[dramatic music]
* *
[orchestral music]
- Morning!
* *
[music swells] - [screams]
* *
- Whoa!
- [screams]
- "AGT" Season 16 starts now!
- Two minutes
can change your life on this show.
[cheering]
Absolutely fantastic.
- This was amazing. This was special.
- [vocalizes]
- People were trapped for a year,
practicing, and hoping, and dreaming.
And then, boom!
[dramatic music continues]
- [trills]
- My mind is slightly blown right now.
- [screams]
- Oh, my God!
- Oh!
[cheering]
- We weren't expecting that.
- Oh! - Oh, no! No! No!
[buzzer] - This was a hot mess.
It really was.
- You're gonna freak a lot of children out.
- Whoa! - [screams]
- People are gonna remember this audition.
And I'm gonna remember this audition.
That is what we call...
a moment.
* *
- [vocalizes]
- Maybe the best audition we've had all series.
[cheering]
- Give it up for the host
of "America's Got Talent,"
Terry Crews!
[cheering]
- Are you guys ready to meet your judges?
[cheering]
Howie Mandel!
- * Lookin' for some hot stuff, baby, this evening *
- Heidi Klum!
- * Some hot stuff *
- Sofía Vergara!
- * Gotta have some hot stuff *
- And now...
I am proud to announce
the triumphant return
of the...
[dramatic musical sting]
Simon Cowell!
- Yeah!
- * Hot stuff, baby *
* This evenin' *
* I need some hot stuff, baby, tonight *
* *
- Are we missing something here?
Did you just come back from holiday, or what?
- It's casual Friday.
- No, it's not casual Friday. [laughter]
It's sensible Sunday.
- Yes! [laughter]
Sofía, what do you think about those legs?
- I mean, I wouldn't send them
to a Mr. Leg contest,
or anything like that, or... [laughter]
to the "AGT of Legs,"
but they're fine.
- They're fine.
- The gang is back together.
- Yeah.
- I am so thrilled to be back.
I feel like an old-timer.
I feel like part of the family.
- I have missed you guys.
It is so nice to be back. - We missed you.
- And hello, everyone. [cheering]
- This is going to be an epic season, y'all!
This season, the acts have the chance to win
$1 million
and a starring role
at Luxor Las Vegas.
"America's Got Talent" season 16
starts right now!
- Yes!
- [trills] [cheering]
- * I need some hot stuff, baby *
* Baby, baby, tonight *
- What is the deal with the shorts?
- I was just comfortable. - So comfortable.
[The Trammp's "Disco Inferno" playing]
- I mean, we try really hard, Sofía and I.
You know, we get all dolled up, we pick nice outfits,
and then you come in shorts?
- Oh. Hey, Terry.
You're gonna come in from the other side
over there, all right?
[affectionately] Have a good show! Go get 'em!
- Please welcome your host,
Terry Crews!
[cheering]
Yeah--uh-oh!
[dramatic musical sting]
- Are you guys ready
to meet your judges?
- Ay, pequeño. - [cackles]
- Give it up for Howie Mandel!
- Oh, my God!
[laughter] - Oh!
- The Heidi Klum!
- I love my outfit! - Your outfit!
- Oh, that's fabulous!
- Sofía Vergara!
- Ay, pequeño. - Ha!
- And the reason we are all here.
- Oh. My. God.
- Simon Cowell!
This is "America's Got Talent" season 16!
Ugh!
All over my microphone!
- Genius! - That's my favorite.
- Oh, my God. - Oh, my God.
- [cackles]
- Hello! Welcome to "America's Got Talent."
- Hey. Wait, wait, wait. They used our voices.
- Sup, dogs? [laughter]
[Flo Rida's "Low" playing]
- * Shawty had them apple bottom jeans *
- Yes!
- * Boots with the fur * *
* The whole club was looking at her *
* *
- What's going on?
- What is going on?
What is happening?
- [wheezes]
- Just...stop. [music fades]
[buzzers]
- I don't think you have a good shot on this show,
so it's a no.
I didn't like it.
- How do you say no and bark at the same time?
[barks]
- Wow. Even dog Simon is mean.
- It's a super-no from me.
[laughter]
both: Hello. - What's your name?
- I'm Mesa, and this is Delta.
[squeals]
- Oh! - Whoa!
[exciting music]
- Oh, I love, love that! - I love this!
* *
- [chuckles]
I'm always clapping.
- This is amazing!
- Amazing.
- Oh, my God. I love Delta.
[cheering]
- I didn't really like it that much.
[booing] - Are you kidding me?
- I actually...
loved it!
[laughter]
- You blew the roof off this house!
- I've never seen anything like this.
- Heidi, what do you think?
- I think you are
absolutely out of this world.
Are you ready for this right now?
[firmly] Are you ready for this right now?
[cheering]
I'm gonna push the Gold Buzzer!
- Oh, oh, oh!
- Are you ready for this?
[laughter]
all: Oh! [applause]
- Yes!
- Aw, look at the CPR. - Oh, yeah.
- CPR. - [cackles]
[wild cheering]
- Wow.
- Ay, pe...
[cheering and applause continues]
- * I promise that you'll never find another like *
* Me-e-e *
- Bravo!
- Yeah. That was so good.
- I'm the only one of me *
* Baby, that's the fun of me * - This is...
This is genius. - That was so good!
[chuckles] - I mean, seriously, genius.
- Yeah. - Being replaced by the dogs.
- Oh, my God. - Oh, my God.
I mean, look, before we, um,
just hear from everyone else,
just tell me quickly about you guys and what you do,
where you got the dogs from.
- So our groups is called The Canine Stars.
We're a team of dogs and their people.
And we travel around, showing people
how to be really good relationships with their dogs
and also promoting pet adoption.
- Good.
[applause]
- Just to be clear, who's Howie?
- Right there with the glasses! - With the glasses!
- This Bow-Wowie Mandel.
- Bow-Wowie Mandel!
- And where's Heidi?
- I'm laying down there on the floor.
- Where's Sofía? [dog barks]
- Which one's me?
- That's you, right there. - That's me?
- That's Simon Howell. [laughter]
- Simon Howell. - Good boy.
Handsome boy. [dog barks]
Howie, what do you-- I can see you love that.
- What do I think? Look at me! I'm adorable!
[laughter]
- You are adorable. - Thank you.
This is, I gotta say, for me,
the best animal act I have ever seen on this show.
[cheers] - Wow!
[laughter]
- Uh, Heidi, what do you think?
- I mean, the concept is just genius.
It really was. The CPR at the end too.
I mean, it had so many great bits in there.
It was just perfect.
- It was. It was perfect.
There's nothing bad to say about it.
It's so creative, so much fun.
And I thought that the girl that was playing me,
she did a great accent.
Perfect accent.
[cheering]
- Okay, well, I really--
I've got a feeling I know where this is going.
Howie?
- Yes!
[laughter]
- Thank you, Howie. - Yes.
- Super-yes! - Yes!
- You've got full marks.
Congratulations. - Thank you.
- * Me-e-e *
[cheering]
- Can you take a picture of me beside my dog?
Can I see me?
both: * Baby, that's the fun of you *
* And I promise that nobody's gonna love you like *
* Me-e-e *
- That was so good. - Thank you.
- How do you top that?
- That was amazing.
- Off to a good start.
Yes!
Season 16!
[cheering]
- I thought it was a ridiculously good audition.
- That was unbelievable!
- I have the feeling this is the beginning
of an amazing journey.
[thud] - [screams]
- Oh, no!
- My butt fell off!
Let me have this!
[buzzers]
- People are gonna remember this audition.
- You were amazing! And you are a star!
And I want to do...this.
[whimsical music]
- Come on! Let's go!
- [chuckles] - Wow!
This is big! Come on.
* *
[wild cheering]
The--the judges are there! Ah!
Wow.
- Stand by in the theater. Okay, here we go.
- Believe in yourself.
Enjoy the music.
- Mom, I'm fine.
- You can do it.
- All right, Peter. Go on.
- Oh, my. Hi...
- Hello. - Hello!
- Hello? [taps microphone]
- It's on. - Hello?
- You're on. You're on. - Oh, okay.
- We can hear you. How are you?
