Laughter.
Jeff says that "throwing your voice" is something most anyone can learn, like juggling. Of course, he doesn't "throw" his voice. He just uses it in conjunction with a couple of his other amazing talents, like engineering and comedy. Add to all that a super-quick mind and an irresistible personality, and you've got a knockout. Jeff Dunham and his oh-so-believable, obnoxious and hilariously funny bunch of 'dummies' have insulted and enthralled just about everybody they've met.
The breakthrough appearance for Jeff Dunham was probably in 1990, when he was invited to join Johnny Carson "on the couch". He's one of only four comedians to enjoy that honor in all of Johnny's 30 years as host of The Tonight Show. He has since appeared on the Tonight Show more often than any other comedian. In between a staggering number of shows at comedy clubs all over the country, Jeff Dunham has made guest appearances on numerous TV shows and specials, even doing a TV commercial for Hertz, playing straight man to Walter the Curmudgeon. Jeff's first solo appearance on Comedy Central Presents was in 2003. It wasn't really solo; he brought Walter and Peanut and Jose and Melvin along - quite a line-up!
Among the many high points in Jeff Dunham's career are appearances on Good Morning America, 60 Minutes II, Entertainment Tonight and Comedy Central Presents. The American Comedy Awards has twice voted him "Funniest Male Stand-Up Comic", and he is the only one ever to win "Ventriloquist of the Year" two times. His unique brand of pointed and biting humor is irreverent and completely non-partisan: no one is exempt, and hardly anyone can stop laughing long enough to complain!
Jeff Dunham (and company) has had, so far, three specials. The first Comedy Central special, Jeff Dunham: Arguing With Myself was taped in 2006. The second, Jeff Dunham: Spark of Insanity was taped in 2007. The premiere of Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas Special in 2008 had the highest rating in the history of Comedy Central. Jeff has also released an album called Don't Come Home For Christmas, which contains music from the special, including the parody "Jungle Bombs", as sung by Achmed the Dead Terrorist.
All of the characters Jeff Dunham has 'brought to life' so believably are familiar stereotypes-to-the-max! If old Walter, the penultimate curmudgeon, ever cracks a smile, it may be the last crack he'll ever make. Melvin the Super Hero has only a couple of powers, and they're pretty questionable. Peanut is a Woozle (sorta indescribable) who cracks himself up . . . and the audience as well. Sweet Daddy D is a P.I.M.P. and proud of it. Bubba J is the redneck to end all rednecks. Jose Jalapeno is "a Mexican condiment" on a stick, and his morbid outlook is too funny to explain in a few words, but he does it. Achmed the Dead Terrorist is, in his own opinion, "a terrifying terrorist." He might be dead, but Allah! he's funny!
In technical language, the illusion Jeff Dunham creates is called 'capture'. It occurs when one of the five senses dominates another, as it does when Jeff performs with his "dummies". You know that there is really only one man producing all those voices. It's not really Walter, or Achmed or any of the others yelling, or singing, or belching. But Jeff Dunham's talent is such that even the most blas? viewer will find it difficult to believe. That's a "captive audience", all right! Those puppets literally capture the audience's attention to the extent that Jeff is just background.
There's a whole lot more that can be said about Jeff Dunham, but you don't need to read it. Go see him! That's all the confirmation you'll ever need that this man is a Puppet Master of Laughter.
About the Author:
By Matt Ryan, sponsored by StubPass.com. StubPass sells Jeff Dunham Tickets, sports tickets, concert tickets, theater tickets, Comedy Tickets and many more tickets to your favorite events around the world.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment