The America’s Got Talent live shows continued on Sept. 2, with 11 quarterfinalists competing for the votes of the viewers at home. One of these acts would earn a spot in the finals thanks to the judges’ Golden Buzzer, while three others would advance to the semifinals after host Terry Crews announced the voting results on Sept. 3. The live show judges are Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Sofía Vergara, and Mel B.
The 11 acts competing in the third week of quarterfinals included two Golden Buzzers from the auditions: former child singer Jessica Sanchez (chosen by Sofia), and juggling danger duo Messoudi Brothers (chosen by Mel).
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They were joined by nine other competitors: crossbow shooter Anna Saranina, singer Austin Brown, vocal group Benn Family Band, freestyle rapper Chris Turner, band Girish & the Chronicles, aerial duo Jacqueline & Wagner, dancer Maceo Harrison, A.I. magician Mastermind, and rapper Micah Palace.
Messoudi Brothers, ‘America’s Got Talent’Trae Patton/NBC
One by one, the third group of acts competed live on Tuesday night at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, and voting officially opened at the end of the two-hour episode. Meet the 44 live show acts for AGT’s 20th anniversary season. Read on for our America’s Got Talent 20, “Quarterfinals 3” live show performances recap.
Jacqueline & Wagner
Act: Aerial euo
Hometown: Italy & Brazil
Performance: The aerial routine begins and ends high up in the air, and comes down to the stage in the middle, where Wagner spins his love around in circles while holding her hair and wearing roller blades. At one point, Jacqueline almost falls out of his grasp, but she is able to hold on.
Mel’s comments: “Can I just say there was no safety net here? I don’t know how you have the mindset in thinking that could go OK. It went brilliantly!”
Simon’s comments: “That was honestly sensational. Really, really good. You have really taken a massive step up. Good for you.”
Howie’s comments: “In all of the acts that we’ve seen, we ask them to step it up. You have stepped it up.”
Sofia’s comments: “You definitely took it to another level tonight. It was amazing. The hair-pulling was intense. The most important thing I saw was how important this was to you tonight.”
Austin Brown
Act: Country singer
Hometown: Tifton, Georgia
Performance: After a topsy-turvy audition process that saw Austin take two turns to get a “yes,” the country singer is performing an original song tonight focused on getting “tipsy” from whisky. This time he’s got a full band behind him, and the song sounds right at home on the big stage.
Mel’s comments: “It was like something that I’d already hear on the radio. I was a bit confused about what you were saying. I really enjoyed it. It was a vibe.”
Sofia’s comments: “This was better than the audition. You have stage presence. This was amazing.”
Howie’s comments: “I think you’re one of the most talented singers we’ve had on the show. You’ve gotta pick your lane. I don’t know that country is the best genre for your voice. I think it’s more pop. In the country world, I don’t think this is gonna stick out.”
Simon’s comments: “If I had seen your audition, I would have said to you, take off the silly hate, slow the song down, and just focus on your voice. It was too over the top. I didn’t like it.”
Maceo Harrison
Act: Dancer
Hometown: Savannah, Georgia
Performance: Starting in his trailer outside, Maceo dances his way through the green groom, over a stage hand, and ultimately onto the stage by swinging from a literal chandelier. He takes a moment to mess with the judges before returning back to the stage and falling down on his back.
Howie’s comments: “With you, we can’t wait to see how you’re gonna get to that stage.”
Simon’s comments: “That was so brilliant, the chandelier. You didn’t tell me you were part of that banana baseball thing. You’re already a star.”
Sofia’s comments: “I think that being a solo dancer is so difficult, but you make it so much fun. We can see your personality while you’re doing it.”
Mel’s comments: “You know what I love about you? I don’t know what you’re gonna do next, and you don’t know what you’re gonna do next.”
Benn Family Band
Act: Vocal group
Hometown: Altadena, California
Performance: The family band, who lost their homes in the Altadena fire, is singing a stripped-down version of “I Won’t Give Up” in front of a background of what appears to be animated ashes. The song starts out rather slowly, and builds to a beautiful crescendo, and the judges are on their feet.
Sofia’s comments: “That was so beautiful, so moving. Your story is so inspiring. What you went through, I cannot even understand, and here you are.”
Howie’s comments: “As judges, sometimes we want to separate the story from the act, but the story is the act. I can feel your broken hearts when you sing. It’s so beautiful.”
Mel’s comments: “I love you guys. I adore you guys. You made me cry last time I heard you. But I have to be honest with you. You are so much better than that.”
Simon’s comments: “I was just trying to think. I had so many thoughts. It was real, strong, beautiful. You sounded so much better than the first time we met. Secondly, you are keeping this story alive. I think you should all feel incredibly proud of yourselves.”
Messoudi Brothers
Act: Juggling duo
Hometown: Australia
Performance: The brothers have added fire and a platform to their performance, and they juggle at first with blindfolds on. Just like last time, the guys strip down to their underwear and try to put their clothes back on while throwing bottles repetitively at each other.
Mel’s comments: “You did step it up a level. And I didn’t realize how difficult it was until I really concentrated on what you were doing.”
Howie’s comments: “I love that act. You were worthy of the Golden Buzzer. What we look for is stepping it up. That doesn’t mean to do the same act only going up steps.”
Simon’s comments: “I kind of know where Howie is going with this, however, they did arguably step it up. This is what a really well-rehearsed, polished act is all about. Out of a 10, that is a 10.”
