 Some people might not like what I’m about to say, but here goes. Watching marginalized communities get torn apart just doesn’t sit right with me. My parents taught me early on to live and let live, to mind my own business, and to treat others how I’d want to be treated. In a world that feels so divided and angry, you have to wonder how comedians are supposed to do their jobs. How do you make people laugh when it feels like chaos is winning? And if you’re part of one of those marginalized groups, how do you get up and perform for folks who might hate you just for existing? It’s rough out there, and I wish we could get back to being a nation that lifts people up, not one obsessed with tearing each other down.
People love to tell artists and entertainers to “stay in their lane.” Don’t talk politics, just entertain. The risk, supposedly, is that you’ll lose fans if you speak up—but sometimes you gain fans, too. Either way, it’s a gamble. Part of the job is reading the room, knowing which jokes will land and which ones won’t. You also have to know your own limits—when to push, and when to pull back. So how do you keep being funny in the middle of all this mess? Maybe it’s about remembering that humor actually brings people together. Laughter is like a release valve; it lets out the pressure before things explode. It’s those moments when people can let down their guard and just laugh, even if only for a second. But punching down—making fun of people who don’t deserve it—only adds to the problem. Personally, I’ve always found that self-deprecating humor works best. It’s honest, it’s vulnerable, and audiences respond to it. That’s why I feel a duty to find the funny in my own life and share it. Being a ventriloquist helps—after all, you can always blame the “dummy.” It’s a bit like the old Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis dynamic. They found ways to make people laugh through tough times, like World War II and Korea. The Smothers Brothers did it during Vietnam. The “Laugh In”variety show was another example. And who could forget Sammy Davis Jr. on “All in the Family,” flipping the script on Archie Bunker with just one kiss on the cheek? That was huge in the 1970s. In the end, having a comedy partner—real or made of wood—means twice the laughs, twice the joy, and maybe, just maybe, a little more peace, love, and understanding. Sile
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 A few weeks ago I was approached by a talent scout from America's Funniest People to audition for it. Turns out that she (the talent scout) got my information from a casting director for AGT for which I was approached to audition for season 19 in 2023. AGT scout emailed me and copied AFP talent scout. AFP scout said in the email that she enjoyed my audition piece from AGT and would be submitting it for consideration for AFP. A week later the AFP scout asked for additional videos and I send her my vent mask video which I thought was good. No answer back. Thinking that maybe this could be a joke I asked AFP scout to do a Zoom call with me to verify. I haven't heard back from her. Also consider that I called the AGT scout to voice a concern as well. Crickets. Both scouts are from the shows they claim to be from and their contact information appears to be legit. But why is there a voice inside me that is not sure. I know plenty of people who would love to hoax me but why? They're not asking for money or personal information. Did I ruin any chance I had by requesting a Zoom call with the scouts because I wanted to make sure that they were above board? Maybe I have a hard time believing that I'm good enough to be on national television. The trolls in my life would have a field day with that question. I found that whenever I receive compliments I often deflect because of the way I was raised. I'm going to try harder to stop caring about what others think and stay committed to getting better ever day as a ventriloquist. Sile |
SíleI write about Puppetry and Ventriloquism Archives
March 2026
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