‘America’s Got Talent’ Ventriloquists Aim To Leave Audiences Speechless

No puppets. No problem. Opera singing ventriloquist Celia Muñoz didn’t use a stuffed sidekick to snag votes and shock audiences on season 17 of America’s Got Talent. Lending her voice to a radio and other inanimate objects and illusions, the professional opera singer showcased the envelope-pushing that has been giving the art form an edge in primetime variety competition.

An AGT finalist in 2022, the Madrid-based performer who was also the 2021 winner of Got Talent Spain, can now be seen in Vegas where she is part of the variety show America’s Got Talent presents Superstars Live. Adding to the AGT primetime legacy that includes winners Terry Fator (season 2), Paul Zerdin (season 10), and Darci Lynne Farmer (season 12), Muñoz’s work is an example of how the “show us something we’ve never seen before” expectations of AGT have pushed ventriloquists to prove they can think outside of the box.

“I think that people continue to try to have original material,” said Muñoz, who is excited that audiences are fascinated by opera and ventriloquism. “I feel that for new generations they see ventriloquism and opera and go home and try it.” Incredibly humble, she seems almost embarrassed to admit that audiences clap before she hits the stage. “They know me.”

Primetime Exposure

Familiarity. That’s what over 6+ million viewers will get you if you’re lucky enough to land on the AGT stage.

“Competition variety shows like AGT are the perfect vehicle for ventriloquists, and vents have dominated the genre. Ventriloquism is an art form that needs a live audience and a focused spontaneous platform to be fully appreciated. Not since the early days of television variety shows in the 1950s and early ’60s has this ancient art form been so available to a large audience. So the art of ventriloquism is flourishing,” says Tony Award-winning actor and ventriloquist Jay Johnson. The actor, whose work in the sitcom Soap (1977-1981) also introduced a dummy into television’s primetime line-up, is the only ventriloquist to ever win a Tony Award. His 2006 show Jay Johnson: The Two & Only!, written and performed by Johnson, was named Best Special Theatrical Event.

Longtime ventriloquist and ventriloquism coach Gary Owen, who has coached Darci Lynne and Muñoz as well as 2021 Romania’s Got Talent winner and 2023 America’s Got Talent: All-Stars finalist Ana-Maria Mărgean, isn’t surprised by the surge in puppet-based popularity.

“I’m not shocked, I’m excited. Because of artists like Jeff (Dunham) and Terry and Darci, and AGT’s commitment to unique variety show entertainment, ventriloquism has been highlighted, challenged, and reinvigorated. And new stars are being born.”

Owen believes that, in many ways, today’s state-of-the art form is a reflection of times past. “From vaudeville days to early television there were all types of artistic forms of ventriloquism that included novelty bits, routines, and characters that were individually unique.”

International Appeal

13-year-old Romanian singer and ventriloquist Mărgean quickly learned that ventriloquism’s popularity was international. “After the TV shows, indeed, it made me realize that this form of art is much loved and appreciated by both US audience and even in my home country where ventriloquism is not at all popular. The feedback received and the results I had at both major GotTalent TV shows (Romania and US) came as a confirmation that my direction is a good one and that I am on the right track!”

Money Talks

Ventriloquism may have vintage roots, but Dunham and Fator have the success stories and financial data to highlight its current relatability. Landing on Forbes list of Highest-Paid Comedians of 2019 with reported earnings of $15 million and $17 million respectively, the high profile ventriloquists have proven the art form isn’t a thing of the past.

Recently, Dunham landed the No. 9 spot on Pollster’s Top 10 Highest-Grossing Comedy Tours list between September 16, 2021 and Sept 15, 2022 with 45 shows yielding gross revenue of $12,174,574.80 and 232,576 tickets sold. His April 23, 2022 show at Phoenix’s Footprint Center, grossed $472,037. That’s puppet fever.

Primetime Push

AGT semi-finalist Jack Williams (season 17) found the experience helped shape his act and approach. “I would say being a part of AGT definitely broadened my horizon of what I thought was possible. I always want to try something new or it starts to feel stagnant. My rehearsals with my act and overall ventriloquism technique has improved so much since then. Prepping for that show you have to be on, so it gave me great confidence working under pressure. Now I approach everything in a similar way of reaching high and being uniquely yourself.”

AGT winner Farmer, who also placed second in the AGT spin-off America’s Got Talent: The Champions, credits the competitive format of the show for helping her push toward mastery of the art form. “I certainly think being under such significant pressure during my time on AGT pushed me to work incredibly hard on the craft of ventriloquism. If I never would have competed I don’t think I would’ve have mastered many of the aspects of the art!”

The 18-year-old who was 12 when she won in season 12, receiving the most votes ever for a finale show in the franchise history, has since had a primetime Christmas special, toured the country with her own show which also included original music written by Farmer, and landed film and television roles. This month she’ll graduate from high school.

The Next Generation

Owen calls Farmer the “pilot light” for igniting children’s interest in the art form, the now 18-year-old star’s impact also contributing to an exponential surge in cross-generational attendance for live ventriloquist-driven comedy performances.

Mark Wade, ventriloquist and executive director of Vent Haven International Ventriloquism Convention has noted increases in number of children attendees thanks to Farmer’s high profile success. “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 Johnson, Dunham and Farmer]—a class that teaches young ventriloquists at all levels,” noted Wade for an earlier Forbes.com story.

Jimmy Vee, ventriloquism advocate and assistant director for the convention, has witnessed the enthusiasm. This summer he will release his first children’s book How to Make Your Sock Talk! A Beginner’s Guide to Ventriloquism. Vee hopes the instructional picture book will continue to introduce children to the expressive art form.

With or without puppets, it’s a good bet that ventriloquists of all ages will continue to show up on variety shows like America’s Got Talent. They may not open their mouths but their voices are definitely being heard.

Season 18 of America’s Got Talent premieres May 30th.

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