- * Tonight, I'm gonna have myself *
- Here we go, sound.
Here we go, cameras.
- All right. Here we go, guys.
Stand by for the top of the show.
- Let's get season 18 started!
[cheers and applause]
- * And the world *
* I'll turn it inside out, yeah *
- How are you?
- I'm very well.
I mean, how can I not be fine?
- Aw.
- I'm in "America's Got Talent"!
- Whoo!
Yeah!
- Oh, my God!
[cheers and applause]
- * Having a good time *
* Having a good time *
* I'm a shooting star leaping through the sky *
- Season 18 is just blowing my socks off.
- Oh, that's insane!
- Your middle name needs to be Danger.
[dramatic music]
- I have never seen anything so amazing.
- [speaking indistinctly]
- Okay, stop.
Even your voice is annoying.
- No. I don't like your voice, Simon.
[laser whooshing]
[dramatic music]
- Simon, can you say something?
- Do you see this hand?
It's going very close to that red buzzer.
- No, please don't. Please don't.
- Tick-tock. Tick-tock.
- I brought you egg shakers.
[laughter]
- Oh, my--
[buzzer blares]
- Why are you so adorable?
- I don't know.
[laughter]
- Well, you have given me almost my voice back.
[cheers and applause]
- This is how you do it!
- You're a superstar.
- Yes!
- This is absolutely gonna change your life.
- It was the perfect "AGT" audition.
- It was just breathtaking, honestly.
[cheers and applause]
- * Don't stop me, whoa *
* *
[cheers and applause]
[upbeat music]
- Hey!
It's a sunny 75 degrees outside.
And in other news, "America's Got Talent"
is back for its 18th season.
And auditions are starting today.
[Lizzo's "2 Be Loved"] - * Oh, oh, oh *
- Hi, everyone.
- * Am I ready *
* Girl, there ain't a doubt *
* Am I ready *
* What you talking about *
- Season 18, buddy. - How are you, my man?
- Good to see you. - Hi, everyone.
Oh!
[smooching]
- How are you, sweetie?
[smooching]
How you doing?
- Hello, everyone.
- Simon, how are you?
[smooching]
- Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome your host,
Terry Crews!
[cheers and applause]
- * Am I ready *
* Girl, there ain't a doubt *
- Are you guys ready to meet your judges?
[cheers and applause]
Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum,
Sofía Vergara,
and Simon Cowell!
Welcome to the premiere of "America's Got Talent,"
season 18!
[cheers and applause]
Now, Simon, how are we gonna top last season?
That was incredible.
- I don't know.
I've just got a really, really, really
good feeling about this year.
So I'm excited. - Yes.
[cheers and applause]
- Let's do it!
Let's do it!
Let's go, season 18.
Go!
- I'm very excited about this season.
- I have a good feeling.
- Okay.
Here we go.
- * I don't know why *
* But I'm ready *
[music distorting]
- Hello.
- Is it bad that I already want to say no?
- Aw.
I'd be a little sad. - Okay.
I'm not gonna say it right now.
I'm gonna let you do your thing.
But I have a feeling.
- Okay.
- Welcome to season 18.
- Thank you. Can you hear me good?
- Yeah. - Awesome.
- Tell us who you are, please.
- My name is Patrick Chu.
- Tell us about you.
You have a day job?
- I'm currently a project manager at a HVAC company.
[cheers and applause] Yeah.
Whoo!
- There's a lot of people in the room who love
heating and air conditioning.
- Do they know you're here?
- Uh, they do not.
- So what is the big dream here?
- Well, I'm in a dinosaur suit here.
So I'm already kind of living it, I guess.
- Aw.
- Okay. No more questions.
Good luck. - Cool.
Awesome.
Thank you.
[cheers and applause]
- Is he gonna dance? - I don't know.
How would I know?
- Oh, yeah.
He's getting in position to dance.
- That's a dance position?
[Backstreet Boys' "Larger Than Life"]
* *
[cheers and applause]
- * Looking at the crowd *
* And I see your body sway, come on *
* *
* 'Cause all of your time spent *
* Keeps us alive *
* All you people, can't you see *
* Can't you see *
* How your love's affecting our reality *
- Surprise.
- * Yeah, every time we're down, you can make it right *
* And that makes you larger *
* That makes you larger than life *
[cheers and applause]
* That makes you larger *
* That makes you larger than life *
[vocalizing]
[cheers and applause]
[Katy Perry's "Roar"]
- * I've got the eye of the tiger, a fighter *
* Dancing through the fire *
* 'Cause I am a champion *
* And you're gonna hear me roar *
- Oh, my gosh, I am so, so happy
that I did not say no to you.
- Thank you.
- That tells you we should never, never judge a book
without reading it before--
- That's not the saying. - No?
- It's you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.
- Oh, okay.
Well, yes.
- Can I ask you when was the moment when you went,
"I know what I'm gonna do"?
[laughter]
- At my current job, I'm not super happy there.
So if I could do something and make people happy,
and change my life, I think that would
make me feel more fulfilled.
- That's what it's all about.
- And it's amazing that you truly
always land on your feet, even on the backflip like that.
I was like... - Oh, yeah.
Thank you. - Good for you.
I mean, well done.
I was imagining at home trying this with your new outfit
in your bedroom.
- I do that sometimes.
- This is the best dancing dinosaur
we have ever had on "AGT."
- * Dancing through the fire *
- The key for me personally is surprise.
And--and you are the ultimate surprise.
You walked out.
You're wearing a costume that every 11-year-old
wore on Halloween.
- I wore that once.
- I have to tell you, I have the same one at home.
- It's not only the dancing.
It's the ability to flip in this costume.
So your dream came true here on "AGT."
That's why I want to give you your first yes.
- Thank you. - Heidi?
- I'm gonna give you your second yes.
- Thank you.
- I can't wait to see what else you can do
in this stupid costume.
Yes.
- And Simon?
* *
- I don't know where to start.
all: Dinosaur! Dinosaur! Dinosaur!
- Dinosaur.
- Dinosaur. Dinosaur.
- I always listen to the audience,
and everyone loves you.
So I think you've got about 7,000 yeses.
[cheers and applause]
- * I've got the eye of the tiger *
* A fighter *
* Dancing through the fire *
* 'Cause I am a champion *
* And you're gonna hear me roar *
* Louder, louder than a lion *
- That's why I still do the show.
- That's why you still do the show?
Yeah, absolutely. - For a moment like that.
- That's amazing.
- * Whoa, you're gonna hear me *
* Roar *
- Coming up...
- Let me hear you scream!
[cheers and applause]
- You come all the way from Japan to do that?
- Yes.
- What is going on?
Wow!
- Whoa.
- Ah!
- Tonight's a big night, and I think you could
win this season with that.
- This act belongs on this stage.
* *
[violin music playing]
[cheers and applause]
- Maybe I'll get to meet Simon.
What do you think?
