America’s Got Talent Finalist Tape Face Breaks His Silence for Parade

The Top 10 finalists will take the stage tonight on America’s Got Talent —  singer Brian Justin Crum, juggler extraordinaire Viktor Kee, contortionist Sofie Dossi, mind readers The Clairvoyants, musical group Linkin’ Bridge, crooner Sal Valentinetti, opera singer Laura Bretan, ukulele player Grace Vanderwaal, magician and NFL star Jon Dorenbos and mime Tape Face. 

Over the season, we have heard from nine of the ten acts, but Tape Face, who was born Sam Willis, a New Zealand mime now living in London, has yet to utter a word. So, Parade.com took the opportunity to chat with him via e-mail.

Here is what he had to say, and  his answers — in character, of course — are as outrageously funny as his performances. 

I re-watched all your performances and I loved them all, but the first night is my favorite. “Endless Love” and “Lady in Red” still make me laugh. Any chance something like that may show up for the finale, or will it be something we haven’t seen before?

Not for the finale. Currently we are having legal issues as, after the video went viral, the gloves and dress got their own management and have signed on to do other work. I think they are in some big blockbusters coming out next year. As for what I will be doing, I think I will stick to the plan and try and do as little as possible. The last thing to do is take this seriously.  

Win or lose, where would you like your career to go from here?

I think East? Maybe a bit North? Not sure about the South but the West has always held a lot of opportunities for me. I think that’s where it will go.

You have an act that you will be performing on a UK tour. Will you bring that to America?

Absolutely! The plan was always to do that and when you have a plan, you should stick to it. Unless the plan is to put bananas in spaghetti. Then you need to have a good hard look at yourself.

How do you feel about comparisons to Buster Keaton? Was he your original inspiration?

No. He is good though. The inspirations come from…  well, that would be telling wouldn’t it? Get your own inspiration!

How did you develop your facial expressions? Did you practice in a mirror? They are spot-on and lend so much to the comedy.

Don’t tell anyone, but I actually order all of my expressions from eBay. They take a bit to get used to but once they settle on, they feel very natural. The new one I have coming soon is blind rage with a hint of sarcasm.

Also, you seem to have a real feel for popular culture, like the Ghost bit with Heidi Klum, and the Peter Gunn theme with Nick Cannon. Are those ideas born whole or do they develop over time?

They are very much born whole. The labor is intense but we have a very good comedy doctor on standby. When the comedy waters break, it can happen anywhere. A few phone calls later and we have gold! Pure comedy gold.

Is the striped shirt and possibly the eye makeup a tip of the hat to Marcel Marceau?

I don’t wear a hat.

Did you find AGT or did they invite you?

I found them. It was easy. I just opened Google maps and typed in AGT. It took me to a small table at the end of an alleyway. That’s where I met Joey Delaware. He seems to be the guy pulling all the strings. He had a big book and everything. At least he said his name was Joey. He was really twitchy, kept muttering about money and some guy called Vinyl Burns.

How frustrating is it to not be able to use your words?

kjnxcbn dkd dkjd didod dioxpsw sud erieps sidocf woxio. Gosh, there I go again! Silly words and me not being able to get a grasp of them.

Will we ever hear you? And if, yes, can you speak “American” or do you have a Kiwi accent?

I am pretty sure I don’t have anything of importance to say. In fact, maybe a few more people could take a page out of my book and say less. Silence is Golden.

America’s Got Talent returns tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC for the final performances.