- I'm good!
- What is your name?
- My name is Peter Rosalita. [cheering]
- How old are you, Peter?
- I'm 10 years old.
- And where are you from?
- I was born in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates,
but I am a Filipino citizen.
- What would you do with the million dollars
if you win this amazing competition?
- I will buy a Nintendo Switch...
[laughter] - Only one?
- A laptop for my online school.
- Oh. - You realize
you've only spent about $1,500 so far?
- Yes. [laughter]
- And what do you do for a living?
- Uh...sorry?
[laughter] - What do you mean? He's 10.
- Well, let's see if he does something.
- He doesn't work.
- I live as a singer.
- So, you see? He does something for a living.
And you're going to sing tonight for us?
- Yes. - Okay.
Are you nervous?
- Yes, I'm very nervous. - Don't be nervous.
You look great! - Okay.
- We're rooting for you!
- Okay, we're ready for you.
We can't wait to see what you're gonna do tonight.
[cheering]
[Céline Dion's "All by Myself" playing]
* *
- * Living alone *
* I think of all my friends I've known *
* *
* When I dial the telephone *
* *
* Nobody's home *
* *
* All by myself *
* *
* Don't wanna live *
* All by myself *
* Anymore *
* All by myself *
* Don't wanna live *
* All by myself *
* Anymore *
[vocalizing]
* *
* By myself *
- Yeah! Whoo-hoo!
- * Don't wanna live by myself *
* By myself *
* Anymore *
* *
* By myself *
* *
* Don't wanna live by myself *
* Anymore *
* *
[wild cheering] both: Peter!
- Thank you.
[taps microphone] Thank you.
[wild cheering]
- Peter!
That was amazing!
[Lights & Motion's "Fireflies" playing]
- Peter!
- Thank you!
- Wow.
- You're so adorable!
Do you get surprised when you hear your own voice?
- [shakily] Yes. I'm so nervous.
- Ay! We were so nervous too. But we loved you!
Howie, what did you think?
- Oh.
You're amazing. - Thank you, Howie.
- And you're so cute, like, even when you talk to us.
- Everyone says that I'm cute.
- Everyone. [laughter]
- I predict you're gonna go far in this competition.
- Thank you!
- Heidi, what did you thought? - I think you were incredible.
What I wanna know is, like, what do your neighbors say
when you rehearse these types of songs?
- They got surprised. - It is so high,
you would think, like, a glass would explode.
- Yeah.
- I mean, Mariah better watch out.
- Yes.
- Simon, what did you think?
- That was an incredible audition.
- Thank you!
- There were parts during that audition
which literally gave me goose bumps.
- Ah, goose bumps? [giggles]
- [chuckles] - You have an amazing voice.
An amazing personality.
An amazing energy. - Thank you.
- Everyone is gonna fall in love with you
after this audition.
- Thank you so much, Simon!
- I think America's gonna love you.
We're gonna start voting.
- I think the world's gonna love him.
- Yes! Simon? - It's a yes.
- A yes from me.
- A yes from me!
- Four yeses! - Thank you so much!
* *
Thank you! Bye! - Bye!
Thanks for coming, dear! - Thank you!
* *
- You did it!
- Aw! - He's cute.
- He's adorable.
* *
- We did it!
Whoa!
- What is your name? - I'm Brian Pankey.
I'm from Springfield, Illinois.
- And how long you've been doing what you do?
- 30 years. - Wow.
- Do you make a living doing this?
- Yes.
- What's the biggest gig you've done?
- I performed at Madison Square Garden once.
[cheering]
- Oh. - Oh, no!
[buzzer]
- No, I feel bad.
It just wasn't good enough for me.
I'm gonna have to say no. [audience aws]
- I mean, it was a little amateur.
- I think you do deserve an opportunity
to show us wrong, so yes.
- Thank you! - Thank you, buddy.
- I mean, he was sweet, but it wasn't that great.
- Right, and he's a professional.
- * You got it in you *
- Whoa! [cheering]
- This is looking fun already. - Yeah.
- Who are you? - We are the Elektro Botz.
- And where are you guys from?
- He's from Hawaii.
I'm from Arizona. And he's from L.A.
- This piece that we brought today,
it's a culmination of a lot of ideas kind of put together,
so we're excited to show you.
- * Push me *
* And then, just touch me *
* Till I can get my *
* Satisfaction *
* *
[buzzer]
* 'Faction *
- Um, well, that was kind of fun,
but, Howie, what did you think?
- This seemed like a high-school talent show to me.
I'm sorry.
- I think it's great, you know,
that you guys are doing this as a hobby.
I mean, you guys are not professional dancers.
You don't earn money doing this.
Yes or no? You do?
- I mean, we are professional dancers, yeah.
- It was okay.
I've got to be honest with you. I wasn't blown away. Sorry.
- Howie? - No.
- And I'm gonna have to say no. Sorry.
- Thank you, guys. - Thank you for coming.
- I feel bad.
I thought they're not professionals.
I like that "America's Got Talent" is for everyone.
- Hello. - * You got it in you *
- Hi. - Hello.
- Hi there.
Who are you? - My name is Aidan Bryant.
- How old are you? - I'm 16.
- Who is here with you today?
- My mom is here supporting me today.
And she's my biggest fan, so...
- Aw. - Aw.
- Will you be dancing for us today?
- I will be doing an aerial act for y'all.
- Oh, you're an aerial artist. - I love that.
- So how long have you been doing this?
- I've been doing it for about two years.
- Two years? - That's not that long, though.
- Not that long, but I'm completely self-taught.
Everything's come from YouTube.
- Oh, really? - Yes.
- So you learned this all from the internet?
- Yes. And I've learned it from a P!nk concert.
- I saw that P!nk concert. - I saw that too.
- Yes, she's awesome. - Three stories in the air.
- The first time I wanted to try it,
I actually, um,
went to my grandma's closet and got a bedsheet out
and hung it up in the tree.
- What? [laughter]
- I just went out and got it
and hung it up in the tree,
and I started training on it.
And then this is where I am now.
[sentimental music]
Ever since I was younger,
I've always felt different.
Everybody at my school has, like, a certain script
to what they're supposed to do and supposed to like.
Hunting, fishing, and all this,
but I didn't like stuff like that.
There was a missing piece in my life.
And that's how I ended up in a tree.
[branch snaps] And then, I started
seeing what I could do, seeing what I couldn't do.
- Oh, my goodness.
When he started doing it, I'm like,
"What are you doing?"
- Ready?
- Ready.
But then, he loved doing that stuff,
so I said, "Do your thing.
As long as you're careful."
To see him so happy has been amazing,
because I have seen him struggle,
um, all his life.
At school, he has difficulty grasping subjects
and he had struggles reading.
He still does.
And it had me worried
for his future,
and not knowing where he's gonna go.
But now, he knows what he wants to do
and he's taught himself.
No matter what happens, I love you.
- Love you too.
- I'm just so proud of him.
* *
He's a sparkle.
And now that Aidan is here
at "America's Got Talent,"
I hope his dreams come true.
And he's an amateur,
and I can't wait to say he's a professional.
[cheering]
- You know the winner gets $1 million?
- Yes, I know. It's a lot of money.
- Well, we're ready for you. We're rooting for you.
Good luck. - Thank you so much.
[cheering]
["Shout" playing]
- [vocalizing]
* *
* In violent times *
* *
* You shouldn't have to sell your soul *
* *
* In black and white *
* *
* They really, really ought to know *
* *
* Shout, shout *
* Let it all out *
* These are the things I can do without *
- Oh, wow.
- * Come on *
* I'm talking to you *
* Come on * - Oh, my God.
- I cannot look!
- That's fast!
* *
Wow.
* *
- * Yeah, come on *
* *
* Let it all out *
* Shout * - Whoa!
- [whines]
- Oh! Oh, oh! - * Let it all out *
* Come on *
* These are the things *
- No! - * I can do *
* Without *
* Shout, shout *
* Let it all out *
- Wow! - * These are the things *
* I can do without *
* Come on * - Whoa!
[wild cheering] - Bravo!
- * I close my eyes *
* And I can see *
- Yes! - * The world that's *
* Waiting up *
* For me *
* And I call that home *
* *
- Mom, you got to be so proud.
