‘America’s Got Talent’ Continues To Give Ventriloquism A Prime Time Voice

Since its second season, America’s Got Talent (AGTGT
) has been contributing to the increased enthusiasm for ventriloquism, shining a spotlight on the art form and handing three ventriloquists the $1 million prize. Singing ventriloquist Terry Fator stole the show in season 2, followed by Paul Zerdin (season 10), and shortly after, 12-year-old singing ventriloquist Darci Lynne Farmer (season 12) who received the most votes ever for a finale show in AGT history. This year, in a special episode, Simon Cowell named Farmer his #2 Golden Buzzer favorite. Proving that audiences, judges and producers haven’t tired of impressive voice-tossing tactics, the live qualifying rounds of season 17 include opera singer, actress and ventriloquist Celia Muñoz and comedian ventriloquist Jack Williams among the selected 55 contestants.

The Exposure

Ventriloquists hitting the AGT prime time stage snag extreme exposure for their acts. The show’s final audition rounds on August 2, 2022 drew a viewing audience of 6.2 million people, beating out prime time competition to score highest-viewed and highest-rated program. Prime time exposure and wins can also contribute to extreme success post-prime time.

Fator, who has headlined Las Vegas since 2007 with a record-breaking residency at The Mirage, and now a New York, New York Hotel and Casino residency and a busy national schedule beyond Sin City, landed on Forbes’ list of highest-earning stand-up comedians for 2018 (No. 7) and 2019 (No. 8) having earned $17 million and $18 million respectively. Fator continues to delight and surprise audiences, reporting in a recent interview that he had ordered 19 new puppets for his act. That’s a lot of ventriloquism.

Farmer would quickly follow her 2017 win with an NBC Christmas special and successful tour career. She would also snag second place in the AGT spin-off America’s Got Talent: The Champions. Farmer’s 2021-2022 My Lips Are Sealed (Except When They’re Not) Tour! has taken the 17-year-old around the country with sell-out shows to multi-generational audiences and a Vegas headlining gig at The Mirage. The tour has also allowed Farmer to showcase her songwriting and singing beyond the puppets with her current show featuring four of her original songs. Farmer has recently added actor to her resumé, co-starring in the 2022 feature film A Cowgirl’s Song. She will also appear in the upcoming film Reagan starring Dennis Quaid, Mena Suvari, and Jon Voight.

Impact on Future AGT Performers

Beyond their own careers, AGT-winning ventriloquists appear to have left their imprint on the next round of ventriloquists and the next generation of talent. Current AGT contestant and long-time opera singer Muñoz credits Fator and Farmer with her decision to add ventriloquism to her repertoire. “They were the first singing ventriloquists I’d ever seen in my life. I was shocked by their talent and they made me begin to be very curious about it…since I am an opera singer, I thought I could try to mix both disciplines.” Judges were impressed, giving Muñoz, who pushed the boundaries of the art form by applying makeup, flossing her teeth and drinking water while singing opera without lip movement, four yeses to move forward.

Current AGT contestant Williams and his rogue rabbit puppet Foster also got the major thumbs-up from judges. Williams says that growing up watching Fator and other high-profile performers like Jeff Dunham influenced his decision to become a performer that could convey a sense of comedy escapism for audiences where characters come alive. Past performances of AGT winners didn’t shape Williams’ act, but he did take notes as he tailored it for the audition. “When I watched Terry and I watched other ventriloquists—Darci, I noticed they always had these big moments not just jokes, but moments that really impacted the audience. So that was the kind of thing I had to keep in mind of when I was writing my act is just having those beats of like ‘Okay, this is where the audience is really going to be impacted by this big moment,’” explains Williams.

