Entertainer Sees Comeback For Ventriloquism
After years of performing at elementary schools and state fairs, Dallas-based ventriloquist Terry Fator was on the verge of bankruptcy. Then last summer he earned some money and respectability by winning the “America’s Got Talent” show on NBC.
He banked a $1 million prize, and the Las Vegas Hilton signed him to a yearlong, three-day-a-month gig. Still, his win didn’t silence the snarky comments about ventriloquists. At the time, talk-show host Bill Maher quipped: “A ventriloquist won ‘America’s Got Talent’ contest, proving that America does not have talent.”
Despite an entrenched bias against practitioners of this old-fashioned art form, the past year has brought a wave of good fortune for ventriloquism, long-derided as the province of children’s birthday parties and the lowest form of humor, barely a step above mimes.
Jay Johnson, 58, who starred on the TV show “Soap” three decades ago as a schizophrenic ventriloquist, won a Tony award last June for his autobiographical Broadway show, “The Two and Only.” Jeff Dunham’s recent Comedy Central special — a first for a ventriloquist — was one of the highest-rated specials on the network and his DVD has sold a half-million copies. Videos of ventriloquists on YouTube have helped draw younger fans.
Photo by Terry Fator.
Angela on July 1st, 2008 1:43 pm
I absolutely LOVED him on America’s Got Talent. I was rooting for him from the beginning, and I was thrilled when he won.
I do not understand how someone could not enjoy watching a talented ventriloquist. It’s an amazing talent.
cassy on July 1st, 2008 11:01 pm
There are many ventriloquists in our place and they really have many audience when they perform. We should be thankful for this people coz they make us happy!
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