Unabashedly carrying out your goals and sharing your true passion with audiences across the country can be a daunting prospect to some people. But to others, it\u2019s a gratifying experience that allows them to finally show the importance and distinct nature of their abilities. Paul Zerdin, the recently announced winner of the 10th anniversary season of NBC\u2019s popular reality competition series, \u2018America\u2019s Got Talent,\u2019 relatably and humbly encompassed that later liberating desire to share his skills in ventriloquism during the show\u2019s run this summer.<\/p>\n
American viewers and the show\u2019s four judges, including Howard Stern, Heidi Klum, Mel B and Howie Mandel, awarded Zerdin for his inventive and unique take on ventriloquism during the season finale on Wednesday, September 16. During the live airing from New York City\u2019s Radio City Music Hall, the ventriloquist\u2019s comedic characters and personalities helped earn him the top honor and recognition.<\/p>\n
The announcement that Zerdin won the 10th season of \u2018America\u2019s Got Talent\u2019 came after he was voted into the semifinals with fellow contestants Benton Blount, Derek Hughes, Drew Lynch, Gary Vider, Oz Pearlman, Piff the Magic Dragon, the Craig Lewis Band, the Professional Regurgitator and Uzeyer Novruzov. The live finale, which was presented by the show\u2019s host, Nick Cannon, also featured performances by the 10 finalists, as well as such superstars as Rachel Platten, Yolanda Adams, Penn & Teller, Jeffrey Ross, and Season 9 winner Mat Franco.<\/p>\n
As part of his prize, Zerdin will headline an exclusive engagement of \u2018America\u2019s Got Talent Live\u2019 in Las Vegas, between October 22 and 24 in the PH Showroom at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. He will also be joined by finalists Lynch and Piff The Magic Dragon. Viewers can purchase tickets at the show\u2019s website. www.AGTVegas.com<\/p>\n
Zerdin further helped prove that his passion for ventriloquism is a worthy one, as he became the second ventriloquist in \u2018America\u2019s Got Talent\u2019s history to be awarded the top honor. During the Season 10 finale, he collaborated with the show\u2019s second season winner, Terry Fator, another ventriloquist who has continuously performed since he received the competition\u2019s top honor in 2007. Fator, who has headlined in such venues as the Las Vegas Hilton and The Mirage Hotel & Casino, returned to the \u2018America\u2019s Got Talent\u2019 stage to perform with Zerdin and their puppets during the Season 10 live finale.<\/p>\n
Audiences embraced Zerdin\u2019s continued commitment to ventriloquism, as the winner has been interested in the art of performing with his puppets since he was a child. He first began crafting shows when he was 10-years-old, as a family friend made him a puppet theater. After he was later given a book on ventriloquism that was written by the legendary Ray Alan, his hobby became an obsession, and soon a career. The British ventriloquist, who has previously performed at Royal Variety Performances and comedy festivals around the world, has constantly been breaking new ground, which has established him at the forefront of his profession.<\/p>\n
At Radio City Music Hall, Cannon announced that the tenth season\u2019s final two contestants were Zerdin and Lynch, a stand-up comedian who performed with two other comics, including Vider and famed celebrity roaster Jeff Ross. The day after the host revealed that Zerdin was chosen as the victor in an extremely narrow decision, the ventriloquist generously participated in a conference call to discuss the experience of winning the show.<\/p>\n
When asked during the conference call what he was thinking as he waited for the reality show\u2019s host to announce the final results, the ventriloquist revealed that \u201cI thought that Drew would win it definitely. I thought he was an amazing comedian. (He has a) very lovable personality. The audience loved him in the theater and out and about in America.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since Zerdin thought that his fellow competitor was going to win the season, \u201cI was preparing in my head what I would say to him before I got told to get off the stage. I was going to say to him, \u2018Well done. The best man won. You\u2019re a great act and congratulations,\u2019\u201d the Season 10 winner revealed. \u201cThen when they said my name, my heart skipped a beat\u2026.It took a moment to sink in.\u201d<\/p>\n
While it was a highlight for Zerdin to perform with Fator during the reality competition\u2019s finale, he revealed that another one of his personal favorite acts was his first audition for the show at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood. \u201cIt stands out for me because it was the first one. I just thought, I don\u2019t know what\u2019s going to happen here. It could go horribly wrong, or it could go well,\u201d the show\u2019s winner explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cLuckily, it went well. I got a standing ovation from the judges and from the audience in the theater. So I thought, wow, that\u2019s a great reaction and what a great start.\u201d Zerdin added that reaction filled him with confidence. \u201cI think helped me enormously to carry on and think that I could go far. But I didn\u2019t ever think I could win it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zerdin was also asked during the conference call if he was surprised to learn anything new about himself as a ventriloquist during his time in the competition. \u201cI\u2019ve been lucky enough to perform all over the place, all around the world doing different sorts of gigs. But no gig has ever been quite as big as Radio City\u2026Even though I think of myself as a fairly polished and experienced performer, I still had butterflies just before I started my performance.\u201d<\/p>\n
