Relative Disaster

Jeff Dunham takes his brand of ventriloquism across the Atlantic to Dublin, attempting to trace his family tree through a lineup of wooden puppets. Filmed at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, the hour marks Dunham’s debut on Netflix, joining the late-2010s migration of network-TV staples moving to streaming platforms. The change of venue and platform allows him to work with slightly fewer filters than his previous Comedy Central and NBC runs. It also provides the excuse to introduce Seamus, a diaper-wearing baby puppet who drinks whiskey and loudly voices his political opinions.

Between the puppet routines, Dunham performs solo stand-up focusing on his late-in-life experience raising young twin sons. The core of the show remains his usual roster. Walter grumbles about his wife and the contemporary political climate, while Peanut and Achmed the Dead Terrorist trade insult comedy with their creator. The Dublin performance coincided with a massive global tour and Dunham receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, cementing his status as a giant of live comedy even as critics debated the staying power of his caricatures.