# Ventriloquism: I don't get it **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 16, 2011, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ventriloquism-i-dont-get-it/592923 "2011-08-16T17:47:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ventriloquism-i-dont-get-it/592923/41 "2011-08-17T16:57:04Z")
Yeh, I don’t like ventriloquists either. People around me are cracking up while I just sit there with a raised eyebrow, and while sometimes a certain gag can be funny or amusing, it’s kind of annoying actually. And creepy. I guess I like my standup to be more raw and dark. Puppets are intrinsically goofy. And catch phrases? Nuh-uh. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ventriloquism-i-dont-get-it/592923/42 "2011-08-17T17:43:50Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > Terry Fator has also been doing pretty well with the puppets, although they’re not so much the point of the act as a backdrop for his singing abilities. Though it did lead to one of the funnier puppet jokes I’ve seen: > > Terry: “Hang on, let me get a drink.” _sip_ > Puppet: “Hey, can I have one too?” > Terry: “Sure.” _sip_ > Puppet: [beat] “Jackass.” I love Vicki the Cougar talking about her 21 year old poolboy. “Do you know how many times 21 goes into 49? Repeatedly…” ETA: SWMBO just breaks down crying when he does Winston performing Kermit and himself performing Satchmo and they sing What A Wonderful World. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ventriloquism-i-dont-get-it/592923/43 "2011-08-17T17:57:31Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > In fact, the better they are, the more likely you can actually even see their lips move. I haven’t found this to be true, in my experience. Although I would probably agree that the funniest puppeteers aren’t really ventriloquists. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ventriloquism-i-dont-get-it/592923/44 "2011-08-17T20:18:19Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > The only thing I wonder about is why people used to make such a big deal about how they were throwing their voice. Jay Johnson devotes a whole section of his show to a demonstration of throwing the voice, and some of the effects are uncanny. > [@](#): > > I’ve yet to see a ventroloquist who wasn’t 100% obviously doing the talking. In fact, the better they are, the more likely you can actually even see their lips move. I’m another one who doesn’t believe this for a second. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ventriloquism-i-dont-get-it/592923/45 "2011-08-17T20:36:51Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > I didn’t enjoy Dunham’s series, but I love his standup. I was watching one of his earlier ones on the youtubes when he and Peanut did a bit and I said to myself, I said, “Damn, Peanut set him up perfectly for that…” > > :smack: This. This is what makes a ventriloquism act funny; when you see the puppet as a totally separate person. Dunham came to campus in February and watching the show is something else entirely, I never saw him as a stand-up and a puppet. He was always two characters talking on stage. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ventriloquism-i-dont-get-it/592923/46 "2011-08-17T20:42:31Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > This. This is what makes a ventriloquism act funny; **when you see the puppet as a totally separate person**. Dunham came to campus in February and watching the show is something else entirely, I never saw him as a stand-up and a puppet. He was always two characters talking on stage. And, that is my problem. I don’t see the puppet as a totally different person; it’s a puppet. I know it’s a puppet. The guy’s talking to himself and answering himself. I can’t suspend my disbelief enough to enjoy it, and I don’t think the redneck and racist jokes are all that funny either. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ventriloquism-i-dont-get-it/592923/47 "2011-08-17T21:27:23Z")
I find Dunham…unfunny. He’s talented, and there’s some jokes there, but I always see him as a _really, really good_ hack. It’s all a bit same ol’, same ol’, just very polished. The blue collar elements don’t do anything to endear me to him. His 30 Rock appearance was damned good, though. Senor Wences, on the other hand, was a master. He was so bloody good at doing it that it was stunning. Ventriloquism and mime go hand-in-hand for me – most of it’s bloody awful, some of it is watchable, and the masters are stunning. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ventriloquism-i-dont-get-it/592923/48 "2011-08-17T21:27:25Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > And, that is my problem. I don’t see the puppet as a totally different person; it’s a puppet. I know it’s a puppet. The guy’s talking to himself and answering himself. I can’t suspend my disbelief enough to enjoy it, and **I don’t think the redneck and racist jokes are all that funny either**. Bolding my reference: That’s kinda apples to oranges as per what the conversation is actually about. taking the statement as a whole I might just have to say ventriloquism just isn’t for you ---
