[helicopter blades whirring]
[Pink's "Courage"]
♪ ♪
- This show is about the American Dream.
You get one shot up here to become a star.
[echoing] Star...star...
- ♪ Have I the courage to change ♪
- You came out here, and then it was just, bam!
- Whoa!
- ♪ The courage to change ♪
- You let us have it.
- ♪ Have I the courage to change ♪
- I love you guys.
- ♪ Have I the courage to change ♪
♪ Have I the courage to change ♪
- Whoa!
- ♪ He's no good ♪
- I couldn't listen to that any longer.
At this stage, you're either ready or you're not.
Do you think you're good enough
to win this entire competition?
- Hit it.
- ♪ Have I the courage to change ♪
- You've got something special about you.
- ♪ Have I the courage to change ♪
- We are going to invite you to join us
at the Dolby Theatre
Now you are so close
to winning a headline show
in Vegas.
- ♪ Today ♪
[dramatic music]
[cheers and applause]
♪ ♪
- ♪ Have I the courage to change ♪
♪ The courage to change ♪
♪ Have I the courage to change ♪
- Welcome to "America's Got Talent," Judge Cuts,
from Universal Studios in the heart of Los Angeles,
and now it's time to welcome
our very special guest judge,
Hollywood actress, comedian and writer,
it's the lovely Ellie Kemper.
[cheers and applause]
- ♪ American woman ♪
♪ Stay away from me ♪
- Are you kidding me?
- Yes, yes, yes, yes.
- ♪ American woman ♪
♪ Mama let me be ♪
♪ American woman ♪
♪ Get away from me ♪
♪ American woman ♪
- Welcome to the Judge Cuts, Ellie.
- I am so thrilled to be here.
I am such a fan of the show.
I have the best seat in the house.
I'm elated. Thank you for having me.
- Now, Ellie, this season's winner
will walk away with $1 million
and a headline show at the Paris Hotel & Casino
in Las Vegas.
[cheers and applause] That's huge!
Simon, can you break down what's gonna happen
right here tonight?
- There is a lot at stake here.
There are 18 acts.
We select 7 out of the 18 to go to the Dolby live shows.
Good luck.
[cheers and applause]
♪ ♪
- Now, Ellie, tonight you get your own Golden Buzzer.
- I kinda want to do a test run.
Is that--is that okay? - Oh, that's all good.
- And one, two.
- ♪ American woman ♪
♪ Get away from me ♪
♪ American woman ♪
- All right, everyone ready to get this show started?
- Yes! - Let's do this!
It's Judge Cuts!
♪ ♪
- Here we go. - Here we go.
- All right. - All right.
- Yeah, let's get this show on the road.
[cheers and applause]
- The beautiful Ellie Kemper.
- Oh, my gosh, hi. - Hey. Oh, and there's Gabs.
- Oh, there she is. We're all here.
- We're all here. - We're just hanging out.
- Oh, my gosh. Okay.
- Can wait to see it.
- All right, here we go, gang. Here we go.
- This is so exciting.
- It's fun. - It's, like, starting.
- [indistinct] - All right, here we go.
- Oh, this guy's great. - Oh, I remember--
- Hi. [chuckling] Yeah.
- Hello! - Hey, how are you?
- Welcome back. - Thank you.
- So you had an incredible first audition.
What does this mean for you if you could make it
to the live shows?
- I've been working at this for 40 years,
and, you know, this is my break.
- Yeah, yeah.
- I'm Greg Morton, I'm 60 years old,
and I'm a comedic entertainer.
When I was a kid,
I discovered that I had this talent.
I started entertaining kids on the bus all the time.
[cartoon-y voice] Thanks for the power.
My dream is a show in Vegas, because I didn't feel like
I really fit in anywhere else, you know?
You know, I'm not just a comedian.
You know, I'm an entertainer,
but it has not been an easy road for me,
and I always worry where the next gig is coming from.
And then "AGT" comes along.
