Walter, in a shot from a 2007 performance. I don't like picking on big groups of people, I think it's okay to make fun of the one guy that's in office, and when Trump was in office, I had a lot of fun with that. Walter appeared in every Comedy Central special. The puppets Jeff Dunham uses in his acts are a far cry from the Muppets or Sesame Street. By the fourth grade, Dunham decided he not only wanted to be a professional ventriloquist, but the best one ever. Dun-HAM. Walter's response to Jeff telling him that women in Iceland have a life expectancy of ninety to a hundred years? So that's the new character, but he breaks character, and he and I have conversations, and I did that, so he could still be Walter, but then he pretends to be Biden, which is stupid fun. Though the 26-year-old Dunham was elated that his 10-year goal was arriving two years early, McCawley later cancelled Dunham's appearance after attending, with Roseanne Barr, a public performance of Dunham's the day before Dunham's scheduled Tonight Show taping. [15] This concerned his parents, who assumed he would relegate his act to local venues such as church groups. Because that's the perfect time for it again. Way back in 2015 while still in his college days, Grant got his start in the entertainment journalism industry with creator-friendly site Moviepilot until it shuttered nearly three years later. A quick glance of Jeff Dunhams childhood photos reveals the milestones of youthbirthdays, graduations, awkward first dates very awkward first dates. Dunham created the Walter puppet himself, including both the initial sculpture and the silicone mold, though he eventually began using professional effects companies for the latter stages with his subsequent puppets. Sweet Daddy's headstone is featured in the beginning of the special Minding the Monsters. The organizers of the ConVENTion eventually declared Dunham a "retired champion", ineligible from entering any more competitions, as other attendees were too intimidated to compete against him. Votes: 4,076. So, the characters that I use in this special are the ones that have been the mainstays for decades, but then I always try and come up with a new character or two that I think the audience will enjoy. He smiles at the thought that hell always be his mommas precious little accident. Hes a good ol boy who grew up in a trailer park in the famous tornado alley of the South, and currently, hes between jobs. He was nominated "Comedian of the Year" by the TNN Music City News Country Awards,[15] and has drawn praise from the Dallas Morning News for his technique and timing. [42] His autobiography, All By My Selves: Walter, Peanut, Achmed and Me, was published by Dutton in 2010. But I'm not Dave Chappelle and, whether you agree or disagree or whatever, he's not stupid, he's doing comedy that gets attention and headlines and creates controversy. Search instead in Creative? [11][12][14] He is also an aficionado of muscle cars and Apple, Inc. By his next appearance, in Spark of Insanity, he had been modified to have large, blue, crossed eyes. [1], Dunham was heckled and criticized for mocking TV critics during a July 2009 press tour to promote his then-upcoming Comedy Central TV series, The Jeff Dunham Show, as well as Comedy Central programming chief Lauren Correo. Style: Walter Verified Purchase. [57] On October 12, 2012, the couple married. [1], By 2008, Dunham's characters had crossed language barriers, with his specials dubbed for audiences in various countries such as France, and Dunham attracting requests for performances in South Africa, Australia, Norway, Denmark, China, and the Middle East. Both he and Peanut were visibly freaked out when Jeff asked them to stop talking to each other in Spanish, because he couldn't speak Spanish. Jeff Dunham was born on 18 April 1962 in Dallas, Texas, USA. A. ", and when asked if he can stop a bullet like Superman, he responds, "Yeah. The appearance was successful, but Comedy Central resisted giving Dunham more airtime, feeling that he was not a good fit for them. "Neeeee-yooooooow! So sure, there's some edge to it, but hopefully, whatever those things are will go over the kids' heads. Jeff_Dunham_and_Walter_(2007).jpg: Cameron Yee derivative work: User:Zscout370 (Return fire) This is a retouched picture , which means that it has been digitally altered from its original version. So that's how I came up with that. The vehicle for his humor is ventriloquism, and he's very talented. ", "TA DAAAA! He has unkempt orange hair, big bulgy eyes and has a cigarette in one hand. But you can ask a lot of rock'n'roll guys, the guys that go [rock scream]. Actor: Delta Farce. The old curmudgeon who says whatever were afraid to say because he just doesnt care anymore. PHOTOS: Ventriloquist Jeff Dunham's cast of characters . [11], At the end of 1988, Dunham was told by James McCawley, a talent booker