Paul Zerdin
Published: Tuesday 6th June 2023
One random comedian, eight random questions; it's the ultimate test of funny person and fate. This week we wave in a man who's done everything from wowing US prime-time TV to sticking his hand up a pretend old man; he did the former by doing the latter, in fact, during a triumphant run on America's Got Talent in 2015.
Then he did Vegas, and now he's back touring the UK, with a show called Puppetman. So does he get lots of respect now? Not from the puppets, it seems, who are "ribbing me for thinking ventriloquism is some sort of super power when they think it's frankly pathetic!"
Thanos and his Infinity Gauntlet versus Zerdin and his foam baby would be an interesting battle. So what are they up to in Puppetman?
"Sam wants to leave the show and find a better ventriloquist to work with," says Zerdin. "Albert wants to audition for Britain's Got Talent with his new magic act, and the Baby is looking for a new babysitter for the evening; it could be someone in the audience! Roger my new American bodyguard character is homesick, and the Urban Fox may not be quite so 'Urban' after all."
It's good to vent. Paul Zerdin, your Random 8 await:
What was your favourite TV show, growing up?
Sesame Street and The Muppet Show were massive influences on me and what I do now for a living. Knight Rider was a favourite - I guess there's a theme here, things that talk by themselves. Puppets and talking cars!
Ever gatecrashed anything interesting?
I once gate-crashed Nigel Havers' agents' party where I then proceeded to pitch my sitcom idea to a big TV comedy exec. He wasn't interested and had no idea who I was or what I was talking about.
Do you have a favourite fact?
I love the fact that the famous American TV ventriloquist Paul Winchell was also the voice of Tigger in the Disney Winnie the Pooh cartoons, Dastardly and Mutley, and Gargamel in The Smurfs!
What's your favourite bit of furniture, ever?
My new desk in my new office at home. I like to climb on it and cuddle it!
Ever met a particularly great or awful famous person?
I once bumped into Jerry Seinfeld in New York the day after I won America's Got Talent. We had a little chat and a picture. He's one of my comedy heroes!
What's the weirdest thing you ever saw?
I just returned from performing on a Royal Caribbean ship yesterday and in the taxi in Tel Aviv I saw a full size lorry sitting on the top of a high-rise building.
Your greatest sporting moment?
Learning to mono ski in Mauritius. It's now one of my favourite things to do.
When were you most embarrassed?
The first night of my first Summer Season when I got punched by a punter after Sam called them ugly on stage. This guy walked on stage and hit me in the chest and then walked back to his seat. I was in shock! I carried on and at the end of the show this guy started a standing ovation.
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