[ZZ Top's "Gimme All Your Lovin'"]
* *
- Last week, we had two golden buzzers.
- This is what I'm gonna do for you because I love you.
- * All your hugs and kisses too *
- Season 19, there seems to be a bar above any season prior.
- I think America is gonna love you.
Do you believe you can win?
- Yes. - Yes.
- Yes, sir. - 100%.
- [drumming intensely]
- * You got to whip it up *
- Ah! Ah!
- This is why I love being on the show,
because I see things and hear things
like I've never seen or heard them before.
- No one has ever put giant scissors in his neck
as well as you on any year of this show.
[dramatic music]
- [screams] - Oh!
- Sometimes I think I've lost my mind sitting here.
[buzzers blaring]
- Yeah!
- You can see how difficult it was.
And you never gave up.
That's what the show is all about.
* *
- Yeah, what are you doing?
I mean...
- OK.
[suspenseful music]
* *
[cheers and applause]
- Wow!
Welcome to "America's Got Talent," y'all!
- * Gimme all your loving *
- The judges are here. Everybody's here.
- Simon.
- What are you gonna say to Simon?
- He's cool. - He cool?
- * Gimme all your loving *
- This energy is insane, isn't it?
It's incredible.
- Oh, my goodness. Who's this?
- I'm Cassius. - Cassius?
What a fantastic name.
- Thank you. - Are you excited?
- Yes, sir. You're my favorite.
- Oh, oh, you're my favorite.
You have fun, OK?
Promise?
Good.
- And now the thing you've all been waiting for,
the boss, Simon Cowell!
[cheers and applause]
- * Gimme all your loving *
* Don't let up until we're through *
* *
- All right. Here we go.
Do you hear me?
* *
[cheers and applause]
- He's so cute!
- Yes!
- Well.
[cheers and applause]
- So cute!
- Hello, my friend.
We were having a very nice conversation earlier,
and you have the coolest first name
I think I've ever heard. Tell us your name.
- Uh--
- It's working. - Go on.
- It's working. - Come on.
What's your name?
- Cassius Whitehead.
- And Cassius... - Cassius.
- How old are you?
- I'm five years old.
- Oh. - Amazing.
- That's crazy.
That's incredible.
And where do you live?
- Um, Sopchoppy, Florida.
- OK.
Now, I've got a very important question for you.
What would you do with the million dollars if you won?
- I would share it with poor people and homeless people
and everybody in this whole world.
- Aw, yes.
- That is very sweet.
With the little bit left over, what would you buy yourself?
- I would buy 200 bags of slime and squishy toys.
- 200?
- I love how you can make it fart in your hands, the slime.
- Yes, ma'am. - Yeah, I love it.
[laughter]
- You are so sweet.
Now, how many years have you been
learning to play the drums?
- Since I was one and two and three.
- What? - No.
- You know, my son also plays the drums.
I think being a drummer is the coolest thing in the world.
- Yes. - No more questions.
You just have the best time of your life, OK?
- Thank you.
- So sweet.
- He's so cute.
- I saw him backstage stretching.
- Yeah, he's ready.
- He's ready.
- He's so tiny.
- So tiny.
- Bless him.
- Is he sitting or standing?
- I can't tell.
[Stevie Wonder's "Faith"]
* *
- * See the girl with *
* The diamonds in her shoes *
* Yeah, she walks around *
* Like she's got nothing to lose *
* Yeah, she's a go-getter *
* She's everybody's type *
* She's a queen of the city *
* But she don't believe the hype *
* She's got her own elevation, holy motivation *
* So I wrote some letters out in big bold type *
- Wow!
* *
Wow!
* *
- * And you've been such a, such a good friend to me *
* Know that I love you somehow *
* I met you, hallelujah, I got faith *
- [drumming intensely]
* *
- * I get around you and my mind goes crazy *
* I think about you morning, noon, night, and day *
[cheers and applause]
* *
* I got faith in you *
* I got faith in you now *
* And you've been such a, such a good friend to me *
* Know that I love you somehow *
* I met you, hallelujah *
* I got faith *
* *
[cheers and applause]
[Imagine Dragons' "On Top of the World"]
- Yeah!
Yes!
Wow.
- * 'Cause I'm on top of the world, hey *
* I'm on top of the world, hey *
* Waiting on this for a while now *
- My God. - Whoo!
- * Been holding it in for a while, hey *
* Take it with me if I can *
- How--how did that feel?
That feel good?
- Yes, sir.
- Yeah, Simon.
- Howie, let me go to you first.
- Were you standing or sitting?
- Standing. - No.
- No! - Yeah.
- Do you feel like you did good?
- Yes, sir.
- No, you did great.
- Thank you.
[cheers and applause]
- I have to say you're better than most adults
that are trying to do this, young man.
I can't believe you're only five years old.
I want to know, do you train every day to be that good?
- Yes, ma'am.
- Well, it shows because you're very, very good.
[cheers and applause]
- I love that
I can tell that you're enjoying it.
And you're so good at it, and you're so handsome also.
- Thank you.
[cheers and applause]
- Howie, when you said he was great,
I am gonna disagree...
- [gasps] - What?
- Because I think he was brilliant.
- Yes.
- Genuinely.
[cheers and applause]
Your timing was unbelievable.
Your showmanship was unbelievable.
And you're doing something, most importantly,
I can tell you love.
And you know what?
Being a great drummer means you are the coolest person
on the planet right now.
- Thank you.
[cheers and applause]
I think I know where this is gonna go, but Howie?
- Yes. - Heidi?
- Yes.
- Sofía? - Yes!
- OK. Four yeses.
- Yes! Yes!
- Thank you.
- * I'm on top of the world, hey *
* Waiting on this for a while now *
* Paying my dues to the dirt *
* I've been waiting to smile, hey *
* Been holding it in for a while, hey *
* Take it with me if I can *
* Been dreaming of this since a child *
* I'm on top of the world *
- That was adorable. - Well, he was really good.
- Coming up...
- * Stare on *
[dramatic music]
- Ah!
- There's a good chance you're gonna walk out of here
with a million dollars.
[buzzers blaring]
- [booing] - [booing]
- This is exactly what we love.
- This means a lot to you, doesn't it?
- It means a lot to us, yeah.
- I have a big problem.
I can't give you a yes.
* *
[crowd chanting] AGT! AGT! AGT!