for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, that Dunham would be given a spot on the coveted program. Would you say that there's any one character whose voice you find is the hardest to continue to recreate after all this time? While Jeff and the crew are in Abu Dhabi, Walter sees the Arab audience and promptly panics before telling Jeff to not bring out Achmed. On Christmas Day,@AudreyMurdick & I got engaged! So, that's the only thing I dread right before I walk on stage is that there's a big responsibility, and don't screw this up. Dunham was inspired to create Walter when he watched Bette Davis's final appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, giving her honest, unfiltered candor to Walter, and patterning Walter's frown on Dunham's own. Be the first to find out about upcoming shows, new Jeff Dunham gear and more! He was designed by Mad magazine illustrator Tom Richmond. He calls himself a "pimp", which he says stands for "Player In the Management Profession." A best-selling author. He's been married for several decades. [14] He was voted Most Likely to Succeed, and in 1980, after he graduated from high school, Dunham gave himself a career goal of obtaining, within ten years, an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, which was seen as the "holy grail" for comedians. Dunham also starred in The Jeff Dunham Show, a series on the network in 2009. Dunham responded, "I've skewered whites, blacks, Hispanics, Christians, Jews, Muslims, gays, straights, rednecks, addicts, the elderly, and my wife. Finally at the Ice-House in Pasadena in April 1990, after Dunham did the same segment, McCawley informed Dunham that he would finally get his Tonight Show appearance. [1][2][11][14] By mid-2009, Dunham was in a relationship with Audrey Murdick, a certified nutritionist, personal trainer, and competition bodybuilder,[11][14] and on December 25, 2011 they became engaged. or "What are the top Jeff Dunham performances of all time?" Before he. He is the only person ever to win the "Ventriloquist of the Year" Award twice. They have two children. 224 Walter The Puppet Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images FILTERS CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO 224 Walter The Puppet Premium High Res Photos Browse 224 walter the puppet photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images. To teenagers, hes cool, hip, and irreverent. [6] Dunham also does occasional acting roles. [4] One of these was a 1996 episode of Ellen, in which he appeared with Walter. [11] Upon sitting down next to Carson's desk, Dunham pulled out Walter, who told Carson sidekick Ed McMahon, "Stop sending me all your damn mail." [I go] back all the way to comedians like Will Rogers, Bob Hope, and Carson and Leno, where they made fun of whoever was in office and whatever was going on. Jeff Dunham: You know, physically, when I come up with a new character and a new voice, there is a certain range that I have to stay in, so I don't kill myself, because I can do a whole bunch of different voices that are crazy voices. And pronouncing Jeff's name as Jeff-fa-fa. His fourth special, Jeff Dunham: Controlled Chaos, premiered on September 25, 2011, on Comedy Central. Show Walter some love in the comments below.Stream my comedy special, \"Jeff Dunham: Beside Himself\" on Netflix NOW! And he didn't realize he was dead until Jeff told him. When asked about his superhuman powers, he indicates that he has X-ray vision, adding, "I love looking at boobies!" Although he frequently mentions working for Osama Bin Laden, Achmed denies being a Muslim and says "Look at my ass! When Dunham inquires as to how he died, Achmed explains his incompetence with explosives, while also casting aspersions on Dunham's sexual prowess by saying that they both suffer from "premature detonation". Jeff Dunham's "Minding the Monsters" brings together Walter, Peanut, Bubba J, Jose Jalapeno, and Achmed the Dead Terrorist as you've never seen them before! Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available from thestaff@tvtropes.org. Dunham attributes this initial reaction to his underdeveloped comedy, explaining that while the characters' personalities were developed at that point, his jokes were not. [51], Achmed Junior is the estranged son of Achmed. So, this particular one, I said, "I'd love to do it in the fall," and they said, "Let's do it Thanksgiving, like usual," and I was like, "Why not?" He achieved the Guinness Book of World Records record for "Most tickets sold for a stand-up comedy tour" for his Spark of Insanity tour, performing in 386 venues worldwide. Such exposure was elusive until a successful appearance on The Best Damn Sports Show Period, where Dunham and Walter made jokes at the expense of co-hosts Tom Arnold, Michael Irvin, John Salley and John Kruk, generating laughter from them, and giving Dunham much-needed exposure. His