Comedy Central has signed a deal with ventriloquist Jeff Dunham for a series, a standup special, a DVD release and merchandising, Daily Variety reports. Dunham’s 2008 Christmas special drew 6.6 million viewers on Comedy Central, becoming the network’s most watched show, the trade paper reports. The network has ordered six episodes of a series and plans to debut the show in early 2010, the publication says.
—Aimee Picchi