The “America’s Got Talent” gang is back.
Tuesday’s premiere saw Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara and host Terry Crews return to the show’s home base at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Los Angeles to see what new talent (or lack thereof) the competition show will uncover in its 19th season.
The two-hour episode, which aired on NBC, featured 11 auditions, two golden buzzers, two pairs of pointe shoes, some seemingly rearranged fingers, and one of the creepiest contortionists we’ve ever seen.
Sure, there were a few gaffes, like one too many toilet plungers and a dog that wanted to stay anywhere but on the “AGT” stage, but for every grimace from the judges, some of the featured contestants showed real talent and heart.
Any illusions that talent is born here may be shattered when you realize that some of the contestants already have a bit of a head start in their careers (spoiler alert: one of the singers sang on Beyoncé’s record-breaking “Cowboy Carter”), but that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve a national stage — all in the name of entertainment.
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Here are some highlights from the “AGT” season 19 premiere.
Rayna Roberts, who sang Beyonce’s “Blackbird,” will perform an original song.
While many “AGT” viewers may not recognize Rayna Roberts by appearance, her voice may be familiar.
That’s because she was one of several black country artists Beyoncé tapped for the songs “Blackbird” and “Tyrant” on Cowboy Carter (a major achievement that wasn’t mentioned in the show).
Dressed in a matching red leather outfit with thigh-high boots and her trademark long red hair, Rayna shook the stage with the confidence of Lady A and Carrie Underwood, hitting the high notes with ease.
Mandel was the only dissenter in the group — “It just didn’t appeal to me,” he said — but the judges ultimately gave the country artist three yeses.
“I’m so, so excited to have you on the show,” Cowell said.
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Ballerina performs one of the most difficult routines in ‘AGT’ history
Ashley Montague proved to a very skeptical Cowell that ballet could make good TV.
Ashley, whose Instagram profile describes her as a Guinness World Record holder, “extreme ballerina,” and Cirque du Soleil alumna, began her performance with a routine that was impressive in itself, but she took it up a notch by climbing a platform that was at least 12 feet high, a stunt that had everyone on the edge of their seats.
Ashley miraculously maintained her balance as she stood on her tiptoes in her ballet shoes and traversed the tiny openings of 10 glass bottles.
Cowell, who had previously declared under his breath that “nobody actually likes ballet,” has now retracted that statement.
Ashley’s four weeks of non-stop rehearsals paid off when she was able to cross the props, a feat that brought her to tears and delighted the judges, who gave her a pass.
“They found a way to make it funny,” Cowell said of Ashley’s extreme ballet, adding that her performance was “one of the most difficult acts we’ve seen in a long time.”
NBC’s fall schedule:Reba McEntire’s “Happy’s Place,” “Brilliant Minds,” etc.
Who won the Golden Buzzer?
Learnmore Jonasi, a Zimbabwean comedian living in the US who learned English by watching stand-up comedians, received a standing ovation for his performance, in which Jonasi noted the differences between the rural village he grew up in and the American culture he had experienced, and Cowell claimed Jonasi was “one of the funniest people I’ve ever met.”
According to his website, Learnmore was spotted on Steve Harvey’s Spotlight contest and has a booking agent and manager. He may not be an unknown talent yet, but he certainly has wowed the judges and the audience. He was even honored to receive the Golden Buzzer from one of his idols, Terry Crews.
Krumm gave the golden buzzer to the final audition of the night, Richard Goodall, who delivered a flawless rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” The 55-year-old elementary school janitor, who has been in the business for 23 years, looked nervous as he took the stage in a newsboy cap and rectangular glasses.
What’s more, this trip to Los Angeles was his first time traveling by plane.
Richard, who made waves in 2022 when he performed Journey at a student graduation ceremony and received praise from Steve Perry and the legendary band, may never have appeared on “The Voice,” according to a TikTok he posted about two years ago.
But he now has bragging rights as Cowell’s “hero.”