experience at Catch a Rising Star in New York City served as a bitter confirmation of where ventriloquists stood in the comedic food chain, as the emcee at that club gave Dunham little respect. Stand-up comedian Jeff Dunham is known for his hilarious characters Walter, Peanut, Achmed the Dead Terrorist, and Jos Jalapeo on a Stick. Dunham has nine record-breaking comedy specials to his credit two were Comedy Centrals most viewed specials of their respective years (Minding the Monsters, 2012; Controlled Chaos, 2011), and his Jeff Dunhams Very Special Christmas Special, 2008; remains the networks highest rated program of all time. [54], Other characters that Dunham has voiced include Little Peanut, a miniature version of Peanut that Dunham has used to counter Peanut's use of Little Jeff;[55] and an unseen worm inside a bottle of tequila, both of which he has used, for example, in his appearance on A&E's An Evening at The Improv. Bubba J likes to say that he has two loves: his country, his beer, and NASCAR. The characters are ordered by the number of votes from funny folks like you, so only the greatest roles played by Jeff Dunham are at the top of the list. So, when I was a kid, there was a certain design of troll that was really appealing to me, and that was the stereotypical troll. [11], In a 2014 show in Malaysia, the government requested that he not use or name Achmed in his show. . In Spark of Insanity the audience learns several things about Achmed. . He says he is afraid of Walter, partially because he's "one mean son of a bitch" and finds Walter's flatulence to be more potent than Saddam Hussein's mustard gas. On March 28, 2014, Country Music Television premiered Achmed Saves America, an animated film starring Achmed the Dead Terrorist. TVTropes is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. See more ideas about jeff dunham, jeff dunham walter, sarcastic quotes funny. [31][32] Dunham has conceded that he does exhibit particular sensitivity to the "conservative country crowd" or those characterized by "basic Christian values", as they are one of his largest constituencies, and part of his upbringing. I keel you!" It served not only to cement Dunham's stardom, but to introduce his most controversial character, Achmed the Dead Terrorist, which became a viral Internet sensation. Do you think the bestJeff Dunham character isn't as high as it should be? All the songs, with the exception of "Jingle Bombs", were written and accompanied by Brian Haner, who joined Dunham's act as "Guitar Guy". Self-described as a comic genius, Peanut is sure to make everyone laugh. Jeff Dunham, the only child of a real estate appraiser and homemaker, raised in a Dallas suburb, at the age of 9 received a toy ventriloquist dummy for Christmas, began to practice, and started dreaming of characters who could say what nobody else would dare. He is a Vietnam War veteran and a former welder, and "doesn't give a damn" about anyone, especially his own wife and certain audience members. I'm considering renaming Achmed 'Bill'", he added. Hes frenzied and fast, naughty but lovable, manic and unendingly energetic. Dunham was inspired to create Walter when he watched Bette Davis's final appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, giving her honest, unfiltered candor to Walter, and patterning Walter's frown on Dunham's own. These early experiences, in which he used characters like Jos Jalapeo on a Stick, taught him the value of modifying his act regionally, as the jalapeo jokes that worked well in Texas were not as well received by audiences in Long Island. http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/JeffDunham. Grant Hermanns is a News Editor, Interviewer and Hiring Manager for Screen Rant, having joined the team in early 2021. It included a fourth stand-up special to air in 2010, DVDs, a consumer products partnership, a 60-city tour beginning in September 2010, and an order for a television series called The Jeff Dunham Show that premiered on October 22, 2009. Be the first to find out about upcoming shows, new Jeff Dunham gear and more! In late 2006, Comedy Central aired Arguing with Myself, drawing two million viewers when it aired,[1] and selling two million DVDs. Now that Biden is in office, I think he's fair game, and I have the luxury of having had a lot of time on stage, and a lot of fans have grown with me, so I have a really loyal fan base, and they know what they're getting. [11], In addition to his comedy specials, Dunham also released his first music album, Don't Come Home for Christmas, on November 4, 2008. Everyone knows someone like this in your own family, or where you work. The Daily Show doesn't have any politics that line up with whatever I do, but I don't try and pick a side. Comedy Central, they want people that will create ratings for them, and I have some great records there, and I think I might not be their