VENTRILOQUIST PAUL ZERDIN VOTED WINNER OF NBC'S HIT SUMMER SERIES 'AMERICA'S GOT TALENT'

Zerdin Wins $1 Million Grand Prize and Will Headline 'America's Got Talent Live' Show in Las Vegas

NEW YORK - Sept. 16, 2015 - The votes are in and America has chosen Paul Zerdin as winner of the 10th anniversary season of "America's Got Talent." Zerdin won over viewers with his inventive and unique take on ventriloquism, using comedic characters and personalities to outshine thousands of acts, including finalists Benton Blount, Derek Hughes, Drew Lynch, Gary Vider, Oz Pearlman, Piff the Magic Dragon, the Craig Lewis Band, the Professional Regurgitator and Uzeyer Novruzov.

This season of "America's Got Talent" concluded at Radio City Music Hall with a star-studded live finale featuring performances by the 10 finalists along with Rachel Platten, Yolanda Adams, Penn & Teller, Jeffrey Ross, Terry Fator and season-nine winner Mat Franco.

Zerdin has spent years taking the art of ventriloquism to new heights. When he was 10 years old, a family friend made him a puppet theater, which he used to put on shows. Later, he was given a book on ventriloquism written by the legendary Ray Alan. His hobby became an obsession and soon a career. From Royal Variety Performances to comedy festivals around the globe, Zerdin is constantly breaking new ground, all of which has established him at the forefront of his profession. Follow Zerdin on Twitter at @PaulZerdin.

Zerdin will headline an exclusive engagement of "America's Got Talent Live" in Las Vegas, Oct. 22-24 in the PH Showroom at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. He will be joined by finalists Drew Lynch and Piff The Magic Dragon. Ticket information can be found at www.AGTVegas.com

Open-call auditions for season 11 of "America's Got Talent" will begin in Detroit on Nov. 7 and make stops in 12 U.S. cities, including New York, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, San Jose, San Diego, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Orlando and Dallas. For more information or to submit a video audition, visit www.AGTAuditions.com.

"America's Got Talent" ranks as this year's #1 summer series on the Big 4 networks, with the Tuesday edition averaging a 2.9 rating, 10 share in adults 18-49 and 12.5 million viewers overall in "most current" averages from Nielsen Media Research. Those averages represent gains versus last summer of 7% in 18-49 and 8% in total viewers. It's the most watched season for "Talent" in four years, since the show averaged 14.1 million viewers in 2011.

Open call auditions for season 11 of "America's Got Talent" will kick off in Detroit on Nov. 7 and make stops in 12 U.S. cities, including New York, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, San Jose, San Diego, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Atlanta, GA; Orlando and Dallas. For more information or to submit an online audition, visit www.AGTAuditions.com.

"America's Got Talent" stars Howard Stern, Heidi Klum, Mel B, Howie Mandel and Nick Cannon, and is produced by FremantleMedia North America and Syco Entertainment. Simon Cowell, Sam Donnelly, Jason Raff, Trish Kinane and Richard Wallace are the executive producers.

Please visit the official show site at: http://www.nbc.com/agt

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