- Oh, that'd be amazing.
- Audience, are we ready for our next act?
- Here's your microphone.
- First, give me a good 10 count, if you don't mind.
- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
- Here we go. - Okay.
Here we go, folks.
Here we go.
Grab your seats, please.
- Hello, sir. How you doing?
- Terry Crews. - I'm Terry.
- How you doing, man? - How you doing?
- I'm Philip. It's nice to meet you.
- Hi, Philip.
- Here we go.
10 seconds.
- Are you ready to be on "America's Got Talent"
right now?
- I'm so ready.
It's a big stage, and I'm ready for a big moment.
- Philip, let's go out there and make it happen, man.
I've got your back the whole way, okay?
[cheers and applause]
- Whoo!
- Hello. - Hello, hello.
It's so good to see y'all. Hello.
- Hello. What's your name?
- My name is Philip Bowen.
- And where are you from, Philip?
- Currently, I'm living in Detroit.
- Yeah! - Detroit.
Wow, that's Terrytown.
And what do you do for a living?
- I am a project manager.
And as you can see, I'm also a musician.
- And what got you into the violin?
- You know, when I was four years old,
I was watching "Sesame Street."
And I saw this amazing violinist
named Itzhak Perlman.
- My cousin. - Are you serious?
- I am serious.
- Oh, like, a hero of mine. - Wow.
- Yes.
And so I begged my mother to let me take violin lessons.
From there, I fell in love with it.
And I've been playing ever since.
- So what does your mom think of you now?
- She's definitely my number one fan,
although it's a tad bit embarrassing
because she might be here a tiny bit more for Simon
than me. - She's here?
- My mom and dad are here all the way from West Virginia.
There they are over there.
[cheers and applause]
- [laughs]
- Hi.
- What do you mean, they're here more for Simon
than for you?
- I mean, let's leave my dad out of that.
My mom--it's mainly my mother has
loved Simon for a long time.
[laughter]
In fact, when I would play sometimes at home and things,
she'd be like, you know who would love that?
Simon.
And so, you know, so... [laughter]
What a great full-circle moment to be
here with you guys tonight. This is awesome.
- Wow. That is great.
And what is the dream? What's the hope?
- I have three young kids.
I'm a father of three.
And I want to show them that it is never too late
to chase down a dream.
- Well, tonight's a big night.
- I am so ready.
- So make it happen. - Okay.
All right. - Go ahead, buddy.
[cheers and applause]
[violin music]
* *
- All right. Hit it. Let's go.
[lively violin music]
[cheers and applause]
Yah!
* *
Whoo!
I got it.
Let's go!
Hey.
* *
- This is groovin'!
* *
That's how you do it!
- Whoo!
[cheers and applause]
- Yes!
- Oh, thank you so much.
- They're on their feet.
[Andy Grammer's "Joy"]
- * Me and fear, we had a thing in 1993 *
* It told me I was wasting time *
* With all these silly dreams *
- How did that feel?
- When I was a little kid, I would be practicing
my violin in my room.
And I would look at myself in the mirror, and I'd say,
"The crowd goes wild."
[imitates crowd cheering] And to have--
to have the crowd actually go wild--
[cheers and applause]
Thank you so much.
- * And gave me wings and halo rings *
* And taught me how to fly *
- Truly.
- You know, you said before, every time you played,
your mother would say, you know who would really like this?
- Simon.
- Was she right, Simon?
- I mean, I just wasn't expecting that.
You are so talented.
You have so much charisma.
I mean, you could feel the energy in here.
They love you. [cheers and applause]
- Yes!
- You will make your mom and dad so proud
after that performance.
That was a great audition.
- Absolutely.
- You can see your mom is there.
Like, she's almost in tears.
- Not almost. She is.
- I mean, I was, like, crying a little bit
because I see how important this is for you.
And this is why it's so special, this show...
- Yes.
- Because it makes people like you have this moment.
It might even change your life, because this was the place
you were supposed to be.
- Yes.
- You are beautiful, young man.
You really are. - Yeah.
- What you did, how you sound, and who you are are beautiful.
And I'd like to kick off the voting with your first yes.
- Oh, thank you so much.
- I give you a second yes.
- Three yes. - Thank you. Thank you.
- Four yeses.
- Yes!
[cheers and applause]
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Thank you, guys.
- Thank you.
- Mr. Bowen, give me a hug, man.
Listen, you rocked this, man.
- Thank you.
- And it was so good to have your--
how did it feel to have your parents watch your dream
come true right there?
- It means the world to me.
- Mother!
- My mom started crying before I even started playing.
So I couldn't look at her, you know?
But it was just, honestly, just amazing.
- Hello, Mom.
- Thank you for being so kind to my son.
- Look on the monitor, what's happening.
- Look at this. - Oh, look at this!
- Oh, she's gonna die. Oh, my--
- [laughs] - No way.
She's gonna--
- Philip.
- He's meeting your parents.
[cheers and applause]
- Uh-oh.
- * I found joy in the light *
- The year was 1985.
The place-- Hollywood, California.
Four brash young men came together
to form the greatest metal band you've never heard of.
That band?
Steel Panther.
[panther growls]
- Steel Panther was absolutely groundbreaking.
- Steel Panther kicks ass.
- These guys are rock and roll.
- The Spandex-clad quartet quickly
got a taste of success.
But creative differences took their toll,
and the band never reached the level of stardom
of their hair metal pioneer peers.
Steel Panther vanished, and the phenomenon-to-be
quickly faded into obscurity.
[Scorpion's "Rock You Like a Hurricane"]
* *
- * Here I am *
all: We are Steel Panther!
- * Like a hurricane *
- So how long have you guys been together?
- Little bit over 40 years now.
- 40 years?
- A lot of kids think that rock and roll is an easy lifestyle.
It's not easy.
We have been paying our dues for a long, long time.
So we're going out there to win,
and we're gonna do whatever it takes.
- The kid's got looks. - Yep.
- He might have talent.
But does he have a cheetah drum set right--
coming in right now?
No, he doesn't have one of those.
- Baby blue? - Boom.
- So is that your real hair?
- [laughs]
Not really.
I'll tell you what.
That million bucks that we're gonna win, that's not fake.
- Nope.
- * Here I am *
* Rock you like a hurricane *
[cheers and applause]
* Here I am *
* Rock you like a hurricane *
* Here I am *
- You guys, yes.
- Whoo!
- Standing ovation, and you haven't done anything.
- Well, who doesn't love country music?
[laughter]
- Okay.
Let's start with who you are, please.
- Okay.
We are a band called Steel Panther.
- Panther.
- Steel Panther.
- Let me just say before we go on,
we decided backstage to give Sofía and Heidi
tickets to Steel Panther for life,
and backstage passes included.
- Yes!
- Sofía! - Wow.
- Not trying to influence the judging in any way.
- Okay. [laughter]
I want to know everything about you guys,
the band, everything, please.
