If you're a fan of ventriloquist and Funniest Comedian in America, Jeff Dunham (and if you don't know who that is, WTF if wrong with you?!?!) you'll get a kick out of his latest release: Minding the Monsters. Where his Suitcase Posse are dressed up in costumes of things that scare them the most--well, one does. Walter is Crankenstein (Cranky Frakenstein's Monster; he was going to come as a Catholic priest because that did scare him as a kid, but that "would offend the Mexicans." Hey! I'm part-Mexican!) while Bubba J is Beer-cula (a beer-sucking white-trash vampire, who was going to come as a ghost but "Someone backstage told me a redneck in a white sheet was a bad idea."). Peanut and José Jalapeño-on-a-Steek are Batnut and Ruben, and Achmed the Dead Terrorist is an American woman, a play on the not-entirely-inaccurate stereotype of severe patriarchal (and misogynistic) attitudes in the Middle East, which he fears for "Being able to vote." AJ (Achmed, Jr.) makes a cameo at the introduction. Little Jeff also makes an appearance as Batnut's archenemy, The Loser. The latter two were introduced in Controlled Chaos, which is not available streaming on Netflix (yet).
Some of the normal characterizations are not there because even the dummies are in character. So no "Silence! I keel you!" or other familiar phrases. It does come across as a little stilted, but it's still going to make you laugh. I do recommend listening to the dog stories before Jeff gets to the puppets, especially the one about his new Jack Russel Terrier. It's almost as funny as the little guys in suitcases. And do pay special attention to Peanut's (Batnut's?) double entendres about the names of candy. It'll make you think twice about dipping into the bowl.