[imitating Emperor Palpatine] Yes, young Skywalker.
[imitating Yoda] Do or do not. There is no try.
Yes!
[imitating Chewbacca's growl]
[cheers and applause]
- That was actually a very special moment, Greg.
Never seen anything like that.
- It felt like someone really gets me.
I mean, it touched me, yeah.
- ♪ I reach my hands out ♪ - [laughs]
I'm in Universal Studios!
There it is, that's the clock tower
from "Back to the Future."
Being here at Universal Studios, wow, I mean,
there's so much history.
Oh, Steven Spielberg Drive.
And Universal Studios has really inspired
the set that I'm gonna do for the Judge Cuts.
♪ ♪
I've created something that I've never done before.
I feel like if I show them that I'm taking a risk,
then it proves to them that I really want this.
I just really need this "AGT" thing to work out.
[cheers and applause]
- What did you do to step up your game?
- Well, this time I created a whole new thing,
something I've never done before.
I'm gonna go full-on. - Ooh.
- Yeah. [cheers and applause]
- All right, let's see what you've got.
- Thank you.
What I'd like to do is I'd like to share with you
some of my favorite movie moments.
Here we go.
[gentle music]
[imitating John Hammond] Welcome to Jurassic Park.
[imitating dinosaur wail]
[imitating loud stomping]
♪ ♪
[imitating dinosaur wail]
[imitating Adrian Cronauer] Good morning, Vietnam!
- Oh, Robin.
- [imitating Doc Brown]
Great Scott!
Come on, Marty, it's time to go back to the future!
[imitating Buzz Lightyear]
To infinity and beyond!
[imitating E.T.]
E.T. phone home.
- [laughs]
- [imitating Daffy Duck]
Duck Dodgers
of the 24th and a half century!
[imitating Gizmo's chittering]
Mogwai, Mogwai.
- That's me. that's me.
- Wait, they're Gremlins! Don't get them wet!
[imitates water splashing]
[imitates Gremlins snarling]
♪ Hi-ho ♪
[imitating Tony Montana] Say hello to my little friend.
[imitating Munchkins] Follow the yellow brick road.
[imitating the Cowardly Lion] I don't wanna.
[laughs] I don't have any courage.
[imitating the Scarecrow]
Or a brain.
[imitating the Tin Man]
Or a heart.
[imitating scared man] What are you?
[imitating Batman] I'm Batman.
[imitating Neville Flynn] I'm getting sick and tired
of these monkey-fighting snakes
in this Monday-to-Friday plane!
[laughter]
[imitating Gollum] Yes, my precious.
The fat Hobbitses stole it from Sméagol.
[imitating Gandalf] You shall not pass!
[makes crashing sound]
[cheers and applause] - Hey!
[wild cheering]
[triumphant music]
♪ ♪
What?
- That was amazing. - That was fun.
- It's like going to the movies.
- Right.
- First of all, you know I'm a huge fan,
and you made me even a bigger fan because
you know you did me, right? - Yeah.
- I'm Gizmo from "Gremlins," so...
[imitating Gizmo] Mogwai.
It's me and you did me perfectly.
- [imitating Bobby Generic] Um, my name is Bobby.
- [imitating Bobby Generic] I'm Bobby too.
[cheers and applause]
- I love it. It was like an in memoriam.
You know, the sequence that they show
when people have died at The Oscars,
but upbeat and at lightning speed.
It was just brilliant. - Me, I was in there.
- Oh, you were in there. - I was there.
- He's alive. - Oh, you're alive and well.
- I'm okay. - I think, yeah.
[cheers and applause]
- This takes me back to the beginning
of "America's Got Talent," this act,
which was genuinely believing
there were people out there like you
who had this great talent,
but where do you showcase your talent
to the whole of America?
And I do think you deserve this opportunity
to be at the Dolby Theatre.
[cheers and applause] - Thank you.