- Well, this is Spider. He plays the bass.
- Hello.
- My name is Michael Starr.
I'm the lead singer. - Hello.
- I'm Satchel.
I play guitar, and I book all the flights.
- Okay.
- Wow.
- I'm Stix.
I'm the drummer.
- Welcome.
Uh, is this something you do full-time?
- We do it full-time.
We've got six full-length studio albums out,
and we've got a couple of live records out.
- Yeah. - A live DVD too, as well.
And this is the best way to reach so many other people
that have never seen us before, and teach them
the ways of heavy metal.
- Heavy metal.
- And we just wanted to come on the show because
we want to--we want to win.
- I love that. - Yeah!
- Okay. No more questions.
Thank you so much for coming on.
- All right, cool. - Enjoy.
[cheers and applause]
[guitar note plays]
- Just a moment, folks.
- I love this.
We're here early.
We're here for the sound check.
[laughter]
- Whoo!
[drums playing]
- Here we go.
- I see you up there.
- 3, 2-- - All right.
[Steel Panther's "Eyes of a Panther"]
[panther growling]
[rock music]
[cheers and applause]
Let me hear you scream!
[cheers and applause]
* She's looking good from head to toe *
* She looking all posh, yeah *
* She's ready to blow *
* She got teeth like razors and claws like knives *
* She's ready to pounce on your ass *
* You know you want some more *
all: * She's got the eyes of a panther *
- * Lips like Satan *
all: * She's got the eyes of a panther *
- * Soon you'll be mating *
all: * She's got the eyes of a panther *
* She said, don't be afraid of heavy metal *
* Don't be afraid to rock *
* To run *
- * To roll *
* She said, don't be afraid, no *
* So I won't *
Satchel, get that guitar.
[guitar solo]
* *
all: * She's got the eyes of a panther *
- * The cougar is waiting *
all: * She's got the eyes of a panther *
- * No escaping *
all: * She's got the eyes of a panther *
* Yeah *
- * Hey, hey, hey, hey *
- Hey, hey, hey, hey.
- * Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey *
* She's got teeth like razors, eyes like lasers *
* To pounce, and your life is in danger *
* She got lies *
* *
[cheers and applause]
* *
Thank you!
[cheers and applause]
- Amazing.
- * We built this city *
- That was hot.
- * We built this city on rock and roll *
* Built this city *
- Amazing. - So good.
- Amazing.
- * We built this city on rock and roll *
- Okay.
Okay.
Well, that's how you do it.
Howie?
- Wow.
Wow.
Yeah, I feel like I was just at the most amazing shortest
festival I've ever attended.
- Yes!
- Thank you.
- I love this kind of music.
This music needs to come back to the forefront.
And you are here to bring it.
- That's right.
- Heidi?
- I absolutely loved it.
- Thank you. - Your voice was incredible.
- Thanks.
- Especially that--yah--
that super high meow-meow sound that you made.
I mean, I know--
- Well, I don't think you're actually a blonde, are you?
- No, I'm not.
- Well, I am--
I am not, either, a real blonde.
So it doesn't matter.
- Yeah, but blondes rule!
[cheers and applause]
- Bald rules.
- Sofía?
- We never really know who is coming to audition for us.
And I've seen these guys.
My husband, Joe, hired them for his 40th birthday.
- Whoa!
- And it was the best birthday he ever had.
And you guys are amazing.
- We're gonna win!
- Well--
[laughter]
- I have so much respect for you for coming on the show,
because I'm sure a lot of your friends said,
you shouldn't come on a show like this, whatever,
whatever, whatever.
I'm a great believer, you know, you just do
whatever you feel you want to do.
And if you want more people to get to know you, you know,
this is definitely gonna happen.
You're so talented.
It's so clear that you've been doing this
a long time, because you don't get
good like this overnight.
And I could see this in Vegas. - Wow.
- Thank you.
- Everything about that audition, for me,
was just brilliant.
- Yeah!
- Okay, Howie?
- Yes! - Yes!
- Wow!
- Yes.
- Heidi?
- It's a big fat yes for me!
- Sofía?
- Yes!
- What do we think?
[wild cheering]
- You've now got four yeses.
- * We built this city *
- Bravo!
- Thank you.
- * We built this city on rock and roll *
* We built this city *
- Bye!
- * We built this city on rock and roll *
- Yeah!
Steel Panther, you blew that stage to pieces!
- That was genuinely exciting.
- It really is.
It's the look.
It's their performance.
It's everything.
- They really look like they're from that era.
- They are.
[cheers and applause]
- Oh, my God.
I can't believe it.
We're going!
- Hey, guys.
My mom's coming to pick me up.
So I'm gonna go wait inside. - All right.
- See you later, bro.
- Tell her we said hi.
- Coming up...
- Do you think that you can win this?
- For sure.
- This was a show, a real show.
Spectacular.
- Oh, no.
- Whoa! - Ah!
* *
- No, that act before.
- That's a tough act to follow.
- Audience, are you guys ready for your next act?
- Oh, look, your favorite.
- Ah, yeah.
He loves pole dancing. Hi.
- What's your name? - The name's Allan Reinikka.
- Are you a pole dancer? - I certainly am.
[The Weather Girls' "It's Raining Men"]
- * It's raining men *
* Hallelujah *
* It's raining men *
* Amen *
[buzzer blares] - Wow.
[buzzer blares]
- I didn't think it was exciting at all, to be honest.
I don't think it's for "AGT."
- I'm sorry. It's a no.
- Very nice to meet you.
Yeah, that was so boring to me.
So boring.
[cheers and applause]
- Yes.
- Fashion tips later, ladies.
- Hi.
Who are you?
- Nancy La Fancy.
- Why did you come to "America's Got Talent"?
- I'm here to make the world smile.
- Do you think that you can win this?
- For sure.
- * It's raining men *
* Hallelujah *
* It's raining men *
- What is going on?
- * Amen *
* *
- Whoo!
[buzzers blaring]
- Aw.
- That's it?
- Look, comedy is very subjective.
But I've got to be really honest with you.
I found it a bit boring.
- Okay.
- I feel bad.
- Ah, but it-- - But it was not exciting.
- No.
- All right.
Hello, guys.
What's the name of your act?
- It's Three G.
- And where are you from?
- We are from Ukraine.
- Oh, my goodness.
- So we started acrobatic because we watched
the "Got Talent" show in Ukraine.
And that's what inspired us.
[soft music]
We have one more member of our group.
It's my dog.
His name is Tyson.
Yeah, so it's four of us, actually.
* *
The trust is the most important thing in our group
because what we do is very dangerous.
We think that "AGT" will give us opportunity
to do the whole life, the thing what we love to.
- Ready to meet the judges?
- Ready.
- Okay. Go on out there.
Thank you.
- Thank you.
[cheers and applause]
- Hello.
- [speaking indistinctly]
- Hello. - Hello.