- We're Ashes & Arrows.
My name is Ben. - I'm Ciaran.
- I'm Jonathan. - We're from Asheville.
- We all met at this open mic, and we'd heard each other sing.
- He was playing a song on stage,
and I used to cover the same song
that he was playing, and then I was like,
"Dude, you did a really good job
on that song. I used to cover that song too."
And he was like, "Well, I wrote that song."
- Oh, yeah.
- I hope you guys both are panicking right now.
- Yes. - I'm panicking.
- The dream is to play in arenas or big sellout halls.
- I'm a little nervous. - Why?
- To sing in front of Simon.
I've just always wanted to sing in front of him.
Well, really, since I was, like, 12.
- Sweet. - Like, right now?
Oh. - Ooh.
- All right, here we go.
Here we go.
[cheers and applause]
[bright acoustic music]
- Welcome. - Thank you.
- Obviously, you're a band.
The name of the band is--
- Ashes & Arrows.
[cheers and applause]
- OK, do you all write songs together?
- Yeah, yeah, we do.
- And tell me what the song is called and what's it about.
- The song is called "Born to Love."
- Yeah.
- It's basically about the fact that every person at some point
has a heavy moment that they have to deal with
and that we're born to love.
We're not just born to struggle.
- So it's an optimistic song.
- It's hopeful.
Yeah, it's optimistic. Yeah.
- Good. OK.
Tell me what's the big dream.
- The big dream for us is that we want to make it big.
- Well, you know what?
The audience like you.
You've got a great shot.
- You got this! - Yeah!
- Good luck. - You got this!
[cheers and applause]
- The band looks amazing.
- Yeah, they look like real people.
- [laughs]
- Ready?
- Do we just start whenever?
- Yes. - OK.
- Please.
- Just want to make sure there's not a cue.
[cheers and applause]
- Let's go! - Do it, yeah!
[Ashes & Arrows' "Born to Love"]
- * Wading through the darkest night *
* When rivers become tidal *
* I use my list to break the pain *
* Hoping for survival *
* I don't want to lose my sight *
[moody acoustic music]
* But my mind is caving in *
- All right. All right.
* *
* 'Cause we *
* Were born to love *
* To breathe and not give up *
* But in the face of darkness *
* I won't run *
* *
* We were born to love *
- The audience loves this.
* Oh, I am broken *
* But am I ever gonna win? *
* Because my flesh and bones tell me *
* That I am down again *
* But is it too late *
* For this life to be made new? *
* If I'm gonna climb out *
* No, I've gotta climb out for you *
* No, I am broken *
* But am I ever gonna win? *
* Because my flesh and bones tell me *
* That I am down again *
* But is it too late *
* For this life to be made new? *
* If I'm gonna climb out *
* No, I've gotta climb out for you *
* Oh, if I'm gonna climb out *
* No, I've gotta climb out for you *
* 'Cause we *
* Were born to love *
* *
* We were born to love *
- Wow.
[cheers and applause]
- Wow!
Bravo!
[cheers and applause]
[upbeat country music]
* *
- * Take me away *
* Everybody's leaving *
- Wow, wow, wow.
This means a lot to you, doesn't it?
- It means a lot to us, yeah.
Good for you. - Thanks.
- Howie?
- So listen. The audience loves you.
Um, you have great voices, great harmony.
But personally, um--
- Boo!
[audience booing]
- This was a great song in a pub.
If I was in a bar and you guys were playing,
I would have the best night ever.
[audience booing]
- What?
- Boo!
- Heidi?
- I like the song.
- Thank you, Heidi.
- The harmonizing sounded really good to me.
I thought it was a nice song.
- Nice. - Yeah.
- Aren't we looking for great?
- I think it's great.
[cheers and applause]
- My favorite part was the beginning
when you guys started singing together.
I love you. I think people love you.
- Yeah.
I am gonna agree with...
Heidi and Sofía.
[cheers and applause]
Really.
You can't fake how you feel.
And I really felt that.
I thought that your vocals were great.
The harmonies were great.
I loved the song.
And this is absolutely the right thing
you've done to come on here, because I think people
are gonna really like you.
OK, we've got to vote.
Heidi?
- Well, I'm gonna give you a first yes.
How about that?
[cheers and applause]
- Second yes.
[cheers and applause]
- It didn't blow me over, so it's a no.
- It's OK.
Let him be honest.
- I don't think you booed loud enough.
Boo.
[audience booing]
- This is on behalf of us, the audience.
This is your third yes.
That gets you through.
[cheers and applause]
- Thank you guys so much.
- * And another one ready to go *
* A little party never hurt nobody *
* If it ain't broke *
* One more rhyme and another one *
- Howie ain't part of your community.
I can see this.
- But he might be one day.
- You might win him over.
[audience booing]
- Oh, you're wrong.
You're wrong!
[audience booing]
- You guys having a good time? You guys having fun?
- You know, what I love about the show
this year is I definitely have seen more things
I've never seen in my life.
- But last year set such a bar.
It takes a lot of nerve to come
after what they saw last year. - Yeah.
This is going to be a million-dollar act.
This is something that people would want
to go and see in Las Vegas.
- One, two, three! [all cheering]
- We are the Hakuna Matata Acrobatics
all the way from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Our biggest inspiration
is our friends the Ramadhani Brothers.
- * Feel the thunder *
- Because we have seen how "AGT" changed their life.
- * Thunder *
* Feel the thunder *
- This was unbelievable.
- I can't decide that, 'cause they are the champions.
So we have to be champion.
Then we can be better than them.
- Make sure you talk into the mic.
If it's down here, they're gonna
have trouble hearing you, all right?
So make sure that mic's nice and high.
- We're feeling nervous 'cause this act
we're going to perform today,
it's created special for the "AGT,"
and tonight is our first time to perform
in front of live audience.
- All right, here we go.
- So we have been training six days
in a week for the whole year until we've been here today.
- * Thunder, feel the thunder *
- It's time.
- All right, here we go.
* Lightning, then the thunder, thunder, thunder *
* Feel the thunder *
* Lightning, then the thunder, thunder *
- Hello.
- Who are you guys?
- We are the Hakuna Matata Acrobats.
- All right.
- We are all the way from Tanzania.
- Whoa.
Is this is your first time in America?
- Yes, it's our first time in America.
- And what do you think so far?
