Tears flowed on the second live results show of America’s Got Talent Season 20, as the dreams of seven acts came to an end.
On Wednesday, Aug. 27, host Terry Crews announced the Quarterfinals 2 results on NBC. One night earlier, the second group of 11 acts performed for America’s votes, with rapper Mama Duke receiving Mel B’s Golden Buzzer, allowing her to skip the semifinals and advance straight to the finals. “Missy Elliott better be watching out for you,” Mel proclaimed as she slammed her hand down on the button.
The remaining 10 acts had their fingers crossed that they’d be one of the three who advanced to the semifinals, based on the voting results. They were: roller-skaters Duo Stardust, dance group Unreal Crew, magician Alain Simonov, dance group Alex Zinger & Crew, singer-guitarist Bay Melnick Virgolino, singer-keyboardist Benjamin Hightower, robot act Boston Dynamics, cheerleading group EDT Dance Team, juggling group Jonglissimo, and choir Leo High School Choir.
Read on for our America’s Got Talent 20 results recap for the Quarterfinals 2 live show. Click here to meet the 44 live show acts.
Bay Melnick Virgolino, ‘America’s Got Talent’Chris Haston/NBC
What You Didn’t See On TV
The hour-long episode begins with Terry showing an extended clip package of what went down last night, including behind-the-scenes footage. Mel and Terry apparently got the “hot pink” memo, which is why they were wearing the same color. Judges Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara, and Howie Mandel were caught off guard when Mel pushed her Golden Buzzer for Mama Duke. “Will you write a song for me?” Mel asked Mama Duke after the confetti fell.
When Alain Simonov was getting ready to perform, Mel secretly asked Howie to tell her “what is going on,” since the magician confused her the first time around. Mel wished she had a second Golden Buzzer to give to Leo High School Choir. Duo Stardust told the camera that they were “this close” to giving up their dream, but were glad they pushed forward. Howie exclaimed, “I could do that!” after the show cut to commercial following Alex Zinger’s dance performance. “The standard has gotten higher [after 20 years],” Simon said at the end of the clip package.
Mama Duke, ‘America’s Got Talent’Trae Patton/NBC
Catching up with Mama Duke
Mel says she has no regrets about giving Mama Duke her Golden Buzzer after only two performances, explaining, “I had to press it.” She thinks the rapper is “different” and “fresh” and “real.”
Mama Duke quotes her hit song when she tells the live audience, “It feels so good to be me.” As for whether she expected to receive the Golden Buzzer, she tells Terry, “You know, but you don’t know.” In other words, she didn’t want to get her hopes up, but she still believed in herself.
Creating the Top 5
Terry announces he will bring out five pairs of acts and reveal how America voted in each case, to determine this week’s top five. Unfortunately, that means the bottom five acts will be sent home.
First pairing: Leo High School Choir vs. Boston Dynamics. Congrats to the choir! Simon has a “really, really, really good feeling” that this is just the beginning for the Leo High School students, and that they could make it even further. Boston Dynamics is eliminated.
Second pairing: Jonglissimo vs. Alain Simonov. The jugglers advance to the top five! Mel calls Jonglissimo a “brilliant” act, adding, “We’ve never seen anything like this before.” Alain Simonov is eliminated.
Third pairing: Alex Zinger & Crew vs. Unreal Crew. It’s good news for the Indian dancers! Howie is ecstatic because Unreal is his Golden Buzzer from the auditions. Alex Zinger & Crew is eliminated.
Fourth pairing: EDT Dance Team vs. Duo Stardust. We’ll be seeing more of the roller-skaters! Sofia is “not surprised” that Duo Stardust advanced, because the couple has worked so hard in this competition. EDT Dance Team is eliminated.
Fifth pairing: Bay Melnick Virgolino vs. Benjamin Hightower. The 10-year-old boy from New York City is staying in Los Angeles! Simon proclaims that Bay Melnick Virgolino delivered “a moment” last night, and that he needs “zero advice.” Benjamin Hightower is eliminated.
Flau’jae returns
Chris Hardwick’s Golden Buzzer act from Season 13, Flau’jae, is back on the AGT stage. The rapper from Georgia originally made it to the Quarterfinals, and was later asked back to compete on America’s Got Talent: All-Stars where she was eliminated in the Preliminaries. She is now a 2025 U.S. basketball gold medalist.
Flau’jae calls Simon “a psychic or something” for predicting she’d be a huge success in the future, which came true. On the big stage, Flau’jae is joined by her brother, Trayron Milton, a fellow rapper. She delivers an emotional rendition of her song “Remember When,” which she wrote to honor the father she never met.
Semifinalists Announced
Terry brings back Leo High School Choir, Jonglissimo, Unreal Crew, Duo Stardust, and Bay Melnick Virgolino to announce which three of these top five acts will advance to the upcoming semifinals.
The first semifinalist is Unreal Crew!
The second semifinalist is Bay Melnick Virgolino!
The third semifinalist is Leo High School Choir!
To recap, that means the seven eliminated acts this week are: Boston Dynamics, Alain Simonov, Alex Zinger & Crew, EDT Dance Team, Benjamin Hightower, Jonglissimo, and Duo Stardust.
Anna Saranina, ‘Ameria’s Got Talent’Trae Patton/NBC
Next Week
That’s a wrap for Quarterfinals 2! Did your favorites make it through? The 11 acts performing next week are: crossbow shooter Anna Saranina, singer Austin Brown, vocal group Benn Family Band, freestyle rapper Chris Turner, band Girish & the Chronicles, aerial duo Jacqueline & Wagner, singer Jessica Sanchez, dancer Maceo Harrison, A.I. magician Mastermind, juggling duo Messoudi Brothers, and rapper Micah Palace.