- Very nice to meet you.
And do you want to introduce yourselves to us, please?
- My name is Sofia.
- Hello, Sofia.
- My name is Diana.
- My name is Liana.
- And we are Three G.
- Okay. And where are you from?
- We are from Ukraine.
- Ah.
[cheers and applause]
- Welcome.
- Thank you for coming over.
Now tell us about this act.
- We are doing acrobatic--
- Oh.
- Different tricks.
- Yeah?
- Throwing our top girl, holding her.
- And who put the group together?
- Her. - Yeah?
It was your idea.
Okay.
How long have you been doing this for?
- Sport acrobatic, whole our life.
- Yeah?
- But together, it's just been two years...
- Yeah?
- With this group.
And we came here to show our talent for whole America
and for you.
- Thank you.
- Okay.
Look, we always say this.
Three minutes can change your life on this show.
- Yeah.
- So I hope it goes well.
Good luck. - Thank you.
- Good luck!
[cheers and applause]
- They're beautiful.
They look great.
[Zayde Wolf's "Born Ready"]
- * I don't believe in no devil *
* 'Cause I done raised this hell *
* Whoa, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh *
* I've been the last one standing *
* When all the giants fell *
* Whoa, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh *
* I won't shiver, I won't shake *
* I'm made of stone *
* I don't break *
* Start me up, open my eyes *
* Turn me loose and you'll see why *
* I was born, born ready *
* Staring at the pressure now *
- * Start me up, open my eyes *
* Turn me loose, and you'll see why *
* I was born, born ready *
- Whoa!
[crowd screaming]
- Ooh.
- * I am the unknown fighter *
* A dark horse coming for you *
* Whoa, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, yeah *
* Whoa, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh *
* I'm gonna push up higher *
* I'm gonna do what I do *
* Whoa, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh *
* I won't shiver, I won't shake *
* I'm made of stone, I don't break *
- I don't wanna see it.
- * Start me up, open my eyes *
* Turn me loose, and you'll see why *
* I was born, born ready *
* Staring at the pressure now *
* I won't quit, not backing down *
* I was born, born ready *
* Keep pushing up higher, higher *
* Keep pushing up *
* Keep pushing up higher *
* Keep pushing up higher, higher *
* Keep pushing up *
* *
- Oh, no, no!
- * Keep pushing up higher, higher *
* Keep pushing up *
* Start me up, open my eyes *
- Oh, here comes the mat.
- * Turn me loose and you'll see why *
* I was born, born ready *
- Are they deciding if they should do it or not do it?
- It seems like that.
* I won't quit, not backing down *
* I was born, born ready *
* Keep pushing up higher, higher *
* Keep pushing up *
* Keep pushing up higher, higher *
* Keep pushing up *
* Open my eyes *
- Look at the strength.
How on Earth?
- * I was born, born ready *
* I was born, born ready *
[crowd screaming] - Whoa!
Whoa!
- No, no, no!
- Oh, no, no.
- Are you okay?
- Are you hurt?
- Are you okay?
- Oh.
- You're okay?
- Oh, my God.
[cheers and applause]
- Oh, no, no, no, no.
- Are they trying? - Yes.
- They're trying again?
- Yes. Yes.
[cheers and applause]
- Let's go!
- You can do it. You can do it.
- I can't watch this.
I can't watch this, guys.
- Shh.
Try. Try.
- Shh.
[cheers and applause]
Shh.
- I mean, this is insane.
[applause]
[both shushing]
- Oh.
- Shh.
[crowd groaning]
[cheers and applause]
- Okay.
It's okay.
[Shawn Mendes' "In My Blood"]
- * Help me *
* It's like the walls are caving in *
* Sometimes I feel like giving up *
- Amazing courage.
- * But I just can't *
* It isn't in my blood *
- Is she--is she okay?
- Are you okay? - Are you okay?
- It's good.
It's fine.
- Okay.
All right.
Howie?
- We've seen balancing acts.
But I think the moves that you were able to complete
were far more dangerous, far more skill
than I have ever seen before.
[cheers and applause]
You okay?
- Okay.
I think you did a wonderful job.
I'm telling you, it doesn't matter that you fell down.
What matters is that you got up and you
kept trying and trying and trying.
- Yes.
- Thank you so much for coming here.
- Thank you.
- Sofía?
- I really admire that you guys kept trying to do it.
The part that you were able to do was spectacular.
- Thank you.
- I really liked it because I think you guys have it in you.
- Heidi?
- I know this bothers you so much
that this didn't go as planned.
But it was incredible.
So please don't feel bad that this happened.
It shows us that this-- you know, this is real.
Those things happen.
And, you know, I still love the three of you.
- Thank you so much.
- I can see how disappointed you are.
The act, in my opinion, it showed us more
about you than anything else.
Because lesser people would have just given up,
and you didn't.
I saw the determination on your face, all three of you.
And it made it, for me, more human because things
do unfortunately go wrong at times.
But we saw enough--
trust me--to go, "This act belongs on this stage."
[cheers and applause]
- Howie?
- Yes.
- Heidi? - Yes.
- Sofía?
- Yes.
- You've got four yeses. Congratulations.
- * It isn't in my blood *
* It isn't in my blood *
* *
* It isn't in my blood *
- They were amazing.
- Amazing.
- Three G, are you okay?
Do you want to see someone right away?
Okay.
- And you are okay?
You need some help?
We got a chair right over here for you.
- I don't know what's going on. Like, why is...
- For me, it showed how difficult their act is.
- Of course.
- Everybody always comes here and make it
look like it's so easy.
And it's not.
It's, like, super dangerous.
- Coming up...
- I've never seen anything like it.
* *
[all singing]
- Surprising.
It was amazing.
And you are here to bring it.
- [smooching] [camera clicking]
- We should do selfies.
- Whoo!
- Hey. - Hey.
[upbeat music]
- Hello, there. It's happening.
I'm gonna be performing the act soon.
- Thank you.
I'm sorry you can't be here, but--
- Here we go.
- Thanks, Mom.
- Do you want to come and be a judge?
Who's gonna take the picture?
Very nice to meet you both.
- * Good *
[cheers and applause]
- Hello.
What's your name?
- My name is Trigg Watson.
I'm 33 years old, and I live in Los Angeles.
And I am a magician.
- Wow.
You answered all my questions.
- [chuckles]
- Um, do you do this for a living?
- I do.
I had a job in tech for a while,
but then I decided to combine it with my passion for magic.
- Okay, so--but why "AGT"?
- I have loved magic ever since I was a little kid.
But in high school, I would watch magicians
on "America's Got Talent"
and imagine what it would be like
for me to be on this stage.
And now I am here, performing in front of all of you.
- Wow.
[cheers and applause]
- I am here to show that 16-year-old Trigg
that his dreams came true.
And he'd be freaking out right now.
- Aw. - So what's the dream?
- Well, the dream is to win "AGT."
