America’s Got Talent 2022 LIVE — Simon Cowell admits he thought of ‘own son’ after performer made emotional revelation
AMERICA's Got Talent returned for a new episode on July 5 with a look back at some of Simon Cowell's favorite moments, and he admitted that one of his past Golden Buzzer picks reminded him of his son.
11-year-old Tyler Butler-Figuerola, a violinist, revealed during his Golden Buzzer audition that he was bullied for having cancer and almost died from the disease.
Cowell admitted that hearing about the young boy's experience with bullying made him think of his "own son."
"I was shocked at what he'd gone through," he told host Terry Crews.
Cowell's top Golden Buzzer pick was Nightbirde's audition, and he revealed what the performer said to him the last time they saw each other.
As he was reflecting on the moment through tears with host Crews, Simon said, "The last time I saw her, she did say what that [Golden Buzzer] moment meant to her,” Simon said.
America’s Got Talent airs every Tuesday at 8pm on NBC.
Read our America's Got Talent live blog for the latest news and updates…
America’s Got Talent: who is the host?
The current host of America’s Got Talent is actor Terry Crews.
Past hosts included Tyra Banks, Nick Cannon, Jerry Springer, and Regis Philbin.
Who were the AGT: Extreme’s judges?
The judges of the most recent season of America’s Got Talent: Extreme were:
- Nikki Bella
- Travis Pastrana
- Simon Cowell
The show was hosted by Terry Crews.
What is America’s Got Talent: Extreme?
America’s Got Talent: Extreme is a spin-off of America’s Got Talent, a talent competition program that first premiered on June 21, 2006.
While America’s Got Talent welcomed people with every aptitude, the Extreme version will solely focus on stunt performers.
Like America’s Got Talent, America’s Got Talent: Extreme is created by Simon Cowell and premiers on NBC.
Contestants from all over America will join to exhibit their stunts and extreme skits. The winner will win $500,000 and be named the crowned champion.
What is America’s Got Talent: Champions?
Simon Cowell, the executive producer and creator of America’s Got Talent, was tasked by NBC in May 2018 with creating an all-star spin-off competition dubbed America’s Got Talent: The Champions.
Cowell had dreamed of the idea for a worldwide tournament involving contestants who have been on previous seasons of Got Talent, including renowned performers and champions.
The spin-off started in January 2019 and has broadcast two seasons as of February 2020.
Shin Lim, the champion of AGT season 13, and V.Unbeatable, the finalists of AGT season 14, both won their respective seasons’ competitions, per .
AGT spin-offs
The show has aired for 16 seasons, beginning in June 2022, and has generated spin-off competitions:
- America’s Got Talent: Champions
- AGT: Extreme
History of AGT
Simon Cowell, the founder of X Factor and a Sony Music executive, came up with the idea for America’s Got Talent because he wanted to create a talent competition that was far more spectacular than prior broadcast talent shows.
His plan, which he initially pitched to British television network ITV in 2005, was for a competition in which anyone of any age or location could compete and perform whatever type of skill they wanted.
The network liked the notion and approved the creation of a pilot episode to test the model, with Cowell and two other judges constituting a panel.
The pilot was a huge success.
Opera singer shocks AGT judges
23-year-old soprano, Merissa Beddows, stunned the judges and audience with her rendition of Somewhere Over The Rainbow during this season of America’s Got Talent.
She simultaneously did pitch-perfect impressions of Ariana Grande, Celine Dion, Stevie Nicks, Snow White, and Siri.
The performance was met with a standing ovation by all four judges.
Why did Nick Cannon leave AGT?
Nick Cannon left America’s Got Talent early in 2017 after a much-publicized fallout with NBC.
Cannon served as the host of NBC’s America’s Got Talent from 2009 to 2016 but did not return for 2017.
He starred alongside Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Mel B, and Howie Mandel, who were judges on AGT at the time.
Shortly after his departure from AGT, Cannon moved on to be the host of The Masked Singer and spent a year hosting Nickelodeon’s Lip Sync Battle Shorties.
Some expenses covered for contestants
All auditions for AGT are held in Los Angeles, California, according to the show’s official . Reimbursement for travel expenses is based on distance.
“Contestants who live 150 to 300 miles away from the theatre” would be compensated for a train or bus ticket or given $0.20 per mile for driving expenses, per .
A plane ticket is awarded to contestants who live more than 300 miles from Los Angeles.
Contestants from out of the area who travel to the auditions are reimbursed for two nights of lodging. Additionally supplied is a $25 per night per diem for food and other costs.
Unless the contestant is under the age of 18, travel reimbursement only applies to the performance and does not cover expenses for family members.
AGT voting
Fans will be able to vote online on the official website and the .
More details will be provided once the voting episodes start.
AGT ratings
America’s Got Talent became one of the two prime-time programs to top six million viewers for the week of June 20.
The second episode aired on June 7 is the highest-rated episode of season 17.
