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Book Review: All By My Selves, by Jeff Dunham
In his autobiography All By My Selves — Walter, Peanut, Achmed, and Me (2010, Dutton), comedian Jeff Dunham tells how he discovered ventriloquism at age eight, and details much of his stand-up comedy life for the next 40-something years.
Who’s this Dunham dude?
Focused entertainer Jeff Dunham has reached many of his career goals, yet strives for more, and he stresses their importance in the book. The most prevalent and far-reaching is his ongoing quest to prove to the entertainment industry and the world in general that working with dummies (called “figures” in the business) does not have to be low man on the comedy totem pole anymore.
Having been inspired by Edgar Bergen, among others, Dunham believes ventriloquists can hold their own in today’s stand-up comedy medium. He makes no bones about his dealings with those who looked down on ventriloquism — folks like other comics, club owners, and television producers.
Puppetry aside, Dunham explains that his “equal opportunity” style of comedy pokes fun at everyone, and he developed his jokes and onstage friendships for the Average Joe. He thrives on edgy comedy, and he knows creating new material and pushing the…
