By Mike Weatherford – Las Vegas Review-Journals Photo:PeterKramer/NBC
There’s an old entertainer’s joke: Put three magicians in the same room and they’ll start a convention. Put three ventriloquists in the same room and they’ll start a fight.
The Strip proved to be big enough to hold the small niche’s biggest stars, Jeff Dunham and Terry Fator.
But even a three-night run by Paul Zerdin, the recent winner of “America’s Got Talent,” continues to draw objections to his victory from a ventriloquist who headlined Las Vegas for years.
“I feel very righteously ripped off and plagiarized,” Ronn Lucas said this week, echoing comments he has made since Zerdin won the NBC talent show Sept. 16. “He had some damn good material. I’ve been breaking it in for a while.”
“It’s a shame we all can’t get on and support each other,” says Zerdin, who headlines “America’s Got Talent Live!” Thursday through Oct. 24 at Planet Hollywood Resort. “There are loads of magicians, but there aren’t many ventriloquists, and we’re all doing stuff in our own way and we want to be friends.” Read more at: http://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/shows/controversy-follows-americas-got-talent-winner-vegas
THE KATS REPORT: LANCE BURTON REAPPEARS WITH THE FILM ‘BILLY TOPIT’
For two weeks after he attended the Frito-Lay company Christmas party in Louisville, Kentucky, 5-year-old Lance Burton incessantly checked his hair and ears for silver dollars. Maybe we need a backstory here.
Burton’s mother made potato chips at the plant in the family’s hometown. During this particular Christmas party, a guy named Harry Collins got up to entertain the employees and their guests. Collins was sales manager at the plant, but on this night he was a headlining magician. “He was an excellent magician,” says Burton, who for decades in Las Vegas has been aptly known as “Master Magician.”
Collins asked for a volunteer, and little Lance hustled to the stage. Collins then reached behind the child’s ear and produced a silver dollar. Then another, from the opposite ear. Then from his arms and elbows. The kid who would one day star on the Las Vegas Strip had become a little slot machine. Read more..
When you interview a comedic magic dragon, you get sarcastic answers. Because comedic magic dragons are quite smart aleck-y. But this particular comedic magic dragon is having a great week because he just got himself a golden buzzer on America’s Got Talent. PiffTheMagicDragon had a great set on his first appearance on AGT in round one, really impressing Howard Stern,Howie Mandel, and Heidi Klum in his first appearance earlier this season. He also got almost 3 million views on the clip that got posted on YouTube. http://theinterrobang.com/interview-piff-the-magic-dragon-golden-buzzer-americas-got-talent/
This week, Piff came back for round two, and had an even better week, grabbing himself a kiss from Heidi Klum, and a Golden Buzzer from guest judge Neil Patrick Harris. For those who aren’t AGT regulars, this means he doesn’t have to screw around with anymore elimination rounds, he advances straight on to the live finals at Radio City Music Hall. It also means he got sprayed with a whole lot of gold confetti.
Piff is no Flash in the Pan magic dragon. He has over 12 million YouTube views, five record breaking runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, a stand out performance on Penn & Teller: Fool Us, and six months in Vegas. His magic inspirations are Penn & Teller and calls Seinfeld his comedy inspiration, and his favorite television show is Adventure Time.
The IBang: Who is the judge that you most wanted to impress when you prepared for America’s Got Talent?
Piff The Magic Dragon: Howard Stern.
The IBang: How many costume ideas did you go through before you settled on this one?
Piff The Magic Dragon: What are you talking about? I’m a magic dragon. I work naked.
The IBang: Why do you think Neil Patrick Harris picked you for his golden buzzer act?
Piff The Magic Dragon: I think he wanted my sandwich.
The IBang: What was going through your head when you found out you’re going through?
Piff The Magic Dragon: I was totally transfixed by all the gold flying around the room. Dragons really love Gold. Mmm. Gold. Sorry, what was the question?
The IBang: Where did you learn magic?
Piff The Magic Dragon: When you’re a magic dragon it goes with the territory. I basically hatched out of the egg clutching a four of diamonds.
The IBang: Where does a magic dragon vacation when he’s not working?
Piff The Magic Dragon: By the sea.
The IBang: You perform all over the world, where’s your favorite place to perform?
Piff The Magic Dragon: Las Vegas. Because the whole world comes to Vegas. So it saves me the airfare.
The IBang: What’s the difference between performing for American vs. UK audiences?
Piff The Magic Dragon: American audiences are definitely more vocal in their support. English audiences are a bit more reserved.
The IBang: Are you a fan of any of the other acts this year?
Piff The Magic Dragon: Yes. Lots of them. Drew Lynch. Triple Threat. Heavenly Joy Jenkins. Many more.
The IBang: What advice would you have for someone who wants to get on AGT next season?
Piff The Magic Dragon: Apply and audition. Until you’ve done that it will be difficult to get on.
Watch a Guy in a Dragon Suit Charm the ‘America’s Got Talent’ Judges..