- We love it.
But the different things from America and Africa
is everything is big.
- Everything is big over here?
- Bigger. - Big buildings.
- Big house. Big people.
- Whoo! - Yeah?
- Is this what you do full-time?
- Yes, this is what we do for the living.
- OK, and is it dangerous? - Yes.
- OK.
Good luck. - Thank you.
[cheers and applause]
- Feeling it's gonna be great. - Do you reckon?
So do I. - Yes.
[dramatic music]
* *
[cheers and applause]
- Oh!
- No.
- Oh, they-- they couldn't get it.
* *
[cheers and applause]
- Oh!
- It's OK. - Don't do it.
* *
[heartbeat thumping]
- Oh, no, now it's gonna get really dangerous.
- Now it's gonna get dangerous?
[heartbeat thumping]
* *
- Whoa!
[cheers and applause]
* *
- That was incredible!
[cheers and applause]
Oh, man.
- Brilliant.
Brilliant. Brilliant, brilliant.
[upbeat pop music]
- I was at the edge of my seat.
I was so nervous for the four of you.
You had to, like, hold everyone.
And, I mean, it was incredible to watch.
Well done, everyone.
- Thank you very much.
- * Brother, let me be your shelter *
- Thank you.
- * Never leave you all alone *
- It's acts like this that give me one word,
and that is unbelievable.
- Unbelievable.
- Thank you.
- * Brother, let me be your fortress *
- This is even taking everything
that you think is amazing,
that you think that there's no way to top it,
and this just tops it. It tops it.
- Thank you.
Thank you.
- That was heart-stopping.
That was, like, dangerous to see how you had to struggle.
We thought that it was done, and it kept going
and going and going and going.
Amazing. - Thank you.
- I've seen an act similar to this,
but this was a step up. - Thank you so much.
Thank you.
- And that roller bowler, I think it's actually
the hardest thing to do on your own,
let alone with three people on top of you.
And this was a classic example of, actually,
the getting there was as good as being there
because you could see how difficult it was,
and you never gave up.
- Thank you so much.
- Respect, because that's what the show is all about.
Good for you.
- Thank you.
- Hakuna Matata Acrobatics,
I'm gonna give you your first yes.
- Thank you. - Yeah!
- Howie. - Two yeses.
- Thank you. - Yes!
- Thank you. - Simon.
- Four yeses.
- Whoo!
- * Brother, let me be your shelter *
* Never leave you all alone *
* I can be the one you call *
- Thank you so much.
Thank you.
* *
- What a great feeling that must be.
- That was actually really good.
- You actually took it up a notch.
It was further and further.
You guys are incredible.
- This season, everything is, like, ten times better
than I've ever seen it.
- The truth is, it has to be. - It has to be.
You wouldn't think it's humanly possible.
* *
- Coming up...
- This was a step up.
[trilling] Ah!
- Ah! Ah! - Gives you so much to look at.
- [laughs]
- * Long enough, you're gonna see it *
- If you like being punched in the face...
[dramatic music]
- Simon, that's you.
* *
- You picked a good day to be here at the show,
ladies and gentlemen.
- Hi, I'm Ry. What's your name?
- My name is Alex. - Alex?
- Short for Alexander. - Oh, cool, cool, cool.
What brings you here today?
- My passion has always been dancing.
So this is what I was, you know, born to do.
I was a backup dancer in my heyday,
"Club MTV" and "The Grind."
I danced to Vanilla Ice, Milli Vanilli,
just to name a few.
Whenever I dance, people just come to my wife
and they always ask, "Are you as good in bed
as in your dance floor?" - [laughs]
- And I'm like, "I don't know.
Ask my wife," you know?
[upbeat music]
Last 30 years, I've been carrying the passion.
And life happens. You get detoured.
But it's never too late.
I've never stopped dancing.
I always wanted to be in show business.
I always felt that that's my calling,
and that's why I'm here.
- Our next act is ready to come out.
Here we go. Standby, guys.
- America is ready.
You got it, brother. Thank you so much.
- OK, here we go.
[cheers and applause]
- Good evening.
What is your name?
- My name is Alex Zinger.
- Where are you from? - Brooklyn.
- And you're married? - Yes, I am.
- Kids?
- I have a 29-year-old. - Pets?
- A dog about this high. His name is Duke.
- Favorite fruit?
- Fish tacos and Italian.
- OK, fish tacos are not fruit, but OK.
[laughter]
And what are you gonna do tonight?
- I'm gonna dance.
- Yes. - Yay.
- Whoo. I love the way he said that.
- Is this how you make a living?
- No. I'm actually a financial advisor.
- Do you want to leave your regular job for dancing?
- If I find the right role in Hollywood, I think I would.
- Oh, you want to go to Hollywood?
- Yes. - Dancing?
- Performing. I'm an entertainer.
- And do you-- people you work for,
do they know you're doing this today?
- I'm self-employed. - Oh, OK, well, that helps.
- So I gave myself the day off. - Yeah.
- I love him. - Me too.
- OK, we're ready for you, Alex.
Good luck. - Thank you very much.
- Dancing.
[trilling] Ah!
What kind of--oh.
- Whoo!
- Uh-oh, hit 'em, baby.
[The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights"]
* *
[buzzers blare]
- Go, Alex!
Don't let them stop you.
- * Maybe you can show me how to love, maybe *
* I'm going through withdrawals *
* You don't even have to do too much *
* You can turn me on with just a touch, baby *
- * I look around and *
* Sin City's cold and empty *
* No one's around to judge me *
- Yeah, we know.
- * I said, ooh *
- Oh!
- * I'm blinded by the lights *
* No, I can't sleep until I feel your touch *
* *
[buzzer blares]
- What? What?
- * I'm blinded by the lights *
[buzzer blares]
- Oh.
[audience booing]
- I don't care.
- Come on, Howie.
[upbeat music]
* *
- Alex. - Sorry.
- That was not good,
but I kind of, like, enjoyed it.
- That was a bit like, you know,
when you go to a wedding, and it's normally the uncle
who gets absolutely hammered
and starts dancing on his own.
It was that.
- I take that as a compliment.
- Uh, it wasn't a compliment.
- You dance like a financial advisor,
but we have seen the best dance crews
in the world on this stage.
So it's not the most exciting thing we've seen,
but I love that you showed up.
- Thank you. - You gave it some.
