Paul Zerdin stood nervously just right of center stage as "America's Got Talent" went to commercial break. Drew Lynch paced around his mark, burying his face in his hand. Each contestant could barely wait the grueling two and half minutes before Nick Cannon would announce one of their names as the $1 million and next Las Vegas headliner.
When the show came back, the lights dimmed and Cannon cracked open the envelope to read, "Paul Zerdin," who will take his ventriloquist act to the bright lights of Vegas. Runner-up Drew Lynch, who won over audiences as an inspiration to those with disabilities, almost seemed relieved as he congratulated Zerdin.
The real shock came before Cannon narrowed down the final two contestants. Boos erupted from the crowd when The Professional Regurgitator finished in fourth place. The disappointment continued when mentalist Oz Pearlman was knocked out of the competition moments later, placing third.
Judge Howie Mandel put it best that the only downfall of the show was only one act could win the grand prize.
Rounding out the top five was The CraigLewis Band, whose spectacular performance the night before may have swayed a few more votes over other fan favorites like Piff the Magic Dragon and Uzeyer Novzurov.
Before the night came to a close, "America's Got Talent" paid special video tribute to its departing judge Howard Stern, who leaves the program after four years. Set to Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind," Stern reflected on his time as judge and bringing the show back to New York and Radio City Music Hall.
Stern personally thanked the viewing audience during the broadcast and the thousands of fans backed inside the theater later during a commercial break. He admitted that he never had parents asking for him to take photos with their children before taking the gig on the NBC talent competition show.
Auditions for "America's Got Talent" season 11 will start in November and the show will return next summer on NBC.
