Comedian Jeff Dunham breathes life and humanity into quirky puppet sidekicks
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Jeff Dunham might be the star of his show, but he wouldn’t be as big without his puppet friends.
The comedian-ventriloquist has become an arena-filling headliner, thanks to his wisecracking relationships with hand-crafted, hand-held antagonists, such as curmudgeonly Walter, hyperactive Peanut and Achmed the Dead Terrorist.
Dunham, in the Guinness World Records for Most Tickets Sold for a Stand-up Comedy Tour, has performed 11 television specials, including his latest, streaming on Comedy Central since Nov. 25.
Sandler sings:Adam Sandler to bring stand-up and song routine to Nationwide Arena in February
Dunham, who visited the Schottenstein Center in 2014 and 2019, spoke in advance of his Dec. 30 return there.
What do you like about Columbus, the third stop of your tour?
I love that part of the country. I have great appreciation for Ohio, going all the way back to my comedy club days ... in the mid-1970s. I garnered a good following in the Funny Bone chain of clubs, with great fans, and every 18 months I’d come back. It’s a no-brainer. Why wouldn’t you go where people like you?
Why is your tour named 'Still Not Canceled'?
I thought it was funny, but hopefully, it also lets people know that I’m very aware of what’s happening out in society and what can also easily happen to someone, very quickly. It’s self-awareness, I think.
How important is free speech to comedy?
The debate on what free speech actually is, or should be, will continue ... but a good comedian knows how far to push the commentary and jokes before it’s truly too far for too many. In my act, I never attempt to school the audience with political diatribes. A lot of other comics, however, pick a side and then will call anyone with an opposing viewpoint an idiot. I think that’s a mistake. I try to make fun of who’s currently in office and who’s in the news but then dole it out as evenly as possible.
Why’d you pick Walter to portray the president?
For years, people have said how much Walter looks like Biden, so we embrace that. Walter puts on the sunglasses and suit and pretends it's Biden, an old guy doing old-guy things. That way he can talk out of character and still be Walter.
I made fun of Trump when he was in office ... and now it’s Mr. Biden’s turn.
'Jokers' wild:Stars of ‘Impractical Jokers’ to visit Value City Arena on June 2
Now that you’re almost 60, has your relationship with Walter evolved?
It was "young man/old man" when I started out with Walter in college. Then I got married, got kids, divorced, then married again and had more kids, so our relationship has changed over time.
Is Achmed the Dead Terrorist still relevant?
One of Achmed’s newer points is that he feels he’s becoming not important anymore, and he’s trying to become scarier. With all the politics in the news, he thinks other things are scarier.
How do you relate to Peanut, your manic sidekick?
The new bit is the epitome of how I deal with him. Peanut is a pesky nuisance. He’s that annoying guy you love but can’t live without, but like a dog, constantly all over you, biting and pulling.
What inspires your newer puppets?
I try to respond to what’s going on with the world. ... Whatever people are talking about, that’s what I make fun of.
I’ve created a younger guy, in conflict and in a generation gap with older me. He relies too much on his smartphone, actually typing and looking down on his phone the whole time I’m talking to him. We had a naming contest and named him Earl, for URL.
Who’s your oldest character?
My oldest is José Jalapeño, a bit like Speedy Gonzales. When I put him out of the show for several years, people were really upset. So many Hispanic people came to me to say how much they like him, so he remains.
Peanut and I argue about this: “So you think it’s racist if I keep José in the show. So, what if I take him out of the show?”... “Then that’s discrimination.”
Classic comedy reflected ethnic and class stereotypes, but today, that’s out of fashion, to put it mildly. How do audiences respond to your interplay with José or NASCAR-loving, beer-drinking Bubba J?
One of the differences is these guys are every bit as smart as anyone else in the show. I’m not degrading anyone; these guys are celebrated and adored. The rednecks love Bubba J, this goofy redneck guy.
Is it sad to retire a character?
No, it’s usually like: “Whew, that’s enough of that!” I love being onstage with a new character and getting new laughs. If a character starts to wane, then I just let him go.
Chappelle's show:Comedian Dave Chappelle to bring standup act to Value City Arena on New Year's Eve
What’s the secret of your success?
I love what I do because it’s point and counterpoint. The two essential ingredients in comedy are tension and conflict. If there are two people onstage, one can talk one side and I can argue the other side.
That’s what creates the life and humanity in the characters, when we can have the acting and reacting. It’s not just a guy drinking water and throwing his voice, but actual relationships up there.
@mgrossberg1
At a glance
Jeff Dunham will perform at 7 p.m. Dec. 30 at the Schottenstein Center, 555 Borror Drive. Tickets start at $52.50. (schottensteincenter.com)
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Comedian-ventriloquist Jeff Dunham to perform Dec. 30 at Schottenstein
