Quite the character(s)

By John Benson

Ventriloquist Jeff Dunham continues to make his voice heard in comedy

The comedian is coming to the Covelli Centre on Thursday.

What a year it’s been for comedian/ventriloquist Jeff Dunham.

After receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews for his second DVD, “Spark of Insanity,” the funnyman released “Jeff Dunham’s A Very Special Christmas Special,” which ended up being the most-watched telecast in Comedy Central history. In addition, the accompanying DVD sold more than 400,000 copies.

The success just keeps coming. Dunham will get his own television show later this month.

“‘The Jeff Dunham Show’ debuts on Comedy Central on Oct. 22, and we’re very excited,” he said in a brief e-mail interview. “It’s a half-hour comedy-reality series that takes [puppet characters] Walter, Peanut, Bubba J and Achmed out on the streets in real-world scenarios as well as in front of a live studio audience.”

Dunham had earlier become an Internet sensation with a politically incorrect clip from his 2007 “Spark of Insanity” DVD, in which Achmed, discussed suicide bombings and uttered his signature line, “Silence! I kill you!” Viewed 90 million times, it is one of the most-watched clips on YouTube. In his new show, Achmed will try to sign up new recruits at an actual job fair.

As hard as it may be to conceive, this stand-up and ventriloquist veteran — who Forbes Magazine said earned $30 million over the past year — appears poised to enter into an even bigger orbit with his cast of characters.

So what’s next for Jeff Dunham? And perhaps more importantly, will any new characters become part of the act?

“No new character in my trunk, but Guitar Guy is a great new addition to the show,” Dunham said. “And I’ll have my new book ‘All By My Selves: Walter, Peanut, Achmed, and Me’ published in the spring of 2010.”

Dunham got his start in his native Dallas where comedy became his focus when he was very young. By the age of 12, he taught himself ventriloquism and even met the legendary Edgar Bergen of Charlie McCarthy fame.

A decade passed before the sharp-witted comedian dove head first into a career in show business. After a memorable appearance on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,” Dunham started touring nationally and in many ways hasn’t stopped.

This includes numerous shows in Northeast Ohio and Youngstown. Dunham last visited the city in March 2008 when he performed at Stambaugh Auditorium.

The 47-year-old comedy star will return Thursday for a sold-out show at Covelli Centre.

“I’ve been performing in Youngstown for many years, and the fans are some of the best in the country,” Dunham said.

So what should people expect from the upcoming arena concert?

“My show has no socially redeeming value whatsoever,” Dunham said. “You’re not going to learn anything. All you’re going to do is have a big goofy time and escape your problems for a while.”