- We have 18 acts,
and only 7 can go through,
and when you said that you tried a whole new act,
I went, "Oh, no, that is a big risk,"
and then you nailed it completely.
That risk was worth it. - Thank you.
- It was unbelievable. - Thank you so much.
Thank you.
♪ ♪
- I want him to do well so badly.
- I know, I really love him.
- How do you feel right now? - I'm happy.
- Yes, you are.
- You're doing great, by the way.
- Thank you for saying that.
That makes me feel better.
You guys couldn't be nicer.
- I wanna hear y'all
make some noise!
- You tore the house down!
- Oh, my word!
- You came out here,
and then it was just, bam!
- You haven't seen nothing.
- I do believe this is what
"America's Got Talent"
is all about.
- I'm about to cry.
I thought it was beautiful.
.
- Ellie, I think your seat
is lowering.
- It's getting lower.
Wait, should I stand up?
- Yeah.
- Oh.
How's this?
Does this seem fine?
- It's just when I looked past
Gabrielle to you,
it was you and Ellie going,
"This is much easier
than I thought it would be."
[laughter]
[cheers and applause]
- Hey!
How y'all doing?
- Uh-oh.
- Oh, remember her?
- Oh, I love her!
- She was a background singer
that can sing her face off.
- Hey, people.
- Hello.
- So, Carmen, how has
life changed for you
since you were
on the auditions?
- Well, I sleep better.
- Really?
- Yes, all of the comments
that you all made,
they were fantastic.
It was a boost because--
- Was that unexpected, to be--
- Well, I don't know.
You don't know what people
think, you know what I mean?
So to get that acclaim,
that was cool.
[cheers and applause]
In my early 20s, I really
had dreams of being a star,
but I just couldn't go
to that next level.
[somber music]
I'm so grateful
that background work
could provide for my family,
but it's always been like,
you know,
what if I could become
a solo singer?
[vocalizing]
- I think you have
an amazing voice,
and there has
never been a person
who has ever bought
a record they love
based on how old
or how big the artist is.
- For Simon to say that,
see, I'm getting
emotional right now.
It just...[exhales]
It touched me
in a whole different way.
It felt like...
I don't know.
♪ ♪
Simon's comment made me,
you know,
realize it was
never too later.
It's never too late.
There's nothing
to stop me now.
It's my time.
That's why I'm here.
I want this so bad,
I really do,
and I'm ready.
[cheers and applause]
- All right, well, Carmen...
- Yes?
- I cannot wait to see it.
Let's go.
- Okay, we're ready now.
One, two, three, hit it.
["Come Together" begins]
Come on, "AGT"!
- Hey!
I wanna hear y'all
make some noise!
[all cheering]
All right.
"AGT," are you ready?
- Ready!
- Well, let me hear you
say yeah.
all: Yeah!
- Say yeah.
all: Yeah!
- Say yeah.
- Yeah!
♪ Oh yeah, yeah ♪
Check this out.
♪ Here come old flat top ♪
♪ He come grooving up slowly ♪
♪ He got joo-joo eyeballs ♪
♪ He one holy roller ♪
♪ He got hair down
to his knees ♪
♪ Got to be a joker ♪
♪ 'Cause he do what he please ♪
♪ Come on y'all ♪
- Oh. My chair--
- [laughs]
- [vocalizing]
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
Now this is for you guys
in the back, check it.
♪ He wear no shoeshine ♪
♪ He got toe jam football ♪
♪ He got monkey finger ♪
♪ He shoot Coca-Cola ♪
♪ He say I know you ♪
♪ You know me ♪
♪ One thing I can tell you ♪
♪ Is you got to be free ♪
♪ Come together ♪
♪ Right now ♪
♪ Over me, yeah, yeah ♪
- Whoo!
- [vocalizing]
♪ Come together ♪
Come on.
♪ Right now ♪
♪ Yes better come together ♪
♪ Right now ♪
♪ I said come together ♪
♪ Right now ♪
♪ Over me ♪
- Yeah!