You really did. - Yeah.
- You know what you remind me of?
- What?
- Howie, because Howie has
the same dance moves like you do.
* *
It was definitely not boring.
And I really like you.
[cheers and applause]
- OK, we're gonna vote.
I'm gonna start this off with a no.
- Heidi?
- It's a no, but you're very cute.
- Thank you.
- We loved you from the moment we've met you,
but for me, it's a no. Sorry.
- No. Sorry, Alex.
- But nice to meet you.
- Thank you so much for coming.
- I hate saying no.
- He had good energy about him. - Yeah.
- You got to be in shape to do that, man.
You look great. - Yeah.
Should've seen me 30 years ago.
- Oh, no, no, thank you so much for being here.
Thank you, Alex.
- I loved that.
- I was not expecting that.
- They told me everything was gonna be better this year.
It was going so well.
- * Girl, you know it's true *
- OK, here we go, guys.
Clearing stage.
- Wasn't much to say about that, really, was there?
- Yeah. - Thank you.
- What's happening today? - I don't know.
But I really need something great.
- Get ready for our next act, ladies and gentlemen.
[cheering]
We love you! - They like you, Heidi.
- Hi.
- Heidi! Yes!
- I know what's up.
- Stage is ready for you guys. Follow me.
Let's do it. - Let's go.
- Audience, are we ready?
[cheers and applause]
- Go on out there, guys.
Do your thing.
[cheers and applause]
- Who are you? - I'm Nelson.
This is Gavin. This is Taylor.
And together, we are the Otama Collective.
- Where are you guys from?
- So I'm from New Jersey, Gavin's from Pennsylvania,
and Taylor's from right here in Pasadena.
[cheers and applause]
- What are you going to do today on the stage?
- Well, we are classically trained performers,
and we all make similar kinds of music,
and we got along so well that we put a trio together
because we want to share this with the world.
- OK. Good luck.
- We got to go grab our instruments really quick.
- All right. - OK.
[cheers and applause]
- What does Otama mean? - Otama?
- Yeah.
- Is the wrong way of pronouncing "Ottoman."
If you put your--
don't put your--oh.
[cheers and applause]
- Oh, no.
No. - That's us.
- So Howie's not there.
- Howie is there with a hat.
[cheers and applause]
- This is gonna be interesting.
[discordant tooting]
* *
[buzzer blares]
* *
[buzzer blares] [buzzer blares]
* *
[buzzer blares]
- It's over.
[bright pop music]
- It looks like a toilet plunger.
It sounds like a toilet plunger.
I don't like it.
- And why does it grow hair?
- We didn't even see what's in the cover.
- Where's Simon?
- Is that Simon?
- That is Simon right there.
- Well, thank you for giving us something different.
[laughter]
It just didn't sound great.
So I'm afraid I'm gonna have to say no.
- Yeah, no, no. - No.
- I'm gonna have to say no too.
- OK. - It was a little bit...
- Nice to meet you. - Too weird for me.
- Thank you.
- Simon, they left you.
- Yeah, Simon is the big one.
We're, like, the little ones. - That's just sad.
- I have to say, do you know what?
Those might be the most boring instruments in the world.
* *
- Hi.
- Hello, judges and everybody.
- And what is your name, please?
- My name is Nini.
- Hello, Nini.
Tell us about you and why you are here tonight.
- So I am a full-time musician
living in Arizona.
And I play the Chinese traditional instrument.
Like, you see this. - OK.
And what is the big dream, Nini?
- I want to be a first musician
who plays the Chinese traditional instrument,
stand on this stage, and pass. - Got it.
- This is my big dream. - Got it.
- And, Nini, the music, is it something
which was written for you or you wrote yourself?
- You will hear my original song.
- OK. Right.
No more questions.
Good luck. - OK.
[cheers and applause]
- How old do you reckon those instruments are?
Like, 100 years old?
- More.
[bright haunting music]
* *
- [singing melody]
* *
[beat intensifies]
* *
Ooh!
[plucking and strumming rapidly]
* *
Ah! Ah!
* *
[overdriven shredding]
* *
[cheers and applause]
- Whoa!
- Whoo!
[Avril Lavigne's "It Was In Me"]
- * I searched up on the mountain tops, *
* It wasn't there *
* I drove a Maserati, no fulfillment there *
- OK. Good job.
Sofía?
- That was unexpected and spectacular.
- Thank you.
- This is something very unique.
This is exactly what we love at "America's Got Talent."
- Thank you.
* *
- There's just so much to look at too.
You're just mesmerizing with your outfit, your crown,
and then your playing is insane.
You're, like, so fast. - Thank you.
- It was amazing.
- Thank you.
* *
- It's like I'm--
I'm at a Nini Van Halen concert.
- [laughs] - Thank you.
- This is why I love being on this show,
because I see things and hear things
like I've never seen or heard them before.
And you are that person.
- Thank you.
[cheers and applause]
- Nini, anyone would be mad not to immediately
put you on tour with them,
because you are so charismatic, brilliant.
It's one of my favorite auditions
I've seen for a long, long, long time.
Really.
Blown away.
- Thank you.
- Really. - Yay.
- OK. Howie?
- Yes.
- It's a yes for me.
- Yay!
- Super yes.
- Thank you.
- That was absolutely, as we would say
in England, bloody brilliant.
You've got four yeses.
- * Yeah, it was in me *
* *
* Let me feel proud when it's over *
* I finally realized *
- Yay!
- * It was in me *
* *
- It's crazy, I'm, like, here.
This is, like, my dream. You know?
- I want to be performing around the world
on the biggest stages in the world, the biggest venues.
- I never really imagined I'd get heard by anybody.
- Yeah, same. - I'm terrified.
Like, I'm not gonna lie.
I've done as much as I can with it on my own,
and I feel like I just needed to be a bit brave, maybe,
and, like, take a little leap of faith.
[soft piano music]
- What are you gonna do?
- I'm gonna sing a little bit of rock and soul.
Hopefully, the people love it.
I've dreamt about this as a child.
Like, it means everything for me to be here,
and I can't wait.
- * And all I can taste is this moment *
- OK.
- * And all I can breathe is you *
- OK, here we go. Grab your seats, please.
- And you guys have been absolutely fantastic.
Let's keep up that same great energy.
- * I just want you to know who I am *
- Music's tough. The industry's tough.