**Author:** ![OneMissedPost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e7dd6/32.png) [@OneMissedPost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneMissedPost)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ventriloquism-i-dont-get-it/592923/49 "2011-08-17T21:37:06Z")
I think Jeff Dunham is talented. He might not be that funny; however, he certainly is talented. He is a talented ventriloquist. He’s good at getting an audience. He’s good with stereotypes and making people laugh based on the hilarious stereotypes that we have. Personally, I don’t think he’s funny. His voices are comical, but his material needs to be changed. He definitely needs new material. He has found a target audience that loves hearing the same jokes over and over again. In that sense, he’s brilliant. It’s very difficult to find a target audience that wants to hear the same stuff over and over again. Also (someone correct me if I’m wrong please), the ticket prices to see Jeff Dunham are very expensive. Back to the target audience, he found an audience that is willing to spend a lot of money to see him. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ventriloquism-i-dont-get-it/592923/50 "2011-08-17T21:37:57Z")
> [@brainstall](#): > > Best ventriloquist act ever - Chuck and Bob from Soap. Yes, that’s what I (and apparently some other people) wanted to say. Jay Johnson took ventriloquism to another level in that show. I really felt like there were two characters. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ventriloquism-i-dont-get-it/592923/51 "2011-08-17T21:43:32Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > Yes, that’s what I (and apparently some other people) wanted to say. Jay Johnson took ventriloquism to another level in that show. I really felt like there were two characters. And your damn good when the dummy can magically guess what your holding while he’s blindfolded 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ventriloquism-i-dont-get-it/592923/52 "2011-08-17T22:14:46Z")
On the subject, one of the UK’s premier ventriloquists, [Nina Conti](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL7O9O3M1pI). Winsome, funny, and slightly obscene. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ventriloquism-i-dont-get-it/592923/53 "2011-08-17T22:19:21Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > On the subject, one of the UK’s premier ventriloquists, [Nina Conti](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL7O9O3M1pI). Winsome, funny, and slightly obscene. Er… on re-watching, _completely_ obscene. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ventriloquism-i-dont-get-it/592923/54 "2011-08-18T00:24:25Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > And your damn good when the dummy can magically guess what your holding while he’s blindfolded 🙂 you’re - both times. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ventriloquism-i-dont-get-it/592923/55 "2011-08-18T00:33:07Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > you’re - both times. Thanks for your outstanding contribution to this thread. What would we do without you? ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ventriloquism-i-dont-get-it/592923/56 "2011-08-18T01:02:06Z")
I think they’re creepy…and their little dolls, too. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ventriloquism-i-dont-get-it/592923/57 "2011-08-18T02:09:04Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Thanks for your outstanding contribution to this thread. What would we do without you? Continue to write grammatically incorrect posts? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ventriloquism-i-dont-get-it/592923/58 "2011-08-18T02:53:55Z")
Ah, here is the Soap TV series scene I alluded to earlier. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/DwDbd4jQpkA/hqdefault.jpg "Soap - Chuck and Bob Mindreading") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwDbd4jQpkA) ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ventriloquism-i-dont-get-it/592923/59 "2011-08-18T03:04:50Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > On the subject, one of the UK’s premier ventriloquists, [Nina Conti](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL7O9O3M1pI). Winsome, funny, and slightly obscene. I think she might be genuinely MPD. That was kind of creepy. Entertaining, though. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ventriloquism-i-dont-get-it/592923/60 "2011-08-18T03:08:56Z")
Well, I define best as funniest. That’s the point of what they do, right? And it seems the funniest tend to concentrate on the humor and not whether or not you can see their lips move. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ventriloquism-i-dont-get-it/592923.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ventriloquism-i-dont-get-it/592923.md?page=4)