- [holding note]
[wild cheering]
Carmen Carter,
remember that name.
[cheers and applause]
- ♪ I remember me ♪
♪ I remember me ♪
♪ It don't matter
where I go ♪
- She rocked that.
- ♪ I remember me ♪
- Standing O.
It's crazy.
- ♪ I remember me ♪
♪ Even if I say good-bye ♪
♪ Start to cry,
do or die ♪
- I broke my chair
in a fit of ecstasy.
I sank to the ground.
That was unbelievable.
It was so--
you felt it in your heart,
in your soul.
Bravo.
So beautiful.
Carmen Carter!
- Thank you.
[cheers and applause]
- Even though
it wasn't perfect,
your voice is outstanding.
- Thank you.
- But you can't just keep
doing cover versions
and expect everything
to materialize.
[scattered grumbling]
That's the only thing,
in my opinion, you're lacking.
But we'll see.
Good luck.
[cheers and applause]
- Tell you what I know.
You are amazingly talented.
You are truly worthy
of going through,
but we have the toughest job
because it depends
on what everybody else
delivers tonight,
but good luck.
- Thank you.
I appreciate it.
- ♪ I remember me ♪
♪ I remember me ♪
- Carmen Carter!
- All right!
Oh, my God.
- Hey!
- Carmen. Carmen.
- She's amazing.
- Yeah, but we have
a lot more to go.
- ♪ I remember me ♪
.
- There are a lot
of great acts tonight.
- Who's next?
- Oh, you're gonna
love this one.
This is a great illusionist.
- Oh, I'm so excited
to see it.
- ♪ I'm so excited ♪
- Nicholas Wallace,
welcome back.
What have you decided to do
to, like, step it up?
- Well, I'm gonna be a little
more hands-on this time.
- Good luck.
- I'm gonna invite Terry
to join me out onstage.
Terry Crews,
ladies and gentlemen.
[cheers and applause]
Now, Terry,
what I want you to do
is I want you to imagine
one famous location.
[voice fading] We're gonna
go on a mental journey.
Just let your eyes close.
[echoing] Eyes close,
eyes close, eyes close.
Take a deep breath in.
Imagine yourself
floating around the globe.
[echoing]
The globe, the globe.
Project an image of this
location to me.
[echoing]
To me, to me, to me.
Okay, Terry,
I want you to tell us,
where are you imagining
that you are?
- Statue of Liberty.
- Have a look.
Give Terry Crews
a big round of applause.
- That's great!
[cheers and applause]
- Uh, I thought it was
quite boring actually.
- Your feat was amazing
and unexplainable,
but not the way
you presented it.
So we'll see what happens.
- Thank you, thanks.
- I was losing focus already
when he was explaining it.
He's got to be zippier.
- I was bored out of my mind.
I was bored
out of my mind.
[cheers and applause]
- Hi, welcome back.
Tell us your name
and your dog's name.
- I'm Ray Underwood.
This is Magic.
- We're excited to see what
you've got in store for us.
[gentle classical music]
♪ ♪
- Yeah, he's got to get
that audience going.
- Mm-hmm.
♪ ♪
- I always say, you know,
I like to watch the audience
watching an act
because it tells me everything.
I'm not sure if that
is good news for you.
We'll find out later.
- Thank you.
- Yes, thank you so much.
- Thank you very much.
- Thank you.
- Julianne, that reminded me
of being at school.
It was so boring,
I would literally...
- Be so bored, yeah.
- Switch off.
- I'm nervous.
- Yeah.
- When Gonzo saw a tambourine
for the first time,
he fell in love.
[laughter]
[rattling gently]
- Whoo!
- When Gonzo plays, he and
the tambourine become one.
It is a spiritual experience.
- ♪ Took my chances ♪
[cheers and applause]
- To do that song
in a thong,
I love you!
- This time Gonzo is
stepping up his performance
by bringing traditional
Japanese karate moves.
- [grunting]
- Tonight, there's
no room for mistakes.
