If you think puppets are weird, youโve obviously never seen a ventriloquist show before. Ventriloquism is not like magic, it is magic. Donโt believe me? Well, then, you havenโt seen Paul Zerdinโs performance on Americaโs Got Talent semifinals show.
Paul started his magic career back when he was 15 after he decided to perform a magic act for his schoolโs talent show. While everyone else was reciting poetry and air-guitaring to Smash Mouth, Paul decided that he wasnโt to give the audience something they wouldnโt expectโฆsomething they wouldnโt fully believe. He decided to levitate his sister.
โI entered a school talent competition when I was 15, and most people did something like poetry or tap dancing, but I levitated my sister,โ Paul told PEOPLE. โI just blew them away, and from that moment on, I remember the next day in the dining hall when I was going to my lunch I could hear people saying, โThat guy can do magic.'โ
As the years went on, however, Paul didnโt go the typical route of a talented magicianโhe decided to keep the unexpected coming and became a ventriloquist.
โI introduced the puppet character into my magic show and started doing magic with the puppets, and I eventually stopped doing magic and carried on with the puppets and the stand-up over the course of a few years.โ
Paul spent the following years honing his talent for ventriloquism, performing all over the country to the delight of many. Ventriloquism didnโt just offer him a chance to show off his magic skills, but it also let him put his wit and humor to work, making his act the Trifecta of magic shows.
After years of performing off the circuit, Paul decided to try out for Americaโs Got Talentโs 10th season. Paul wowed the judges with his original audition and continued to wow them all throughout the season, straight up to the final episode. When it came down to just him and one other contestant, he knew he had to pull out all the stops, and that is just what he did.
Paul stepped on stage joined by his trusty partner, Sam the Dummy. The two proceeded to get into an argument. While funny, the performance wasnโt enough to win. What cinched the prize, however, was when Paul stormed off stage and left Sam aloneโฆ.STILL TALKING!
The audience and judges watched in awe as Sam seemed to speak and move without the assistance of Paulโs hand or voice. This was ventriloquism taken to the next level. It was magic.
Of course, Paul won the competition and even scored a sweet Vegas contract in the process.
Watch Paulโs winning act below, then share with all the other believers and non-believers out there!
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