Like, when you get a chance that's this big,
it's just, like, a blessing, man.
- After this day, you know, my whole life will change,
you know, bring a lot more opportunities.
- Let's come this way, gang. - OK.
- * When everything's meant to be *
- Audience, are you ready?
- * I just want you to know who I am *
* I just want you to know *
- Hello. - Hello.
- How are you? - I'm good.
How are you? - Very well.
And what's your name, please?
- My name is Liv Warfield.
- Liv Warfield. - Yes.
- And tell me a little bit about you.
- Oh, well, I am from Chicago, Illinois,
by way of Peoria, Illinois.
I sing a little soul, rock and roll, R&B, everything.
- Oh.
- And you write your own material?
- I do write my own music, yes. - Yeah.
And this is something you do full-time?
- Absolutely. Oh, yes.
- You've done, what, a lot of gigs?
- Yes, I've been on stage with the greatest in the world--
Prince, um--
- Wow.
Wow, wow, wow.
- And also Nancy Wilson of Heart.
I've been on a lot of stages,
and I'm just glad to be here to be able to do the music
and do what I love.
I just want to represent that, you know?
- Amazing. - Thank you.
- So I ask every singer this, Liv.
How are you finding the music business
in general as a performer?
[laughter]
- Um, I've been doing this for a long time,
and the industry is really hard because things
have changed over time... - Yeah.
- But I continue to push just because
I feel like I have a story. I have a--
I just want to inspire people because I haven't quit.
- Right. - And I won't.
- Right. - You know?
- Well, the great thing about having an audience
is we feed off the audience, you know?
That's why we have an audience, you know?
- Yes.
- So when we feel that energy,
it makes our job so much easier.
So forget about us. - Yes.
- They're the only ones that matter.
- Yes, 100%.
Yes. - OK.
Should we do it? - Let's do it.
- All right.
[cheers and applause]
- Nice job.
How you doing?
- Wow, that's a big band.
- Wow. Oh, my God.
How many?
- Yep.
- Three, two.
- Go.
- * Well, if you stare at it long enough *
* You gonna see it move *
[Liv Warfield's "Stare"]
* Well, if you can't swing the wrecking ball *
* Still some damage you can do *
* *
* Well, I said please, please, Mother, may I *
* Oh, tell them about themselves *
* Oh, if you stare at it long enough *
* You'll become somebody else *
* Oh, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby *
* Whoa, yeah *
* Oh, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby *
* *
* Oh, baby *
Come on, start moving!
* *
I wanna hear you. Let's go.
* *
* Well, if you stare at it long enough *
* You're gonna see it move *
* *
* Oh, if you can't swing the wrecking ball *
* Still some damage you can do, yeah *
* I said, please, please, Mother, may I *
* Oh, tell them not to fear *
* *
* Don't it make you want to dance *
* When you know your time is near? *
* Baby, baby, when you *
* Whoa, whoa *
* Oh, oh, oh, oh *
* Yeah, oh, baby, when you, yeah, yeah *
Let's go!
* *
Hey!
- Here we go! - Hey!
- * Stare * - Hey!
* If you stare at it long enough *
* *
- Whoa.
[cheers and applause]
- * Someone once told me that you have to choose *
* What you win or lose *
* You can't have everything *
* Don't you take chances *
* You might feel the pain *
* Don't you love in vain *
- What a voice!
- * 'Cause love won't set you free *
* I could stand by the side *
* And watch this life *
- Uh, Liv, I have a big problem.
- Oh.
- That wasn't long enough.
Seriously, that lyric, "wrecking ball,"
I mean, that summed up how I felt just then.
- OK.
- It was like being, in a good way,
punched in the face by your energy, the band...
- Yes.
- All these years of frustration.
- Yes.
- And you've come on here, and I'm sorry.
I can't give you a yes.
[Leona Lewis' "Happy"]
I've got to give you one of these.
[cheers and applause]
- * So what if it hurts me? *
* So what if I break down? *
* So what if this world just throws me off the edge *
* My feet run out of ground *
* I gotta find my place *
* I wanna hear my sound *
- Thank you.
- * Happy, oh, oh *
* Just want to be, oh *
* I just want *
- Thank you. Thank you.
Come here.
- Thank you. - Unbelievable.
[cheers and applause]
- I'm overwhelmed.
I'm so grateful.
We all do it because we love it so much.
We live in the music.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
- Give it up one more time for Liv Warfield!
- * So what if it hurts me? *
* So what if I break down? *
- You did good. Yeah.
It was the very least I could do.
- Bless. - Really.
- No, really, we are--
we are all very proud. Thank you.
- Oh, my God.
You just made our show great. Thank you.
- Blessings. Thank you.
- Come on. Oh, that's for you.
- Oh. Thank you.
- Oh, my God. That was amazing.
* *
- So far, there have been electric performances
like we've never seen.
- That is unbelievable.
- * Yeah *
- You really are an inspiration.
[dramatic music]
- And there are still more inspiring moments to come.
- You've got a real shot at winning after that.
* *
- Absolutely brilliant!
* *
- You guys having a good time? You guys having fun?
[cheers and applause]
- Hello.
How are you?
- Whoa! - [laughs]
- My God, everyone looks incredible.
- Simon thanks here tonight, everyone.
- In 10 seconds.
- Audience, are we ready for our next act?
- Good. - OK, here we go.
Grab your seats, please.
* *
- Hello. - We are Kat and Jay.
We're an acro duo.
- Where are you guys from? - We are from Brazil.
[cheering]
- Do you think you can win "AGT"?
- Yeah. - Yeah.
- OK, we're ready.
Good luck tonight. - Thank you.
[upbeat music]
* *
[buzzer blares]
- It felt like you guys are just starting to do this act.
- Yeah.
[buzzer blares]
- It just wasn't special enough.
- There seems to be a bar above any season prior,
and I want to see things done like I've never seen before.
It didn't do it for me.
- I'm sorry, it's a no.
- Simon and I, obviously, it's a no.
I think you guys should come back another season.
- Come back and prove us wrong. - Yeah.
- Wow, that last act was so boring.
[cheers and applause]
- They love you.
- Wow.
- Hello, beautiful girls.
How are you?
- I'm so good.
- Where are you guys from?
- Japan. - Japan.
- Japan!
- How long have the group been together?
