The search for the No. 1 show-stopping act continued on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent: All-Stars” Monday in the fifth week of auditions.
A new group of 10 acts who appeared on “America’s Got Talent” and on other versions of the global franchise competed for two open spots in the finals: one, an act deemed worthy of the Golden Buzzer by all judges Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel and show host Terry Crews, the other voted on by a panel of super-fans spread across the country.
Monday’s acts included 11-year-old singer Peter Rosalita, who competed in 2021; comedian Axel Blake who took the title on “Britain’s Got Talent” in 2022, and the knockout World Taekwondo group who also competed in 2021.
Here’s how the evening unfolded, ya know, like a contortionist at the end of a performance.
The evening’s Golden Buzzer: Singer Tom Ball
One of the night’s most moving moments included the return of Archie Williams, a singer who was wrongfully imprisoned for 36 years. His rendition of Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” won over the judges and the crowd, but Williams was overlooked by the super-fans.
The judges and Crews hit the Golden Buzzer for singer Tom Ball, a previous contestant on the British franchise. Cowell praised the high school teacher’s performance of “The Sounds of Silence” as “the best performance I’ve seen all series.”
“You’re like Susan Boyle’s grandson,” he said, “because what you do is not what we expect.”
Mandel and Klum were equally floored, as was the crowd who began chanting “Golden Buzzer.” Crews made his way to the judges’ table and all four hit the buzzer, covering Ball in a sea of confetti.
Teenage ventriloquist Ana-Maria Mărgean
At just 13, ventriloquist Ana-Maria Mărgean already has one title under her belt: she won “Romania’s Got Talent” in 2021. Mărgean’s passion for ventriloquism was ignited just a couple of years ago by “AGT” winner Terry Fator, and she received a puppet for her 11th birthday. She dreams of having a Las Vegas show, like her idol.
Mărgean took the stage Monday with a dog puppet crafter by her mother. The two bantered and sang Lesley Grace’s “You Don’t Own Me,” which wowed the judges and earned a standing ovation.
“Wow, no wonder you won,” Klum said. “You are incredible. You’re gorgeous. You can sing so beautifully. I love your furry friend, and it was funny too.”
The ‘angelic voice’ of Mandy Harvey
Mandy Harvey returned to the “AGT” stage more confident than the first go around.
The singer, who lost her hearing at 18, said that when she appeared on “AGT” in 2017 she felt overwhelmed. Though she impressed judges enough to get Cowell’s Golden Buzzer, she says she didn’t believe in herself at the time.
A more assured Harvey performed an original song titled “Something I Can Feel” on Monday, which lifted the audience and judges to her feet.
“You do have the most angelic voice,” Klum said. “It is so beautiful. It is so sweet, and I don’t know. I feel happy. It’s just positive, just positivity oozing out of you, and I love that about you.”
“This was better than your first audition,” said Cowell. “What you do and the way you do it is unbelievable.”
“I love her,” Klum later added. “I hope the super-fans vote for her.”
Super-fans’ ‘AGT: All-Stars’ vote:
When the panel’s votes were tallied, their Top 3 were revealed to be Rosalita, Mărgean and Harvey.
“Wow, we lost some good people,” a stunned Cowell said after the other seven acts were eliminated. “I thought that they might go for Archie,” a surprised Mandel said. Cowell also shared that belief.
Harvey placed third, and Rosalita second. The panel selected Mărgean to move onto the finals.
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