The Quarterfinals will come to an end after the remaining 11 acts take the stage on the September 8 episode of America’s Got Talent. This week, the power is in Sofia Vergara‘s hands, as she has control of the Live Golden Buzzer to send one act directly to the Finals.
The other 10 will need America’s votes to make the Semifinals on September 15. Only the top three will move on, and their fates will be revealed directly after their live performances in a super-sized episode of AGT.
With Simon Cowell still sitting out while recovering from back surgery, Heidi Klum is back behind the judges’ table as a fill-in, joining Vergara, Howie Mandel, and Mel B. Scroll down for a live recap of the night’s performances and to find out what the judges had to say.
Young & Strange
Magic duo Young & Strange was first to hit the stage. After getting a red buzzer from Cowell in their audition, the guys knew they had to pull out all the stops for their Quarterfinals illusion performance.
The Las Vegas-style illusion trick was quite mind-blowing. Klum said she “loved” the routine and that she “could see this in Vegas. Mel added, “What you did tonight, yes, it was one trick, but it was a combination of many tricks. It wasn’t a trick. It was freakin’ magic! And I loved it.”
Vergara said she wanted to give Young & Strange a Golden Buzzer “so bad,” but admitted it “wasn’t fair because it’s the first act of the night. I can’t do that.” She also called their magic “perfection.” Mandel told the guys he would give them the Golden Buzzer if it was in his hands.
Lara D
Australian singer Lara D was up next. She got Vergara’s Golden Buzzer for her audition, so she wanted to prove to her that it was the right choice.
For the Quarterfinals, Lara sang “Lost My Mind in Paris” by Faouzia. Vergara was impressed once again. “You are special. There’s something about you,” she gushed. “You have this commanding presence on this stage. Your voice is flawless. You made this song yours.” However, she decided to wait to use her Golden Buzzer again.
“The first time we saw you, we could see you were holding back a little bit, and your range is so flawless,” Mel said. “Tonight, I have to say, you definitely took it up a step. You are pitch perfect. You’re definitely finding your own lane.” Mandel called Lara “perfection” and told her she didn’t seem nervous at all.
Rubén Roldán
Parkour athlete Rubén Roldán, who received a Golden Buzzer from Cowell during his audition, was up next. Despite having his leg amputated, Rubén has persevered and came back with another high energy performance.
Mandel called the performance “amazing” and “so inspirational, so powerful.” Klum gushed, “This was the best entrance on America’s Got Talent ever. Super FUEGO!” Vergara also called Rubén “amazing” and said he is “the perfect example of that person who doesn’t let anyone let something stop them.”
“You do make it look so easy,” Mel B. admitted. “I wish you would’ve shown more of your personality, more of your cheeky side.” She said Rubén should be “more confident,” but Mandel shut her down. “What do you want … you want him to read a poem?” he joked.
Cameron Logsdon
Celebrity impressionist Cameron Logsdon did impressions of Jim Carrey, Robert De Niro, Ryan Reynolds, Adam Sandler, and more for the Quarterfinals.
The audience cheered, but the judges seemed a bit underwhelmed. “I found it a little bit hard to follow along, and for me, personally, I didn’t find the impressions that good,” Mel admitted. “You also have to embody them and I don’t feel like you really embraced the whole thing.”
Klum said Cameron is “very good” at impressions, but was hoping to “belly laugh” at the performance. Vergara added, “I think you’re very talented and very entertaining, [but] I did love your audition [more.]” Mandel explained that Cameron “has the voice,” but needs to write better material.
Bird and Byron
Singing duo Bird and Byron made the Quarterfinals as one of Mandel’s callback picks. This time, they performed “You Stole the Show” by Sienna Spiro. The song got a standing ovation from Klum and Mandel.
“I don’t know how to describe how I’m taking it in, but it’s like a fine wine,” Mandel raved. “You just savor your voice and the music. I could listen to you all night long.” Mel B. told the guys that the performance “wasn’t the best” when it came to vocals and pitch, but said it didn’t bother her much because she liked the emotion that came out of it.
“The two of you definitely have chemistry together,” Klum said, calling the connection between the guys “magic,” while Vergara called Bird’s voice “one of the sexiest” she’s ever heard.
Tyrone & Margo
Next to take the stage was Tyrone & Margo, a knife-throwing danger duo. “This is one of the most dangerous acts that I have seen here on AGT,” Vergara admitted. “This was amazing. You guys are amazing.”
Mel B. said the type of performance Tyrone and Margo do is hard for her to watch, but was impressed by Margo’s skills, specifically. Mandel confirmed that the two were more “unique” and “original” than past crossbow acts he’d seen.
Cesar Dias
Cesar Dias, a comedic singer from Portugal, was the next to perform. This time, he performed “Unchained Melody,” and added in his comedic bits amid the performance.
“You gotta love a clown,” Mandel said. “That’s a clown who can sing, it’s very physical.” Mel B. said Cesar is “still funny” and applauded him for being able to sing. “I think you’ve got a lot more to give. A lot more,” she insisted.
Klum told Cesar that she likes his comedy even more than his singing, and Vergara said this performance was even better than his audition.
Unitree
Unitree brought his robot dance act back to the stage next. Klum was so in awe that she was up on her feet applauding. “I have never seen anything this crazy in my life,” she gushed. “It is absolutely mind-blowing. It’s amazing what you guys have done.”
Mandel agreed that his mind was blown. “This is probably one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen in my life!” he confirmed, calling it “the most viral moment we’re going to have this season.”
Mel B. made sure to triple confirm that Unitree was dancing with actual robots and raved, “IT WAS AMAZING!” Vergara called the robots “a little bit scary,” but hit her Golden Buzzer. She told Unitree, “I don’t even think you need it because you guys are amazing.”
Travis Garland
Travis Garland, a former boy bander who now sings on Dancing With the Stars, performed “Dangerous Woman” by Ariana Grande.
Mel could not contain her excitement. “You can sing,” she assured Travis. “My God! I woudlnt’ have chosen that song for you. I’m glad I didn’t know you were going to sing that before you started singing it. You made it your own. You killed it.”
Klum added, “I love everything about you. You have an amazing voice, great stage presence,” and Vergara said Travis has “one of the best voices in the competition this year.”
Akira
After securing one of Cowell’s callback picks, naked comedian Akira came back with another daring routine.
Mel B. was not impressed and she hit her red buzzer to show her disappointment. Mandel and Klum gave a standing ovation, but many of the audience members seemed flabbergasted.
“I sure miss this place a lot,” Klum laughed. “And also, no notes. You got my vote!” Vergara added, “I don’t even know what you’re doing but it’s so entertaining. It’s amazing what you do. It’s super hard, but you make it look so simple.”
Mandel called the performance “amazing” and “incredible” and said Mel was just being “sour grapes.” Meanwhile, Mel admitted, “I think you’re such a lovely guy. You got so much enthusiasm. I just don’t know why you’re doing what you’re doing. You’re so much better than this.”
Jesse Joe
The final performer of the night was Jesse Joe, a country-rock band from the oil fields of Texas.
“You are such a good guy, I can already feel that,” Mel B. began, before sharing some criticism. “You were still out of tune, but still, you stepped it up so much from the last time I saw you.”
Klum said she “really liked the song a lot” and that she felt it could “be a big hit.” Vergara was into the “authentic” performance and wondered, “What’s not to like?”
America’s Got Talent, Season 21, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8/7c, NBC
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