first choice in brand of entertainment, but I think they have some executives in there now who recognize that numbers are numbers, and it doesn't matter where those numbers are coming from. Larry is constantly on edge and is implied to be unnerved for having worked with Trump for "four hours". It says 'Made in China'!" [9][10][11] When he was three months old, he was adopted by real estate appraiser Howard Dunham, and his homemaker wife Joyce, who raised him in a devoutly Presbyterian household[11] in an affluent Dallas neighborhood, as an only child. Jeff dunham Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. Trust us, even the hardest core fans won't be disappointednothing . He is an actor and writer, known for Delta Farce (2007), Jeff Dunham: Spark of Insanity (2007) and Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas Special (2008). Also, when I wrote this, and then of course when I performed it, and then in the editing, I have 7-year-old twin boys, and I wanted them to be able to sit down and watch it without any worries. Best Comedy Stand Up Specials On Amazon Prime Right Now, The 10 Best Stand-Up Specials On Netflix, According To Rotten Tomatoes. Achmed was, of course, one of the ones that got me hooked on you in the first place. He has a brash, negative and often sarcastic view on today's world. According to Sweet Daddy, because he is a pimp, that makes Jeff the "ho". Next: The 10 Best Stand-Up Specials On Netflix, According To Rotten Tomatoes. Melvin wears a blue superhero costume, and is used to poke fun at superheroes. To maintain a connection with his fan base, he would use question cards that he had audiences fill out for his performances to build a database, which was tailor-made for the burgeoning World Wide Web. But I think this is one of the more safe ones where people can sit down and listen to it with grandma and the kids and not worry about it, but at the same time will still be entertained by some contemporary stuff. This is a list of Jeff Dunham characters and puppets, ranked from best to worst along with clips when available. [11] He would also fly around the country on weekends,[1] doing up to 100 private shows a year,[11] entertaining corporate customers such as General Electric, whose CEO, Jack Welch, he mocked during his routine. [citation needed]. Dunham has assembled some of his most iconic characters for Me the People, including Walter . All structured data from the file namespace is available under the. Jeff lampshades this during All Over the Map, where he's flabbergasted by the insane popularity Achmed's brought him . [56], Dunham met his first wife, Paige Brown, at the Comedy Corner in West Palm Beach, Florida. Jeff Dunham: Me the People premieres on Comedy Central on November 25 at 8 p.m. CST. [1], His style has been described as "a dressed-down, more digestible version of Don Rickles with multiple personality disorder". According to the concert industry publication Pollstar, he is the top-grossing standup act in North America and among the most successful acts in Europe as well. You mention the live videos showing how you put it together, but what was going through your mind in designing the look of Url? Walter appeared in every Comedy Central special. Show Slide Information Comedian Jeff Dunham's puppets include the old curmudgeon Walter, Achmed the Dead Terrorist, Jose Jalapeno on a Stick, the high energy Peanut and redneck Bubba J, as of 2015. Dunham sculpted the current version of Melvin's head himself, and hired an effects company called Renegade Effects Groups to create the rubber mold and complete the puppet, before then installing the mechanics himself. [Chuckles] But I don't do that, I've always said, and as you probably were hinting at, I've always said that if you're offending a tiny percentage, maybe three 3-5 percent of the audience, that you're probably on the right track, because whatever it is that those people are upset about is what everybody else is laughing the hardest at. https://abc7.ws/2QOaUHt Melvin's first onscreen appearance was in the July 2003 Comedy Central Presents episode, in which he had small, black, beady eyes. "Achmed the dead terrorist and humor in popular geopolitics" by Darren Purcell, Melissa Scott Brown and Mahmut Gokmen, Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas Special, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Jeff Dunham throws his voice into stardom", "Jeff Dunham and Friends have found a Home at Comedy Central signing a Multi-Platform Deal to Encompass all Areas of Entertainment", "Most tickets sold for a stand-up comedy tour", "Kevin Hart Is On Track for the Biggest Comedy Tour of All Time", "Clip of Dunham from an episode of the CMT TV series, Jeff Dunham. He is known for yelling, "Silence! Dunham has missed only one ConVENTion since then, in 1977. When Dunham agrees that this is the case, Daddy Dee says "You a ho."