- [speaking Japanese]
- Some members joined and left in-between,
but overall, we've been dancing over ten years together.
- Oh, wow.
- Are you fans of "AGT"?
- [speaks Japanese] I love.
- We love AGT.
- I love.
- Why "AGT"?
- [speaking Japanese]
- Our dream is to become the world's greatest dancers.
- They know the show.
Do they have a favorite judge?
- I love Simon.
[cheers and applause]
- Thank you.
- It's OK. We all love Simon.
We're ready for you. - Good luck.
- It's crazy that they came all the way from Japan
to America to dance.
- Come on. Be good.
Be good.
[upbeat music]
- [singing in Japanese]
* *
[cheers and applause]
[fast violin music]
* *
- Wow.
- Bravo!
- * I got this feeling inside my bones *
* It goes electric wavy when I turn it on *
* *
- They did so good.
- I know. They did really good.
- That was really good.
- Thank you.
- I'm speechless.
It was so exciting.
The choreography, the music was so dramatic.
And I think people are gonna love you.
- * Sunshine in my pocket *
- Amazing. - Thank you.
- I know nothing about dance, other than I do know
when someone is original.
God knows how many months
you spent getting that together.
It was like a machine, literally.
You've got a real shot at winning after that.
[cheers and applause]
- Thank you.
- I agree.
It's one of the most--
how do you say "amazing" in Japanese?
- Subarashi
- Subarashi. And...
- Thank you.
- You were able to stay in sync at such an amazing speed.
And then you add the agility to that.
Like, you guys are bending over your back so fast.
I've never seen that kind of movement.
It was original.
You are so worthy of being on season 19.
[cheers and applause]
- Anyway, subarashi, subarashi, subarashi
from me as well.
- Arigato.
- I loved the outfit change halfway through the song.
I loved the synchronicity of it all.
It was spot-on.
My favorite act so far of the day.
[cheers and applause]
- We're gonna vote.
Howie?
- How do you say "yes" in Japanese?
- Yes? Hai. - Hai.
- Heidi. - Hai.
- Yes. - Hai.
Simon.
- * I can't stop the *
- Hai, hai, hai, hai, hai, hai, hai.
- * I can't stop the feeling *
* Dance, dance, dance, girl *
* Can't stop the feeling *
* So just dance, dance, dance *
- Hai, hai, hai.
- Thank you!
* *
- * Can't stop the feeling *
- Very different.
- I mean, that was actually quite incredible.
- Incredible.
- * Got this feeling in my body, come on *
- * Ooh, boy, I'm feeling you *
- Nice to meet you. What is your name?
- Phil Lewis.
[buzzer blaring distantly]
Excited, super nervous,
but just want to focus on having fun.
My mom is definitely my biggest supporter.
- Growing up, she was doing the best
she can to raise all of us.
We definitely did not make it easy.
She encouraged us to find that thing
that we were passionate about,
and for me, that was batons.
[upbeat music]
The hardest thing for me is having to do this all alone.
I don't have, like, a coach or a team,
but to actually be here,
it's just a good achievement for me.
- You don't need a microphone for your performance, right?
- No.
I started in my front yard,
and now I'm here at "America's Got Talent."
It's, like, a testament to how hard I've worked...
- Gotcha.
- Over the past decade.
This is, like, the one shot to make a good impression.
The one thing that I'm, like, most concerned about
is dropping the baton.
[baton clatters]
* *
I think, if I'm able to pull off the performance
that I know that I can pull off,
it's gonna be absolutely bananas.
[laughs]
- * Ooh, everybody knows your name *
- Good evening.
- Hello, hello. - Hi.
- Who are you, handsome man?
- I'm Phil Lewis, 27 years old, from Statesboro, Georgia.
- Bravo.
Philip, what are you going to do for us tonight?
- Baton twirling, but self-taught.
- Why baton?
- I saw a clip on YouTube
and absolutely fell in love with it.
It just presents such an amazing challenge for me.
- It's hard. - And I just--
I love it so much. I love it.
- What do you usually do to prepare for a performance?
- I say a prayer of gratitude.
I listen to a song from Beyoncé.
And I-- - Which one?
- Usually "Crazy in Love." That's a hype song for me.
- OK, good.
- And then, lastly, I have a donut
before every single performance.
- A donut? - Did you just have one?
- Yes. - I love that.
- I'm ready to go.
- Which kind of donut? - Glazed.
- The OG, classic.
- Yeah, baby.
- I like the ones that have got raspberry jam in the middle.
- Those are so good. I love those, too.
- I like custard. - OK.
- We'll be back with more donut talk right after this.
- All right. [laughter]
- Are you nervous?
- A little bit. A little.
- OK. We're ready for you, Philip.
- OK.
- Thank you. - Thank you.
- Yay.
- The anticipation is amazing.
- I know.
- No one's ever said that before.
My preparation involves donuts.
- Guys, I want to get donuts after this, please.
- Let's go.
- I have a feeling it's gonna be good.
- Already.
- He has a good line.
[cheers and applause]
[Fleur East's "Sax"]
- * Oh, give it to me *
* I met a boy last week trying to run that game *
* Made it sound so sweet when he say my name *
* I said, "Boy, stop, run it back *
* You can talk that talk, but can you play that sax?" *
* I met a boss last night buying out the bar *
* Said I can ride top-down in his Jaguar *
* I'm like, "Boy, stop, run that back *
* You can drive all night, but can you play that sax?" *
* Baby, baby, I've been waiting for the one *
- Yeah!
* To blow my mind *
* *
* Baby, maybe you can get it if you got that thing I like *
* *
* I need a straight up brother *
* with a James Brown soul *
* Say you can go all night the way you lay that track *
* But if you wanna hear me sing *
* If you wanna hear me sing *
- Wow!
* You better play that sax * - Oh!
[cheers and applause]
* *
- Whoa!
- * Play what I want with that sax *
- Wow!
- Whoa, whoa, whoa.
[cheers and applause]
[Katy Perry's "Firework"]
* *
- * Do you ever feel like a plastic bag *
- I'm gonna tell you the truth.
I was thinking it was gonna be a little bit boring.
- Yeah?
- It was actually a dangerous act.
I was thinking something can happen
at any moment with that thing.
It was amazing.
Howie?
- You're like a one-made parade.
You juggled.
You danced. You did tumbling.
That was spectacular.
