Jake’s Take: “America’s Got Talent: Season 14” Judge Cuts Wish List

 

By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com

Television personality Chris Hardwick returns to America’s Got Talent (AGT) to the NBC talent competition next Tuesday to conclude the Season 13 Judge Cuts.  Hopefully, the AGT production team is already brainstorming for the Season 14 Judge Cuts round.

Here are 10 more names that I would recommend to Simon Cowell and the AGT production team that they should consider using next year as Guest Judges:

 

Amanda Holden

In 2019, NBC will launch a new spin-off called America’s Got Talent: The Champions. This series will see past winners perform against several winners from the Got Talent franchise. One person that might sit along Simon at the Judges’ Table could be his fellow founding Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden. The British television personality has been front and center at several of BGT’s viral moments such as Paul Potts and Susan Boyle’s first auditions.  Holden also has a strong record of her Golden Buzzer acts reaching their respective seasons’ finale (see Paddy & Nico, Beau Dermott, Daliso Chaponda, and Gruffydd Wyn Roberts) and could also make Got Talent franchise history of being the second female judge to give a Golden Buzzer in two Got Talent franchises.

 

Frankie Grande

Before Frankie Grande became one of Big Brother USA’s memorable contestants of all-time, he was a social media influencer and Broadway veteran. The Mamma Mia! And Rock of Ages performer has over 1.7 million Instagram followers, and his YouTube videos have amassed over 28 million views. Grande also judged a season of America’s Best Dance Crew. In addition to having a superstar connection (sister Ariana), the Henry Danger guest actor could be a very influential voice at the Judges’ Table.

 

Gloria Estefan

Gloria Estefan is one of the greatest performers of all-time. The “Conga” singer-songwriter earned numerous awards such as three Grammys, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and a Kennedy Center Honor.  Estefan also has experience on Reality TV as she briefly worked with Cowell as a guest judge on American Idol and a mentor on The CW’s The Next: Fame is at your Doorstep. The Broadway producer would be an excellent choice to be a Guest Judge and bring a level of warmth we have not seen in previous Judge Cuts rounds.

 

Keith Urban

The New Zealand-Australian country music singer-songwriter has previous experience at the Judges’ Desk. He served as a judge for the final four seasons of the Fox run of American Idol.  Urban was also a coach on the inaugural season of The Voice Australia, where his artist Darren Percival came in second place. Throughout his career, six of his studio albums peaked at the number one spot on the Billboard’s Top US Country Albums charts. Urban’s at-ease attitude could calm the nerves of several contestants, and he could also offer honest advice that might help the acts progress either to the Live Shows or during the next chapter of their respective careers.

 

Leslie Jones

Since her first appearance on Saturday Night Live in 2014, Leslie Jones has made America laugh with her spitfire commentary and excellent impersonations of Omarosa and Will Ferrell.  Jones also offered her exciting analysis during the two Olympics. The Ghostbusters actress would be the perfect candidate to join the judges at the table because she would leave the entire AGT audience in stitches with her comments!

 

Logan Paul

Logan Paul may be a polarizing content creator, but there is no doubt that he would be an exceptional candidate to be an America’s Got Talent guest judge. Paul amassed strong social media following with 15 million Facebook fans and 16 million Instagram followers. The Thinning actor knows what the contestants are going through and his presence could relieve the younger performers, but it could leave the door open to mentor his potential favorites after the show.

 

Mary Murphy

It seems like FOX has always waited until the last minute to renew So You Think You Can Dance.  In case, the FOX dancing competition is canceled, I think it would be a good idea for Simon and the AGT team to approach the legendary ballroom expert. Over the past several seasons, more dance acts have advanced into the live shows. Having Murphy at the Judges’ Desk during the Judge Cuts round could help the show find the right dance acts to advance.  She also played an intricate part of discovering talented performers such as friend to the blog and two-time Emmy-winning choreographer Travis Wall, Neil Haskell, D-Trix, Stephen “Twitch” Boss, Lindsay Arnold, Melanie Moore, and Ricky Ubeda.  Plus, I would love to see Murphy scream out to her anointed Golden Buzzer act, “You’re on the Hot Tamale Train directly going to the Live Shows!! WOO-HOO!!!!!!!”

 

Taye Diggs

For 22 years, actor-singer Taye Diggs entertained audiences on film, stage, and television. He was part of the original cast of the iconic Broadway musical Rent and starred in countless movies and TV shows such as Chicago, Empire, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Murder in the First, Private Practice, and of course the 2005 film adaptation of Rent. Diggs would not only ease performers but also might offer valuable feedback that would help them in the future.

 

Terry Fator

I think it is time for Season Two winner Terry Fator joined America’s Got Talent for the Judge Cuts. It has been over 11 years since the ventriloquist won the talent competition, and he has conquered the Las Vegas Strip with his outstanding show at the Mirage.  Fator knows what the contestants are going through and would be a great cheerleader for the acts. The full circle moment will be complete if he has the chance to press the Golden Buzzer.

 

Whoopi Goldberg

If chosen to be a guest judge, Whoopi Goldberg will bring her nearly four decades of being in the entertainment industry to AGT.  Goldberg is a beloved household name thanks to her work in The Color Purple, Ghost, The Lion King, Rat Race, the Sister Act franchise, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. The View moderator and former Hollywood Squares executive producer is also one of the few living entertainers that have earned the fabled EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) status. She also received two Golden Globes, a BAFTA award, the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, and was named a Disney Legend in 2017.  If Whoopi comes on the show and presses the Golden Buzzer, that act might guarantee themselves a stable career when they leave the show thanks to Whoopi’s backing!

Which celebrity would you want to join Simon, Heidi, Mel B, and Howie at the Season 14 Judge Cuts round?

The Britain’s Got Talent footage belongs to ITV and Syco Entertainment.