It has over 6.3 million viewers, according to the ratings.
The talent competition has an average of 6.178 million viewers.
Contestants are able to have therapy sessions
Because not everyone reacts well to being removed, eliminated candidates on America’s Got Talent are urged to get counseling before leaving the program, according to .
One participant confessed that the family members that accompany them must also cope with their loved one’s departure while Eli Mattson, a singer who competed in season 3, speculated that the program does this for legal reasons.
AGT auditions used to be on MySpace
According to , “AGT” aspirants could simply shoot a video and publish it on MySpace to try to land a spot on the program while the social networking platform was still popular.
Hopefuls may still enter video contests these days, but the social media site isn’t involved.
Million-dollar prize is paid over 40 years
Contestants may believe that winning the million dollars will change their lives overnight, but according to , the money is handed out in taxed $25,000 payments over 40 years.
If you choose the lump sum option, it will award you roughly $300,000.
The winner takes it all
At the end of the show, the winner is awarded a massive cash prize of $1million.
They also get the opportunity to headline a residency at Luxor in Las Vegas.
The winner also receives huge publicity from the show, which can help launch their career.
It’s not Sofia’s first fall on AGT
Sofia dealt with the same thing while entering the week prior, albeit, by herself.
When host Terry Crews presented the native of Columbia, she energized the audience and prompted them to shout louder.
Sofia’s heel turned over as she approached the same location where she stumbled during the season's fifth episode, causing her to .
Heidi offered her hands as Howie and Heidi sprinted over to assist her.
The comic questioned, “Are you okay?
Sofia chuckled as she gently stood up and signaled to the audience that she was OK.
Sofia takes a tumble
The show’s 17th season’s fifth episode had Simon Cowell walking in alone without the other judges to explain that it was a “long story.”
Terry Crews, the host, exhibited confusion before learning that the others would be arriving. Then he jointly introduced Sofia and Heidi.
The women turned to give each other air kisses as they joyfully went down the aisle hand in hand.
Sofia stumbled once they reached the front, putting her hand on the floor as she fell.
Sofia giggled and clung to the model as Heidi halted and checked if she was alright.
Snapshots of the moment Lily got her Golden Buzzer
AGT’s official Twitter account posted images of the moment Heidi Klum pressed the Golden Buzzer for singer Lily Meola.
A fan wrote: “When she said her mom had cancer that’s when I broke down in tears because I know how it feels for her. I’m very sorry for her lost but she had an amazing voice I love her music!”
‘I’m gonna stick to originals’
Meola will compete in the live shows of America’s Got Talent Season 17 after winning the Golden Buzzer.
For her next appearances, she told to that she wanted to “stick to originals.”
She told the outlet: “The show is a talent show, and I love to sing. Singing’s what I’ve been doing my whole life and writing is a little bit newer to me,” she said.
“But [being a] singer-songwriter is my talent so I’m gonna stick to the originals.
“I know that can be hard for some people to hear, just ’cause it’s fresh. It might be a disadvantage, it might be an advantage, we’ll see!”
Lily Meola also worked with other artists
Golden Buzzer winner Lily Meola has worked with other well-known musicians besides Willie Nelson.
She later worked with musicians including Steven Tyler, Sammy Hagar, and others, reported.
The outlet also said Jackson Browne offered her songwriting advice as well.
Meola has produced solo work in addition to her collaborations with other artists. As part of a five-song EP, she earlier this year released Daydream.
Heidi’s Golden Buzzer winner sung with Willie Nelson
Lily Meola, a Hawaiian singer-songwriter, was discovered as the 17th Golden Buzzer winner on America’s Got Talent, according to .
The judges were awestruck by Meola’s gorgeous original song, Daydream.
Fans of Willie Nelson could have recognized the singer even though many people were hearing her voice for the first time during her audition.
That’s because Meola and Nelson collaborated on a duet before she tried her luck on AGT.
Who is Sofía Vergara?
Sofía Vergara is a Colombian-American actress best known for her role in the television comedy Modern Family as Gloria.
Between 2013 through 2020, she was the highest-paid actress on American television for seven years.
Who is Howie Mandel?
Howie’s most well-known job was presenting the game show Deal or No Deal.
Mandel has served as a judge on America’s Got Talent for the most time of any previous judge.
He made his debut appearance in Season 5, and this will be his twelfth season behind the dreaded X’s.
Who is Simon Cowell?
Simon Cowell is well-known around the world for his tough yet lovable judging approach on numerous competition shows.
America’s Got Talent, Britain’s Got Talent, The X Factor, and American Idol have all featured him.
He originally joined the judges on Season 11 of America’s Got Talent.
Who is Heidi Klum?
Heidi Klum is a German-American model, television personality, producer, and entrepreneur who was the first German Victoria’s Secret Angel.
She originally appeared on the show in 2013 and remained on the panel until 2018, when she took a brief hiatus.
For Season 15, Klum returns as a judge.