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Tom Donoghue/DonoghuePhotography.com
Taylor Makakoa, Walter T. Airedale and Terry Fator arrive at the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, April 1, 2012.
Monday, July 16, 2012 | 10:58 a.m.
While Robin Leach takes his traditional summer vacation under the Tuscan sun in Italy, many of our Strip and Las Vegas personalities have stepped forward in his absence to pen their own words of wisdom. Our thanks to them all. We continue today with Mirage headliner, ventriloquist and entertainer Terry Fator, who, although he is a man of 100 voices, actually only has one when it comes down to the numbers.
Las Vegas is all about the numbers. What are the odds, how much should we bet, how much did you win, how much did you lose, does a 10, a 7 and a 5 add up to 21? (Math was never my strong suit.)
My show at the Mirage is no different. So I'd thought it might be fun to give you 12 fun facts about the show ... by the numbers. If you took the under on 13 fun facts, you’re a winner!
3: That’s the number of years I’ve been at the Mirage. Let me put it into perspective: Three years is equal to 15 Kim Kardashian marriages.
5: That’s the number of octaves I can sing. Five … six if I buy the wrong size Fruit of the Looms.
8: That’s the number of wardrobe changes per show for my wife and onstage assistant Taylor. I, on the other hand, have still worn the same lucky jockstrap since 1983. Wait, that can’t be right?! I’ve never been a jock, so why would I need a strap? Wow. That was a long stretch for a joke. As long a stretch as my jockstrap from 1983. OK, I think it’s time to move on.
10: That’s the age I first taught myself ventriloquism by reading the book “Ventriloquism for Fun and Profit” by the great Paul Winchell. It was always fun, but there wasn’t any profit until “America’s Got Talent.”
48: That's the number of songs I perform every night onstage. Wait, I’ve just been corrected. That’s the number of songs the puppets perform every night onstage. They get very agitated when I take credit for their hard work and talent.
100: That’s the number of voices I have mastered. The truth is it’s really way over 100 by now, as I’m constantly adding new ones. My goal is to eventually have mastered as many voices as Lindsay Lohan has in her head.
150: An odd fun fact. That’s the number of Lifesaver mints consumed by the band and crew every week. After every Thursday pizza night, it’s not enough.
1,346: That's the average number of stitches it takes to sew a puppet. It also is 15 stitches less than Chris Brown and Drake caused during their fight the other night.
12,000: That’s the number of LED lights in the show. And unlike Congress, we never have any dim bulbs.
15,410: That’s the number of days it took from the day I was born to win “America’s Got Talent.” That’s amazing! It went by so quickly! It really only felt like 15,409 days!
678,109: That’s the number of guests who have attended the show at the Mirage. Which leads me to my final number ...
1: For I am one lucky guy to have an amazing wife standing by my side, a great team and crew behind me, and the best fans in the world in the seats in front of me.
Our lips aren’t moving, but we do say sincere thanks to Terry for his column. Be sure to check out our other guest columns today from reality TV star and fashionista Laura Croft and Alex Epstein of the El Cortez, and please return Tuesday for Flamingo headliner magician Nathan Burton, celebrity chef Kerry Simon and Bettie Page fashion queen Tatayana.
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 at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.
Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.
Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.
very clever.
Terry Fator is a class act. Talented, funny, but most of all: a genuinely nice guy. I hope he lasts for decades and becomes synonymous with Las Vegas like Sinatra or Wayne Newton.
I hope one day he adds a separate late night, edgier, adult-oriented show with Penny Pibbets (from Absinthe) and calls it "The Dirty Puppet Show". That would be hilarious.
Las Vegas is so blessed to have the Fators at the Mirage performing and around town as a part of our community! Their collective humor and healthful living advice make it a joy to watch or read. Either way, you can't miss! Get your Fator Fix and smile all day!
Blessings and Peace,
Star