OVERBOOKED AND OVERJOYED

It was a big surprise for "America's Got Talent" winner Terry Fator on Tuesday when host Jerry Springer announced a bonus gig at Bally's.

For one thing, the ventriloquist already was booked for a show at the Las Vegas Hilton on Oct. 14.

"Now we've got two, and I'm just hoping there's even more," the 42-year-old Texas performer said Wednesday. "I'm hoping that all the casinos want me in Las Vegas. I've been dreaming of it so long."

The announcement did confuse Fator's Cinderella moment. Bally's officials aren't yet confirming any dates for Fator, but "if you call (the Hilton's) box office, we're taking orders," Hilton spokesman Ira Sternberg said.

The explanation? Fator's agent lined up the Hilton booking days before the finals of the NBC talent contest, and the Hilton planned to proceed even if Fator didn't win. Harrah's Entertainment, on the other hand, negotiated with the show's producers to offer a berth to the winner, whoever it might be.

"It's a good thing, but we just didn't realize the situation," said Fator's manager, John Raymond.

Fator probably will perform at Bally's as a specialty act in "Jubilee!" because a live version of "The Price Is Right" occupies every afternoon except Mondays. However, Bally's spokeswoman Celena Haas said "the shape and form" of the engagement still is in discussion.

Viewers voted in Fator, a 22-year performer, as the winner of the show's $1 million prize. The second season of "Talent" already had eliminated Las Vegas magician Kevin James of "World's Greatest Magic Show" and variety performer Gregory Popovich of "Popovich Comedy Pet Theater."

"For me at my age to have this opportunity, what an unbelievable dream," Fator said. "I thought these days had passed me by."

Fator had been doing well enough on the corporate and convention circuit that he could be a little finicky about his Las Vegas dream of coming in as a headliner. Instead of self-producing a show or taking a low-paying gig to get his foot in the door, he wanted to wait until the opportunity was right, he said.

"I just want somebody to say, 'We want you, here's what we're going to pay you, and let's do this thing.' I think now it will be very profitable for whoever makes that choice."

His career-long battle has been to overcome a jaded generation's aversion to ventriloquism.

"They roll their eyes when they hear it's a ventriloquist. You have to fight to impress them," he said.

Now, with the affirmation of the "Talent" vote, "people are going to come to my show expecting to see a good show. That makes my job much easier."