Las Vegas Weekly

August 5, 2009 · 7:26 AM

Terry Fator gets by with a little help from his (puppet) friends

By Robin Leach

Terry Fator and Duggie.

Photo: Isaac Brekken

While Mr. Vegas DeLuxe Robin Leach is on vacation and attempting to work as little as possible from afar, Vegas DeLuxe will be featuring celebrity guest columnists for the first half of this month until Robin’s return. If you’re knowledgeable about Las Vegas, the names should be familiar. Today, it’s singing ventriloquist, America’s Got Talent Season 2 winner and $100 million man Terry Fator, who headlines at The Mirage.

By Terry Fator

As the first ventriloquist to ever sign a long-term deal in Las Vegas, I was so honored to have the opportunity to write a guest column for Robin Leach.

My brain was reeling with possibilities! What would I write about? The fact that before every show, I play my Nintendo Wii to get relaxed enough to perform? Or that I go regularly to the EDR (Employee Dining Room) to grab a bite to eat and get a cup of coffee? It doesn’t seem like a big deal to me, but sometimes a Mirage employee appears a bit surprised to see me waiting for the tongs at the salad bar. The food is good (I am not kidding), and I usually meet some nice people.

Then there’s the amazing perk of being able to sleep in my own bed every night. After 26 years of travel, I must admit it approaches nirvana to be able to wake up in my own bed day after day. Wow! How great is that?

I kept thinking about what to write and then decided to ask my co-stars, aka puppets, to help me out. So here’s a little from each of them, in their own voices:

Winston: (Impersonating Turtle. Does impressions of Roy Orbison, Maroon 5, Kermit the Frog and tons more.) “I love it in Vegas. It was a little hard to get accustomed to the dry heat. I used to live in a swamp that was nice and humid. But I think I’ll get used to the dry climate, and I’m definitely getting used to Terry’s dry humor. I’m the reason you should come see Terry’s show. Look up the definition of cute in the dictionary, and you’ll find my picture. And I can sing like nobody’s business!” [Editor’s disclaimer: Winston is very cute, but I do not condone his shameless plug of Terry’s show.]

Emma: (My little girl character. Emma does a killer Etta James.) “I open the show, but since I am still under adult age, I can’t comment on the typical Las Vegas amenities, but seeing the tigers and dolphins at The Mirage is a blast. I go see them every night after my short part in the show is over. There is so much for kids my age to do here! I hope parents don’t miss this great opportunity to bring their kids here! You won’t regret it!”

Julius: (My soul mate) “Having to do a show with a guy who can’t sing with soul is a trying experience. I don’t regret signing a long-term contract with such a pasty white ventriloquist. He needs me in the show! Bad! Also, if you want to find the best band in the world, just come to our show and then hit the late-night scene with us!”

Duggie: (Duggie is the stoner we all knew in high school and always wondered what would become of him.) “Dude! I am so bummed. I heard The Mirage has a lot of great dealers, but so far I haven’t met one! I have to bring my own stuff from home. But I must say the partying is great! Any place that serves drinks to me at 6 in the morning and doesn’t judge me is my kind of place! I love the fact that there are no windows. I can gamble and drink until 10 in the morning! Rock on! (I think I saw Bon Jovi at the craps table last night … whoooaaa! I think I see him again right now.)

Vikki: (Vikki is the true definition of a Cougar, a hot older lady who preys on younger men.) “The Mirage is my dream casino. I do my show every night, then hang out at Jet and strut my stuff. I play my men like I play blackjack; anything over 21 is a bust. It’s nice to prove to all the younger guys that silicone is much sexier than natural. Those little bimbos can’t hold a candle to me. Sexy is as sexy does, and what I does is sexy!

Walter T. Airdale: (Country singer extraordinaire. He loves women and booze like so many of the old-style country legends.) “Las Vegas is great, with lots of opportunity to cruise for chicks. I can’t wait for the National Finals Rodeo. I’ll really be in my element then. Until then I’ll just have to keep convincing these high-class Vegas ladies that they need a little down-home country lovin.’ ”

Maynard Thompkins: (Maynard is probably the most comfortable in Las Vegas. He is an Elvis impersonator who, as it turns out, doesn’t actually know any Elvis songs.) “I love it here! Vegas is truly the Shangri-Las for Elvis impersonators. I never take off my Elvis suit, so I get to meet a lot of my brothers from other mothers around town. We are an unusual breed, but the planet needs us if only to remind the rest of the world how ordinary their lives are! And one of these days I might even learn an Elvis song or two!”

Well, there you have it, folks! My adventures in the greatest entertainment city in the world through the eyes of the characters in my show. If you get the chance, we’d love to have you stop by and see us. I think you’ll enjoy meeting them in person. They are as funny and unusual in real life as they are when they are trying to help me write an article.

Just get out there in Vegas and enjoy the city. I know we all are!

Watch Terry perform tonight on NBC’s America’s Got Talent.

Vegas DeLuxe’s celebrity guest columnist tomorrow is nightlife industry guru Jack Colton.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter HERE.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter HERE.

Share This