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Paul Zerdin was a ventriloquist from Season 10 of America's Got Talent. He was the winner of the competition, claiming the $1,000,000 prize and the headlining of a show in Las Vegas. Paul returned for America's Got Talent: The Champions. There, he was eliminated in the Preliminaries, finishing his night in 2nd place.

Background[]

From the Royal Variety Performance to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, to India’s comedy circuit, Montreal’s Just For Laughs and UK tours with his Sponge Fest show and forthcoming Puppet Master tour, Paul Zerdin’s ventriloquism has impressed everyone from Her Majesty the Queen onwards. The UKventriloquist’s career has included appearances on everything from the Royal Variety Performance, Paramount and Comedy Central’s, The World Stands Up to ITV Daybreak, BBC TV’s The One Show, Sky News and Jason Manford’s Comedy Rocks.

Paul Zerdin’s live shows see him bring to life several very different characters amongst whom are the cheeky pre-adolescent Sam, belligerent OAP Albert and precocious infant Baby. Zerdin, who got the ‘biggest laugh of the night’ at the Royal Variety Performance in 2009, according to audience members, also went on to get 5 star reviews at that year’s Edinburgh Festival. Paul returned to Edinburgh to sold-out houses in 2010 and made his debut at Montreal’s Just For Laughs Festival that year before embarking on a major UK tour with Sponge Fest in 2010/2011.

When Paul was 10, a family friend made him a puppet theatre which he used to put on shows. As he is the first to admit, his hobby quickly grew into an obsession. "The real turning point was when I was given a book on ventriloquism by the legendary Ray Alan. By the time I hit my teens I was spending half an hour a day in front of the mirror practicing talking without moving my lips." Having failed his GCSE’s, Zerdin got a job in a magic shop, developing his magic skills along the way. Simultaneously, he was also developing a sideline as a children’s entertainer.

Zerdin made his TV debut as a magician on the BBC’s Tricky Business and shortly afterwards, at the age of just 20, landed a two year contract presenting the Disney produced kids’ programme Rise and Shine for GMTV.

In 1996, Paul was the first outright winner – by over 100,000 votes of LWT’s The Big Big Talent Show, hosted by Jonathan Ross. The experience not only raised his profile, but introduced him to Nigel Lythgoe, the man who would go on to create reality shows such as Popstars and American Idol. Lythgoe took the 22 year old Paul under his wing, paving the way for appearances on scores of shows, Tonight at the London Palladium, and Generation Game among them. It was Nigel who gave Paul his first brush with Royalty when he secured him a spot on the Prince’s Trust Gala Show in 1997. By the late nineties it was obvious to Paul that traditional variety shows were losing their appeal and it was then that Zerdin decided to introduce stand-up into his routine, a decision that has paid off handsomely. [1]

Audition[]

Paul Zerdin's audition in Episode 1003 consisted of throwing his voice to imitate a sound check malfunction and chatting with his puppet Sam about the judges watching Paul's mouth and Sam imitating Paul's words. Howard SternHeidi KlumMel B, and Howie Mandel all voted "Yes," sending Paul to the Judge Cuts round.

Judge Cuts[]

Paul Zerdin's Judge Cuts performance in Episode 1010 consisted of performing with his baby puppet, Baby and telling him the story of Little Red Riding Hood. Baby, however, wanted The Big Bad Wolf changed to a duck, leading to Paul revealing he's always forced to change the stories he tells Baby to include ducks. The performance ended with Baby "urinating." Paul received an enthusiastic reception from the audience. Impressed by his performence, Marlon Wayans pressed the Golden Buzzer, sending Paul straight to the Quarterfinals.