- I am. - Aw.
- Wow! - I mean, it's incredible.
I can't believe you just learned how to do this
in two years.
I mean, you have beautiful poise and elegance up there.
And it's so fast. And I'm so impressed.
- Thank you so much.
- I'm in shock. - Right?
What do you think?
- I mean, this looks like something
that you've been doing, you know,
generations in a family.
- Thank you so much. - I mean, it's amazing
that you can do something like this in two years.
- Yeah, in two years. Thank you very much.
- Howie.
- I imagine myself as a parent,
walking into my room and all the sheets are gone.
I look out the window,
and there's my son spinning in the tree with my sheets.
But there's a great message here.
Just go for it. [wild cheering]
You should be very proud of yourself, young man.
- Thank you so much. - Simon, what did you think?
- I thought it was a ridiculously good audition.
Honestly, it was just fantastic.
This is exactly what we're looking for on this show.
- Thank you. - Good for you.
- Should we vote?
- I'm the first one? - Do it.
- Yes! - Thank you.
- Second yes from me. - Thank you so much.
- A super-yes from me! - Thanks!
- You've got yourself four yeses.
- * I think of what * - Thank you so much.
- * The world could be * - Thank you so much.
- * A vision of the one I see *
* A million dreams is all it's gonna take *
- Bye!
That was good.
He should be very proud of himself.
- Oh, my God. Listen, Aidan.
I was over there with her,
and she was in tears. - Yes.
- Nobody taught him.
How do you learn something like that
when somebody's not correcting you?
Like, "No, no, no. Stomach more in."
That's amazing.
- Incredible story. - Yeah.
* *
- * For the world we're gonna make *
- The show is called "America's Got Talent,"
but actually,
I'm looking for the best in the world.
- We are getting into Olympic fever.
all: Hiyah! - We want
gold-medal standard here.
- This is the opportunity of a lifetime.
- There's a million dollars on the line.
- This is the biggest stage in the world.
And I am here to win.
- There are people with amazing potential this year.
[ambient music]
- My name is Mr. Cherry.
- My name is Chikki.
And we are from Japan.
* *
Mr. Cherry is a world record breaker.
He broke 55 records. - Mm-hmm.
- And then, he holds
22 records right now.
When he broke his first record,
that changed his life forever.
[music swells]
But when he was a child,
he was raised by very strict parents.
They want him to have very secure job.
They didn't like it that he's doing this,
breaking records,
and they never approved him.
So Mr. Cherry's big dream is
to win "America's Got Talent"
so that his parents will accept him.
[applause] - Hello.
- Hello.
- What's your names, please?
- My name is Mr. Cherry.
- My name is Chikki.
- Very nice to meet you. - Hi.
- And what are you gonna do today?
- [speaking Japanese]
- "I'm here to smash the world record,
"Tonight we will break the most walnuts
on his butt." [smacks butt loudly]
- Oh. - All right.
And what is the world record at the moment?
- The current record for the walnuts is 71
in 30 seconds.
- Well, that sounds difficult.
Okay. Well, look.
I think we're all really, really excited.
We love world record attempts.
- Okay. Cherry good! Cherry good!
both: Cherry good. - Cherry good!
- Cherry good. Cherry good. - Cherry!
[dramatic music]
- Okay, okay, okay!
- [in Japanese] Good luck.
- Attempt!
[wild cheering]
- Whoa. Wait, wait, wait.
- Oh, no. Whoa.
[music fades]
- So someone's got to buy some walnuts.
- Oh. We have a nut shortage. - There's a nut shortage.
- Does anybody here have any walnuts?
[laughter] - Yeah.
- Whoa! Whoa! - Look at the guy.
There's a guy counting the nuts.
[laughter]
- Anyone?
Do you have any walnuts? - Simon.
- They got enough? - Yeah, yeah.
- Oh, they've got a whole bag. - They have a whole bag.
- I mean, that would've been a disaster.
- Imagine.
- While they do this, let me just
pull up some nut joke.
[comical music]
Why did the squirrel do the backstroke?
- Why? - He wanted
to keep his nuts dry.
- Okay. Yeah. - Good, Heidi.
- That's good. Queue another one. Next one.
* *
- What did the nut chasing the other nut say?
- What? - "I'ma cashew."
- Is that a joke? - Yes.
- How is that a joke? - Cashew.
"I'ma cashew." - Yeah.
These are supposed to be the funniest nut jokes.
- Shell we stop with the nut jokes?
- [chuckles] - All right.
All right, just so everyone understands, okay?
There are 80 walnuts out here.
He needs to crush 72
to get the world record. [cheering]
Are you ready? - No, no, no, no!
[laughter]
- Okay! - Hey, hey, hey, hey!
- All right.
We have 30 seconds on the clock.
- [chuckles] - Wow.
How colorful he is.
- Three....
two,
one.
Go! [horn blares]
[walnuts crunching]
- Yes!
[wild cheering] - Oh, wow.
[dramatic music]
- He is so fast! - Come on, Cherry!
- [chuckles]
Oh, my gosh! Look at him!
[walnut crunches]
Let's go! 17 more seconds!
[wild cheering]
* *
- Come on! - Come on!
Four!
all: Three!
Two! One! - Oh!
- Stop! [horn blares]
[wild cheering]
There's only one nut left!
He broke the record.
79 nuts!
[wild cheering] Mr. Cherry!
- Yeah, he broke it.
- You did it!
- [cheers] - * You're the best *
* Around *
- Sofía, what do you think?
- I--I--I don't know.
- "I don't know"? - I mean, is it really hard?
Are they...
- I think you should crack a nut with your butt and try it.
- Uh, can I?
- Yeah. Yeah.
- There's one left.
[cheering]
- Come on, Sof!
You can do this, Sofía!
- I mean, is it...
It's a real walnut? - It's a real walnut.
- Be careful, Sofía!
- Which is your stronger butt?
- My strong butt? [laughter]
- Which side is your strong butt?
[laughter]
- I don't know. I've never thought about that.
- Yeah. - Yes! Just go!
- You got to tighten them up.
- You got to really go, "Hiyah!"
[suspenseful music]
- [exclaims]
[laughter]
- No. It didn't work. - What? Did it hurt?
Does it hurt? - That's hard!
- It really hurts!
- Oh. [laughter]
- Thank you! - All right.
[applause]
- [speaking Japanese] - [speaking Japanese]
[in English] Yeah, present for you.
- [in Japanese] Thank you.
[laughter]
- I'm sorry I suggested that.
- Oh, my God.
- Just impossible.
- You think you bruised yourself?
- Oh, for sure.
- You saw how hard that was.
- Simon, you want to start the voting?
- Uh, yeah.
Uh, I want to see
Mr. Cherry do more things with his nuts
going forward.
So I'm gonna say, yes.
- Yes! - Wow!
- Yes! [cheering]
- * Nothing's gonna ever keep you down *
- I mean, congratulations on the world record.
- Yes, congratulations. - [translating to Japanese]
- But... - [translating in Japanese]
- It doesn't seem like much.
He's just sitting on nuts.
[booing] For me, it's a no.
- No!
- Sorry.
- I didn't think it was much when I was looking at it,
but then, when I went there, this is no joke.
I mean, I'm still in pain,
so I'm gonna have to say, yes.
- Yeah! [cheering]
- Cherry, yes! - I have to say...
I mean, I liked it.
- * Never doubt that you're the one *
* And you can have your dreams *
- But I didn't like it that much.
[music fades]
- And I've seen it now.
I don't need to see it again,
so it's gonna be a no from me.
both: No!
- No!
- [speaking Japanese]
- "Do you know how much it's painful?"
- [whimpers] - Yeah.
- Thank you. - No?
- Almost. - No.
- But congrats.
Congratulations on your record.
- Cherry well. - Bye.
- Thank you so much. Thank you.
- Yes.
- Yeah...
Sorry, but thank you so much.
- That was crazy.
I mean, touch this thing.
- No, that's a nut. I mean...
That's a weird-looking nut.
- [chuckles] - It is, huh?
- Everything about this was perfection.
My mind is blown right now.
[cheering]
- Wow.
- This year was a real tough one.