- America, are you ready?
Let's go!
- ♪ Of the tiger ♪
[cheers and applause]
- Oh, this one.
- I like his bodyguard.
- This guy's great.
- Ohh.
- Welcome back.
- I will be back.
- No, you are back.
- You are back.
- Now back.
- Yes, now back.
- Okay, your name is...?
[both speaking Japanese]
- My name is Gonzo.
[cheers and applause]
- [laughs]
- Do you still think
you can win?
- Of course.
[cheers and applause]
- The next two minutes
are all yours.
- [speaking Japanese]
- I seize the two minutes.
- Thank you.
[cheers and applause]
[traditional Japanese music]
♪ ♪
[tambourine rattling]
♪ ♪
[Bonnie Tyler's
"Holding Out for a Hero"]
- Oh, my gosh!
- ♪ Somewhere after midnight ♪
♪ In my wildest fantasy ♪
♪ Somewhere just beyond
my reach ♪
♪ There's someone
reaching back for me ♪
♪ Racing on the thunder ♪
♪ And rising with heat ♪
♪ It's gonna take
a superman ♪
♪ To sweep me off my feet ♪
♪ I need a hero ♪
♪ I'm holding out for a hero
till the end of the night ♪
♪ He's gotta be sure
and he's gotta be soon ♪
♪ Gotta be larger than life ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Larger than life ♪
- Whoa!
- ♪ I'm holding out
for a hero ♪
- Ohh!
- ♪ Till the end
of the night ♪
♪ ♪
[thunder crackles]
[cheers and applause]
[Peaches & Herb's
"Shake Your Groove Thing"]
- Aww. Aww.
So good.
- Gonzo, thank you.
Julianne.
- I gotta be honest.
Everybody was sleeping
before you came out here.
I'm not kidding.
I mean, I saw this kid
over here put his shirt
over his head
'cause he was trying to yawn,
and then you came out here,
and then it was just, bam!
- ♪ Shake your groove thing ♪
- I love it.
- ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪
- Howie, what did you think
of Gonzo's performance?
- See, this is what
is speak about constantly,
the element of surprise and
raising it to another level
and just that
ending death stare,
which was just--
♪ ♪
- That's a hard stare.
- Whoa!
- Every time! Every time!
- [speaking Japanese]
- That's secret weapon.
- I know.
- Okay, Gabrielle,
what did you think?
- I mean, as much as
I love this performance,
I don't think it was better
than the first time.
The thing I'm missing most
that you gave us
in the first audition
was your nakedness,
and I feel like
you did yourself a disserve
by covering up.
That's all I'm gonna say.
- Open?
- No, no, no, no.
[laughter and cheers]
- Oh, my God.
- ♪ Strut our stuff ♪
- That's as far as
we need to go, Gonzo.
- That's it.
- Oh, oh.
- Ah, I've got
to be honest with you.
I would be sorry to lose you.
- Ah.
- But I'm gonna ask
the audience,
would you put Gonzo through
to the finals?
[wild cheering]
- ♪ Shake your groove thing,
yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Show 'em how we do it now ♪
♪ ♪
- Okay, we'll be talking
about you later.
♪ ♪
- ♪ Funky sounds,
wall to wall ♪
- [indistinct]
[gong blares]
Oh, oh, sorry!
- [screaming]
- I'm gonna be
really honest with you.
- You like that one?
- I loved him.
I'm in a good mood.
♪ ♪
- I would pay to see this
in Vegas.
[buzzer]
- I'm gonna kill him.
- I think you could be stars.
[cheers and applause]
.
[gentle piano music].
- What are you looking for
in a Golden Buzzer?
- Someone who wows the crowd,
who wows me,
and has a special--
I don't want to say energy--
charisma.
That's what I'm looking for.
Listen, might not know
until it happens.
- Man, it would be so cool if
we got the Golden Buzzer, yeah.
- Got it, okay.