But since he didn\u2019t have much time on stage while performing on \u2018America\u2019s Got Talent,\u2019 he realized that \u201cYou\u2019ve got to try and make an impact and the best impression when you\u2019re on a live TV show,\u201d Zerdin explained. \u201cYou want to impress the judges. You want the audience at home to love what you\u2019re doing. You want great feedback from the theater audience, as well. To try and do that in like two minutes is quite hard.\u201d The ventriloquist then revealed that \u201cI somehow managed to channel it into positive energy and any nervous energy hopefully went into the performance and made it better.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Zerdin tried not to show his nervousness when he performed with Fator during the finale. \u201cI feel totally honored..to end up performing a spot with him on stage before the results began,\u201d he said. \u201cI was going on stage with Terry Fator, live from Radio City on NBC, so I had to pinch myself before I went on.\u201d<\/p>\n
The most recent \u2018America\u2019s Got Talent\u2019 winner also said that \u201cto know that I had his theater approval meant a huge amount to me\u2026He was so lovely.\u201d Zerdin added that they \u201chad a very quick rehearsal beforehand. The day before, we were just talking about some ideas. I suggested a couple of things, and he really liked my ideas. He also suggested a couple of things. It was just so nice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Further speaking of the former show\u2019s winner influence in the world of ventriloquism, Zerdin said that he thinks \u201cit helps that ventriloquism is coming back. You\u2019ve got Terry Fator, who\u2019s a massive success story as a result of \u2018America\u2019s Got Talent.\u2019 He has this amazing show in Vegas.\u201d He added that people like Fator, who he feels is an incredible ventriloquist, are helping their performance style be put it on the map. The competition\u2019s most recent winner added that he hopes he can also help try to \u201cdo something new with ventriloquism. (I would like to) try and take it to another level and do things different with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zerdin also mentioned that the opportunity to perform live at the PH Showroom at the Planet Hollywood Resort is \u201camazing and incredible.\u201d He added that he\u2019s been to Las Vegas several times, and has seen as many shows as he could, including Cirque du Soleil, Fator and David Copperfield. \u201cI always say to people you have to just go there…It\u2019s just unbelievable. So I\u2019m totally blown away by the fact that I\u2019m going to be headlining my own show at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.\u201d<\/p>\n
When then asked how he rehearses on his own for such prolific shows as \u2018America\u2019s Got Talent\u2019 and his upcoming shows at the Planet Hollywood Resort in Las Vegas, he revealed that it depends on the type of show it is. But he added that he \u201clikes to think I\u2019m always quite match fit, because I get to perform a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ventriloquist added that for a high profile like his final performance on \u2018America\u2019s Got Talent,\u2019 he \u201cwanted to show a little bit of everything that I do using techniques, comedy and also a bit of animatronics, as well…I wanted to cram it all into the one final episode, just to say this is what I do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zerdin added that \u201cThere was a piece I did right at the very end where Sam, my kid character, was down by my feet in his little stroller. Then there was the old man who was in his mobility scooter, and we were having a dialogue quite quick there. That was written especially for the performance, as I wanted to show off how quickly I could do the different voices.\u201d<\/p>\n
The latest winner of NBC\u2019s hit summer reality competition also noted that he has \u201ca writing partner that I\u2019ve written with for the last 20 years. I will come up with an idea and say I want to do a routine about it, and then he\u2019ll write it. Then he\u2019ll come back and I\u2019ll say, \u2018I don\u2019t like that, but I like that.\u2019\u201d Zerdin added that creating new material is really a collaborative effort. They learn what works and doesn\u2019t work when he performs his new material in front of a live audience.<\/p>\n
Now that his material has been embraced by a national audience, Zerdin contemplated what being named the second ventriloquist winner of \u2018America\u2019s Got Talent\u2019 means for his future career. \u201cI\u2019m going to find out how big the market is really. (But) the feedback has been tremendous. Terry has shown that can be very successful as a ventriloquist,\u201d the new winner explained. But he added that he has a lot of ideas that he would like to try during his upcoming Las Vegas show. He added that the success of his initial three shows at Planet Hollywood may lead him to expanding his performance dates in the city.<\/p>\n
Zerdin, who has been in the entertainment business for 25 years, added that he also has a lot of ideas for television specials and shows. One of his concepts is a sitcom that he has been working on for quite some time, which may finally come to fruition because of his exposure on \u2018America\u2019s Got Talent.\u2019 The show \u201cgives you such amazing exposure. You have to really capitalize on it….It\u2019s a massive opportunity, and these opportunities don\u2019t come around that often,\u201d he also said.<\/p>\n