- Do you think you could win?
- I do. Absolutely.
- Wow.
I can't wait to see the magic.
- Thank you.
[cheers and applause]
[dramatic music]
We spend a lot of our time experiencing
other people's lives through a phone screen.
Do you ever watch people's videos
and imagine jumping inside their world for a second?
I do.
- These stylish headbands are actually silk pocket squares.
And they're really easy to--
* She's so sweet, sweet *
- Whoo! - Oh, wow.
- Ooh.
- I hate going to the movies with my little brother.
I mean, every time we go--
oh, my God.
[cheers and applause]
- Vegan chicken noodle soup.
- No, no, no, no, no, no.
[cheers and applause]
- Oh.
- Whoa.
- What?
[cheers and applause]
- Wow.
[Lady Gaga's "Bloody Mary"]
- * I'll dance, dance, dance *
* With my hands, hands, hands *
* Above my head * - * Head, head *
[soft music]
* *
[cheers and applause]
- * Like Jesus said *
* I'll dance, dance, dance, with my hands *
* Hands, hands above my head *
- This is your sign to sto--
[upbeat music]
* *
- How does he make it come out...
- I don't know.
- Of the TV?
[hip-hop music]
- Wow.
You can really dance.
* *
Wow, you can really dance.
[cheers and applause]
- Whoa.
- This might look like--
[soft music]
* *
[Hannah Hart's "They Love You"]
- * Standing at the back *
* I've been watching your attack *
* And it's gentle as the falling leaves *
* Running with your smile *
* You've been dancing for a while *
* And I'm wishing it was all for me *
* I was here for the first crime *
* Watched you walk a thin line *
* So I told myself *
- That's amazing.
- * I would hide from your love *
[dramatic music]
* *
- That's very good.
- It's amazing.
- Wow!
* *
- My God.
[Coldplay's "A Sky Full of Stars"]
[cheers and applause]
- Wow!
- * 'Cause you're a sky *
* 'Cause you're a sky full of stars *
- That was very cool.
* *
- I have never seen anything more amazing,
more jaw-dropping, more incredible.
It felt like I was watching a dream.
It didn't look real.
- Yeah.
- I think you could win this season with that.
I really do.
- Thank you.
- Sofía.
- I have never seen anything like it.
This was so different.
- Yes.
- And you are right, "AGT" is the perfect place for you
to come with something as good as this.
- Thank you so much.
- Heidi?
- I don't know how many times I was going, wow, wow, wow, wow.
I mean, you just kept it coming.
It was amazing. - Thank you.
- Well done.
- Thank you.
- At the beginning you were actually
a bit annoying, actually.
But the act itself, I loved it.
It was different.
It's magic.
Brilliant.
I mean, surely your dream is to have your own Vegas show.
- Absolutely.
I want to create something that no one has ever seen before.
[cheers and applause]
- We should vote now.
Okay.
My vote is a yes.
Heidi?
- It's a yes from me.
- Yes. - Yes.
- And Simon?
- You're a magician, what am I gonna say?
- Abraca-yes.
- Yes.
- That's four yeses.
[cheers and applause]
- * 'Cause you're a sky, you're a sky *
- That was truly amazing.
- How he just fries the mind.
- I didn't know what I was looking at.
- Wow, I love that.
I love this show.
- Off the back to the show,
amazing things can happen.
It is a competition.
There is gonna only be one winner.
So you've got to be amazing.
- Are we ready?
Are we good for this? - Yes.
We're good for this.
- We are going to lay it all on the stage.
- Here we go guys. Clearing stage.
Thank you.
- The talent is really good this year.
- We have so many good ones.
- I love all the crazy things people come up with.
- And it's getting crazier.
- You guys ready for your next act?
[cheers and applause]
- What's your name?
- I'm Kozo.
- And what are you gonna do today?
- [speaking Japanese]
- Oh.
- The performance is gonna energize the world.
- Ooh, I like it.
I like it.
- All right, here we go.
- Hello!
- Hello. How are you?
- Hello. - How are you?
I'm fine. Thank you.
- And who are you?
- My name is Kozo.
- Kozo. - Kozo.
- Where are you from?
- I'm from Japan.
[cheers and applause]
Thank you!
- And what do you do in Japan?
- [speaking Japanese]
- I work as a caregiver at a facility for disabled people.
- Oh, wow.
What are you gonna do tonight?
- My dream was to be a firefighter,
but I failed the exam.
[laughter]
- Okay.
I don't think--does that answer the question I asked?
- Oh. Yes.
[laughter]
Good luck.
- Good luck? To us?
- Good luck.
- Go, go, go.
- Thank you very much.
- To us?
- Let him do his thing.
- Okay, go ahead and do it.
[cheers and applause]
[Vivaldi's "Summer"]
* *
[Wagner's "The Ride of the Valkyries"]
- H?
- What's the H stand for?
* *
- It's a heli--
[buzzer blares]
- The H is on his butt.
- Land--he's gonna land it!
* *
Land!
Wow!
- Land it!
Just land it!
- The suspense is killing me.
- He's this far away!
[music winding down, rotors thrumming]
[Celine Dion's "All Coming Back to Me"]
- * Baby, baby, baby *
* When you touch me like this *
- He did it! He landed it on his butt!
- * It was gone with the wind *
* But it's all coming back to me *
* When you see me like this, and when I see you like that *
* Then we see what we want to see *
- Sofía?
- I thought it was very creative.
- What was creative?
- Well, it was creative to have a helicopter land.
But the landing was not for "AGT."
- Ah.
- [speaking Japanese]
- It was windy.
- * It was gone with the wind *
- We understand.
We'll take that into account.
- Simon, what did you think?
- Um, you flew here--[laughing]
[laughter]
- Simon?
- You've flown in all the way from Japan to do that?
- Hai. Yes. - Oh.
- Yeah!
- I mean, without being rude, I could do that.
I'm not going to, but I could.
- Please, don't do that.
- No, I'm not going to.
- I wish I could do it one more time.
- We don't.
- It's few and far between where we get to see something
we've never seen before.
This was original, interesting.
I was on the edge of my seat.
I liked it.
- Howie, thank you.
- Thank you.
- Anyway, let's vote.
I'm a yes. - Whoa!
[cheers and applause]
- You want to go next, Simon? - Yes.
- Oh, that's two.
- No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
- Oh, yes!
- We have two.
- Yes!
- Two yeses.
- [chomps teeth]
- That was a yes, it's a no.
- [groans]
- Sofía? - No.
- And Heidi? - It's a no.
- I wish I could do it one more time.
- No.
- It's not gonna make any difference.
- Thank you. Thank you.
- Bye!
- Okay, thank you.
- * It was gone with the wind *
- I loved that.
- * But it's all coming back to me *
- Kozo! Kozo, listen.
It was windy out there.
I don't know where the breeze was coming from.
I have an idea.
- I love Simon.
