We have arrived at the first live results show of America’s Got Talent Season 20! Do you have your popcorn ready?
On Wednesday, Aug. 20, host Terry Crews announced the Quarterfinals 1 results on NBC. The prior night, the first group of 11 acts performed for America’s votes, with the band known as Steve Ray Ladson receiving Sofia Vergara’s Golden Buzzer, allowing them to skip the Semifinals and advance straight to the Finals. “You are a superstar,” she told the lead singer.
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: singer Charity Lockhart, singer Jourdan Blue, multimedia dance group Light Wire, dance group B Unique Crew, vocal trio CitiLimitz, dance group Loco Pop Familia, horror magic trio Phobias, comedian Shuler King, trapeze duo Sirca Marea, and band Tom Sandoval and the Most Extras.
Read on for our America’s Got Talent 20 results recap for the Quarterfinals 1 live show. Click here to meet the 44 live show acts.
Terry Crews with Def Leppard, ‘AGT‘Trae Patton/NBC
Rock Gods
The episode begins with legendary metal band Def Leppard performing live on the AGT stage. They belt out their 1987 hit “Pour Some Sugar on Me” amid intense flames and psychedelic lighting, proving the English rockers still have it after nearly five decades in the music industry. Their message for the acts: “Live your dream.” They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018, so they clearly know what they’re talking about.
Sofia confirms she wanted to give Steve Ray Ladson “a little push” by anointing him with the Golden Buzzer last night. And there’s even better news for the band: they just became the first act in AGT history to simultaneously appear at No. 1 on the country charts and No. 5 on the pop charts.
Tom Sandoval, AGTNBC
Behind the scenes
Terry reminds viewers what went down last night, with clips mixed in with special behind-the-scenes footage. Mel B said to Charity Lockhart, “It’s like this is the first time I’ve heard this song and … it made me want to fall in love all over again.” Phobias received two red X’s from Simon and Mel — ouch! Terry gave Simon a high-five during the break and they confirmed they “missed” each other.
Howie Mandel wished that Sofia had given her Golden Buzzer to Jourdan Blue, who he’d already anointed in the auditions. The producers were debating whether to show Jourdan’s dress rehearsal because he was feeling ill. “I truly believe that you can win this,” Howie told the young singer. “This performance … it’s amazing considering how sick you are.”
Finally, viewers saw Simon Cowell giving Tom Sandoval a red X and hissing that his “vocals weren’t great … however, not everyone comes on this show to get a record deal.” Backstage, Tom learned that Simon had buzzed them, seemingly unaware that it had happened during their performance.
Terry Crews, America’s Got TalentCourtesy of NBC
Top 5 Reveal
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. The bottom five acts will be sent home — womp, womp.
First pairing: B Unique Crew vs. Phobias. Congrats to B Unique Crew! Mel says “America voted right” in this particular case.
Second pairing: Loco Pop Familia vs. CitiLimitz. Shockingly, neither of them are in the top five. “That was very mean, producers,” Simon scolds his bosses. “I feel bad.”
Third pairing: Tom Sandoval and the Most Extras vs. Shuler King. It’s a win for the comedian! Shuler King makes it into the top five, and a proud Howie openly admits, “I want a comedian to go far.”
Fourth pairing: Light Wire vs. Jourdan Blue. In a reversal of earlier, this time both acts advance! The multimedia dance group and the singer can’t believe their luck. “You guys are amazing,” Sofia tells the contestants.
Fifth pairing: Charity Lockhart vs. Sirca Marea. The trapeze duo is sailing through to the next round! Sirca Marea officially takes out Charity, making her the first Golden Buzzer act to be eliminated in Season 20.
Semifinal Reveal
Terry brings the top five acts back to the big stage: B Unique Crew, Shuler King, Light Wire, Jourdan Blue, and Sirca Marea. He is about to name which three of these talented acts will make it through to the Semifinals. You can cut the tension with a knife. Here. We. Go.
Light Wire gets the great news first!
Sirca Marea earns the second spot!
And the third and final position goes to Jourdan Blue!
To recap, that means Light Wire, Sirca Marea, and Jourdan Blue are the first three acts that will compete in the Season 20 Semifinals. Meanwhile, Steve Ray Ladson has already advanced to the Finals. That’s a wrap!
Next Week
Performing Aug. 26 during the Quarterfinals 2 live show are the following 11 acts: magician Alain Simonov, dance group Alex Zinger & Crew, singer/guitarist Bay Melnick Virgolino, singer/keyboardist Benjamin Hightower, robot act Boston Dynamics, rollerskating duo Duo Stardust, cheerleading group EDT Dance Team, juggling group Jonglissimo, choir Leo High School Choir, rapper Mama Duke, and dance group Unreal Crew.
You can already make your AGT predictions at Gold Derby for who you think will advance to the Semifinals next week. Sound off down in the comments section or in our reality TV forum.