[ambient music]
- When COVID hit,
we all know how it went.
It was horrible.
- I'm still here,
and I'm not gonna take it for granted.
- The entire world was locked away last year.
And now, we've opened
a floodgate of talent.
* *
- Being here at "America's Got Talent"
represents new possibilities for the future.
- All right, Northwell Nurse Choir, here we go!
[cheers and applause]
- My name is Winnie Mele,
and we members of the Northwell Health Nurse Choir
from New York.
- * You are not hidden *
- What makes this choir so special is
we're all frontline nurses.
You know, we're not professional singers.
We take care of patients.
- Nursing is in my blood.
Not only is my mom a nurse, my dad's a nurse,
my older brother's a nurse.
I have a little brother who is in accounting
and said, "You know what? I hate this.
I want to be a nurse as well." [laughter]
- I think we can all agree
being a nurse was our destiny.
* *
- Back in March, when New York was the epicenter of COVID,
we...were so scared.
[heart monitor beeping]
One patient became 10.
100, 1,000.
Nobody knew how many people COVID would kill.
[flatlining]
- The hardest part was
seeing these patients...
alone.
They couldn't have their family with them,
so...we stepped in as their family.
- * I will rescue you *
- Patients were dying left and right.
We were getting sick. Our families were getting sick.
- My goodness.
- * Though you have been broken *
- I'd come home, and
I was so afraid to hug my kids
when that's the only thing I wanted to do.
* *
- I mean, I lived through the AIDS epidemic,
and that was really sad,
but everybody didn't die in three months.
And that's what, I think, takes my breath away
when I think about what happened.
[shakily] And, um...
Yeah, so, you know,
it was, um, crushing for all of us.
- But we went back out there...
- * I will send out an army *
- Because the battle wasn't done
and we knew that there were others
that needed our help as well.
- * To find you *
- It's just been a very dark,
trying time for all of us,
but the one thing that's
bringing us a little bit of light
and a little bit of hope is music.
- We learned that as long as we stand together,
we can literally do anything.
And look at us now. - That's right.
- A year later, we're all here. - Man!
- Okay, here we go.
- This choir actually
has been a beacon of hope for us.
- * I will rescue you *
- It delivers a message that
there's always that light at the end of the tunnel.
[cheering] - Hello.
- Oh, my gosh! - Oh, my God. How many?
- Come on in, everyone. - Whoa!
- Wow.
Welcome. - Thank you.
- Who are ya?
- So we are the Northwell Health Nurse Choir,
and we're here to sing for you today.
[cheering]
- We're a part of the largest health system in New York,
and we're 18 nurses of 18,000 nurses.
both: Wow! [cheering]
- Wow, and...
now, more than ever,
you are being recognized as the heroes of this world.
You really are, you know? First of all...
[cheering]
What is the hope? What is the dream?
- Well, we know that there is a lot of us out there
that are still hurting,
and we're hoping to just shoot out some joy
and some love, and to let them know that
we found our resilience,
and we're hoping that they do as well.
And you! - Aw, that's so good.
[cheers and applause]
- That's amazing. Let's hear it.
- Thank you for giving us the opportunity.
- Thank you so much. - Thank you.
[cheers and applause fade]
["Lean on Me" playing]
all: * Sometimes in our lives *
* We all have pain *
* We all have sorrow *
* But if we are wise *
* We know that there's *
* Always tomorrow *
* Won't you stand? * - * Won't you stand? *
all: * By me? * - * By me? *
all: * Oh, stand *
* By me * - * When you need a friend *
all: * Oh, stand *
* *
* Stand *
* Stand by me *
- * You can call on me *
* And I'll be there * - Come on!
all: * You just call on me, brother *
* When you need a hand * - * When you need a hand *
all: * We all need somebody *
* To lean on * - * Oh *
all: * I just might have a problem *
* That you'll understand * - * You'll understand *
all: * We all need somebody *
* To lean on *
* Won't you stand *
* By me? *
- * Sister, won't you stand by me? *
all: * Stand by me * - * Come on *
* And stand by me * all: * Oh *
* Stand *
* Stand, stand by me *
- * Won't you stand by me? *
- She is so good!
all: * Stand by me * - Wow.
* *
all: * Stand *
- Wow.
[wild cheering]
- Bravo! - Incredible!
- Incredible.
- Wow.
Simon, what did you think?
- What do I think?
We need you.
The world needs you.
[wild cheering]
It's gonna touch a lot of people.
People are gonna remember this audition.
And I'm gonna remember this audition.
[cheering]
Amazing.
- Sofía.
- It was beautiful, heartfelt
to see how you were moving around
and having fun.
It was dynamic. I loved it.
It was perfection.
- Whoo!
- I had chills
when all of you were singing.
It was so beautiful to watch,
especially the words to the song,
you know, that we all have to lean on each other.
I loved it.
[cheering]
- One word comes to mind,
and it's "heroic," you know?
And, you know, it is
in every way.
And what a perfect song.
"Stand by Me." - Perfect.
- You stand by
people you don't know.
You watch horror
and you watch strength.
And I thought,
I just want to stand by you. - Yes!
- And I want to stand by you over here.
- Oh!
- * And clouds of white *
- Yeah!
- You know why I want to stand for you?
- * Blessed day *
- So that I can do...
- * Sacred night *
- This!
- * I think to myself *
* *
* Oh, what a wonderful world *
* *
[wild cheering]
* *
- Wow!
- [chuckles]
* *
[laughter]
You did it!
- * I hear babies cry *
* And I *
* Watch them grow *
* They'll learn much more *
- Northwell Nurse Choir!
- * And I think to myself *
- You are going straight to the live shows
in Hollywood!
- * What a wonderful world *
* *
- Mwah!
I got to say that
you are the most inspiring moment
that I have had in the last year,
not only for who you are, for what you do.
[firmly] Thank you.
[wild cheering]
- For a year, we put our singing in a box.
It just was not part of our life.
And as the sun is starting to come out
and things are looking better,
we have an opportunity to stand here
at "America's Got Talent" and sing to America.
This is an opportunity of a lifetime for all of us.
Thank you so much. - Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you.
[cheering]
- One more time!
For the Northwell Nurse Choir!
[wild cheering]
- Loved it. - * Watch them grow *
* They'll learn much more *
- Look! They're taking all the confetti.
- * Than I'll ever know *
* Yes, I think to myself *
- They're the ones to beat.
both: One, two, three!
- * What a wonderful world *
- Please welcome Sofía Vergara
and Heidi Klum!
[wild cheering]
And give it up
for Howie Mandel
and Simon Cowell!
[cheering continues]
[laughter]
- * Who's that sexy thing *
* I see over there? *
* That's me, standin' in the mirror *
- Nobody inspires me more
than Mr. Simon Cowell.
- Well, I can see that!
- Let's see.
- Look at those gams! - Wow.
You have really furry legs.
- He's got furrier legs.
- Really? - Yeah.
- Are you guys ready to see some talent?
- Yes! - Yes!
- We're ready for it!
Let's do it! - Yes!
- * I'd wanna be me too *
* Wanna be me too * [slurps]
[gulps loudly]
- Hi. My name is Keith Apicary.
I'm 35 years old, and I'm from Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
["Soul Bossa Nova" playing]
Right now, I'm living with my mom,
which is fine.
It's not ideal.
- And what are you gonna do today?
- I guess you could call it dancing.
"Bodily maneuvers" is what I call it.
Just kind of a sequence of rhythmic...
spasms.
* *
Ever since I played my first video game,
I was hooked.
And that is what led me to dancing,
because I love video game music,
so much I couldn't not move to it.
* *
[light fritzes]
I feel I have something different to show.
But I just don't want them to be like,
"He's a weirdo. Get him out,"
you know, 'cause there's, like, so many people
they gotta look at.
- Hey, I'm Katie Kay.
And I Jell-O wrestle.
[music fades]
[quirky music continues]
[Jell-O splats]
- Growing up in my town,
all the kids played soccer or wrestling,
so I think that kind of what separated me,
and I got picked on a lot.
* *
But playing video games
and dancing was an escape.
[buzzers]
* *
- Wrestling, as far as I know,
normally involves two people?
