Ventriloquist Terry Fator Crowned 'Best New Act' on 'America's Got Talent'
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Working with puppets has certainly paid off for Terry Fator.
The crowd-pleasing ventriloquist and impersonator was named the winner of NBC's "America's Got Talent" in the variety contest's second-season finale Tuesday night.
"Terry, you've done it! You are the best new act in America, and you have won $1 million!" announced host Jerry Springer.
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Fator, who took up ventriloquism at age 10, impressed judges David Hasselhoff, Piers Morgan and Sharon Osbourne with his impersonations of legends including Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Roy Orbison — and Kermit the Frog.
The runner-up was singer Cas Haley.
"I'm going to get recognized a little bit more now," Fator said in a video posted on NBC's Web site. "If you see me, you come up and shake my hand — I've been waiting for this for 32 years."
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The top-rated series, from "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell and FremantleMedia, the company that produces Fox's hit singing contest, features an eclectic mix of acts. It debuted in June 2006.