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NBC gives ventriloquist Jeff Dunham a primetime special in September 2015

While most comedians are angling for solo hour specials on Comedy Central, Netflix, HBO, Showtime or EPIX, Jeff Dunham and his dummies are headed straight for primetime network TV, lining up an hour on NBC at the end of summer 2015.

“Jeff Dunham: Unhinged in Hollywood,” will air Thursday, Sept. 17 (8-9 p.m. ET, PT), on NBC.

The ventriloquist started a Vegas residency at Planet Hollywood after wrapping his latest world tour. Dunham’s special, though, will tape Aug. 19 and Aug. 22 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Calif., aka the home of the Academy Awards. Country music starĀ Brad Paisley, SNL alum Chris Parnell and former UFC champ Chuck Liddell all are scheduled to make guest appearances with Dunham. The hour also will include new stand-up from Dunham and backstage sketches with him and his ventriloquist puppet dummies (which he’d used as the basis for a one-and-done season on Comedy Central, previously).

“NBC has been very good to me over the years,” said Dunham, “and it’s a true honor to have a special on the network. ‘Walter’ said he’s looking forward to performing again in the showbiz/divorce capital of the world.”

One of his earliest big breaks came courtesy of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson late-night on NBC with Walter in tow.

The special will be also be available to own on Blu-ray and DVD later in the year and will include additional stand-up footage from the tapings. It will mark Dunham’s first full-length stand-up performance to be released on DVD in more than three years.

No word on whether Achmed the Dead Terrorist will appear on the show, or whether he, too, has defected to ISIS.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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One thought on “NBC gives ventriloquist Jeff Dunham a primetime special in September 2015

  1. If I have a day then I’m down you bring me up Jeff keep going! If you are blocked online for any reason try PureVPN for unlimited access.

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