Who said ventriloquism isn't cool? You know, other than everybody.
Despite terrible reviews, The Jeff Dunham Show premiered on Comedy Central last Thursday to record ratings, attracting 5.3 million U.S. viewers. According to the Hollywood Reporter, it was the most-watched series premiere in the network's history -- and if you include the ratings for the replay aired the same night, the show was seen by 7.9 million viewers. (Dunham previously broke ratings records with his comedy special last year.)
It's unhappy news for television critics, who seemed to have panned the ventriloquism sketch show across the board.
"As the dummies spout predictable jokes, most of them revolving around racial stereotypes, Dunham stands by looking like a smirking Kiefer Sutherland," wrote the Boston Globe's critic.
"Dunham's main wrinkle appears to be that the dummies have been updated for a red-state audience,” wrote Variety. "From the curmudgeonly Walter -- who gripes 'You're on TV. There's a black guy in the White House,' as a sign the world's going to hell -- to Achmed the dead terrorist, who gets the audience to chant 'I kill you' along with him."
Added the Washington Post: "Jeff Dunham? Readers, I'm stumped. … Not only is it deadeningly unfunny, it also defies all the known constructs of television criticism. I simply have no idea why it's on."
The Jeff Dunham Show premieres in Canada on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 10 p.m. ET on The Comedy Network.
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