All Over the Map

Ventriloquism is a very specific format, but Jeff Dunham spent 2014 hauling his foam cast across five continents to see how well it travels. All Over the Map functions as a hybrid travelogue and stand-up broadcast, capturing a massive global tour where the novelty lies in seeing how different cultures react to American trailer park stereotypes and a grumpy retiree. The focus is less on a single cohesive hour of new material and more on the sheer logistical scale of taking puppets on an international road trip.

Filmed across ten countries including Iceland, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and South Africa, the special highlights the friction of exporting comedy. When Malaysian officials demanded the removal of Achmed the Dead Terrorist due to religious sensitivities, Dunham simply swapped the skeleton’s turban for a beret and renamed him Jacques Merde.

Arriving after a string of highly successful DVD releases for Comedy Central, the broadcast shows a comic at the peak of his touring stamina. Walter, Bubba J, and Peanut run through their familiar routines in front of distinctly different crowds, testing which premises work in London versus Abu Dhabi.