[cheers and applause]
- Oh-oh!
- Welcome back.
Let's start with
the introduction again, please.
- We are Revolution,
the Queens of Malambo.
We are from Argentina,
Buenos Aires.
- I really do remember
very well this first audition.
You had an amazing energy.
[dramatic rock music]
- Whoo!
- You guys danced
for your life.
It was beautiful to see.
Thank you for your performance.
- Thank you.
[cheers and applause]
- So where are you
gonna step things up
from your first audition?
- We've been working hard,
practicing a lot,
to make this presentation even
better than the previous one.
- Yeah.
- So we bring to you
something new.
- Well, there's
about a thousand of us
judging you tonight,
so good luck.
- Thank you so much.
- Yes, you got this.
[cheers and applause]
- All right, well, I hope
they brought their "A" game.
[dramatic percussive music]
♪ ♪
- Yeah.
Whoo!
- Whoa, fire!
♪ ♪
Oh, I love this.
♪ ♪
- This is crazy.
♪ ♪
[wild cheering]
[gentle music]
- You literally lit
the stage on fire.
"I am woman.
Hear me roar."
I absolutely loved it.
- Yes!
- Way to go.
- Thank you.
[cheers and applause]
- This is a great act, and
I think what you do is unique.
It's powerful.
I think this is a step up
from the first audition.
This is good.
[cheers and applause]
♪ ♪
- Man, the level of talent
tonight has been incredible.
- I know, it's so unique.
How do you top that?
Imagine what they're
gonna think about me.
- Right.
- 'Cause it's just me
and the guitar.
-Like, between the drums
and the music and the fire...
- There was so much happening,
so much going on.
- Yeah.
- But we don't really have
anything like them at all.
[cheers and applause]
- Oh, remember this guy?
- Hello.
- Welcome back.
- Marcin had
an unbelievable audition.
- Thank you.
- I mean, we were on our feet.
It was so good.
[lively guitar music]
- Wow.
You've just demonstrated
what that thing
was actually invented for,
so respect.
That was amazing.
- So what have you done
this time around
to step up the game?
- I was very pleased
with the audition.
Simon noticed
flamenco influences,
which I was extremely
happy about,
so I kind of zoned in on that
and made a very,
very difficult performance.
You know, I think it's gonna
be pretty interesting.
- What does it mean
for you to be here?
- So, I mean, it means
absolutely everything,
and two days ago
was my high school graduation
back in Poland,
which I missed.
- Aww.
- Yeah, so it's very sad,
but I'm here for this,
and I hope it's going to be
a great show, you know?
- Oh, I'm so excited
to see it.
Take it away.
- Thank you, yeah.
- I hope he does well.
- He's a nice guy.
- He's really lovely.
[strumming, tuning]
[percussive strumming]
♪ ♪
[lively music]
♪ ♪
- Whoa!
♪ ♪
- Whoo!
- Oh, my God.
♪ ♪
- Ohh!
♪ ♪
[music crescendos]
[cheers and applause]
♪ ♪
- Ahh!
- Ohh!
- Wow.
♪ ♪
- I mean...
[music slows]
[rapid playing]
- Oh!
- Ahh!
- Wow.
[wild cheering]
[Ed Sheeran's
"Castle on the Hill"]
♪ ♪
- You have just
witnessed greatness.
♪ ♪
- Whoo-hoo-hoo!
- Thank you so much.
- Gabs!
- I mean, rock star.
You are unique
and dynamic and explosive,
and you did not disappoint,
young man.
Way to go.
- Thank you so much.
Thank you.
♪ ♪
- Simon.
- I think the fact that
you actually got the reaction
you just got
without anything around you
other than just you,
the guitar,
and a couple wires
just really tells us
what an amazing talent
you have,
because there's
no question or doubt,
I mean, in terms of musicians,
you're one of the best
I've ever heard.
- Thank you for saying that.
[cheers and applause]
- I think that's
part of what I loved
is it was seemingly simple.