"You came all the way from Japan just to do that."
- I swear to God, I couldn't believe that.
- Can you believe he didn't make it to become a fireman?
He can't land a helicopter on his own butt.
How can he get to the fire?
* *
[Joybird's "For Real"]
- * I got a smile taking over my face *
* Feeling the sunshine all over the place *
- I've got to go. All right.
- * If it's for real, you're gonna feel it in your soul *
- There's a lot of talent, but you got this.
- * You're gonna feel it in your bones *
- Now, first of all, this is the world's biggest stage.
Is this the biggest stage you've ever been on?
- Yes.
Absolutely, yes.
- * Can you feel it now *
[vocalizing]
- I can't imagine what it would feel like to be
on a stage like this.
- Nerve-racking.
- Yeah.
- You have four judges out there.
Are you nervous about getting judged for your singing?
- Yeah.
- * This is for real * - All right.
Here we go, folks. Here we go.
- * This is for real, boom, boom, bang bang, bang *
* I'ma make you move like hey, hey, hey *
- Hello.
What is your name?
- My name is D'Corey Johnson.
- D'Corey, how old are you?
- I'm 11.
- And where are you from?
- I'm from Louisville, Kentucky.
- What is your talent?
- So I'm a singer.
- Oh. Is that what you want to do
when you grow up, all of that? - Yes.
I want to be on Broadway and be in movies,
and I want to be in "Hamilton" and "Wicked."
- Oh, wow.
Did you ever dream of coming to "AGT"?
- I watch "AGT," like, almost every day.
Simon, you are my favorite because you keep it real,
like my mama.
- Somebody likes me?
Well, thank you so much.
- So do you think you can win?
- I feel like that I can win it.
- Wow.
- Okay, so we're ready for you.
Good luck tonight.
- Thank you.
[cheers and applause]
- Come on.
Be good, be good, be good, be good, be good.
["Open Arms" playing]
- [vocalizing]
* Yeah *
- Ooh, yeah.
- Pretty.
* *
- * Lying beside you *
* Here in the dark *
* Feeling your heart beat *
* With mine *
* So now I come to you *
* With open arms *
* Nothing to hide *
* Believe what I say *
* So here I am *
* With open arms *
- That's it, D'Corey!
- * Hoping you'll see *
* What your love means to me *
* Open arms *
* But now that you've come back *
* Turned night into day *
* And I need you to stay *
* Yeah *
* So now I come to you *
* With open arms *
* Hoping you'll see *
* What your love means to me *
- Yeah, D'Corey!
- * Open arms *
* For you and me *
[cheers and applause]
- Everyone's on their feet!
- Bravo!
- Thank you.
- Wow.
Do you mind if I ask you to sing up to the chorus
without the backing track?
- Yes. - Yeah?
All right.
- You got it!
[cheers and applause]
* So now I come to you *
* With open arms *
* Nothing to hide *
* Believe what I say *
* So here I am *
* With open arms *
* Hoping you'll see *
* What your love means to me *
* Open arms *
- Oh, my goodness!
[Pink's "A Million Dreams"]
* *
- Thank you.
* *
- Don't cry. Don't cry.
- D'Corey! D'Corey!
Yeah, yo!
There you go, son.
- * I close my eyes and I can see *
* The world that's waiting up for me *
* That I call my own *
- How do you feel about that?
- To be here, I'm just so happy.
- Bravo!
I thought that that was amazing, D'Corey.
I think you definitely have a place on Broadway.
[cheers and applause]
- When he took the track away, less is more.
You're a better singer than even what you performed today.
You are so much better. - Thank you.
- I love what you did. - Thank you.
- I'm very happy also that Simon took the music away.
Because the music was just in the way.
And I think all the path that you're gonna go,
your wish I think will come true.
I have a good feeling about you.
- Thank you.
- I think you know the kind of singer you want to be,
where you want to end up, which is really important.
- Yes.
- I think you have such a distinctive, great voice.
- Thank you.
- I think you're gonna get better and better.
It's so difficult to say what will happen in the future.
What I can say, I promise you, is things are just
gonna be amazing for you.
- Thank you. - Really.
I'd love to be the first person to say yes.
- Thank you.
- I'm gonna be the second yes.
- Third yes from me. - Thank you.
- Four yeses!
- Thank you.
- * I think of what the world can be *
* A vision of the one I see *
* A million dreams is all it's gonna take *
- Thank you so much.
- Bravo!
* *
So good.
- I mean, he's so cute!
- Sweet kid. - D'Corey!
Come here, man!
Oh.
- I'm so glad you asked, because he sounded off
the first time around.
- He--his timing was off. Yeah.
- Tell me what you were feeling.
- I'm overwhelmed, because I always
wanted to be on this stage.
And so, um, I'm glad that I got a yes.
- * For the world we're gonna make *
- [crying] I got a yes.
* *
- "America's Got Talent" is where people come
to compete with the very best for the ultimate prize.
- If you win this thing, you could win $1 million
and headline the "AGT" Superstar Show
in Las Vegas at Luxor.
[upbeat music]
You ready to see some amazing talent?
- When you go up there, make sure you talk into it.
- Yeah. - If it's down here,
they won't hear what you say.
Cool, man. I'll hand it off to you
in a moment. - Okay.
- What is this?
- Every time I see a box, you know these people
think outside of the box.
- Now, why "AGT"?
- This is the biggest stage in the world.
- Oh.
All right, go show America.
- Thank you.
[cheers and applause]
- Welcome to "America's Got Talent."
What's your name?
- My name is Shadow Ace.
- And where are you from?
- I am from Philippines!
- The Philippines.
[cheers and applause]
And what do you do?
- So I'm going to revive a lost art, shadow art.
- Oh, like shadow puppets and--
- Yeah. - Yeah.
- I can do a dog. - [chuckles]
- Okay, so how does a young man get into shadow?
- So as a kid growing up, we don't have
electric power in our house.
It's like an entertainment for me,
using candle lights and a wall.
So that's it.
- Oh, wow.
Do you think this could be a Vegas show, an arena show?
- Yes. - Okay.
And who do you look up to in the world of show business?
Who's your favorite artist?
- So my favorite artist is actually Beyoncé.
[laughing]
[cheers and applause]
Yes, because I know that Beyoncé is watching
"America's Got Talent."
Hi, queen.
[laughter]
And since I know that last year's winner, The Mayyas...
- Yeah.
- They got them into her concert
in Dubai. - Yeah, they did.
- So this is one of my biggest dreams, to meet Beyoncé.
[laughs]
- Well, the stage is yours.
- Thank you.
Thank you.