- Heidi.
- It was absolutely incredible.
Is this actually part of the Olympics?
- Not yet.
- It should be at the Olympics.
And you should be there.
[cheers and applause]
- Got to be honest with you.
When someone says baton twirling,
I'm not, like, going, "Great."
However, this was on a different scale.
I mean, genuinely. - Thank you. Thank you.
- And your showmanship, by the way, is off the charts.
- Oh, thank you. - Really.
- Thank you.
- Over the years, this is the best I've ever seen.
- Oh, thank you so much.
- We're gonna vote now.
- I'm definitely a yes.
- Yes. - Yes.
- Four yeses.
- * Firework, come on, let your colors burst *
* Make 'em go, ah, ah, ah *
* You're gonna leave 'em going, ah, ah, ah *
- That was incredible.
- He was like a little dynamite out there.
- He was amazing.
- The amount of dedication to get that good--
- Yeah, it's hours and hours in my front yard in the hot sun.
And now... - Whoa.
- Being able to have done this on "America's Got Talent,"
it's just so surreal. - Thank you, Phil.
Thank you for being here.
- Coming up...
- I hope that your mother never sees you doing this.
- One small step for man, and a huge step for "AGT."
- There is no rule book. - What?
[John Coggins' "The Moments When"]
- My name, Gung Bao.
I'm from Vietnam.
- Who's ready to audition?
[cheers and applause]
- [speaking Vietnamese]
- * These are the moments that make up our lives *
* All of the memories and all the first times *
- * You only get so many chances *
- Hello.
What is this gentleman's name, please?
- [speaking Vietnamese]
- My name is Gung Bao.
- [speaking Vietnamese]
- I came from Vietnam.
- Wow.
Is he here alone?
- [speaking Vietnamese]
- I came here by myself. - Oh.
Tell him we're here with him.
- [speaking Vietnamese] - Good luck.
- [speaking Vietnamese] - Thank you.
[applause]
[cheers and applause]
[BJ Thomas' "Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head"]
- * Raindrops are falling on my head *
- Ah!
- * And just like the guy *
* Whose feet are too big for his bed *
* Nothing seems to fit *
* Those raindrops are falling on my head *
* They keep falling *
* So I just did me some talking to the sun *
- My sinuses!
- * And I said I didn't like the way *
* He got things done *
* He's sleeping on the job *
- Do not try this at home.
- * Falling on my head *
* They keep falling *
* But there's one thing I know *
- What's he hooking into?
- * They send to meet me *
* Won't defeat me *
* It won't be long till happiness *
* Steps up to greet me *
- What is that?
- What is it?
- * Raindrops keep falling on my head *
* But that doesn't mean my eyes *
* Will soon be turning red *
* Crying's not for me *
* 'Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complaining *
* So I just did me some talking to the sun *
* And I said I didn't like the way he got things done *
* He's sleeping on the job *
- What are you doing? What is it?
- * Raindrops are falling on my head *
* They keep falling *
* But there's one thing I know *
- Ah!
- Ay, no,please!
- * To meet me won't defeat me *
* It won't be long *
* Till happiness steps up to greet me *
* *
* But there's one thing I know *
* The blues *
- I beg you, stop it. Make it stop!
- * Won't defeat me *
- Oh!
- * Won't be long till happiness *
* Steps up to greet me *
[cheers and applause]
* Raindrops falling on my head *
* But that doesn't mean my eyes *
* Will soon be turning red *
* Crying's not for me *
* 'Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complaining *
* Because I'm free *
* Nothing's worrying me *
* *
[cheers and applause]
[Miley Cyrus' "Party in the USA"]
- Get up. - No.
- Yes. - No.
- Yes.
- Never seen anything like that.
- I have to say something.
No one has ever put
giant scissors in his neck
as well as you on any year of this show.
[cheers and applause]
- Thank you, Simon.
- One of my favorite acts tonight.
[cheers and applause]
Sofía, you enjoy that?
- No.
I hope that your mother never sees you doing this.
[laughter]
- [speaking Vietnamese]
- My mother approved this.
- Oy, no. Oh.
- Those are her scissors.
[laughter]
- Heidi.
- What I want to know is, are you in pain at all?
Are you OK?
- [speaking Vietnamese]
- I do this every day like eating rice.
- Of course. - No.
- It was incredible... - Wow.
- To watch.
- Not only is it incredible, but I know you know
where to draw the line.
When you had the scissors in, I go,
"There's no way he's gonna run with scissors."
And you didn't. And that's safe.
- Don't bother translating that.
- Thank you, Simon.
[laughter]
- * Yeah *
- OK, we're gonna vote. Howie?
- Yes.
- Heidi?
- It's weird, but I have to say yes also.
- I don't want to, but I'm gonna say yes.
[cheers and applause]
- Um, I really, really, really want to,
and I'm gonna say four yeses.
- * So I put my hands up, they're playing my song, *
* The butterflies fly away *
* Yeah *
* It's a party in the USA *
* Yeah *
* It's a party in the USA *
- Oh, that was so good, Gung Bao.
- * It's a party in the USA *
- Welcome to season 19 of "America's Got Talent."
[cheers and applause]
[dramatic music]
* *
- My name is Preston, and we are Sky Elements.
We do drone shows in a way that's never been done before.
- We're pushing the boundaries of technology.
* *
- How did you get started doing what you're doing with drones?
- Me and Brian met in college.
We had the same car.
We really hit it off,
and we've been best friends ever since.
We got into animated Christmas lights.
We put on Christmas light displays
using thousands of synchronized lights to music.
From there, we started doing pyrotechnics and fireworks.
- Yeah, that's a natural progression.
- Natural progression. - Yes.
- Preston's always coming up with some harebrained ideas.
And we just love doing big things.
- Yeah.
- And so drone shows, this is kind of the next step.
- You know, the very first test show
we ever did was six drones.
And we were just ecstatic.
We're like, look at how those are moving together.
And to go from that to 50 drones
to go to 100 drones,
and now, tonight, we have we're at 1,000 drones.
It's just so mind-blowing.
* *
- So we're gonna have 1,000 drones
laid out in this entire area.
- This has been a wild journey from the time
when Preston and I were in college,
computer-animating Christmas lights.
I never thought it would come to this.
- Writing code is our talent.
I love merging technology with art
but just making it as big as possible.
