It's amazing how these little guys can say things that a mortal human could never get away with. There's some sort of unspoken license... when outlandish things come out of an inanimate object, somehow it equals humor.

Jeff Dunham’s quote reflects the unique and often surprising nature of ventriloquism and puppetry in comedy. He highlights how the characters he performs with, like his famous puppets, can say outrageous or outlandish things that would be unacceptable coming from a human. This insight points to the license puppets have in the realm of humor, where their inanimate nature allows them to express ideas or make jokes that people wouldn't typically get away with.

The origin of this perspective likely comes from Dunham's years of experience as a ventriloquist and comedian. His act involves creating distinct personalities for his puppets, each with their own voice and character traits. The humor arises when these puppets make bold or controversial statements, exploiting the fact that they are not actual people. The audience is more likely to laugh at these comments, finding humor in the absurdity of hearing such things from a puppet.

Dunham's comment also reflects the broader concept of humor in performance, where the absurd or the unexpected often triggers laughter. Because the puppet is an object rather than a person, the outrageous things it says can be perceived as playful rather than offensive. This is an important element of Dunham’s comedic style, where the boundary between what is socially acceptable and what is funny is blurred through the use of puppets.

Ultimately, Jeff Dunham’s quote speaks to the unique power of puppetry and ventriloquism in comedy, where an inanimate object can break social norms and expectations to create humor. The puppets’ ability to say the unthinkable allows for a special brand of comedy that taps into the audience's willingness to suspend disbelief and laugh at the absurdity of the situation.