[cheers and applause]
[Ginuwine's "Pony"]
* *
- She's shaving her legs! [laughs]
- * Girl, when I break you off *
* I promise that you won't wanna get off *
* If you're horny, let's do it *
* Ride it, my pony *
* My saddle's waiting *
* Come and jump on it *
[static]
[Miley Cyrus's "Wrecking Ball"]
- * I never meant to start a war *
* I just wanted you to let me in *
* I guess I should have let you win *
* Don't you ever say I just walked away *
* I will always want you *
* I came in like wrecking ball *
* I never hit so hard in love *
* All I wanted was to break your walls *
* All you ever did was wreck me *
* Yeah, you, you wrecked me *
[PSY's "Gangnam Style"]
* *
- [singing in Korean]
* *
[horse whinnying]
* *
[grunts]
* Oppa Gangnam Style *
* *
* Gangnam Style *
* *
* Oppa Gangnam Style *
* Hey, sexy lady *
[wolf whistle]
* *
* Oppa Gangnam Style *
* *
[cheers and applause]
[Hall & Oates' "You Make My Dreams (Come True)"]
* *
- * What I want, you've got *
* And it might be hard to handle *
* Like a flame that burns a candle *
* But I can't explain *
* Oh, yeah, well, well, you *
* *
* You make my dreams come true *
- I mean, it was spectacular.
This was a show, a real show.
Spectacular.
- I could watch this all night.
- Yes.
- A lot of these shadow acts,
they can be actually quite boring.
That was the opposite.
Kids are gonna love this.
I loved it.
I think it's exactly what we're looking for.
It's fun, it's original, silly, stupid--
all the things that I love.
- * Well, well, well, you *
* *
- It is true.
Usually, it is kind of, like, a more sad story,
with a deeper meaning and all of that stuff.
And it was just fun.
- * Listen to this *
- You know, we were laughing.
I mean, you had us entertained the entire time.
So bravo to you.
- Thank you.
- It was surprising.
It was amazing--the music choices, the comedy,
just the dexterity that you have.
And people are just gonna want to see
more and more and more.
And that's why we're gonna vote.
Simon?
- I really, really, really like it.
And, you know, not only that, it's your imagination.
You know, you are very talented.
And for that reason, I'm gonna say yes.
- * Oh, yeah, you make my dreams come true *
- Definitely, yes.
- You get your third yes from me.
* *
- And you have four yeses!
- * You make my dreams come true *
* *
* I've been waiting for, waiting for *
* Waiting for, waiting for, waiting for *
* Waiting for, waiting for *
* You make my dreams *
[vocalizing]
* *
- He's amazing.
Go, before he rips it down.
Before he rips it down.
She does a dog. - She can do it.
- Go, go do it. Go do it. Go.
- Oh, my God. - Go, Heidi. Go, go.
- Howie. Oh, my God.
- * I've been waiting for, waiting for *
* Waiting for, waiting for, waiting for *
- Okay.
- * You make my dreams *
- Action!
[Ginuwine's "Pony"]
* *
- * If you're horny *
- I mean, of course.
Of course that's what she goes up to do.
- * Come and jump on it * - Was that with your hand?
- Yes, it was my hand. - Just your hand?
- * Let's do it *
* Ride it *
- Okay. Here we go, guys. Clearing stage.
Thank you.
- Let's keep it moving.
One minute, one minute.
- Hello, sir. I'm Terry.
- How are you? - What's your name?
- I know your name.
Orlando Leyba, bud.
- All right.
Let's go, let's go.
- We've had a good day.
- Don't jinx it, Sofía. [laughs]
- Oh, yeah.
- What are you gonna be doing on "AGT"?
- Stand-up comedy, man.
- Oh, my goodness.
- Yeah.
I'm gonna represent my tribe of comics.
- All right, here we go.
- We're ready to judge.
- Man, listen. Go out there...
- Yeah.
- And make us laugh.
This is your time.
You got it.
Yeah!
[cheers and applause]
- Hi.
Welcome to "America's Got Talent."
- Thank you. Thank you.
- Isn't it fun out here?
- It's fun, man.
- How is it when you're, like, in the wing,
about to come out?
Are you nervous then, or--
- But Terry's back there.
- What is he doing over there? - No.
Just, you know, giving motivational talks
and everything.
I think he has a TED Talk coming up or something.
- [laughs]
- I don't know.
- Okay.
So tell us who are you, how old are you,
and where are you from, please.
- My name is Orlando Leyba.
I am 45, from Miami, Florida.
And I am a stand-up comic.
- How did you get into that?
- It's my wife.
It was my birthday, and she gave me
a gift to the school that teaches you improv acting.
And then the improv teacher says,
"Ah, you're not good at improv."
You should try stand-up.
- And now you're here,
on the biggest stage in the world.
- What a journey, man.
- Take it away. - Thank you.
Thank you, guys. Thank you.
- I like his vibe.
- All right.
Thank you, thank you.
I'm happy to be here.
My name is Orlando.
I'm married, 15 years.
You could hear it in my voice.
There's a little essence of defeat.
Every time I open my mouth, you hear it,
like every good husband.
Listen, woman!
You want to get gelato after this?
Is that possible?
She's a good woman.
She got me into that show "Yellowstone."
I love that show.
Yeah. Yeah, it's a great show.
But I feel like less of a man every time that I watch.
Should I buy a truck?
I feel like I should buy a truck.
- [laughs]
For those that don't know, "Yellowstone"
is a TV show about a cattle ranch ran by
"The Bodyguard" himself, Kevin Costner.
Yeah.
Yeah, a man.
A man, right?
The writing is great, the acting is excellent.
But the visuals of "Yellowstone" are amazing.
Yellowstone, the park, looks amazing.
So imagine my excitement when my buddy Eric
invited me to his wedding. Where?
In Yellowstone. Are you coming?
Oh, I'm there.
I've been watching the show.
The second I landed, guys, I got it.
This place was so beautiful, so majestic.
I understood Kevin Costner.
Shoot, I became Kevin Costner.
By the third day, I was telling people to get off my land.
Get off my land!
Sure, it was in the hotel courtyard.
But that's the way that I felt.
I couldn't stop saying, "Go on, git."
You go on, git!
You go on, git, from that cucumber water, sir.
You've had enough of our minerals.
[laughter]
Thank you.
I drove out into the park.
I'm a city guy, man, and I was out there
in nature, unsupervised.
I saw elks.
The real ones, with the coat racks.
I saw elks.
I saw bears doing bear stuff.
They waved at me.
One got a little bit too close.
I said, "You go on, git, Yogi."
I told him.
- [laughs]
- Here's a big one. [laughs]
I saw bisons.
Those are real.
I thought bisons were made up, like unicorns.
But there he was, a bison, in the middle of the road
looking like a bougie cow.
Moo.
I see you, bougie cow.
I see you.
I kept driving, 'cause they told me
to go see Old Faithful.
Old Faithful, for those who don't know,
it's a thermal geyser that shoots water
and steam out into the sky
from the middle of the Earth, allegedly.
I hadn't seen it yet.
When I got there-- they call it Old Faithful
because Old Faithful always goes off right on time,
plus or minus 10 minutes.
I read the sign.