- Well, in quarantine, you gotta
switch things up.
[laughter]
[cheers and applause]
- I know this is literally
the opportunity of my lifetime,
and I don't want to blow it and waste it,
so tonight I'm just gonna go out there
and give it everything I have.
- Make it happen, man. - Yes. Thank you.
- "AGT" is yours, baby!
- Man, I'm ready.
* *
- Oh, my God. Hi.
Who are you?
- I don't think they're ready for him, Terry.
- Oh, wait! Wait, Keith.
Oh, I'm sorry.
[laughter] Oh...
[all chuckling] - I was like,
"Oh, my God. Hi. You're not supposed to be here yet."
- And now! You got this, Keith!
- Are you sure? - It's for real.
- Okay. - You got it man.
[growls]
* *
- Hello, sir. - Whoo!
- Welcome to "AGT."
What's your name? - Hi.
- My name's Keith Apicary.
- What do you do for a living?
- Oh, uh, nothing.
[laughter]
- So how old are you?
- Uh, 35. - 35?
- Yeah. 1986.
[chuckles] On the dot.
- Were you born on January 1st?
- No, March 3, 1986. [laughter]
- What are you gonna do here tonight?
- I'm gonna do some dancing maneuvers for you guys.
- Dancing! - Yeah.
- Go ahead, young man. The stage is yours.
- But I'm not a dancer! That's the thing.
I'm not a dancer. - You're not a dancer?
- I just like to dance. - Good.
Good, good. We like watching people dance.
- Okay. Just wanna preface. [chuckles]
- Okay. [laughter]
- He's part--he's--
he's part of my routine!
- Just dance! - You're blowing it.
- Please dance! - [nasally] Dance!
both: Dance! - No, he's...
- Yeah. [laughter]
- Show 'em what you got, Keith.
[cheering]
[Fusq's "Cutie Cutie" playing]
* *
[wild cheering]
- Yeah!
* *
- He's good! - He is.
* *
- [cackling]
- He did this too many times.
All his hair left.
* *
- [cackling]
[wild cheering]
- Look at his face.
- Wow! - That is hard.
That is hard.
- I love it!
* *
- Whoa!
- Oh! - Whoa!
* *
- I loved it!
- I thought he was gonna, you know, lift it.
- Come on! - Oh!
* *
[laughter]
* *
- That's amazing!
- Wow!
* *
[laughter]
- That's your move! That's your move!
- But it works. - Yes!
* *
- Whoa!
Whoa, whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa!
- Oh, God! No, no, no! No, no!
- Whoa! [overlapping chatter]
- Keith!
[overlapping chatter fades]
[wild cheering]
Keith!
[uplifting music]
- [chanting] Keith! Keith! Keith!
- Bravo!
- That was unbelievable!
- Aw! Bless his heart.
- Wow! Simon?
- Well, I mean, Keith, I've gotta be honest with you.
Based on our little talk before,
and I thought, "This is gonna be just awful."
And then,
I just loved every second of it.
I thought you were amazing!
- Amazing.
- I mean, I'm no dance expert.
I'd rather watch you than the ballet,
I've gotta be honest with you. I would!
- Thank you. Thank you. -* Build this dream together *
-Sofía. - I mean,
it was so unexpected!
And that's what I love about this show.
I loved it!
- I mean, you did the worm,
you did some, I didn't even know what it us.
- He did! You are such...
You know what you are? One words comes up.
You're a surprise.
- Yes.
For real!
- [vocalizes]
- Aw. - Aw!
Come here. Don't go. - I'm sorry.
No...
- I--I just wanted to say
that I feel-- I feel really good right now.
- Aw! [wild cheering]
- * Nothing's gonna stop us now *
- May I be the first, Keith,
to give you a yes?
[cheering] Sofía?
- I love you! Yes.
- Keith Apicary, I'm very excited
that you're going to be part of "America's Got Talent."
You get your third yes from me.
- Oh, thank you. Thank you.
- And for me,
your fourth yes for you!
- Yes!
- Bravo, Keith! [wild cheering]
* *
- Thank you. Thank you, guys. Thank you. Thank you very much.
- You're welcome. - Thank you so, so much.
- * And we can build this dream together *
* Standing strong forever *
- Oh, my God!
Keith!
Keith.
[cheering] - That was fun.
- I love Keith.
* *
- I can't believe I made it!
- * Nothing's gonna stop us *
* Nothing's gonna stop us *
- I believe in you.
You're gonna do great.
- Let's do it.
[cheering]
- [giggles]
- [wheezes]
- I'm so excited! - Let's do it.
- I'm ready. - Are you sure, Dad?
- I got this. I'm ready.
I'm Gerald Kelly. I'm 53 years old.
I'm from Atlanta, Georgia, and I'm a comedian.
[sentimental music]
I've been doing stand-up comedy
for 30 years,
but I have still not gotten
to where I want to be.
Now, being a father,
I want to continue teaching my children
to never give up on your dreams.
And my biggest fan
is my seven-year-old son, Hunter.
But tonight on "AGT,"
he's my competition. [sentimental music fades]
["Eye of the Tiger" playing] My name is Lil Hunter Kelly.
I'm seven years old.
And I'm a comedian.
I'm gonna do a better job than you,
and I'm gonna win this.
I love my dad,
but sometimes, my dad
get on my nerves!
Oh! I forgot you were a baby.
Dang it. Yeah, I forgot.
[laughter]
- Yo, remember that time you peed in the bed?
[music fades]
[chuckles]
When it comes down to competing against my son,
there's no competition.
Dude, I'm a veteran.
My set was ready before you got born!
- I'm gonna win "America's Got Talent"
because I'm cute,
I got these dimples,
and I do have better jokes than him.
- How do you feel about going onstage?
- I'm kind of nervous because America's watching.
- Don't be nervous, 'cause you practiced all your life
for this.
All seven years, you practiced. [music fades]
Hunter, I love you,
but tonight is personal.
- All right. Let's make it happen.
Daddy first.
- * Eye of the tiger *
- Daddy gonna bring it.
I'ma teach you to respect your elders!
- Whoo!
[cheering] - Good evening.
- How y'all doing? - How are you?
What is your name? - I'm Gerald Kelly.
- What are you going to do for us?
- I'm a comedian. - Oh.
Have you been working during the pandemic?
- Well, during the pandemic, I started doing stand-up comedy
in my backyard. - Wow.
- We've had people in the neighborhood
that were my audience.
I charged a little fee. - Love that.
- You know what I'm saying? Social distancing.
Maybe a couple dollars to keep the lights on.
I got kids, man. I gotta take care of my children, man.
- Yeah. Good. - Good for you.
Okay, so can't wait to hear what you have.
[cheering]
- Any parents out here?
[cheering]
- Whoo-hoo! - Love being a parent.
Certain things about being a parent I don't like.
Like, I'm not the homework dad.
You ever get your child's homework and just stare at it
and make faces 'cause you don't know it?
[inhales deeply]
[exhales deeply]
"This the new math." [laughter]
"No, no, no. They didn't have this when I was in school.
You got the add and subtraction."
[laughter] - Yeah.
- One time, I did my son homework for him.
He came home, all the homework wrong.
I thought he had a fight. I said, "Man, why you crying?"
"The teacher gave me two zeroes."
I said, "How the hell you get two?"
"She said, 'One for me and one for you.'"
[laughter]
I have daughters.
Raising daughters is easier than sons.
My daughter go to school looking one way,
come home looking better.
But you ever pick your son up from school?
You can't even identify your son.
"How the hell you get a hole right here?"
[laughter]
And little boys never know nothing.
"I don't know. I just know it was chilly in my chest.
It was cold in my chest. I don't know what happened."
- It's true. [laughter]
- My little girl, she bring the report card home to me.
She posts it up. Little girls, they're very smart.
She put the report card on the refrigerator,
'cause she know Daddy going to the refrigerator.
[laughter] I open the refrigerator.
There was a note on the refrigerator.
"Hey, Daddy.
"I got all A's and a B-plus.
"This is the best I could've done.
"I love you, Daddy. I emailed you some copies.
"I faxed Grandma some copies and Grandpa some copies.
You're losing weight, Daddy." I'm like...
