Ventriloquist Week in review

We just returned from a week away from home attending Judy's class reunion.

The big event of interest here was Dave Letterman's week dedicated to ventriloquism. Well, maybe "dedicated" is overstatement. Letterman and company hyped the feature that way, but it was really only a week with a very brief slot given to a different ventriloquist each evening. The lineup comprised Willy Tyler, Jay Johnson, Ronn Lucas, Jeff Dunham, and Todd Oliver.

You can view the five acts on youtube.com.

Letterman's Ventriloquist Week videos

Let's see. What's noteworthy? What can I add that hasn't already been said? Everyone was funny and everyone was up to their professional form. I previously said a lot more, but got so much of it wrong that I've modified this article. One of the prerogatives of a blogger.

I'd watch Letterman more often if it wasn't for Paul Shaffer. He managed to get his typically strained comments worked into some of the vent acts. Must be in his contract. Am I the only one who thinks Shaffer isn't even close to being funny? And is very close to being annoying? Sorry, Paul, you ain't Kevin Eubanks. Or Ed McMahon, even. Give it up.