While he was the popular choice on \u2018America\u2019s Got Talent,\u2019 Zerdin explained that people who aren\u2019t familiar with his work would be interested in seeing his Las Vegas show because \u201cI\u2019m a one man stand up muppety sitcom. The comedy comes from my relationship between myself and the puppet characters.\u201d He further explained that \u201cThere seems to be more of a reason based on the character, including its age and personality. I\u2019ve got a baby, a prepubescent kid and an old man.\u201d He feels they\u2019re all characters that people can relate to, because they know someone in their own lives who\u2019s the same age of each puppet.<\/p>\n
Zerdin also noted that his puppets aren\u2019t based on anyone in particular. \u201cBut there are characteristics that have been borrowed by certain people I know. I have a 5-year-old nephew\u2026He just got to the age where I started as a magician. So I\u2019ve started introducing him to magic…I\u2019ve got him into puppets, as well, so he gives me a lot of inspiration.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ventriloquist added that his \u201cfather is slowly turning into my old man character, Albert. My dad is losing his hearing, so he totally mishears things all the time. He also says the funniest things. So that gives me enormous inspiration for material for Albert.\u201d<\/p>\n
When then asked if he ever plans to add more puppets to his routine, especially for his upcoming show in Las Vegas, Zerdin admitted that he is \u201cworking on a new character at the moment, but I don\u2019t want to say too much about it. It takes me quite a long time to come up with a new character.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of Zerdin\u2019s signature characters, the boy Sam, has been a part of his routine for about 20 years. \u201cIt\u2019s taken a long time to get his character, as well as the baby and the old man, right,\u201d he explained. \u201cI\u2019m not one of these ventriloquists that wants to have loads of puppets. For me, I\u2019d rather have just a few really well defined characters that I can really play with and explore.\u201d The ventriloquist added that \u201cOnce you\u2019ve gotten to know the character, it\u2019s much easier to write for them. So I want to make them as real as possible.\u201d He also revealed that he\u2019s working on another character, but didn\u2019t want to give too much information about it yet.<\/p>\n
Since Las Vegas is known as being a top tourist destination for adults, and \u2018America\u2019s Got Talent\u2019 is a family-friendly show, Zerdin said that he thinks NBC will want his show at Planet Hollywood to appeal to the reality television show\u2019s audience. \u201cIt might be slightly cheekier than anything you would have seen on TV. There were certain things I wanted to do on television, but because of certain legal reasons, you\u2019re not allowed to say those things. But I would hope that (the live Las Vegas show) will be a little bit naughtier (than the television show). But not, obviously, too rude.<\/p>\n
Zerdin added that while he has a script, every show he performs is different. \u201cI keep adding to the show. The more you tour, the more you can work in new material. So I think the more you work, the fresher the material is, because you\u2019re constantly putting in new things.\u201d While he\u2019s not a ventriloquist who performs a lot of topical material, he affirms that he \u201cwill always keep the show fresh.\u201d<\/p>\n
The acclaimed ventriloquist added that the audience\u2019s reaction and their interaction with him and each other can also alter a performance. That\u2019s especially true \u201cwhen I\u2019m using people from the audience to be part of the show\u2026it gives me the opportunity to adlib and to improvise, which I love doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
With performing on \u2018America\u2019s Got Talent\u2019 being a difficult process, Zerdin explained one of the most challenging parts was \u201cdeciding the best bits of material to use on the show, because you don\u2019t get very long. Having toured for some years and performing for a long time, I\u2019ve got a fair amount of material.\u201d The ventriloquist added that contestants want to \u201cgo out and do their best material, and make an impact. (They want to) get through each week to show that (they) can get to the finals.\u201d<\/p>\n
The latest competition winner also advised future potential contestant that they should \u201csave some of your material, so that you don\u2019t peak too soon. If you do, by the time you find yourself getting into the semifinals or the final, you\u2019re like, \u2018What have I got left?\u2019 You\u2019ve still got to pull something else out of the bag.<\/p>\n
Zerdin also advised those who are interested in auditioning for next summer\u2019s 11th season of \u2018America\u2019s Got Talent\u2019 to not be afraid. \u201cYou must absolutely go for it\u2026If you want to go all the way, and you think you can, just pace yourself\u2026Think about what you\u2019re going to do.<\/p>\n
The ventriloquist added that he wanted to reach out to everyone who supported his work on \u2018America\u2019s Got Talent.\u2019 Of the audience voting for him, Zerdin said \u201cI\u2019m indebted, really, and I\u2019m so happy. I thank everybody who voted for me. I hope I will do them proud on my show in (Las) Vegas.\u201d He added that he\u2019s \u201cshown tastes of my act throughout \u2018America\u2019s Got Talent.\u2019\u201d He also said that if his fans \u201csee the full show, I think people will love it. It\u2019s an honor to be able to perform here in this amazing country. I really thank the people from the bottom of my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n
Check out photos from the ‘America’s Got Talent’ Season 10 finale, live from Radio City Music Hall, below.<\/p>\n<\/a>
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