[laughter]
Little boys will never bring the report card home.
"They didn't give them out yet."
[laughter]
I'm like, "It's June!"
"That's what I said. I'm like, 'It's June.
Where my report card at?'"
[laughter]
Thank you, guys. Thank you so much.
- It was good. - I know!
- It was funny. - Whoo!
[wild cheering]
- That was a lot of fun. - Thank you.
- I really enjoyed it. - Thank you.
- I want to know what
the comedian here thinks.
- From the moment you walk out here, you're really likable,
and I think you got really good timing
and really good stage presence.
If I have any criticism, it's,
I didn't love the material as much as I love you.
- Thank you. I appreciate you.
Thanks, Howie. - Nah.
See, I liked the material.
What a change. - Heidi loves material.
- Well, it's also because,
I guess, I have two boys, two girls,
so I know exactly what you're talking about.
You are lovable. - Thank you.
- And I actually liked what you did.
Yeah. - And Simon?
- Well, it started off well,
and it didn't have that kind of dynamic end,
however, I actually was laughing.
And I think, you know, this is what the show's all about,
giving someone a break.
I think the audience at home are gonna really like you.
- Thank you. - Yes.
- Thank you. [cheering]
- I think you're adorable.
I think you can do this.
And I'm gonna be rooting for you,
so I'm gonna give you a yes.
[cheering] Howie?
- Yes. That's two yeses.
- Heidi.
- I like you. I'm gonna give you a yes.
- Thank you. - Simon.
- A million percent, yes.
- * So what a man gotta do? *
- Four yes! - Four yeses!
- * To be totally locked up by you? *
- Guys, thank you so much.
* *
- * What a man gotta do? *
- I liked him.
- Very likable.
But he was very nervous.
- When you were nervous when you were on television
or when you were on a runway-- - I'm still nervous.
You know, I still get nervous.
- And you're able to plow through it?
- I feel like it's a part of it.
- This is your time now.
Are you ready?
All right. Go make it happen, Lil Hunter.
Make it happen.
[cheering]
- Oh!
Whoa, whoa, whoa! - Aw.
[applause]
- Who are you?
- My name is Hunter Kelly.
- Oh, my God!
Is your dad Gerald?
- Yes. - Ah.
[laughter]
- Aw.
[cheering]
- Do you want to be a comedian
because your daddy is a comedian?
- Yes. - Are you better than your dad?
- Yes. I'm way better than my dad.
- Way better? - Oh, really?
[laughter] - Whoa!
- My dad is a great comedian,
but I'm gonna blow the house down
and I'm gonna be the first comedian
to win "America's Got Talent."
- Oh, my God.
The son and the father are
gonna be competing with each other.
[dramatic musical sting]
- Bring it on!
- My dad said, "Don't ever..."
[dramatic musical sting] - You went a little blank.
Didn't you? - Oh.
- I'm Gerald Kelly.
- A million percent, yes.
- Four yeses! - Yes!
- My name is Hunter Kelly.
- Oh, my God!
Is your dad Gerald?
- Yes. - Ah.
[laughter]
[cheering]
- Are you better than your dad?
- Yes, I'm way better than my dad.
- Way better? - Oh, really?
[laughter] - He sounds like Eric.
- What he can do different to be better?
- I think he needs more personality.
[laughter]
- You know that he got four yeses?
- I mean, he got four yeses because I helped.
all: Oh! - Oh, got it.
Oh, my God. How old are you?
- I'm seven years old.
- And you know already that you're adorable?
- Yes. [cheering]
- Oh, my God.
Okay, we're ready for you. We can't wait!
- Okay.
[cheering]
- Give it up for my dad.
[cheers and applause]
Gerald Kelly, the comedian.
I love that dude.
But he's a loser!
[laughter]
- What? - Why?
- [cackles] Oh, my God!
- I'm seven years old,
and we have the same job.
[laughter]
- So cute.
[wild cheering]
- I love that! - The other day,
he was like, "Hey, yo, Hunter,
are you going to work tonight?"
[laughter]
"If you going, I'm going!
We have the same job!" [laughter]
- Yeah. - Oh.
- Hey, Simon,
can you be my stepdad?
- Yes.
- Don't tell my dad. [laughter]
- Oh! - Aw!
- My dad said, "Don't ever, ever...
get in a car with a stranger."
But tonight we took a Uber here.
[laughter]
[cheering fades]
My name is Hunter Kelly.
[cheering]
I just don't want you to--
I--I just don't want you guys to forget my name.
- Aw.
- Oh, we'll never forget your name!
- Yes!
- So my dad is a comedian.
I guess you're wondering
who is my favorite comedian.
- Who?
- Kevin Hart!
[laughter]
- Oh. - Oh!
[cheering]
- That's my dude!
[laughter] In fact,
we both have a lot in common.
We're both funny.
And we're both the same height.
[laughter]
- Yeah. - Right.
- Well, I'm a little taller than Kev.
[laughter]
My name is Hunter Kelly.
America, I love y'all.
- That was good. I like this kid!
- We love you!
Bravo, Hunter!
[wild cheering]
- Yay, Hunter! - You're amazing.
- Whoo!
Incredible. Pow!
- Hunter, you are the most
adorable thing I've seen in a long time.
- Thank you. - You're fantastic.
Your comedic timing is unbelievable.
[cheering] Howie.
- You went a little blank, didn't you, for a second?
But I go blank all the time,
and you handled it like somebody like your dad,
who's been onstage for 30 years.
You picked it up!
You are showing such strength
beyond your years.
You are a star! - Thank you.
- Yes, yes. - Heidi.
- I just can't wait for you to be in this competition
and to go head-to-head with your daddy.
I think that's gonna be a lot of fun to watch.
- Thank you. - Simon, what did you think?
- I mean, I was really--
just really taken aback
because you are the same age as Eric,
and I'm going, "My God! You're seven years old."
I could see how much fun you were having.
I think you've got a fantastic opportunity here.
Genuinely, like your dad,
America's gonna fall in love with you.
- And no one is ever gonna forget your name,
for sure, so don't worry about that.
[laughter] We're gonna start voting.
Howie.
- Oh, definitely yes!
- Heidi. - Lil Hunter Kelly,
it's a yes from me!
- Yes from me, and--
- Uh...
[wild cheering]
I think that's about 4,000 yeses.
- * It takes two, baby *
* It takes two, baby *
* To make a dream come true *
- He's cute.
- Thank you. - * It does take two *
* *
- Oh, my God.
Aw.
[sighs]
- * It takes two, baby *
* To make a dream come true *
* *
* It does take two *
- Wow!
- Everybody, don't the judges
look amazing?
[cheering]
- There's Sofía! - Where is Sofía?
- She's right--look. - Really?
- This season's winner will walk away with
$1 million
and a starring role
in a show
at Las Vegas Luxor!
- [vocalizing]
- Oh, my gosh. I'm excited, y'all.
This is gonna be good.
* *
- All right. Let's get to it!
* *
- It's kind of gone quick, right?
- Time flies when you're having...
- Fun.
- Hey. How are y'all?
How you doing? - Hi, everyone!
- * Ooh *
- Hello there.
both: Hi. How are you?
- Tell us, who are you?
- My name is Tavis.
- My name is Julian. - And my name is Christoff.
all: And we are 1aChord.
- 1aChord. Okay. - Yes.
- So tell us, how did you all meet?
- We all actually just met
a month a half ago? - A month and a half ago.
- We met a month and a half ago.
- Where?
- Well, we go to UNC Greensboro
in North Carolina. - Yeah.
- We were all in the cafeteria
at the same time,
and we ended up just sitting at a table together
just by happenstance.
Julian happened to have on this hoodie, actually,
that had on different artists that we love.
And so, we just started talking about music
and artists that we like, you know, from everybody.
You name it: Beyoncé, Kelly-- - Whitney.
- Whitney Houston. - And so, we were like,
"Okay, let's think about some songs that we know."
And because we're all church babies, "One" came up.
We said, let's sing a little bit of that, and we did.
- And, listen, we're from the South,
so the lunch ladies came out, and they said,
"Sang, baby!" both: "Sang, baby!"
- They said, "Sang." - Yeah.
[laughter] - Yeah.