Sofia’s comments: “You make juggling exciting, sexy, and fun. I would give you a Golden Buzzer, but I don’t have one. Congratulations.”
Micah Palace
Act: Rapper
Hometown: Connecticut
Performance: Micah, a superfan of soccer, asks the audience to join him in singing “Olé” over and over again as he performs an original bilingual song in Spanish and English. He ends the energetic act by doing a backflip on the big stage.
Howie’s comments: “I’m on my feet because I think people are going to enjoy it. You are like our own personal Good Bunny.”
Sofia’s comments: “I thought that you were amazing. You did really well virally, and there was a reason. I think this can work for the World Cup definitely.”
Mel’s comments: “It went viral and I get it. I don’t get it, but I do get it, if you know what I mean.”
Simon’s comments: “I do get it, actually. Because I really like you. I thought that was such a clever song. The World Cup is coming. Maybe that should be the anthem. What color is the World Cup? [Micah responds that it’s gold.] OK!”
Simon hits the Golden Buzzer, and Micah Palace advances directly the finals of Season 20!
Mastermind
Act: A.I. magician
Hometown: Unknown
Performance: The magician, who combines magic and technology, instructs Simon to touch a card with an emoji on it. He picks the red heart. Mastermind then takes Howie’s phone and makes hearts appear on it. He has Mel choose a random seat using artificial intelligence, and it picks H5, where an audience member named Amy is sitting. She thinks about a person she wants to connect with, and that person calls her and says she’s getting into an elevator. The word “elevator” is what everyone in Row H has on their phones, and it scrambles into the words “love heart.”
Sofia’s comments: “I don’t know what happened. It was just so magical and unexpected. I think you really stepped it up tonight.”
Mel’s comments: “I’m so confused, but I think I get it. It was magical.”
Howie’s comments: “This is a place where magic wins. For me, that’s been the best act tonight. I only have one question: where’s my phone.”
Simon’s comments: “I didn’t quite understand the end. I’ll watch it back. It was brilliant.”
Girish & the Chronicles
Act: Band
Hometown: Bengaluru, India
Performance: The group gets the energy flowing by performing a hard rock version of Sia’s “Unstoppable,” and it actually works. Girish’s high notes are reminiscent of an ’80s metal band, and these guys are definitely here to play.
Howie’s comments: “I can’t even sit down. I’m so excited. That is my favorite genre of music. For me, so far, that was my favorite act.”
Sofia’s comments: “I think you guys are spectacular. You look great, you sound great, I think your dream of becoming rock stars is going to happen.”
Mel’s comments: “The vocals were sometimes a little bit off, but the production and the way you interpreted that song was hotter than hot. You’re very good.”
Simon’s comments: “You know what? It was really fun. This could have been 30 years ago, 40 years ago, and it doesn’t matter. And most importantly, the audience liked you.”
Anna Saranina
Act: Crossbow shooter
Hometown: Russia
Performance: The former “Deadly Games” star got a divorce from her husband and is now a solo danger act. She uses a whip that’s covered in flames, and then puts on a blindfold and accurately hits a rose with an arrow. The climax involves several crossbows going off in a row, and then Anna catching an arrow as it hits a balloon attached to her chest.
Sofia’s comments: “That was awesome. That was so much better than the audition. You look like a superhero.”
Simon’s comments: “Big, big, big step up. The end was great. A bit slow, but what an ending.”
Mel’s comments: “Anna, I love your energy and your strength and your story. I saw in your face that even you were shocked that it worked out.”
Howie’s comments: “I agree with both of them. If you should be lucky enough to get voted through, I would say that everything you do is amazing. You should pre-load the arrows and keep the safety on, because it takes a long time. But once we see it, it’s amazing.”
Chris Turner
Act: Freestyle rapper
Hometown: Manchester, England
Performance: Chris asked Instagram for suggestions minutes before his live performance, so it wasn’t possible for him to rehearse anything. The judges pick the four suggestions — “Terry Crews in White Chicks,” “mushy peas,” “vegetable cream cheese,” and “make sure your plums are ripe” — and the contestant makes a hilarious rap using all of them.
Mel’s comments: “That was lit! That was on it! That was improvisation to the max. You are incredible.”
Howie’s comments: “That was amazing. It was comedic, musical, magical. You are everything that the 20th anniversary needs.”
Sofia’s comments: “Chris, you’re so clever. You can do this and it seems so effortless.”
Simon’s comments: “You’re smart. You’re funny. It’s unique. You’re gonna remember this. It was all in the moment. That was so funny.”
Jessica Sanchez
Act: Singer
Hometown: Chula Vista, Calif.
Performance: Jessica is eight months pregnant as she takes the live stage. She originally appeared on AGT back on Season 1, and was also the runner-up on Season 11 of American Idol. Jessica belts out “Ordinary” by Alex Warren and demonstrates why she has one of the strongest voices in this entire competition.
Sofia’s comments: “Bravo, Jessica! That was amazing. I know that you have felt that you have been struggling because of the belly and the breathing, and your voice doesn’t sound the same. But that was spectacular.”
Simon’s comments: “I am absolutely blown away. I heard that she wasn’t feeling so good. She said, ‘No, I want to do this.’ You’re a very brave person. I’m so happy you did. You have such an amazing tone … and a glow about you. People are gonna really like you and root for you.”
Mel’s comments: “You have never sounded better. I swear to God. God as my witness. Brilliant.”
Howie’s comments: “When you hit those big notes, I was worried that this production was gonna turn into a reproduction.”
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