‘Equal-opportunity offender’: Bethel Park native pulls no punches as ventriloquist | TribLIVE.com

Complete with frosty hair, even whiter teeth and ever-present sunglasses, meet Joe Bidentime.

“He came into my life at the end of 2020. And the reason he came into my life was he was president, and I’m an equal-opportunity offender,” Bethel Park native April Brucker said.

Four years earlier, she’d introduced the world to the dour-faced, yellowy orange-coiffed Donald J. Tramp, who drew quite the reaction during public appearances leading up to the ’16 election. Brucker remembers one young woman in particular:

“She says, ‘Could I punch him?’ And there is a picture of her punching Donald J. Tramp. She almost broke my hand!”

Donald and Joe join three dozen other ventriloquist puppets in Brucker’s collection, which first gained national notoriety 15 years ago when she chose her dummies over a boyfriend in an episode of the TLC series “My Strange Addiction.”

Starting with a Groucho Marx puppet she received as a Christmas gift at age 13, she embarked on an entertainment trail that, as they say, takes no prisoners.

“I make fun of everybody, because we need to laugh,” Brucker, who lives in Las Vegas, said. “And I feel like what America is mission now is, unfortunately, people have forgotten that they’re all kind of ridiculous characters.”

Brucker can make it easy for people to forget that she’s the one doing all the talking, whether it’s an interviewer referring to her and a puppet as “you guys” or someone who joins the puppet-punching lady in being none too fond of Donald J. Tramp, such as this gentleman:

“He comes up to me and he goes, ‘Why do you hate Donald Trump?’ And I had my talking points ready. I don’t hate anybody. I only hate ideas,” Brucker recalled. “He goes, ‘I wasn’t talking to you. I was talking to him.’ And so he starts arguing with Donald J. Tramp.”

‘Bring a little humor’

That encounter took place at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, and Brucker is raising money to take her Donald J. to this summer’s RNC in Milwaukee.

“We hope to bring a little humor to the convention, because we were there in 2016, but unfortunately, we couldn’t go in 2020 because it was virtual,” Brucker said.

Meanwhile, let’s hear from Joe Bidentime.

April: “President Bidentime, what do you think of this year’s election?”

Joe: “I’m not going to run for president.”

April: “What? Excuse me?”

Joe: “I’m gonna walk. You’ve seen me run. It’s not good.”

And …

April: “So, what do you think of your vice president?”

Joe: “Here’s the deal. Calamari Harris is a most extinguished young woman.”

A mainstay of Brucker’s collection is the self-absorbed, attention-grabbing, gold-digging May Wilson, the puppet pictured prominently with April in her 2021 book, “Don’t Read My Lips!” The pair also appear in promotions for “My Strange Addiction” on Hulu.

Here’s what May — er, April — had to say about that:

“The good news is that people are recognizing us from ‘My Strange Addiction,’ and they’re buying April’s book.

“The secret is, people are buying the book because I’m on the front cover. Can I tell you another secret? I taught April everything she knows about ventriloquism.”

More good news is that “April in Vegas,” Brucker’s TV chat show produced on location at the picturesque English Hotel, is resuming after a hiatus caused by last year’s lengthy Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists strike.

‘Had I not been raised in Bethel Park’

She keeps busy otherwise with entertainment ventures including performances at Las Vegas venues, a nine-month stint as special guest star in the showgirl revue “BurlesQ” and involvement with Toast Boast Roast, a service in which professional comedians create original, personalized video routines for special occasions.

Beyond her work, Brucker earned a master of fine arts degree in creative writing and screenwriting from Antioch University in Los Angeles. Along with “Don’t Read My Lips!” is her authorship of “I Came, I Saw I Sang,” a book chronicling her job of delivering singing telegrams.

Then there’s the streaming availability of Season 1, Episode 4 of “My Strange Addiction.”

“One good thing about being on TLC is it’s connected me with a lot of my old classmates and it’s connected me with a lot of my old teachers,” Brucker said. “And I wouldn’t be the woman that I am today had I not been raised in Bethel Park and had I not had the teachers that I had. They’d say, ‘It might be musical season, April, but you still owe me a paper in my class.’”

She recalled delivering one such assignment right after playing the Wicked Witch of the West in “The Wizard of Oz” at Bethel Park High School. The teacher told her:

“Thank you for handing your paper in, April. But go home and wash that green paint off.”

She credits her parents, Bill and Anne Brucker, with instilling a strong work ethic to complement her sense of humor and always encouraging her career aspirations.

As for what they think of Donald J. Tramp … well, it’s hard not to snicker at their daughter’s bit with regard to wannabe Republican presidential nominee Nikki Haley.

April: “So, have you guys been talking lately?”

Donald: “Yeah, I saw her in the supermarket.”

April: “Really? Was she shopping?”

Donald: “No, her face was on a milk carton.”

For more chuckles, visit www.aprilbrucker.tv.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The article discusses the work of April Brucker, a ventriloquist, and her collection of ventriloquist puppets. Through her performances and appearances, she aims to bring humor and laughter to people. This connects to SDG 4 (Quality Education) as she uses her talent to educate and entertain. It also relates to SDG 5 (Gender Equality) as she challenges gender stereotypes by being a successful female ventriloquist. Additionally, her work in the entertainment industry contributes to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). The article mentions her involvement with Toast Boast Roast, which is a service that provides employment opportunities for professional comedians. Her performances also promote inclusivity and diversity, aligning with SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Lastly, her encounters with individuals who have different political views highlight the importance of dialogue and understanding, which is relevant to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development.
• SDG 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, and public life.
• SDG 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
• SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
• SDG 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels.

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets under the identified SDGs are as follows:
– SDG 4.7: April Brucker uses her talent as a ventriloquist to educate and promote sustainable development by bringing humor and laughter to people.
– SDG 5.5: April Brucker challenges gender stereotypes by being a successful female ventriloquist and participating in decision-making processes in the entertainment industry.
– SDG 8.5: April Brucker’s involvement in the entertainment industry provides employment opportunities for herself and other professional comedians.
– SDG 10.2: April Brucker promotes inclusivity and diversity through her performances, challenging stereotypes and advocating for equal opportunities for all.
– SDG 16.6: April Brucker’s encounters with individuals who have different political views highlight the importance of dialogue and understanding in promoting peace and justice.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These indicators include:
– Number of educational performances or events where April Brucker uses her ventriloquist talent to educate and promote sustainable development (SDG 4.7).
– Representation of women in leadership positions within the entertainment industry, including decision-making roles (SDG 5.5).
– Number of employment opportunities created for professional comedians through April Brucker’s involvement in the entertainment industry (SDG 8.5).
– Level of inclusivity and diversity promoted through April Brucker’s performances and interactions with different individuals (SDG 10.2).
– Number of dialogue sessions or events organized by April Brucker to foster understanding and promote peaceful interactions (SDG 16.6).

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Fuente: triblive.com

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