"The Jeff Dunham Show" is taking a beating from critics (photo: IGN.com)
Comedy Central-- home to such programming as "Krod Mandoon", "Mind of Mencia", "Secret Girlfriend", and "Scrubs"-- is airing a new series based upon the inherently filmable act that is ventriloquism. Starring "comedian" Jeff Dunham, the show is being lambasted by critics who aren't enjoying the racial stereotypes, puppets, or the unfunny jokes. Here with a review roundup is the Comedy Examiner. Read on, gentle Examiner readers...
The Comedy Examiner is not a fan of ventriloquists, and as such has decided that "The Jeff Dunham Show" is probably not his cup of tea. Having decided not to watch the new Comedy Central series, we were still intrigued as to what other people might think of it (such is our displeasure with ventriloquists: we hope to see them crushed).
Over at Ain't It Cool News-- the awesome entertainment geek news site-- they've got a review up for the show that collects a few other reviews from around teh internets (and something called "print publications") that give us a look at what other people are saying about the show.
Before you watch "The Jeff Dunham Show", check out what some of your favorite (?) critics are saying about this series:
The Washington Post saaays:
Every so often the inexplicable success of a bad comedy act just cannot be explicked. I mean, you don't have to like Larry the Cable Guy in order to see why his fans do. Same with Dane Cook: Even if his comedy drives you up a wall, you can always stop mid-climb, look back, and at least understand why so many millions are laughing and laughing at his jokes. But Jeff Dunham? Readers, I'm stumped. … Not only is it deadeningly unfunny, it also defies all the known constructs of television criticism. I simply have no idea why it's on. …
The Boston Globe saaaays:
… As the dummies spout predictable jokes, most of them revolving around racial stereotypes, Dunham stands by looking like a smirking Kiefer Sutherland.…
Ain't It Cool News is saying:
It turns out Dunham was the star of a 2008 Christmas special that garnered Comedy Central a record 6.6 million viewers. If that special was anything like this pilot, one has to suspect a grave Nielsen bookkeeping error.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette refers to a press/media appearance that Dunham made prior to the show's launch, where he was slated to perform (read: charm) for a bunch of television critics. How'd that go?
I'd never heard of comic/ventriloquist Jeff Dunham before press tour this summer when Comedy Central introduced him to TV critics and he bombed in a flopsweat of hurled invectives. … a weekly dose of Dunham's wooden characters who are all unlikeable and offensive in different ways. … I don't mind offensive when it's genuinely funny or satirical -- "South Park" has been offensive from day one and it's still one of the most cogent, topical shows on TV -- but Dunham's humor didn't make me laugh. And worse: I could see his lips moving.
Variety takes issue with the racial humor on the show:
… a talented ventriloquist with a not-particularly-scintillating act … 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…
OK, yeah, we're not watching this. Sounds like another brutal failure from Comedy Central. What's shocking is, with all the people working in standup today, wouldn't it be possible to pull some unknown out of some random city and have them construct something funnier than, say, Carlos Mencia? Or anything they're doing on "Mad TV"?
Will you watch "The Jeff Dunham Show" ? Sound off in the comments section below, folks! We wanna hear what you have to say about this trainwreck. And, while you're here, make sure to head on over to this page to follow the Comedy Examiner on Twitter: you'll get updated every time the Comedy Examiner runs an article, editorial, funny video, or whatever other time-killing bit of news that he can come up with. You can also hit the "Subscribe" button up top to get all the Comedy Examiner's articles delivered straight to your email, free of charge, as soon as they're published. What more could ya want? Sign up today!
Also, check out these other recent Comedy Examiner articles while you're checking this page out:
"David Letterman made a sex tape?! Say it ain't so, Dave!"-- in which the Comedy Examiner checks in on the rumor that Letterman has a sex tape floating around.
"Comedy Morning News #5: Wednesday Morning Videos edition!"-- check out the Comedy Examiner's daily dose of laughter-inducing news and videos at this page; we run one of these almost every day!
"Which "Inglourious Basterds" star is headed for Oscar gold?"-- find out in this Comedy Examiner report on Quentin Tarantino's WW2 comedy/action flick!
"Which "Inglourious Basterds" star is headed for Oscar gold?"-- in which the Comedy Examiner looks into the rumors surrounding "Inglourious Basterds" star Christoph Waltz. Click the link!
Comments
My girlfriend this Jeff Dunham is hysterical. I have, er, somewhat different tastes. But to each his own I guess.
That was supposed to be "*thinks* Jeff Dunham is hysterical"
Stupid typos. :)
He was funny, once. I sorta liked it the first time I saw him. The next time it was basically the same show. Meh.
Carlos Mencia and Dave Chapelle stereotyping funny but let a white guy do it that it is all of a sudden offensive? They only fail here is the double standard.
I have been a Jeff Dunham fan for several years now. If you don't find him funny then you need to see a doctor and get some help loosening up your sphincter! Maybe if you could walk away from the PC light you might find the humor.
I think the main problem with Jeff Dunham is that you don't have to be remotely intelligent to get his jokes. The better stand up comedians like Mitch Hedberg or Steven Wright can get you to consider the absurd and laugh at it. Dunham isn't even a very talented as far as ventriloquism goes, I'd rather watch Terry Fator.
