'America's Got Talent' Champion Dazzles Fairgoers
(Staff Photo By Mindy Cocolan)
WINNER: “America’s Got Talent” winner Ventriloquist Terry Fator and Johnny Las Vegas entertain the crowd at the East Texas Sate fair on Tuesday. Fator will take the stage 8 p.m. Wednesday, wrapping up his three-night stint in Tyler.
By LAUREN KEATON
Entertainment Writer
Ventriloquist, singer, comedian and reigning champion of "America's Got Talent," Terry Fator will take the East Texas State Fair stage 8 p.m. Wednesday, wrapping up his three-night stint in Tyler.
Tuesday evening, hundreds of fairgoers crowded around the ETSF main stage to see the notable funnyman in person.
Audience member Sammy Martin, 12, said his family traveled from Lindale to see Fator.
The youngster beamed when asked what he thought about the act.
"He's really good. He sings without moving his lips," Sammy said, seemingly impressed.
Apparently, Sammy wasn't the only one making the trek for some laughs.
Heather Fuller, 12, of Brownsboro, said she didn't catch Fator on the NBC show, but after a seeing a few of his many talents, she exclaimed "I think he is really cool."
Friend Kyle Bridges, 12, also of Brownsboro, agreed.
"He is awesome. He can sound like a lot of people," she said. "My dad loves him."
The sea of East Texans roared with laughter as Fator took the stage, opening with a song imitating singer Michael Buble.
Minutes later, he brought out his first puppet: a cowboy who happened to be in love with a woman sitting in the front row.
His show continued with yodeling, impersonations and, of course, more elaborate puppets.
The audience appeared glued to the stage for the hour-long variety performance.
But, this reaction doesn't seem to be foreign for Fator.
The Corsicana native said he has been entertaining audiences for a long time.
"I was 10 years old and I went to my school library and found a book on how to do ventriloquism," he said, recalling his first few shows at birthday parties and church events featuring a $20 puppet from Sears he bought with his parent's help.
"I got my first pay check in 1976. I was 11 years old and I said 'this is it!' It was $25. I thought if people will pay me to do this I would like to do this (for a living)," Fator said.
According to NBC.com, Fator later trained his voice in high school and picked up the talent of mimicking any singer he wanted.
After graduation, he formed a band named "TEXAS" and played county fairs across the country, combining skits and ventriloquism. Fator continued working on his solo act and broke from the group after a few years.
But, all of that became history when Fator decided to go head to head with America's "best" variety acts this summer.
Although he said he never expected to win the $1 million prize, he decided to give it a shot.
He said auditioning for the show producers in Los Angeles was the first step. Then, judges Sharon Osbourne, David Hasselhoff, Piers Morgan and viewers across the nation determined his fate.
"The whole time I thought I would be on two or three shows and raise my notoriety. I had no idea I was going to win. I was quite shocked," Fator said.
The comedian said the experience was rewarding, but nerve-racking nonetheless.
"I would do the best thing I had (for the judges). Then, I was like 'Oh gosh, what am I going to do next week.' But I was able to pull it off. I was able to do it," Fator said.
Looking back, he said the best thing from his small screen experience is the enormous support from newfound fans.
"It has been a wonderful ride. Worth more than the million dollars is all the great crowds," he said.
On Wednesday night, Fator said, fairgoers can "expect to go away having had a very good time," adding that his show, unlike many comedic performances, appeals to any age. Local country singer Casey Rivers will open for Fator at 7 p.m.
"All of my show is family friendly. You can bring the kids, Grandma and Grandpa. It is a fun show- very high energy. Lots of comedy and laughter," the comedian said. For more information visit www.etstatefair.com.
Entertainment Writer
Ventriloquist, singer, comedian and reigning champion of "America's Got Talent," Terry Fator will take the East Texas State Fair stage 8 p.m. Wednesday, wrapping up his three-night stint in Tyler.
Tuesday evening, hundreds of fairgoers crowded around the ETSF main stage to see the notable funnyman in person.
Audience member Sammy Martin, 12, said his family traveled from Lindale to see Fator.
The youngster beamed when asked what he thought about the act.
"He's really good. He sings without moving his lips," Sammy said, seemingly impressed.
Apparently, Sammy wasn't the only one making the trek for some laughs.
Heather Fuller, 12, of Brownsboro, said she didn't catch Fator on the NBC show, but after a seeing a few of his many talents, she exclaimed "I think he is really cool."
Friend Kyle Bridges, 12, also of Brownsboro, agreed.
"He is awesome. He can sound like a lot of people," she said. "My dad loves him."
The sea of East Texans roared with laughter as Fator took the stage, opening with a song imitating singer Michael Buble.
Minutes later, he brought out his first puppet: a cowboy who happened to be in love with a woman sitting in the front row.
His show continued with yodeling, impersonations and, of course, more elaborate puppets.
The audience appeared glued to the stage for the hour-long variety performance.
But, this reaction doesn't seem to be foreign for Fator.
The Corsicana native said he has been entertaining audiences for a long time.
"I was 10 years old and I went to my school library and found a book on how to do ventriloquism," he said, recalling his first few shows at birthday parties and church events featuring a $20 puppet from Sears he bought with his parent's help.
"I got my first pay check in 1976. I was 11 years old and I said 'this is it!' It was $25. I thought if people will pay me to do this I would like to do this (for a living)," Fator said.
According to NBC.com, Fator later trained his voice in high school and picked up the talent of mimicking any singer he wanted.
After graduation, he formed a band named "TEXAS" and played county fairs across the country, combining skits and ventriloquism. Fator continued working on his solo act and broke from the group after a few years.
But, all of that became history when Fator decided to go head to head with America's "best" variety acts this summer.
Although he said he never expected to win the $1 million prize, he decided to give it a shot.
He said auditioning for the show producers in Los Angeles was the first step. Then, judges Sharon Osbourne, David Hasselhoff, Piers Morgan and viewers across the nation determined his fate.
"The whole time I thought I would be on two or three shows and raise my notoriety. I had no idea I was going to win. I was quite shocked," Fator said.
The comedian said the experience was rewarding, but nerve-racking nonetheless.
"I would do the best thing I had (for the judges). Then, I was like 'Oh gosh, what am I going to do next week.' But I was able to pull it off. I was able to do it," Fator said.
Looking back, he said the best thing from his small screen experience is the enormous support from newfound fans.
"It has been a wonderful ride. Worth more than the million dollars is all the great crowds," he said.
On Wednesday night, Fator said, fairgoers can "expect to go away having had a very good time," adding that his show, unlike many comedic performances, appeals to any age. Local country singer Casey Rivers will open for Fator at 7 p.m.
"All of my show is family friendly. You can bring the kids, Grandma and Grandpa. It is a fun show- very high energy. Lots of comedy and laughter," the comedian said. For more information visit www.etstatefair.com.
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