L-R: Howie Mandel and Sam Wills, aka Tape Face; Vivian Zink/NBC(LOS ANGELES) — The Judge Cuts continued on Tuesday’s edition of America’s Got Talent, with seven more acts advancing to the Live Rounds.
Mother-and-son dancers Alla and Daniel Novikov, singers Daniel Joyner and Brian Justin Crumb, magician Blake Vogt, comedian Tape Face and sideshow act Ryan Stock and AmberLynn all advanced. Malevo, an eight-man dance troupe from Argentina, was sent straight to the live shows via “the Golden Buzzer,” which is also back for this round.
Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Mel B were back behind the judges’ table to offer their opinions and decide which acts would advance. Helping them this week was comedian George Lopez.
Here’s a rundown of some of Tuesday’s highlights:
Alamo, Texas, native Daniel Joyner, 17, crooned Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good.” Howie commented that Daniel brought “cheesiness to another level,” but in a positive way. Lopez preferred to call it “showmanship,” while Mel B called it “hot.”
Magician Blake Vogt borrowed a $100 bill from George and a one dollar bill from Howie. After tearing off a corner off each, Vogt ate the bills and regurgitated them with each edge attached to the opposite bill. All five judges were impressed, including Simon, who called it “a great, great” second audition.
Mother-and-son dance team Alla and Daniel Novikov — ages 32 and eight, respectively — won over the judges with their routine to Pitbull’s “Fireball.” Simon warned that only seven of Tuesday’s acts would go through, but believed America could get behind the duo.
Tape Face is a comic mime who performs with his mouth taped shut. His act included placing pieces of tape on Howie’s shirt to form a set of eyes and a nose. Then, while standing behind Mandel, he stretched his arms around the judge’s stomach, completing the face with the open side of a mailing envelope as the mouth, opening and closing to Elvis Presley’s “Return to Sender.” Simon compared Tape Face to classic silent comics Charlie Chaplain and Mr. Bean.
Argentinian dance troupe Malevo combined dance, acrobatics and drums into their routine, which drew a standing ovation from the judges. Simon called the act “brilliant.” Lopez didn’t comment, but pressed his Golden Buzzer, sending the act straight through to the live shows.
Ryan Stock was assisted by his wife AmberLynn as he performed a series of dangerous stunts, including extinguishing a blowtorch with his tongue, balancing a running chainsaw on his teeth and swallowing a long drill. Cowell called the act “a human horror movie.” Heidi found the act hard to watch, insisting she couldn’t “join the fan club.”
Finally, singer Brian Justin Crum brought the house down with his emotional version of Radiohead’s “Creep.” Howie called it a “moving performance.” Heidi declared Justin was one of the best singers on the show this season.
America’s Got Talent returns Wednesday at 8 p.m. Eastern time on NBC.
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