I was told part of the show would follow the creation of one of Jeff’s newest characters, Achmed Jr. It has been a lot of fun working with Jeff and his group.Īs I posted last week, the Biography channel aired a two-hour bio on Jeff entitled Jeff Dunham: The Birth of a Dummy. In the ensuing year and a half, I’ve done quite a bit of work for him, including detailed illustrations of his various characters, some more simplified line-art type work of same, a few things for merchandising/products and some conceptual work on some possible new characters. I was told Jeff was a big fan of MAD Magazine and my work, and wanted to explore the possibility of using some of my artwork for various projects. "I need to focus on the material and the jokes and keep people laughing," he said.Early in the summer of 2010 I received a call from some gentlemen out in LA who represented world-famous comedian/ventriloquist Jeff Dunham to inquire about my doing some work for him. 27 as Dunham and his buddies make fun of everyone, including themselves, all geared for laughs.Īs always, Dunham handles the comedy and lets his characters take it from there. The book is mostly Dunham's story, with color commentary (and correction) by his entourage of dummies. Last year's autobiography "All By My Selves: Walter, Peanut, Achmed, and Me," hit The New York Times best-seller list last year when it was released and has recently been released in paperback. He has been the top-grossing comedy act in America for three years, and he is just as popular in Europe, filling theaters in London, Belgium and Holland. Dunham's multiple personalities have been viewed more than 500 million times on YouTube (that's half a billion), his concerts regularly sell out and he has scored some impressive Nielsen ratings for his shows on Comedy Central. His voice, his comedy and his instrument continue to break popularity records.
He graduated from Baylor College and headed to Los Angeles where he found success at the local comedy clubs and eventually by making appearances on late-night television including "The Tonight Show" (where he was given a rare and coveted invitation to sit on Johnny Carson's couch after a performance) and "Late Night With David Letterman." "Ventriloquism couldn't be the focus of the act," he said. He got his first dummy - Mortimer Snerd - when he was 8 and was looking for places to perform two years later. The comedy, he said, is where his real talent is.
ACHMED THE DEAD TERRORIST 2011 PRO
"Just exaggerated beyond the socially acceptable point for anyone living outside a suitcase."ĭunham has had nearly a lifetime to perfect each character's voice, beginning his career in ventriloquism in grade school and going pro in his teens. These characters, like all his others, will give voice to Dunham's unique thought process.ĭunham said that every one of his characters is a larger than life version of himself. Both made an appearance in Dunham's "Controlled Chaos" Comedy Central television special, upon which the tour is based. Tickets are $48.50 and are available at The tour will officially introduce two new characters, Achmed Junior (son of Achmed the Dead Terrorist who isn't quite dead but has his own issues), and Little Jeff, a mini-me version of the man in charge that is Peanut's dummy to live audiences.
Using characters such as Walter, Peanut, Jose Jalepeno on a Stick and Achmed the Dead Terrorist, Dunham uses his voice to make their voices - and politically incorrect views - be known.ĭunham and his cast of characters will be at the Sovereign Center Dec. Jeff Dunham can skewer his comedy victims with one hand tied behind his back - or more accurately, someone else's back. Comedian Jeff Dunham performs with his ventriloquist dolls, Peanut, left, and Jose Jalapeno during the taping of his comedy special "Controlled Chaos." He will perform Tuesday night at 7:30 in the Sovereign Center, 700 Penn St.