Puddles Pity Party was a singing clown from Season 12 of America's Got Talent. He was eliminated in the Quarterfinals. Puddles returned for AGT: The Champions 2 where he was eliminated in the Preliminaries.
Background[]
A 7-foot (2.1-meter) clown walks into a bar. He motions for a soda water and sits there staring at his drink. The year was 1998 and Puddles had wandered into the Star Community Bar in Atlanta, GA where bartender Big Mike Geier first laid eyes on the sad, silent clown.
“There was a heaviness about him,” says Geier. “I could tell he wasn’t in the mood to chat, so I pretty much left him alone except to pass him the mustard when he pulled an onion and a heel of bread out of his pocket. A couple weeks later, he came by the bar and gave me a flyer to a show he was doing at a flea market. The sound system was crap, but his voice was something else. I’ve been in my share of bands and wasn’t expecting much from a clown singing karaoke from a boombox. But I’ll be damned if his singing didn’t get me all choked up.”
The two soon became close friends, with Big Mike acting somewhat as a confidant as the pair travel all over with Puddles Pity Party, Mike speaking on behalf of Puddles since the clown chooses to stay silent.
Originally from River City before kicking around Atlanta, the sulking serenader gained momentum after hitting the road as guest performer on the 2010 Aqua Teen Hunger Force Live tour and 2013 Eels tour and making special appearances at Seattle’s Teatro ZinZanni and NYC’s Sleep No More.
It was Halloween 2013 when Puddles then teamed up with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox to record an epic version of Lorde’s hit song “Royals,” which instantly went viral on YouTube, having received over 21 million views so far. The “sad clown with the golden voice” captivated audiences and media from around the world, building a fan base of more than 192,000 on Facebook.
Puddles has since performed all over the planet, garnering rave reviews at festivals like Edinburgh Fringe, Adelaide Fringe, Perth Fringe, Melbourne International Comedy Fest and Belgium’s Gent Fest. He was a feature performer in La Soiree’s 2014 Southbank show in London, which won the Olivier Award. He was handpicked by Neil Patrick Harris to perform Just for Laugh’s “Circus Awesomeus” gala filmed for HBO Canada. And Jack Black selected Puddles to perform at the 2015 Festival Supreme.
Today, the softhearted crooner continues to wander the world with melancholic pop anthems and free hugs for all the party people.
“Puddles gives an emotive performance that resonates with all kinds of folks,” says Geier. “The crowd really responds to him. There’s something about a giant sad singing clown that comforts us, lets us know it’s ok to feel, to show our feelings. It’s a sad and beautiful world, and we’re all in it together, even when we’re totally alone.” [1]
Audition[]
Puddles Pity Party's audition in Episode 1201 consisted of singing Sia's "Chandelier". Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum, and Simon Cowell all voted "Yes", sending Puddles to the Judge Cuts.
Judge Cuts[]
Puddles Pity Party's Judge Cuts performance in Episode 1208 consisted of singing Eric Carmen's "All By Myself". Mel B gave him a standing ovation. Puddles' performance was strong enough for the judges to send him to the Quarterfinals instead of Dakota Striplin and Sammulous.
Quarterfinals[]
Puddles Pity Party's Week 1 Quarterfinals performance in Episode 1211 consisted of singing Lorde's "Royals". Simon Cowell buzzed the act. Puddles did not receive enough votes to be sent to the Semifinals in Episode 1212, eliminating him from the competition along with The Singing Trump, instead of Preacher Lawson.
The Champions 2 Preliminary[]
Puddles Pity Party's Preliminary performance in Episode TC202 consisted of singing "I Want To Know What Love Is" by Foreigner as photos of the judges' dogs wearing Puddles crowns were projected on a screen. Howie Mandel gave him a standing ovation. Puddles did not receive enough votes from the Superfans to advance to the Semifinals, eliminating him from the competition along with Collabro instead of Marcelito Pomoy.
After The Show[]
Puddles appeared on an episode of The Conners in 2022.
Trivia[]
- Puddles was the first act in Season 12 to be buzzed in the live shows.
External Links[]
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