An Unusual Talent

Jeff Dunham is a stand-up comedian, but he uses a technique that is quite uncommon. He is a ventriloquist, which is where a person can produce sounds from that mouth that sound like they are coming from another origin. In Jeff Dunham's skit, he uses several different puppets, but the example I am using involves two of the puppets whose names are Peanut and Jose the Jalepeno. Peanut is a purple, spastic, very energetic puppet, while Jose the Jalepeno is on a stick and has a strong Spanish accent, is quite relaxed and also can speak Spanish at times. Dunham uses his uncommon abilities to be comic. He talks for three different characters at the stage all in consecutive sentences, and he does not loose the different styles of talking each character has, including himself. For example, Dunham is asking Peanut and Jose questions and they are both replying. He switches voices very fluently without making it obvious he is the one talking for the puppets. This is very humorous to watch because the two puppets are not real, yet Dunham talks for them so fluently the audience gets caught in the speech for the puppets and the acting. I personally forget he is speaking for the puppets for periods of time when the skit is being performed. One of the funniest aspects of Dunham's skit is when he is arguing for the two puppets and they start talking in Spanish. Dunham then tells them to stop talking in Spanish and they both turn and look at him in a very questioning tone. This is really humorous because everyone knows he is talking for the puppets but he tries to act like he is not. Dunham is a great performer because he can talk in so many different accents at consecutive times. It is just as amazing to watch him do his skits as it is funny.