And the Old Faithful did not let us down.
It went off right on time, plus 10 minutes.
It reminded me of me in my 20s.
I was like, I remember when I could do that.
Yeah.
Yeah, I can't do that anymore.
I can't.
I'm more like Old Dependable.
Or Old Maybe Later, plus or minus 10 days.
It all depends how my tummy feels.
My name is Orlando Leyba.
Thank you so much, guys.
[cheers and applause]
- Orlando!
- Simon?
- You are just naturally funny.
- Thank you, man.
- It felt like you were telling us something
that really happened.
You know?
- It really did happen.
- Well, no, I believe that.
[laughter]
[cheers and applause]
Do you do this full time, or do you have another job as well?
- I do this full time, man.
- Okay.
And what were you doing before this?
- Oh, I was a satellite engineer for another network
that is not this network.
But, you know.
[laughter]
- Sofía.
- I am so glad that your wife helped you,
like, start your career.
You deserve to be on a stage.
- Thank you, man.
- From the second you walk out on this stage, you're winning.
How long have you been doing this?
- 13 years, Howie.
- Well, you know what?
It has really paid off.
I mean, you are like fine wine, and you're
at the top of your game.
- Thank you.
- I'm a huge fan.
- Bravo!
- I loved you too.
I love your top bun.
I love your face.
It's super cute. - Thank you.
- And I was--
- Adorable, adorable, right?
- Adorable.
You are. - Thank you.
Thank you, guys.
- You made us laugh and that's what a comedian
is supposed to do, so well done.
- Thank you.
- I'm gonna start the voting with your first yes.
- Thank you.
- Howie?
- Second yes.
- Sofía?
- Si.
- And Simon?
- You've now got four yeses.
Congratulations.
[cheers and applause]
[upbeat music]
- Bravo!
- I don't think anyone's ever come on
and basically plugged another show during their audition.
- Coming up...
- I know how much this will--
it was just breathtaking.
- Okay, here we go. Grab your seats, please.
- This is the last act.
- This is the moment where we give everything
to make our families proud.
- You can't make the show without an amazing audience,
and you have been amazing.
Absolutely amazing.
[chanting]
- What Is the name of your act?
- The name of our act is Mzansi Youth Choir,
and we are from Soweto, Johannesburg,
in beautiful South Africa.
[cheers and applause]
- Audience, we want you guys to be that fifth judge
here tonight.
Let the judges know you have the power to sway them.
Are we ready?
- It's time to go on out.
All right.
So wonderful.
- * Ooh, ooh *
* This is gonna be the best day of my life *
- Hi.
* *
- Tell us who you are, please.
- My name is Zoe.
And we are the Mzansi Youth Choir,
all the way from Soweto, Johannesburg, in South Africa.
- Wow.
- Yes.
[cheers and applause]
- Tell me about the choir.
How did it start?
Tell me everything.
- Well, it's a little bit of a sad story.
But it has a great ending, of course.
- Okay.
- Exactly 20 years ago, our founders,
Yanni and Marina Simon, were carjacked.
And to their surprise, it was done by young people.
And then they saw this as an opportunity
to change young lives.
And then they started this choir.
- Wow.
[cheers and applause]
And why did you decide
to enter "America's Got Talent" this year?
- Because "America's Got Talent" is the biggest talent
competition in the world.
[cheers and applause]
And it has the power to inspire
and give hope to the people.
- Well, thank you for saying that.
Okay, we're ready.
We're rooting for you.
Good luck. - Thank you.
[cheers and applause]
- Here we go.
- I'm excited.
[Nightbirde's "It's OK"]
[all harmonizing]
* *
- * I moved to California in the summertime *
* *
* I changed my name, thinking that it would change my mind *
* *
trio: * I thought that all my problems *
* They would stay behind *
all: * I was a stick of dynamite *
* And it was just a matter of time *
* *
* Oh, dang, oh, my, now I cannot hide *
* Said I knew myself, but I guess I lied *
* It's okay, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay to be lost *
* We're all a little lost and it's all right *
* It's okay, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay to be lost *
* We're all a little lost, and it's all right *
- * I wrote 100 pages but I burned them all *
* Yeah, I burned them all *
* I drove through yellow lights *
* And didn't stop at all *
* I didn't stop at all *
all: * Oh, dang, oh, my, now I can't hide *
* Said I knew what I wanted, but I guess I lied *
* It's okay, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay to be lost *
* We're all a little lost, and in it's all right *
* It's okay, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay to be lost *
* We're all a little lost and it's all right *
[vocalizing]
* *
[cheers and applause]
[soft music]
* *
- What a wonderful tribute to a beautiful person.
* *
- Oh, my gosh.
Gosh, gosh, gosh.
[cheers and applause]
- For anyone who doesn't know, we lost a very, very special
person from our "AGT" family.
Her name was Jane.
Her nickname was Nightbirde, and she sang the song.
So it has a very special meaning in my heart.
It was really beautiful.
Thank you.
- It was amazing.
- What a surprise to hear that song,
and your voices are fantastic.
That was the perfect "AGT" audition.
- Thank you.
[cheers and applause]
- I'll always remember Nightbirde.
And to see that it touched people
on the other side of the globe--
unbelievable.
You deserve so much more than a yes, and to be here.
You deserve a thank you.
Thank you so much.
- Can I ask why you decided to sing that song?
- When we heard Nightbirde sing the song on the stage,
we were very inspired and touched by her story
that we decided to record the song.
To our surprise, she responded so beautifully.
This song has been such a pillar of strength for us,
as a choir, through difficult times.
- Yes.
- We just want to continue her legacy,
and that's why we chose this song.
- Bravo!
- Beautiful.
[cheers and applause]
* *
This brought back so many memories for me.
Gosh, it was--
* *
[sighs]
[cheers and applause]
* *
It's hard.
Gosh, give me one second.
I know how much this would have--
would have meant to her.
* *
It would.
Right until the end, she was so passionate
about sharing her music.
And this has gone all over the world.
And you've come back here with the most amazing tribute.
It was just breathtaking, honestly.
- Bravo!
all: Golden Buzzer! Golden Buzzer! Golden Buzzer!
- I want to suggest something.
We've never done this before,
but we've always discussed
one day giving the audience something.
* *
[cheers and applause]
- * But it's the best I can do *
- Look at that!
- * My gift is my song *
* And this one's for you *
- This is for Jane.
- Here we go.
- [crying]
[cheers and applause]
- * And you can tell everybody that this is your song *
* It might be quite simple *
* But now that it's done *
* I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind *
* That I put down in words *
* How wonderful life is *
- Mzansi Youth Choir, you have just received
the Golden Buzzer from the fifth judge,
the "AGT" Audience!
[cheers and applause]
- Congratulations!
- That was the most beautiful thing
I've ever heard in my life.
- You have no idea how much that really meant to us.
- This is for them.
[cheers and applause]
* *