But now, we're here. - We're here.
- Whoa! - Ooh!
- That was like someone explaining a movie,
beginning to end,
in about 20 seconds.
- But amazingly. - [rambles]
- Yeah. Amazing, though.
Well, good luck to you guys.
all: Thank you so much.
[cheering]
- A month and a half ago, these guys didn't know each other.
- That is crazy. Yeah. - Isn't that crazy?
* *
- One, two, three.
[all vocalizing]
* *
- * When you try your best *
* But you don't succeed *
* *
- * When you get what you want *
* But not what you need *
* *
- * When you feel so tired *
* But you can't sleep *
all: * Stuck in reverse *
* *
* Lights will *
* Guide you *
* Home *
* And ignite *
* Your bones *
* I will try *
* To fix you *
* *
- Oh!
all: * I will try *
* *
* I will try *
* Tears stream *
* Down your face *
* I promise you *
* I will learn *
* From my mistakes *
* Tears stream *
* Down your face *
* And I *
* *
[music stops]
[wild cheering]
* *
- * Lights will *
* Guide you *
* Home *
all: * I will try *
* *
* To fix you *
[wild cheering]
- Wow. Fantastic.
- Amazing!
["Somewhere Only We Know" playing]
* *
- Incredible.
* *
- * I walked across *
* An empty land *
* I knew the pathway like the back of my hand *
- How did that feel?
Was that different than in your cafeteria in school?
- Absolutely. [laughter]
- I have a feeling this is the beginning
of an amazing journey for the three of you right here.
- Thank you so much. both: Thank you.
- Howie?
- You know, I thought you sounded
like so much more than what you are.
You're like a three-man choir.
Your harmonies are so powerful and so right-on.
- Thank you. - I've never been to church,
but I feel like I just went.
- Thank you. - Thank you.
* *
- I kept thinking,
if these kids are singing like this
and they only know each other
only for, like, a month and something,
imagine when they are really, like, working together
for a long time.
I mean, you guys,
it's like angels falling from the "AGT"...
X's. It's beautiful.
both: Thank you. [laughter]
- Thank you so much. - Simon.
- I mean, I kind of felt I was walking into heaven
for a moment, you know? - My Lord.
- You know what's so interesting?
You found each other
without, obviously, overthinking it,
and it has just simply worked.
I mean, everything about that audition, to me,
was pretty much perfect.
- Whoa! - We're happy to be here.
- Wow! - We're so happy to be here!
- Simon, do you want to start the vote?
- Obviously, it's a yes.
- Sofía.
- A super-yes from me!
- Yes.
- Third yes from me.
- Four yeses!
- * And if you have a minute, why don't we go? *
- Thank you so much.
[wild cheering]
- Bravo! - Congrats!
- * Somewhere only we know * - Thank you so much.
- Well done.
- Congrats! - Well done.
- That was amazing.
- We did it. - Yes!
- I cannot believe that,
and all four of them stood up.
That's crazy!
- Give Daddy a kiss. - Thank you, Buggy.
- That was so nice.
- Is that cool? It says,
"America's Got Talent."
[dramatic music] - All right, crews.
Please clear the stage. Clear the stage.
* *
- Here we go. 10 seconds. Thank you.
- All right. Let's get him mic'd up, please.
- Grab your seats, please.
[cheering]
- Hey, I would love for you to be a part
of what I'm about to do out there if you're cool with that.
- Whatever you need. - Awesome.
- Okay, here we go.
[sentimental music]
* *
- Hi. - What's up, guys?
- What's your name? - Hi.
My name's Dustin Tavella.
- And where are you from, Dustin?
- I live in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
- Who are you here with tonight?
- I'm here with my beautiful wife
and my beautiful son, Xander.
- Aw. - Hi!
- Aw, what a beautiful family.
- Thank you. - Wow.
- Oh, my God. He is cute.
- And what are you gonna do for us tonight?
- I'm gonna do a little bit of magic.
- Magic?
- Yes, sir.
- And why "AGT"?
- Because this is the greatest stage ever, man.
- That's not true-- - It is!
- Well, good luck. - Thank you.
So, Terry, if you could actually come out here
for a second. - All right.
[cheering]
- So before I came out here onstage,
I emailed Terry some pictures
from the most magical day of my life.
Now, he hasn't looked at the pictures yet,
but, Terry, I just want you to confirm
that you did, in fact, get that email from me.
- Let's see.
Okay, yes, I did. - All right. Perfect.
So I believe there are two kinds of magic.
The first is the kind
that you guys see performed on stages like this,
but there's a second kind,
and it's the most real,
and it's the most powerful magic that exists.
It's the magic that happens when one individual
makes a decision to positively impact
another human life forever.
And so, my goal tonight is
to combine these two kinds of magic,
starting with Heidi.
Heidi, in front of you, you have some flashcards.
You can see they're just pictures
of all different kids toys. - Yep.
- Can you flip that pile over
and give it a little bit of a mix?
- Oh, look at you. How good you are.
- Look at that. - Beautiful.
You're a professional.
- For the last year, I've been learning.
- Beautiful. [laughter]
That's perfect.
And what I'm gonna have you do is,
I'm gonna have you cut to a random card.
And hold that against your chest
so you don't see what you cut to yet. Cool.
Sofía, in front of you is a calendar
from February of 2020.
Can you pick up that marker?
And I want you to mark any day that you want.
Howie. - Yeah?
- I want you to give me a random last name.
The first last name that pops into your mind.
- Smith! - Smith?
Can you write down "Smith"
on that piece of paper in front of you?
- Okay.
- And Simon,
I'm gonna have you write down a time.
Make it pretty random.
The other judges can see what you write,
but it's important that I don't.
- Okay. - While he's doing that,
Terry, what would you say is, like, one word,
one inspiring word that you kind of carry with you,
that sums up your heart
and your passion?
- Power. Power. - Power?
I love that. Power.
Um, can you just keep that in mind?
- Yeah. - So, as you guys saw,
I have my wife and my son here.
Our son, Xander, is our world.
Um...
[sentimental music]
* *
We actually adopted him
when he was about two months old.
- Aw! - Aw, thank you.
[cheering]
Uh, he was...
He was in a pretty rocky situation,
and, um, the day that his birth mom asked
if we would raise her little boy
changed my life forever.
But, uh, there's a long, legal process
when it comes to adoption, and so,
the most magical day of my life
was the day that we stood before the judge
and for the first time, he pronounced our son,
Xander Dre Tavella,
an official and permanent part of our family.
[cheering]
Afterwards, the judge was super cool
and he gave Xander this little guy.
Heidi in the beginning, you spread through those cards,
you mixed them up. - Yeah.
- And you cut to just one. - Mm-hmm.
- For the first time, can you look at the card
that you cut to
and show everyone else?
* *
- What? - No.
- Yes. It is. - It's that.
Just that.
[applause] Thank you, guys.
So I sent you those pictures in the beginning.
Yeah, can you go ahead and open that email?
- All right.
- I think we're gonna bring them up on the screen.
If you look at that first picture,
you'll see that's just us in the courtroom with the judge
after he just approved us to be Xander's parents.
My son, like most kids, loves playing in cardboard boxes
more than playing with the actual toy.
And so the next picture is a box
that we had waiting for him when we got home.
Terry, can you read out loud
what's written on that box?
- It says,
"On February 21, 2020..."
[audience ohs]
"Judge Smith made Dustin and Kari
Mommy and Daddy." - Whoa!
[wild cheering]
- February 21st. - Whoa!
- Judge Smith.
- What?
- So, look, when we walked in the door
and we took this picture,
taken at a very special moment in time.
This was Xander's first moment home
as an official member of our family.
If you notice,
there's a clock in the background
that captured the time of this exact moment.
Simon, for the first time,
can you show everybody what time you wrote down?
7:04?
Terry, can you zoom in and tell me
what time is it in that picture?
- Oh, my goodness.
It is 7:04.
- [chuckles shyly] - Oh!
- That is so good.
- That's amazing! - Thank you, guys.
- That is so good. - Thank you.
[wild cheering] Thank you.
- * I don't quite know *
- There's actually one more thing.