Impact on Age, Gender, And Opportunities

Longtime ventriloquist and ventriloquism coach Gary Owen, who coaches both Farmer and Muñoz as well as 2021 Romania’s Got Talent winner Ana-Maria Mărgean, has been struck by the increased interest in people taking on ventriloquism. “Thanks to America’s Got Talent winners Terry Fator and Darci Lynne, there’s been an explosion in ventriloquism in a variety of age groups the past few years. I’m really impressed with how many children, nationally and internationally, have taken a serious interest in the art because of Darci. This has provided a new avenue for parents who have talented kids that want to perform the art—motivating parents to make a serious investment in both lessons and puppets. The results have allowed these children to perform in talent shows, pageants and more. It’s like the ’60’ and ’70s when baby boomer children were influenced by Edgar Bergen, Paul Winchell and Jimmy Nelson, who were all popular on television programs, like the Milton Berle and Ed Sullivan shows.”

Mark Wade, ventriloquist and executive director of Vent Haven International Ventriloquism Convention saw the trend continue at last month’s 46th annual event which saw substantial growth in new attendees, and an increase in the number of children attending. “In the ’70s, three or four kids showed up. Now we’re seeing between 30 and 40 kids. Most of the kids that come really have interest, that’s why we developed the Junior Vent University [a child-only opportunity within the convention workshop offerings taught by ventriloquism masters often featuring drop-by inspiration from celebrities like Jay Johnson, Jeff Dunham and Darci Lynne]—a class that teaches young ventriloquists at all levels,” notes Wade.

Wade says there has been much more girl power over the last several years. Earlier, girls were in the minority for both the Junior Vent University and the junior mic night. This year, girls were the majority rocking the stage. Wade believes it is the publicity that has driven this demographic change. “We’re reaching more people now. And I think a big factor was Darci Lynne. In the past they didn’t have many high profile role models except for Shari Lewis. This year our class of approximately 35 had two boys and the rest were girls.”

Handemonium puppet designer and award-winning puppeteer Barry Gordemer has seen the trend. “The biggest shift I see is there are more young women in ventriloquism. Used to be ventriloquism was a place for 12-year-old boys or 50-year-old men with not much in between. But I’ve seen more young women entering into ventriloquism in the last three or four years. Is it because of Darci Lynne? I’m not sure but I’m definitely seeing more young females in ventriloquism. I should also say ventriloquism is predominantly white. I do not see many faces of color in ventriloquism. That’s something I’d like to see change over the next few years.”

The increase in publicity and opportunities will hopefully make that a reality. Explains Owen, “As long as we continue to have television programs like the worldwide Got Talent franchises showcasing fresh new talent, with the competitive edge, I think we will see ventriloquism stay around for a long time. I think we will see more opportunities for not only ventriloquists, but also managers, booking agents, cruise lines, theaters, and film and television using ventriloquists in everything from commercials to stage and electronic media.”

Says Farmer, a high school senior whose career-based exhibit will be featured at the newly expanded Vent Haven Ventriloquism Museum alongside those exhibits celebrating the work of Fator, Dunham, Lewis, Johnson and other legends like Bergen, Nelson, and Willie Tyler, “There truly is a kind of magic that ventriloquism brings to people, especially kids. My initial goal with starting this journey was to share my love of the dying art with the world. Little did I know the impact it would have. It blows my mind how many young girls, boys and even adults have voiced to me how I’ve inspired them to learn ventriloquism.They’ll come through in my meet and greets with their own puppets, and I can see myself in every single one of them. It means so much to be a part of it all.”

Pushing The Envelope

As new prime time faces of ventriloquism like Muñoz and Williams are challenged to up their game to stay in the game for the $1 million prize, it is likely that the face of ventriloquism will continue to change and challenge its existing boundaries. Says Muñoz, “It is a beautiful art form and it deserves to be treated with depth and love.” How deep will she go to get a spot in the finale? Stay tuned.

The live qualifying shows continue until the September 13 Finale followed by the winner reveal on September 14, 2022.

Disclosure: Nancy Berk was a comedy writer for Darci Lynne’s 2021-2022 My Lips Are Sealed (Except When They’re Not) Tour!