Jeff Dunham scored serious 'cool guy' points last night (12 photos)

For approximately 3,500 Sault Ste. Marie fans, the world's most popular puppet master scored some mighty "cool guy" points last night at the Essar Centre.

Embracing the "show must go on" philosophy, comedian Jeff Dunham rented an SUV and drove from Traverse City, Michigan braving dangerous driving conditions and a treacherous Mackinac Bridge after his flight was diverted due to poor weather conditions.

Cool guy moment number one came when Dunham, still on the road and about half an hour late for his own gig, called the Essar Centre.

Actually, he called the audience with the aid of a cell phone and a microphone, offered his apologies and explained his situation.

He also reportedly told the patient crowd it was crazy for living where such crumby weather happens on a regular basis.

Finally at the venue and beginning his performance more than an hour late, Dunham's cool guy moment number two happened five minutes into his opening monologue.

A young fan - eight-year-old Donavan - managed his way through the Essar Centre's "crack security team" (as Dunham put it) and approached the stage with an Achmed poster and bright pink Sharpie in-hand.

Inviting Donavan onto the stage - something Dunham has never done during a show before - the generous funny man not only signed the young lad's poster, but also gave him his own Little Jeff ventriloquist dummy after autographing the puppet's neck stick.

That's a tradition amongst ventriloquists, Dunham explained.

Yep.

Pretty gosh-darn cool indeed.