I think America is gonna love it,
and I think we've got what it takes to win.
- A little nervous.
Like, the weight of the moment is, like, finally hitting me.
* *
- Making sure that all the drones are connected,
making sure they are good to fly.
And hopefully, none fall out of the sky tonight.
* *
- I think we're minutes from launch,
so I'm getting super nervous,
but I think we're gonna pull it off.
* *
- We want to showcase what we can do to the world.
And what bigger stage than "America's Got Talent"?
- Go make it happen, guys.
[cheers and applause]
- Hello.
And who are you?
- My name is Preston.
- My name is Brian.
- My name is Phil.
- My name is Tyler.
- My name is Kyle.
- And my name is Rick.
- And we're Sky Elements.
- And whereabouts in America are you from?
- We're from Dallas.
[cheers and applause]
- Let's go. - OK.
Tell us a little bit about why you're here, please.
- Well, we brought something that I don't think
you guys have ever seen before.
It's gonna be 400 feet tall, 300 feet wide.
- Do you have any idea how big this building is?
- This building's not big enough.
- OK.
And is this something you've done specifically for the show?
- Absolutely.
We have been working for weeks to make this
happen for the show.
[cheering]
And we're gonna need you guys to go
outside if you want to see it.
- Now? - All right.
- Now? - Let's go look at it.
- Right now.
- Let's go. You wanna go?
Let's go.
Let's go outside.
- Come on out, guys.
It's time. It's time.
Let's do it.
- I'm coming.
[cheers and applause]
* *
- OK, here we go, gang.
Places. Audience and judges are set.
- Here we go. Here we go.
* *
- Waiting for confirmation.
976, 970, 973, 975, 977.
995, 1,000.
- 3, 2, 1, go.
[drones whirring]
* *
- All right, everybody.
The show is rolling.
* *
- Can you see anything?
* *
- Oh, look, look, look, look.
- Oh, I see them coming.
Oh, my goodness.
[drones whirring]
[dramatic music]
- Can you see anything?
* *
- Look, look, look!
- Oh, I see them coming.
[cheers and applause]
- How many?
- I'm a little scared.
- We choose to go to the moon
because that goal will serve
to organize and measure the best of our energies
and skills, because that challenge
is one that we're willing to accept,
one we are unwilling to postpone,
and one we intend to win.
- 20 seconds and counting.
- Oh! - 15 seconds.
[muffled speech] 12, 11...
- Oh, my God, look at that. That's in the sky!
- Ignition sequence start.
Six, five, four,
three, two, one, zero.
All engines running.
Liftoff. We have liftoff.
[cheers and applause]
["Also Sprach Zarathustra"]
* *
- Wow!
* *
- * I packed my bags last night preflight *
[Sara James' "Rocket Man"]
* Zero hour, 9:00 a.m. *
- Houston, this is flight.
We are prepared for fuel tank separation.
- * And I'm gonna be high *
* As a kite by then *
* *
* I miss the Earth so much *
* I miss my life *
* It's lonely out in space *
* Such a *
* Timeless flight *
* And I think it's gonna be a long, long time *
* Till touchdown brings me round again to find *
* I'm not the man they think I am at home *
* Oh, no, no, no *
* I'm a rocket man *
[cheers and applause]
- Oh, my God!
- That's Simon. - Wow!
- * And all the science *
- That's one small step for man,
one giant leap for mankind.
- Simon, that was you!
- Yes, it was!
* *
- * And I think it's gonna be a long, long time *
* Till touchdown brings me round again to find *
- Yay, "AGT!"
- * Oh, no, no, no *
* *
- It's leaving.
Bye!
- Bravo!
- Absolutely brilliant!
- * I think it's gonna be a long, long time *
* *
* And I think it's gonna be a long, long time *
- Bravo!
[cheers and applause]
- Whoa. - Whoa.
- Wow.
- That was unbelievable.
- Was that amazing? - That was--
I've never seen anything like that.
- Thank you! [cheers and applause]
[Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
[crowd chanting] Golden Buzzer! Golden Buzzer!
- * No more of the darkness *
- OK, let's start with Howie.
- The word is "epic."
And to see Simon's face...
- Yes. That was so good.
- Three blocks wide, two miles long.
- He was too big for the theater.
- Wow.
It was like the moon landing, that kind of excitement.
That was one small step for man and a huge step for "AGT."
[cheers and applause]
- * And time stands still *
- Heidi?
- Yeah, I loved it, too.
It felt kind of like as if it was an alien invasion,
like, in the beginning, when, you know,
when they all came and there were so many of them.
And it's just amazing how you programmed this all, you know,
your imagination... - Choreographed.
- How you thought about, you know,
the little story that you were telling.
It was beautiful, really well done.
Thank you so much.
[cheers and applause]
- Sofía.
- Breathtaking.
I don't know where I've been,
but I didn't know that you could do
those things with drones. It was spectacular.
I mean, I wish I had known.
I would have brought people that I know to watch this.
- Yeah, this crowd, you're lucky.
You're lucky.
[cheering]
- I would have brought them from Bologna.
[cheers and applause]
- It was really patriotic.
And I think the way you told the story, the use of music,
whether you're 3 years old, whether you're 100 years old,
I think you are gonna absolutely love that audition.
[cheers and applause]
- * Don't let the sun go down on me *
- I'm obsessed with space and that landing on the moon.
For every one of you, I want to say bravo.
[cheers and applause]
- * I'd just allow a fragment of *
[crowd chanting] Golden Buzzer! Golden Buzzer!
- Um...
[crowd chanting] Golden Buzzer! Golden Buzzer!
- OK, OK, OK, OK.
You know, we keep talking about the rules.
- Yes.
- There is no rule book,
which means I'm gonna do this.
Liftoff.
* *
- * Don't let the sun go down on me *
[cheers and applause]
* Although I search myself *
* It's always someone else I see *
- I--I--I just thought, why not?
I mean, there's nothing in the rules that says we can't.
- OK. Well, there is.
But if you do it, everyone else gets a second.
- Wait, wait, wait.
- OK, if I have two, you can have two.
- All right, everyone.
Sky Elements,
you are going straight into the live show!
- Congratulations.
- Thank you. - Amazing.
I mean, it was, like, mind-blowing.
Everyone was screaming, Golden Buzzer, Golden Buzzer.
- Thanks, everyone.
- * The sun going down on me *