(Art Streiber / NBC)
Network: NBC.
Episodes: Ongoing (1-2 hours).
Seasons: Ongoing.
TV show dates: June 21, 2006 — present.
Series status: Has not been cancelled.
Performers include: Howie Mandell, Simon Cowell, Gabrielle Union, Julianne Hough, Melanie Brown, Heidi Klum, Howard Stern, Sharon Osbourne, Piers Morgan, David Hasselhoff, and Brandy Norwood (judges). Terry Crews, Nick Cannon, Jerry Springer, and Regis Philbin (hosts).
TV show description:
American Idol’s Simon Cowell created the America’s Got Talent TV show and based on his global format, but did not judge the US edition until season 11, due to contractual obligations.
As of 2019, actor/comic Howie Mandell — who replaced David Hasselhoff in the fifth season — is the longest serving member of the judging panel, He’s followed by Cowell, who took over for Howard Stern (the replacement for Piers Morgan).
Actor Gabrielle Union and dancer/entertainer Julianne Hough joined in the 14th season, replacing Heidi Klum and Mel B. In the show’s early years, there was only one female judge on the panel. Initially, it was Brandy Norwood, who departed after the first season and was replaced by Sharon Osbourne through season seven. Actor Terry Crews also joined the series in season 14 as host — a position previously held by Tyra Banks, Nick Cannon, and Jerry Springer, all of whom followed original host Regis Philbin.
Acts for this program include singers, dancers, comedians, magicians, and more. After a pre-audition process (unseen by the television audience), performers audition in front of an audience and the judges. Each judge has a buzzer they can hit to stop the act if they don’t enjoy it, often with the audience egging them on. If all of the judges hit their buzzers, the act has to stop.
Whether contestants are stopped or are allowed to continue to the end, they are judged by the panel, who determines whether they’ll be allowed to continue with the show. Throughout the show’s years on the air, the format has changed in several ways. In the ninth season a “golden buzzer” was added, which allows the judges to save an act or advance it to the live shows. As of season 11, the host can also use it.
Performers who make it to the live rounds are divided into groups, to compete against one another in hopes of securing a spot in the finals. The number of acts has varied from season to season, and these rounds have been broadcast from different cities, including Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Some seasons have employed a wildcard, in order for judges (and the voting audience) to give eliminated talent yet another shot at winning.
During the course of the live rounds, contestants continue to be eliminated. The ultimate winner of the show goes on to receive a $1 million cash prize and headlines a show, which usually takes place in Vegas.
What do you think? Are you a fan of the America’s Got Talent TV series? Should this NBC TV show be cancelled or renewed for another season?
Image courtesy ABC.
It’s a good show, not 1 that I’m glued to it
LOVE AGT!
TRULY LOVE THIS SHOW!! SIMON IS AMAZING @ HOW HE PERCEIVES THE SHOW. HE ALSO HAS CREATED A BALANCE AS A PERSON THAT I ADMIRE. AND HAVING TERRY AS A HOST, FANTASTIC ENERGY!! Also the way they change up the panel and keep Simon and Howie seems to work. Of course, Simon is the anchor of why I watch it, record, you name it. It has improved so much from when Howard Stern was on the panel.
I think all the voting should be by the public. I don’t like the judges having to pick. We never know if the one picked came in above the other person.
Terrible
AGT is no longer AGT. Acts should be from America to qualify for AGT. There is a lot of (fill in country) Got’s Talent (check uTube). Also going online only for voting takes out a large demographic group. My spouse and are no longer going to be watching. I think AGT has “Jumped the Shark” this year.
bring back nick…….. cannon……………
I stopped watching this show because there are too much up close and personal scenes with the judges doing silly things; too much up and close and personal contacts with the contestants; too many carnival acts; too many dangerous acts and am really tired of watching 400 dancers compete and do Michael Jackson moves. Enough. When it becomes a regular Talent Show, let me know. .
What constitutes “a regular Talent Show”? The thing I like is the variety. I would not lift a finger to watch a show that is only singing. With AGT you never know what you will get. And I think it is just fine that international acts are allowed. We are a country of immigrants, are we not?
Something must be done to these dangerous acts they seem to be promoting. Taking the cake was the guy who put firecrackers in his mouth after Howie mixed three of them up. You call this talent? This is too dangerous and should be not be allowed. Was surprised that Howard Stern loved it. Shame on you Howard… shame, shame, shame. Get rid of these really stupid and dangerous acts and put them on another show that I won’t watch.
And no one else sees the danger here? Shame on all of you.
Nick Cannon is great!!!
Yayyyyy! Can’t wait for season 9 to premeire!
Worst season finale ever!!!!! The mixing of the acts was terrible. The winner being a dog act? I can see the British picking one, but it just goes to show that collectively the general TV audience is pretty poor.
[…] shows so it’s no surprise that they’re running several new reality shows this summer. America’s Got Talent continues to be one of their most successful shows each […]
i love this show every every much is hooowie goooing
Jerry Springer was the best judge. They should bring him back. I don’t like Nick Cannon as a judge at all.
Too bad neither of those people are judges, they are hosts.