Quarterfinals[]

Paul Zerdin's Week 1 Quarterfinals performance in Episode 1012 consisted of conversing with Sam once more. Sam and Paul had an argument after which Sam refused to talk. To embarrass Sam performing on his own, Paul left the stage. While Sam was sitting, however, he appeared to come to life and start talking with the judges. Paul then returned, with Sam seemingly lifeless again. Howard Stern, Heidi Klum, Mel B, and Howie Mandel all gave him standing ovations. Paul received enough votes to be sent to the Semifinals in Episode 1013 along with Drew Lynch, instead of Showproject.

Semifinals[]

Paul Zerdin's Week 2 Semifinals performance in Episode 1020 consisted of using Howie Mandel as a dummy (through a remote controlled mask). Paul then switched places with Howie by pretending to be a judge while he forced Howie to struggle and dance on stage. Howard Stern, Heidi Klum, and Mel B gave him standing ovations. Paul received enough votes to be sent to the Finals in Episode 1021 instead of Sharon Irving.

Finals[]

Paul Zerdin's Finals performance in Episode 1022 consisted of performing with Sam's grandpa Albert. He joked about Albert's hearing aid being off, and Albert having issues with his suppository. He then sang a song to make Baby sleep, before bringing Sam out, who he swapped voices with. Paul then had a conversation with all three puppets at once.

Finale[]

For the finale in Episode 1023, Paul Zerdin bantered with Sam and then had Sam "lip-sync" to Terry Fator's singing. He received enough votes to advance to the Top 5 instead of Piff the Magic Dragon. Paul was revealed to have finished in first place in the competition in front of Drew Lynch, Oz Pearlman, The Professional Regurgitator and The CraigLewis Band, winning one million dollars and a headline show in Las Vegas.

"The Champions" Preliminaries[]

Paul returned for America's Got Talent: The Champions. His performance in Episode TC04 consisted of a routine with Sam, where he discusses elevators and sings and beatboxes at the same time. It was revealed that the superfans voted Paul into the top 4 along with Brian Justin Crum, Drew Lynch and Tape Face. He received more votes than Drew and Tape Face, but received fewer votes than Brian, eliminating him from the competition.

After the Show[]

Paul Zerdin was one of the AGT representatives competing on Britain's Got Talent: The Champions. Just like on AGT: The Champions, he was eliminated in the Preliminaries after finishing his night in 2nd place. He lost the superfan vote to dance group and former BGT finalists MerseyGirls.

Paul has gone on to appear on several british shows, and skits. For instance, he and Sam appeared in a celebrity special, of the BBC show Bargain Hunt, for the show's Children in Need special. They competed on the Blue Team, with comedian, Joe Pasquale, however it's unknown if they won, as the episode has seemingly become lost. In January 2021, Paul and Albert made a guest apperance on the fifth season of the british children's sitcom, Justin's House, in the episode "Justin's Bed & Lunch". Both were the episode's guest stars. Albert is notably, referred to as Paul's grandpa in the episode.

In December 2022, Paul Zerdin appeared on the second edition of ITV's 'Christmas Comedy Club with Lost Voice Guy' in the UK.

In February 2023, Paul Zerdin uploaded the Hands Free Comedy Special on his YouTube channel.

In November 2023, Paul Zerdin appeared on an episode of Saturday Mash-Up in the UK.

Trivia[]

  • Paul is the first Golden Buzzer act to win the show.
  • Paul is the first British act to win.
  • Paul Zerdin was the second ventriloquist to win America's Got Talent. The first to win was Terry Fator, and the third was Darci Lynne.
  • Paul is also the first act that incorporates solely comedy into his act to win.
  • Paul is the first and only winner of AGT to have received the Golden Buzzer from a guest judge (Marlon Wayans).
  • Paul is the first act since Olate Dogs to not receive a standing Ovation in the final performance.
  • Paul is the first Golden Buzzer ventriloquist act to win. The second being Darci Lynne.
  • Paul is the second male ventriloquist act to win. The first being Terry Fator.
  • Paul is the first ventriloquist act to receive the Golden Buzzer. The second being Darci Lynne.

External Links[]


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