Everything you guys have seen so far
has been that first kind of magic,
but I wanna end with the magic I was talking about,
where somebody makes a decision
to change someone's life forever,
no matter what it costs them.
My wife and I,
we're not the heroes of this story.
The real hero of this story and the person that I want to honor
is the woman who made the hardest decision
that any mother could ever have to make,
a decision to change the course of a little boy's future,
no matter what it cost her.
Terry, can you tell me what inspiring word did you pick?
- Power. - Power.
Um,
Terry, can you scroll down to that last picture?
You'll see Xander's birth mom, Zoey,
holding a sign that says "power."
- What?
[wild cheering] Whoa!
- Thank you.
- That is crazy!
- [sobbing]
- * Show me a garden * - Oh, my goodness.
- * That's bursting into life *
* *
- Thank you, guys.
* *
- Oh.
You can go ahead.
- That--that was amazing.
This was all-encompassing
of emotion,
inspiration,
magic.
You checked every box. - Thanks.
- * You keep me strong *
- I'm gobsmacked. I'm speechless.
- Thank you. - It's just unbelievable.
I loved it.
- Thank you so much.
* *
- This was, like, mesmerizing.
And I think you deserve
to be here more than anyone.
- Thank you so much. I appreciate that.
Thank you.
- All I can tell you is, Dustin,
for anyone who says they don't believe in magic,
hello?
There is. - * I will be your *
- I mean, come on! - * Your saving grace *
* Be my *
- Everything about this was perfection and magical
and my mind is slightly blown right now.
[laughter] - Simon, thank you.
[wild cheering]
- However, we have to vote.
- I'm gonna just start it 'cause I loved it. Yes.
[applause]
- It was super special.
It's a definite yes.
- Thank you, guys.
- I can't wait to see more of you. Yes.
- Thank you, guys.
- I think you know what's coming,
particularly for the fact you have magic powers.
You have four yeses.
- * When you lose your feet *
- Thank you guys so much. - * Fall down to your knees *
* And your heart's about to break *
* I will be your saving grace *
* When your eyes can't see *
* Take your eyes from me *
* When you're lost and losing faith *
- Aw, look!
The baby is so cute!
- * I will be your saving grace *
- I love you, buddy. - That was...
so amazing.
- * Be my saving grace *
- All right. Last act of the night, guys.
[cheering]
- I'm Sethward.
I'm 32 years old,
and I'm a performer.
This is my fourth time
being back at "America's Got Talent,"
and that's huge for me.
My name is
Sethward the Caterpillar. [buzzer]
- Sethward, it's four noes. Goodbye.
But...I'm a giraffe!
- That's the same guy? - That's the same guy.
[buzzer] - Three, two, one!
No!
- How did you come back each time?
Like, what's the process mentally?
I think that
failure is a part of life,
and taking that failure and learn from it,
and, you know, I've grown a lot.
I think my saving grace was
the community that banded behind me.
Online, there were people around the world
who thought it was great,
and honestly, that gives me the confidence
to get out there
and fly.
[hopeful music]
I think, for me to win, I have to show the judges
something that they've literally never seen before,
which is a big task.
But I think if I can just get past this round...
[cheering]
I think the sky's the limit.
* *
["Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30" playing]
* *
[music distorts] [squawking]
- What the hell is that?
* *
- What in the...
- A baby peacock, I think.
- I don't know if that's a baby.
- [squawks]
- That's a dude, I think, right?
- I can do that noise.
- [squawks] - I can...
- [squawks]
[both squawking]
- Okay, well, let's try this in...human.
[laughter] - [shrilly] Hello!
- Who are you? - It's me!
Sethward the Peacock!
[laughter] - Oh, God.
I know who he is. - It's Seth the Peacock.
- Me.
[loudly] Beautiful peacock!
[laughter] - Okay.
I know who you are. What are you...
What are you today? - What's wrong?
- I thought I saw a bug.
- Whoa! - Whoa.
- He saw a worm.
[buzzer] - [squawks]
- Wait! But he hasn't even started!
- Well, that's enough.
- [gasps]
- All right, good luck. Good luck.
Whatever you are, whatever you're gonna do,
good luck.
- All right. Come on, baby.
- Wait a minute.
Hold up. Hold up.
- Hold up. Hold up.
- Who are you? - Sofía.
- Sofía?
[laughter]
I haven't seen you around here before.
- Yeah, I'm new.
- Oh, wow. [laughter]
[sensual music]
* *
Before I start...
* *
Sofía.
* *
Do you want this? - No.
- Oh. [music fades]
You just wait!
["Sexy and I Know It" playing]
- Yeah! - You like?
You like that now?
- No. - Okay.
* *
[crunch] [groans]
[cheering]
Okay, okay.
We're gonna have to bring out the guns for you, so...
* *
[thud] [screaming]
- Oh!
No!
[laughter]
- Don't look at-- don't look at me!
Turn around! - I can't help it!
- [screams] My butt fell off!
- Oh! - What's going on?
- My butt fell off!
[buzzer]
- Next. - Wait.
But he did it on purpose.
* *
- [screams]
- * I'm sexy and I know it *
[wild cheering]
- This is amazing!
* *
[laughter]
* *
- And that's not all, baby. - There's more?
- You know what a lot of people don't know about peacocks?
They're the largest flying animal.
[squawks]
You want to see my talent?
[dramatic music]
- Yeah! Yes!
- "Talent"?
- What is he doing?
Oh, no.
- Oh, no. Oh, no.
- He can't fly without feathers.
[audience ohs]
* *
- I can fly! - No!
No, no, no! Stop it!
- Don't worry!
I'm a real peacock!
- Whoa! - No!
- No! Don't do it!
No!
- This is my dream!
- It's not worth it!
- It is worth it!
This is all I have, Howie! [laughter]
- You're not a bloody peacock!
- My butt fell off!
Let me have this! [laughter]
The peacock can fly!
[squawks]
[clapping rhythmically] - Peacock.
- [vocalizing]
- [squawks]
[squawks in slow-motion]
* *
[slam] [music fades]
- No!
[cheering fades] - No!
- Is he okay? - Oh.
- Is he okay?
- Dead. - Oh, no.
- Is he okay? - Are you all right, man?
- Peacock...
- [squawks]
[wild cheering] [squawks]
- He's fine. - What is wrong with you?
- No, it's not my best day.
[laughter]
- I'm sorry, Peacock.
- [moans] - Oh, my God.
- Oh, my God! I see-- - Oh, no!
No, no, no!
- * Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, yeah *
- No!
No!
* Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, yeah, yeah *
- Oh! Whoa!
Okay?
- * Yeah * - Oh...
- * Girl, look at that body *
* Girl, look at that body *
* Girl, look at that body, I work out *
[thud]
[laughter]
- This is my favorite act this year!
Oh, my God. - I tried so hard, Terry.
- I know. [laughter]
I'ma let them judge. Thank you.
- Okay, we're gonna have to judge you, no matter what.
- Please.
I'm begging you! [laughter]
- Peacock, this was a hot mess.
It really was.
- But a good kind?
[laughter]
- I loved this. - But...
But what do you love?
I mean, the whole thing was horrible.
[booing]
- Okay, let's vote.
- It's a yes from me.
- Yay!
- No. - Yes?
- I'm gonna have to say yes.
- Yay! - A yes for effort.
- [gasps]
- Come on, Heidi.
- With this one, I'm going to have to ask the audience.
- Yeah! - Yeah!
- What do you guys think?
[wild cheering] - Yeah!
- I would've normally said no, but everyone loved you,
so I'm gonna turn it into a yes for you.
- Yay! - * I'm sexy and I know it *
* *
- I...
I actually
don't think I can do this anymore.
[laughter]
* *
- Simon, is that a yes?
- Yes. Whatever. Anything.
- Thank you, judges!
It's my dream!
- Go home! Stop!
- I don't know how you did it,
but you made it, Peacock.
I don't know how he did that!
- You got your yes, man. You are in!
* *
[laughter] - This is season 16.
[laughter]
- I don't know how he did that.
How did he get a yes out of all of us?
He hypnotized us.
- Hey, that's it. That's it.
* *
- [squawks wearily]
- * I'm sexy and I know it *
- [moans]
[squawks]
Oh...