Home Q News Entertainment “America’s Got Talent”: The Semifinals Rounds Kick Off in Los Angeles

“America’s Got Talent”: The Semifinals Rounds Kick Off in Los Angeles

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Comedian Tape Face performs on “America’s Got Talent”; Trae Patton/NBC(LOS ANGELES) — America’s Got Talent kicked off its semifinals rounds at Hollywood’s Dolby Theater Tuesday night, with 11 quarterfinalists relying on fan votes to see which five of them would advance to the finals. Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Mel B were treated to performances from singers, magicians, comedians and dancers, all introduced by host Nick Cannon.

Here’s a rundown of some of Tuesday’s highlights:

Edgar, a family band featuring Nikki and Rich Edgar and their daughter Jaslyn, performed Rascal Flatts’ “Bless the Broken Road,” bringing the judges to their feet. Simon called the trio one of the most improved acts in the competition.

The 2016 Rio Olympics was one of the topics comedienne Lori Mae Hernandez, 12, tackled during her routine, in particular, USA gymnast Laurie Hernandez, who shares her name. Lori also poked fun at the judges and even Nick Cannon, joking that she outgrew her Barbie dolls “like Mariah [Carey] outgrew Nick.” Mandel called her a star, but thought her material needed work. Cowell called Tuesday’s performance her best so far, adding that Hernandez is “edgy and…fearless.”

Husband and wife knife-throwing act, Deadly Games, added whips and arrows to their routine, with Alfredo Silva using a crossbow to shoot balloons dangling from his wife Anna’s hands and mouth. Howie called the act “thrilling” and “sexy.” Mel B declared it the best performance of the night.

Comic mime Tape Face called an audience member to the stage and placed balloons between the volunteer’s arms and legs, as well as his own. The two proceeded to have a western-style shootout using staple guns, as the well known tune from Pulp Fiction — “Misirlou” by Dick Dale & His Del-Tones — played behind them.

National Football League star and magician Jon Dorenbos took the stage with a Velcro map of the United States behind him and had each judge throw a football, which stuck on random states. From a locked box, he pulled out coins with the names of the judges’ states, followed by a map with the judges faces stuck to the corresponding states. Heidi called it Jon’s best trick to date. Simon hailed Dorenbos as “a genius.”

Grace VanderWaal, a 12-year-old singer, songwriter and ukulele player wowed all four judges, as well as the audience, with an original tune. Mel B declared that the tween is “already a superstar.”

Young opera singer Laura Bretan dedicated Tuesday’s aria to her grandfather, who passed away earlier this year. Simon felt it was Laura’s best performance and said that if she’s not in the finals, something went wrong. Howie said he felt the 14-year-old’s heart.

America’s Got Talent returns Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.