What is the word for this?

[Dirigible]

Um, commedia dell 'arte is a Renaissance form of Italian improv comedy theatre.

Is there anything the man doesn't know?

Clutch Cargonization.

1) Wasn't that what Jabba did to Han Solo?
2) I would, but you can get arrested for doing that here...

 

[Dogbrain]

That freaky vox thingie was also used in the Rankin-Bass version of The Hobbit for the dwarfs.

 

[Cheiromancer]

As Hypersmurf mentions, the technique is called "syncro-vox". There is a column about it over at the Straight Dope. See http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_015.html