AGT Video: This Drone Act Inspired Simon Cowell to Break the Show’s ‘Golden’ Rule — Watch Audition
America’s Got Talent lit up the skies on Tuesday, ending its second week of Season 19 auditions with a drone display so breathtaking, it actually made Simon Cowell forget how the game is played.
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The final audition of the week came courtesy of Sky Elements, a group of engineering friends who employ different technologies to create dazzling displays. For AGT, they crafted a visually stunning and emotionally uplifting presentation centered around America’s journey to the stars.
Possibly because Sky Elements included a giant version of Simon’s head in their audition, the judge was dead set on giving them a Golden Buzzer, which they rightly deserved. The catch? He’d already given one out earlier in the episode.
“You know we keep talking about ‘the rules’,” he said, clarifying, “There is no rulebook, which means I’m going to do this.” Boom. Golden confetti everywhere. “I just thought, ‘Why not?’” he explained. “I mean, there’s nothing in the rulebook that says we can’t.”
A producer then came by to inform Simon that he actually did break a rule by using two Golden Buzzers, putting the panel in a tough position. “If I have two, you can get two,” Simon told his fellow judges, giving each of them permission to double their Golden Buzzers this season.
(TVLine’s Got Confusion: We were under the impression that the judges already knew they had twice as many Golden Buzzers at their disposal, but now it’s… official? This is probably one of those situations where it’s best not to ask too many questions.)
Hit PLAY on the video above to see the audition that made Simon throw out the AGT rulebook, then read on for a breakdown of the other successful acts in Episode 2. When you’re done, drop a comment with your thoughts. Which two acts would have gotten your Golden Buzzer this week?
Chrisyius Whitehead
Um… where was this kid’s Golden Buzzer? Five-year-old Chrisyius crushed his audition, wailing on those drums like professionals five times his age.
He gets extra points for precociousness: Of the million-dollar prize money, he said, “I would share it with poor people and homeless people and everybody in this whole world.” With anything left over, he would buy “200 bags of slime and squishy toys.” And he deserves every bag.
Hakuna Matata Acrobatics
“Getting there was as good as being there,” Simon told this acrobatic foursome, commending them for pushing on and wowing the crowd, even if it took a little work to get there.
Ashes & Arrows
Howie Mandel saw this as more of a pub act, but the rest of the panel was feeling what this hopeful, optimistic trio was bringing to the stage, especially with those tight harmonies.
Here’s our only question: What did Sofia mean when she said, “They look like real people”?
Liv Warfield (Golden Buzzer!)
This musical powerhouse has shared the stage with some of the industry’s biggest names, including Prince, but she stood on her own this time around, owning the stage and giving everyone life. So it was no surprise when Simon gave her the first Golden Buzzer of the night.
“I’m overwhelmed and so grateful,” Liv said. “We all do it because we love it so much. We live for the music.”
NiNi
NiNi’s goal was to present traditional Chinese instruments in a non-traditional way, and man she did crush that goal. Nay, she shredded that goal. Simon couldn’t even suppress a “bloody hell!” midway through NiNi’s rockin’ audition.
Sabrina
The members of this Japanese dance crew have a singular dream: “to become the world’s greatest dancers.” Based on those tight, fluid movements and jaw-dropping synchronicity, we’d say they’re well on their way.
Phillip Lewis
Powered by Beyoncé and donuts (glazed, specifically), this ball of energy danced, flipped and twirled his way into the judges’ hearts. And ours, who are we kidding?
Bao Cuong
We’ve seen sword swallowers on AGT before, but a knife in each nostril? That was new. And neither we nor Sofia Vergara, who was so uncomfortable that she had to get out of her chair, ever need to see it again. We’re already scared to see what this Vietnam-based performer shows us in the next round.
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