Jeff Dunham: Controlled Chaos

Jeff Dunham: Controlled Chaos is a stage performance of comedian and ventriloquist Jeff Dunham. The show was taped in Landmark Theater, Richmond, Virginia, USA on June 3 and 4, 2011. The DVD was released on 25 September 2011 within the United States and 7 November 2011 in the United Kingdom.[1] Controlled Chaos was one of the top 5 most-viewed programs on Comedy Central,[2] premiering in front of an estimated 8.3 million viewers.[3]

Jeff Dunham: Controlled Chaos
GenreComedy
Written byJeff Dunham
Directed by
  • Michael Simon
  • Matthew McNeil (segment director)
StarringJeff Dunham
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
  • Judi Brown-Marmel
  • Jeff Dunham
  • Robert Hartmann
  • Steve Kroopnick
  • Stu Schreiberg
Production locationsRichmond, Virginia, United States
CinematographyJames Markham Hall Jr. (listed as Jamie Hall)
EditorMatthew McNeil
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time97 mins
Production companyLevity Productions
Original release
NetworkComedy Central
ReleaseSeptember 25, 2011 (2011-09-25)
Related

The Telegraph rated the DVD release 2/5 stars, calling Dunham's ventriloquist skills "impressive" but found some of his jokes neither appropriate nor funny. They also noted that, while the start of the show is relatively family-friendly, with Dunham discussing his childhood, the more show progresses the less family friendly it becomes.[4]

Characters

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  • Walter - A grumpy old Vietnam War veteran with an attitude who frequently complains about his wife.
  • Achmed the Dead Terrorist - The skeletal corpse of an incompetent suicide bomber, whom Dunham uses to satirize the contemporary issue of terrorism.
  • Achmed Jr - The estranged son of Achmed. Controlled Chaos was his first onscreen appearance.
  • Peanut - A purple woozle from Micronesia described by Walter as "a frickin' Muppet on crack." He wears one red Converse shoe on his left foot. In the first and second specials, he mocks José's accent, and his status on a stick, saying, "Maybe it was a horrible pogo accident. You know, doing-doing.... crriccck! Olé!"
  • José Jalapeño on a Stick - a jalapeño pepper on a stick, or "steek" as he says it with a Hispanic accent.
  • Little Jeff - A miniature east coast version of Jeff himself. He appeared in Jeff Dunham: Controlled Chaos as a puppet that Peanut used when trying to do ventriloquism like Jeff.
  • Bubba J - In Jeff's own words, "Pretty much just white-trash trailer-park." He talks about NASCAR and his love of beer. Though not actually featured in Dunham's live stage performance, Bubba J appears as the security guard stationed in the theater's vestibule to watch for Achmed's arrival; he attempts to park Achmed's hot-rod roadster, but in his greatly-inebriated state, only succeeds in blowing the car sky-high.

Certifications and sales

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[5]
DVD
5× Platinum 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Dunham, Jeff; McNeil, Matthew (2011-09-25), Jeff Dunham: Controlled Chaos, retrieved 2017-03-23
  2. ^ Blair, Iain (2017-09-21). "Walk of Fame Honoree Jeff Dunham Opens Up About His Constant Reinvention". Variety. Retrieved 2017-10-04.
  3. ^ staff, Deanna Darr Journal. "Jeff Dunham brings eclectic cast of characters to civic center". Rapid City Journal Media Group. Retrieved 2017-10-04.
  4. ^ Bowie-Sell, Daisy (2011-11-22). "Jeff Dunham: Controlled Chaos, DVD review". ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2017-10-04.
  5. ^ "American video certifications – Jeff Dunham – Controlled Chaos". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
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