All eyes were on Sofia Vergara as we were waiting to see if she pressed the Golden Buzzer on tonight’s AGT! (Photo property of NBC’s Trae Patton)
By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
The America’s Got Talent (AGT): Season 18 Judges’ Auditions continued!
Tonight, a new set of hopefuls competed to impress the judges (Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara, Howie Mandel, and Heidi Klum) and the Pasadena Civic Auditorium audience! However, the AGT audience was waiting to see if Sofia would press the Golden Buzzer. Since joining the NBC talent competition show in 2020, all the Modern Family alum’s Golden Buzzer acts have made it to the finale, with Mayyas taking the crown last year. Did Sofia press the Golden Buzzer tonight? If so, who was the lucky act? Read on to find out!
The judges were spooked when the Atai Show moved onto the stage. I was grossed and freaked out by the horrific performance. Their dark and spooky choreography made me nauseous, and I would have buzzed and pressed all the other judges’ buzzers. However, the judges and the Pasadena Civic Auditorium audience disagreed with my opinion.
For the first act of the evening, Terry revealed that they had to remove the audience that generally sits behind the judges. Two pilots from France came in and flew two airplanes for a routine to “A Whole New World,” which immediately got buzzed by Simon and Heidi. I was not a fan of the pilots and would have buzzed them. Unfortunately, Sofia called it “Spectacular,” while Howie gave them a standing ovation. Due to the audience’s pressure, Simon joined Howie and Sofia, and the pilots received three yeses.
Musician BJ Griffin traveled from his home of Virginia Beach, Virginia, to audition for AGT. The 34-year-old brought his electric cello to win the NBC talent competition and bring hope to people through his music. BJ Griffin’s cover of “Let’s Stay Together” gave me goosebumps! I loved how he honored Reverend Al Green and the late Tina Turner with his voice. BJ received the first four judges standing ovation of the evening. Howie declared him his favorite singing act of the season so far, and Simon added that BJ “had a moment.” BJ received the evening’s first set of four yeses!
Howie and Simon interacted with Phil Wright and the Parent Jam members before they went onstage. The group started in a Los Angeles hip-hop dance studio, which had parents and kids dance with each other. Howie had a mini-reunion with one of the members as the woman with the green jacket won big on Deal or No Deal years ago. Okay, I admit, they were not horrible. However, I see them as having their own Netflix or Nickelodeon series, not Vegas, which I agree with Howie’s judgment. Sadly, he was outvoted as Simon and the ladies advanced them to the next round.
Enishi walked onto the AGT stage in a way that reminded me of the Phantom of the Opera. I was worried that he would be a joke act, but I loved that he had the judges’ faces. After the performance, Enishi revealed that he traveled from Toyko, Japan, to perform, and he revealed that he is a cellphone salesman. While Simon liked the act, he thought it lacked “a wow factor.” However, Howie, Heidi, and Sofia outvoted the Got Talent creator, and Enishi found himself in the next round.
26-year-old musician Timothy Fletcher brought his drum onto the AGT stage. I was very impressed with his artistry and loved the show he brought to the NBC talent competition! He reminds me so much of Season 15’s Malik Dope. Timothy mesmerized Howie, while Heidi called it the perfect audition. He received the second set of “Four Yeses” of the night!
Sadly, there were some dud acts along the way. Howie prematurely buzzed The Galactivators, who was correct with his prediction as his colleagues joined him. Lance “Armlong” also received the dreaded four red Xs. Not to be outdone, someone in a Gorilla costume dreadfully performed with a hula hoop, and he received four red Xs. 44-year-old face yoga expert Koko Hayashi could not get the love of Howie and Simon as the veteran judges voted “No!”
The Rybka Twins visited the 2022 AGT auditions and had a chance encounter with Simon, who asked the Perth, Australia acrobats to audition. One year later, the girls stood before him and the judges. The girls delivered a phenomenal routine to “Sway” and “I Will Survive” that blended gymnastics and dance. They put a smile on my face, and I genuinely see a Vegas show in their future. While the girls won over Heidi, Howie found it “corny.” Sofia added that it was very outdated. However, Simon loved this audition! Sofia reluctantly joined Simon and Heidi with the “Yes” votes.
Duo Just Two Men traveled from Ukraine to compete on AGT. The childhood friends combined both hand balancing and aerial for their audition. The shirtless bodybuilding acrobats delivered a risky routine that would make Got Talent fan favorites Messoudi Brothers envious. They received a unanimous standing ovation from the judges and audience. Heidi declared that they delivered moves they had never seen before, and Sofia called it “breathtaking.” Duo Just Two Men received the elusive “Four Yeses.”
31-year-old Cakra Khan traveled from Indonesia to audition for AGT, hoping to open an animal shelter if he won. Cakra sang Ed Sheeran’s “Make It Rain,” his voice immediately hypnotized me. I loved his blues and husky voice and hated that Simon stopped him. The Got Talent creator asked him for another song and Cakra delivered a haunting version of Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry,” which gave me chills. Heidi said that he had a “unique, sexy voice.” He received four Yeses.
Ellen Show fans might recognize “Magic Mike” Jacobson from his appearances on her defunct talk show. The 36-year-old revealed that he worked in advertising by day and hoped that he could pursue magic full-time. I loved how he combined fire, comedy, imagination, and visualization into his act as the judges saved the Queen of Diamonds and found Howie’s autograph on the Ten of Clubs! Simon predicted that Mike would not have to work in advertising anymore, and Howie was left speechless by the sight of his autograph. “Magic Mike” Jacobson is heading to the next chapter of his life with “four Yeses!”
While Sofia and Simon talked about Golden Buzzers, four dancers known as the Atai Show walked onto the stage. The judges were spooked when the Atai Show moved onto the stage. I was grossed and freaked out by the horrific performance. Their dark and spooky choreography made me nauseous, and I would have buzzed and pressed all the other judges’ buzzers. However, the judges and the Pasadena Civic Auditorium audience disagreed with my opinion. It makes me sick that they received “Four Yeses.”
Simon’s son, Eric, briefly saw his dad before 2 Moms United walked onto the stage. The moms were from two different corners of the country and were bonded by a heart and Wicked’s “For Good.” Years later, the duo met in person and formed a music duo. They hoped that their AGT audition would encourage more organ donation. Tonight, they sang the song that united them. The moms have good voices, but their harmonies stink! Sadly, the duo received 10,000 Yeses.
Next week, Simon looks back at some of the most memorable auditions in show history!
