I am a big fan of ComedyCentral.com and try to catch as many of the stand-up comedians as possible, but one of my all-time favorites has got to be Jeff Dunham.

Jeff is a ventriloquist who can "throw" his voice into multiple characters, personalities and various accents. Some of the previous ventriloquists have not been funny to watch, but Jeff has given a life to each of his characters puppets so much that you would think that they are real individuals. He even has his puppets argue with himself (effectively titling one of his tours, "Arguing With Myself").

The quickness he delivers his arguments between himself and his puppets is so remarkable that one would not think that he is doing both voices. Not only does he provide the voice, accent, movements and personality of his seven of so characters, but in one second he can be talking as normal and the next he has "thrown" his voice a foot from his throat so that it seems to the audience that the puppet is actually talking.

Jeff is even able to "throw" his voice so you can hear other characters from backstage or even in a suitcase (as in the case of random comments from Walter or Jose). Jeff also sometimes speaks Spanish in his acts, although it's always through his puppets and argues with his puppets that they should not speak Spanish in his act (because it makes him feel left out, since he doesn't speak Spanish). The witty humor that echoes through his characters is very cleverly intertwined with his ability to make it seem as if he, Jeff, is laughing at all the jokes his characters (or he, himself, if you want to look at it that way) say during their appearance. Once again, the audience gets the feeling that the characters are alive and actually saying the lines themselves, while Jeff asks them questions and laughs at "their" humor.

If there is a funnier, more talented comedian today, I have yet to see him.

Jeff and his characters have been in action since 1990. His lineup includes the following characters:

• Peanut, a purple woozle with a small tuft of green hair on his head, and only one shoe.
  
• Walter, a retired and grumpy old man with arms always crossed in discontent
  
• Jose Jalapeño, a jalapeño pepper with a Mexican personality, a sombrero, and a mustache
  
• Bubba J, a white trash redneck who loves beer and NASCAR
  
• Achmed the Dead Terrorist, a wisecracking skeleton with a beard and a white turban
  
• Melvin the Super Hero, a super hero who claims he'd be more of a superhero if it weren't for his large nose and small stature

Jeff's website can be found at jeffdunham.com or watch the following videos on youtube:


Peanut (3 parts)


Walter (3 parts)


Jose Jalapeño


Bubba J


Achmed the Dead Terrorist


Melvin the Super Hero