The guy is a hack and completely unfunny. He is stealing Otto and George's act. Put Otto and George on and you'll have a funny ventriloquist act. This guy sucks like a Hoover on high.
Jeff Dunham is funny. He's every bit as funny as a brain tumor. Hilarious!
Anthony, you do realize that Carlos Mencia is not Mexican and is fact eastern european (white)? You are retarded.
Hey Jim? You do realize Honduras is part of South America, right? So if Carlos Mencia was born there then how can he be a white, eastern European? I guess it takes a retard to know one.
Yes, because the critics have always been spot on on what will and will not succeed. Even more so when you bogart the opinions of others before you even see the bloody show. Instead of taking pot shots at an act that is one of Comedy Central's more successful ones, why don't you go write an article on a subject you actually know, like how to remove ones head from his rectal cavity?
Jeff Dunham makes me laugh just as much as well , noticing my cats been run over by a car
while im here if any of you are interested in watching actual stuff that will make you laugh...check out me and my teams website
www.splifftube.com
obviously for pot smokers but anyone is welcome.
you can upload your own videos for points wich you can exchange in our store . and much much more fun stuff like contests and such :)
Jeff Dunham is very funny. You left leaning sheeple don't
have a funny bone between you. Your the reason this country is going to hell.
Jeff Dunham = Funny
Scott Wampler = Moron
I guess comedy central is just handing out shows to tasteless, no brain talent comedians now?! This man is in NO WAY funny. How bad of an entertainer/comedian are you when you have to bring in puppets to your act? I will give this show half a season before it gets canned.
Oh and way to make this article about a show on comedey central into a political argument Rick.
I listen to comedy on satellite radio all the time. Unfortunately they play Jeff Dunham. All of his characters sound the same. If you want to hear funny, try Lewis Black, Mike Burbiglia, Christopher Titus, or many others. Or try the comics who have sadly passed on - Pryor, Carlin, Hedburg, Hicks. Once you have listened to the truly funny, acts like Dunham's will not attract your interest.
Jeff Dunham is hilarious! But a weekly show? No, it'll get old very quickly. Personally, I don't laugh at any comedians very often. I find them all to over-the-top or just asswipes
I've been hearing promos on XM202 for his show. They play a sound clip where he says "Waaaiiit for it..." and the audience joins in with triumphantly with "I KILL YOU!" like THAT is the bit of comedy gold they've been waiting for all night. Without realizing it, I said "YEEEEEELLLLLLLK!" so loud 2 people in the office asked what was wrong with me.
I say Jeff Dunham can take a long walk off a short pier, that's what I say.
*proofreading FAIL*
The premise is all wrong. It should be about a ventriloquist, not about his puppets. The puppets should be in the background. Revamp the show and add a good family cast. Think of the great dialog between jeff and his father-in-law, who really want Jeff to get a real job. "What, shoving a hand up a puppet's ass is work?"
Jeff could really go with that.
Given the choice between watching Jeff Dunham and taking a crap in my hand and then smearing that crap all over my face, while simultaneously having gay necrobestial oral sex in front of my entire family, I choose the latter.
Just another case of the minority taking over. Only a good ol true American can appreciate this guy. Not many of them left in this country. Keep it up Jeff, Your the only one thats keeping me tuned in to Comedy central these days.
Second worst show, after secret girlfriend. He is a hack that rides one joke, that wasn't even funny to begin with, over and over. I hate him so much.
I'll have to admit it. Jeff Dunham WAS funny. The first time I saw his act. It has become apparent that his jokes NEVER change and they don't get funnier just because he thinks they do. I say this as someone who once genuinely appreciated his act, but then, due to Dunham's incessant lack of comedic evolution or minimal creativity, quickly lost interest. Comedy Central's executives must've drunk too deeply of the Kool-Aid to allow this leaking cesspool to occupy it's airspace.
The first time I saw Achmed the undead terrorist I laughed. The second time I saw him, I watched without any emotion at all. That was the last thing I have ever seen by Dunham and thus I am happy.
The thing is right, he's been doing ventriloquisum since the age of eight, give him a break. He's done good in life, better than any of us, so technically he is funny if he's made this much money! And thats why he has millions of fans and hes done a 60 city tour, yeah unfunny isnt he?
The Jeff Dunham is funny. Where the "fail" comes into play, is Scott Wampler believes (mistakenly) that he knows what comedy is.
I say, Jeff Dunham is an hilarious man. I think people don't like him because he goes onto stage with props. Well, he doesn't have to, because he's funny without the puppets. But most people like more with Achmed, Walter, Jose and Peanut. You must not see the "funny" in the racial jokes, because Jeff isn't racist. People are racist and they're gonna laugh at that. He isn't funny? Well he has about 9 dvds. I may be wrong.
Some people HATE ventriloquists, but honestly he has gone through a lot. He doesn't deserve the hate he's gettting because he really didn't do anything to have it. He said he wanted to do this for the rest of his life since he was in the 4th grade, and it's not very often when someone gets so famous as he is. He has a lot more talent than haters, because the only talent haters have is hating.
The guy is minor league funny for about 15 minutes at best....then he gets simply boring.
He has been doing the exact same bits for like 20 years with no variation or new jokes.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!