The Jeff Dunham Show

[Rhinox]

Meh

[Kyo]

I really enjoyed it, Ive liked all the stuff he's done this far.

[Aerin]

I plan on watching it when I can. I like certain parts of his stand up, some characters I didn't find funny there, but Peanut is awesome.

[archibaldcrane]

Well, I'm glad the reviews (from BG) are as mixed as I expected.

One weird thing that I don't think people are picking up on about this show - it's....a scripted/reality hybrid show. I know that in the intro Dunham talks about "taking these guys out into the real world" but...that's...actually what happened.

For example, the therapist they go to is actually a real couples counselor. The gun range instructor is...actually the guy that works at the gun range near LAX. While Jeff and the character he's working with would have lines, they'd have jokes they'd try to get across, the show is just as much about the improvisations that occur between the "reality players" and the cast.

When it's all said and done, I don't know if that helps or hurts the comedy, but that's the thrust of the "real world" segments. I worry that it's getting lost on everybody, but I'm not sure how we would do it differently to make it ...more obvious, I guess?

I dunno.

[Day]

Well, I'm glad the reviews (from BG) are as mixed as I expected.

One weird thing that I don't think people are picking up on about this show - it's....a scripted/reality hybrid show. I know that in the intro Dunham talks about "taking these guys out into the real world" but...that's...actually what happened.

For example, the therapist they go to is actually a real couples counselor. The gun range instructor is...actually the guy that works at the gun range near LAX. While Jeff and the character he's working with would have lines, they'd have jokes they'd try to get across, the show is just as much about the improvisations that occur between the "reality players" and the cast.

When it's all said and done, I don't know if that helps or hurts the comedy, but that's the thrust of the "real world" segments. I worry that it's getting lost on everybody, but I'm not sure how we would do it differently to make it ...more obvious, I guess?

I dunno.

I have to ask though, like the gun instructor for example, there's no way those were his honest reactions, like how could you not look at that puppet saying cock and not crack a smile.... so did you have to do several takes to keep him straight faced even though he was a real gun instructor? Same with the therapist, he stayed so straight faced etc, that it took away from any "reality" that was supposed to be there, I think that's part of what made it kind of weird for me.

[Headspace]

Walter's his only good character, the others are too much of the same and rely on the same jokes/punchlines.

[archibaldcrane]

I have to ask though, like the gun instructor for example, there's no way those were his honest reactions, like how could you not look at that puppet saying cock and not crack a smile.... so did you have to do several takes to keep him straight faced even though he was a real gun instructor? Same with the therapist, he stayed so straight faced etc, that it took away from any "reality" that was supposed to be there, I think that's part of what made it kind of weird for me.

There's definitely times where the reality players will crack up and break the scene that we have to cut around - but then again we cut around all kinds of stuff. For every joke you see, there's usually 4 we have to cut for time. My first cut of the scene where Bubba J is learning gun safety...man...it's such a shame. Bubba J is asking the guy if they can put live turkeys on the range and shit and the instructor is just so...dispassionate in explaining that there can be "nothing moving around" out there, only paper - some of those bits I found completely fucking hilarious but we had to cut them for time.

As far as the gun range goes, that guy was actually pretty stone-faced and humorless which made him a great reality player - we basically want people to just do their job and treat the characters like they are human, not get caught up in "but it's a puppet!" The therapist is also a good mark for this - his defiance about Walter trying to get him to admit to having a wife is genuine. (Although, for anyone who has fully explored my oeuvre, they might recognize the therapist from a similar segment in Mr. Justice and Powerful Girl, which was produced by the same writer team as this show.)

There are moments when the reality people lose it, in the coming weeks the most extreme situation of that is in a Bubba J hypnotist scene - the entire room completely loses their shit, cameramen, Jeff, everyone - but when that happens it's scene-breaking and not included. The "accidental comedy" is at it's best when the reality players just treat the characters like they are people, and the comedy springs from the ridiculousness of the characters actions with people who treat them seriously.

Or that's the idea I guess.

[Day]

I think a lot of us would like the "scene breaking" to be honest. I understand the idea behind it, and the interaction is funny as the people attempt to treat the puppet as a human. I think the show will do well imo. I know a lot of people are way more into him than I am, and I was entertained.

[kuronosan]

I enjoy Jeff Dunham, but I don't know about giving him his own show. It seems like Comedy Central is just trying to capitalize on Dave Chapelle's success by giving every funny comedian on their network a show.

[Souj]

I enjoy Jeff Dunham, but I don't know about giving him his own show. It seems like Comedy Central is just trying to capitalize on Dave Chapelle's success by giving every funny comedian on their network a show.

of course they are. they want to make money and they'll take every accessible short cut to reach said goal. look at all the other networks and their shows. Survivor XIICMII, 24 season 12. even movies. Saw 6, Saw Mother Fuckin SIX!
you can't put that blame on Jeff Dunham. You can blame him for his clothes and haircut tho. he should dress more his age lol

[Mizango]

Archi go sign my FB page! I need to further cultivate my groupie crop.

[archibaldcrane]

Lulz.

The series debut of The Jeff Dunham Show Oct. 23 was the highest-rated series premiere in Comedy Central history, the network says. The show drew 5.3 million total viewers, including 3 million adults 18-49. The premiere led Comedy to its highest-rated and most-watched night of the year.

This is the second network record broken by comedian and ventriloquist Dunham, whose 2008 Christmas special was the most-watched program ever for Comedy, drawing 6.6 million viewers.


For comparison, another of Comedy's hits, The Sarah Silverman Program, debuted in February, 2007 and drew 1.8 million total viewers, though it was at 10:30 p.m., later than Dunham's 9 p.m. debut.

An absolutely dominant number for Comedy Central.

[Souj]

Congratulations! you get to keep your job awhile longer!
not my cup of tea, but it's apparently a lot of other peoples.

[archibaldcrane]

Slow your roll, they haven't picked up more episodes yet.

Usually that would happen after episode 2's ratings. Hopefully it doesn't drop off a cliff.

[Souj]

guess that's the smart thing to do. I had the channel on the whoel time, but stopped watching it half way through myself lol

[Headspace]

I couldn't take it after Achmed's part.

[archibaldcrane]

I couldn't take it after Achmed's part.

In my opinion, the premiere had the weakest Achmed (both the standup comedy DVD segment and the stage material) in the entire season. I was very surprised they picked that segment for the premiere, considering how Achmed is by far the highest-profile character Dunham has.

[Headspace]

idk why, Walter is the only thing worth watching in dunhams bit. Should be voiced by Frank Barone

[archibaldcrane]

Walter is my favorite character as well, although I do kinda love Jose the Jalepeno (mainly because I think the "sleepy mexican" stereotype is kind of hilarious). Jose has a very limited role in the show, I think he's only in two segments and he's not the star of either of them.

[Shojin]

Tried to watch it, had to turn it off 3/4 of the way in. Didn't even make me crack a smile, do adults really find him funny? Editing was fine though from what I could tell.