Posted on 10/20/2009 3:07:40 PM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
In Dunham's hand, they're also racist caricatures, full of meanness and cliches, ranging from Achmed the Dead Terrorist (a skeleton with the heavily accented catchphrase of "I kill you") to Peanut, the disturbing Muppet-like troll creature who has the hots for guest star Brooke Hogan. Whether part of the stage-act banter with Dunham (whose clenched lower jaw quivers unsettlingly) or in cutaway short-film segments (where Dunham seems pretty superfluous), their escapades are at best wretchedly crude (did we need to see a doll on the toilet?) and at worst homophobic.
It's all a complete train wreck, but it still is can't-miss comedy because after watching an episode, the rest of television looks better by comparison. Perhaps that's the secret of those 6.6 million: They're not looking to laugh. They're looking for the life-affirming moments that come from the commercials.
(Excerpt) Read more at hollywoodreporter.com ...
variety.com
Dunham's main wrinkle appears to be that the dummies have been updated for a red-state audience, from the curmudgeonly Walter -- who gripes "You're on TV. There's a black guy in the White House" as a sign the world's going to hell -- to Achmed the dead terrorist, who gets the audience to chant "I kill you" along with him.
... Then again, Dunham's fans need to laugh, too, and for Comedy Central, tapping into that eager audience -- even if some of them have sawdust-filled heads -- qualifies as a no-brainer.
hollywoodoutbreak.com Love him or hate him, there’s no denying that ventriloquist JEFF DUNHAM is, hands down, one of the most popular stand-up acts in the world.
bostonherald.com Has doing a character such as Achmed gotten him into any trouble? “I hope not. I make a point in every show for Achmed to say he’s not Muslim. He says, ‘Look at my butt. It says, “Made in China,” ’ Dunham said.
The problem with the show isn’t that it’s a bad showcase for Dunham, but that it emphasizes just how stale and limited his act is. Critics of Dunham have focused on the idea that a lot of his humor is borderline racist, and watching Dunham clips on YouTube, it’s not hard to see where they’re coming from: Achmed (who is essentially a skeleton with googly eyes and a turban) is a crude Middle Eastern caricature, and other characters are equally reductive and offensive. There’s a Mexican puppet named Jose Jalapeño, and past Dunham specials have featured an African-American pimp called Sweet Daddy D, although he’s not in the description released for the new show, or the first episode.
I am thinking if the Left hate the guy he must be funny- LoL!
Dunham is downright hilarious.
Good grief...these reviewers would need a tractor to get a needle out of their butt.
Airdate: 9-9:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 (Comedy Central)
Achmed cracks me up!
I’m guessing these same reviewers aren’t big fans of Trey Parker and Matt Stone either.
Jose Jalapeno isn’t Mexican,he’s Puerto Rican.
[Walter’s response to the writer Randee Dawn]: “Dumbass.”
I really enjoy him and am looking forward to his new show.
Hey Randee Dawn, Jeff Dunham is listed as the #3 comedian, making:
3) Jeff Dunham, Estimated Earnings: $30 million
How well is your job paying you to complain about his success?
Probably shortly after they take care of that pesky free speech problem.
C’mon. “Randee Dawn” has got to be a stage name at Hooker a Go-Go.
but nothing in the article about Walter, the angry, bald white guy so I guess that’s ok..
My two messages to the guy that wrote this drivel..
1. Dunham is hilarious, and 2) “Lighten up, Francis”
(NOT directed at the FReeper who posted this, but the idiot that wrote it)
Achmed cracks me up!
— — —
That’s spelled A...C...H...phlegm,....
I KEEL YOU!
Just saw a rerun of a couple-year-old show on Comedy Central the other night. I’m pretty sure Jose claimed to be Cuban...from Florida (big laughs). OTOH, fictional characters can change nationalities the way I change my shirt for all I care.
LOL.
Just the picture make me laugh.
He was in Columbia about a week and half ago.
Man...I was just laughing so hard.
..and Dunham made some not-so-politically-correct remarks about Obama and the crowd loved it!
His character Walter the old cranky guy is my favorite. Walter looks like Joe Biden.
Yep, he’s from NY City. [I saw that one. LOL!]
I am thinking if the Left hate the guy he must be funny- LoL!
I enjoy his comedy routines but I have my reservations about him being able to sustain a tv show. Sorta like Jeff Foxworthy’s attempt, it’s a major change from his normal venue or I’d think so. We’ll see this Thursday how he does.
"Welcome to Wal-Mart....now get your #$@& and get out!"
Interesting how the reviewers hate him... I believe that Jeff Dunham is one of the highest grossing live comedy acts in the nation. And he's been doing it for a LONG time. I first saw him on "The Tonight Show." With Johnny Carson! Stale? I don't think so. And Peanut is NOT a troll! He's hilarious.
Jeff has 3 DVDs out: "Arguing With Myself," "A Spark of Insanity," and "Jeff Dunham's Christmas Special." I've bought all 3, and watch them over and over again. I disagree with the reviewers (I haven't seen the TV show, though) regarding his act. He's hillarious, NOT racist (not even borderline - what a bunch of hypersensitive pansies looking to get angry about something). I think the reason that they hate him is because Jeff Dunham's comedy IS somewhat conservative. Plus, the guy is brilliant and a master of his craft. He breathes life into his characters. My guess is that the reviewers are big Whoopie Goldberg and Jeneane Garrofollo fans, and they hate people with talent.
Mark
One timely bump.
Airdate: 9-9:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 (Comedy Central)
The Jeff Dunham Show premieres tonight at 9 PM eastern!
If it's as politically incorrect as his specials are, it will be awesome!
My favorite is 'Achmed the Terrorist'!
“I keel you!”
Thanks for the heads up. Is it on Comedy Central?
Yes, Comedy Central. Currently showing his 2007 special, ‘Spark of Insanity’!
Yes it is. I think Youtube has had a lot to do with Dunham’s success.
Thanks, airborne. I love Dunham’s humor.
Thanks for the heads up! I’ll keep switching between baseball and Dunham.
http://social.entertainment.msn.com/tv/blogs/tv-buzz-blog.aspx?blog=1746&feat=1323368
In this review the writer manages to get in a slam on Rush Limbaugh.
Last night’s episode was awesome, Achmed was celebrating his “Death Day” he is now 7 years dead......
A bit of the other humor was crude, but over it was quite good.
>> http://social.entertainment.msn.com/tv/blogs/tv-buzz-blog.aspx?blog=1746&feat=1323368
In this review the writer manages to get in a slam on Rush Limbaugh. <<
This idiot thought he was a Triumph the Insult dog rip off?????
Jeff DunHam was doing his bit when the puppeteer behind triumph was still in diapers.
Plus he doesn’t “get” why puppets are great from the standpoint of discussing “sticky” issues.
In medieval times there were primitive puppet shows where they would opening mock the king and royalty without worrying about the executioner’s axe. In this PC era where you have to be careful what you say and think, Jeff’s puppets fill a niche because they can say things Jeff himself could not say at all else he have a visit from the Thought crime police....
Idiot reviewer is a typical liberal hack.
Dumbass even didn’t get the point about his “Bubba-J” puppet.
It’s funny enough to watch.
Yes - it’s a bit racist and cheap - but every taliban suicide bomber is also a human beeing (or was ...) and therefore has the right to be ridiculed to the bone.
Jalapeno isn’t really funny so it can’t hurt to much and peanut - well - is realy quite funny but has no real potential to harm anybody (that doesn’t happen to have typhus).
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