(Fwrd Axis) — After what feels like forever, the audition rounds finally concluded on America’s Got Talent Tuesday night with two twists from judge and executive producer Simon Cowell with the live shows just one week away.
Usually, the live shows consist of 36 acts with five going through to advance into the semifinals. However, this year things are changing. Cowell decided to up the acts from 36 to 55 acts into the live shows, giving the judges an even more challenging decision. FWRD AXIS News can exclusively reveal the format change for this year’s live shows: each week 11 acts will perform for the judges but only two will advance into the finals.
For the second straight season, there were no judge cuts and it appears Cowell is trying the same format from Britain’s Got Talent on AGT. On the British version of the show, Cowell and the judges deliberate after auditions and choose the live show acts. The live shows then air in the span of a week before the grand final on Sunday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2GYTTR5gUI
Anyway, back to this season of the competition. Once auditions concluded, the judges (minus Sofia Vergara) and host Terry Crews met at Simon’s house to deliberate who would advance into the live rounds. Golden Buzzer choices: saxophonist Avery Dixon, country trio Chapel Hart, singer Lily Meola, singer Madison Taylor Baez, dance group Mayyas and singer Sara James were all locked into their spots.
From there, the judges went back and forth on who should advance. After much arguing, they finally agreed on 54 of the 55 live show acts. However, that is where the second twist comes in.
Since they were unable to agree, Cowell decided to let the fans decide. There are currently four acts on the bubble: singers Ben Waites and Debbii Dawson, comedian Jordan Conley and danger act Auzzy Blood. Beginning now until Friday at 7 am ET, the public can vote on which act they want to advance to the live shows, sending the other three home.
America’s Got Talent continues Tuesday and Wednesday at 8/7c on NBC and streaming on Peacock live from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium with host Terry Crews.