I mean, you have an instrument,
you have some wires
and you have you.
- Right.
- I think the fact that you
completely moved this audience
with just that speaks volumes,
and you're a virtuoso,
you're an artist,
you're a genius in this way.
[cheers and applause]
- Marcin, I was
so blown away last time.
I think you are
an absolute natural.
I feel like you appeal
to everyone.
I also am gonna go out
on a whim and say this.
I think you have a shot
to win this whole thing.
- Thank you so much.
- ♪ I'm on my way ♪
♪ Driving at 90 down those ♪
- I don't know what to say.
- Well, we'll be
finding out later.
See you later, and thank you.
- ♪ I miss the way
you make me feel ♪
- You got out on a limb,
not a whim.
- A whim?
- No, a limb.
- [laughs]
Whoops!
[laughter]
- Julianne said that you
could win this whole thing.
- Well, this just motivates me
for the next stage,
if I go through,
then I definitely
need to step it up,
and I have some
pretty good ideas,
some fun ways
to step it up, so...
- Awesome.
- ♪ On the hill ♪
.
- ♪ This thing called love ♪
♪ I just can't handle it ♪
♪ I ain't ready ♪
♪ Crazy little thing
called love ♪
- Look, Jacob, all I would say
is you're very talented,
but I think this is as good
as your first audition.
- No.
- This is gonna be
a tricky one for me.
- I was disappointed.
His first one was so good.
- Patrizio,
this is the Judge Cuts.
What do you have for us now?
- I can tell you, but yeah,
I will surprise them.
- I understand,
it's a surprise.
- Yeah, right.
- It's a surprise.
[electronic music]
- You are amazingly talented.
But this was not
a step up.
♪ ♪
This was less of
a dazzling performance
as your first one.
[audience boos]
That was disappointing 'cause
I liked him the first time.
- I think there's a lot
of acts we've seen
where you go, "First time
great, second time..."
- Oh, my God.
I cannot believe it.
I know what it's like
when things go really bad.
[upbeat music]
- Okay, okay.
Ansley, Ansley.
I don't think this backing
track was working for you.
I mean, it was a horrible,
horrible backing track.
[audience awws]
- My first audition, ugh!
Oh, my Lord.
I thought it's all over.
It's done.
- Do you want some water?
- Uh, yeah.
I thought I was gonna die.
I was so scared.
- This will help.
[cheers and applause]
- Oh, my God.
- It's my magic water.
It's yours.
- They let me sing it again
without the music.
♪ I ain't no psychiatrist ♪
♪ I ain't no doctor
with degrees ♪
- You're a little fighter,
aren't you Ansley?
[cheers and applause]
- They liked it.
And I flipped out,
and now, guess what,
I made it to L.A.
[chuckles]
Yeah, it's different.
It's something
I'm not used to,
and I'm just little Ansley
from Easley, South Carolina,
but I have one thing.
There's no sweet tea
anywhere, which is crazy.
This is the biggest
opportunity ever,
but there's only seven spots,
so I'm stepping it up,
and I want to make sure
that it sounds perfect,
because I don't want
to be stopped again.
- Yeah. [chuckles]
Yeah. Eh.
[laughter]
[cheers and applause]
- I remember this little girl.
- Oh.
- She's, like, super cute,
and she's got the real
thick southern accent.
- You're back.
- I'm back.
- And just tell us
your name again.
- Ansley Burns.
- [southern accent]
And Ansley Burns,
tell me where you're
from in America.
- South Carolina.
[scattered applause]
And just remind us
how old you are.
- I'm 12 years old.
- Okay.
So tell me
about what it's been like
being in L.A.
I'm curious.
- Well, it's different.
Definitely.
- Yes.
[laughter]
- When I came back home
from my audition,
my mama's friend,
they were talking
about all the traffic
going on.
I'm just like,
"You haven't seen nothing."
[laughter]
- Wow.
- Like...
- Seen it all.
[cheers and applause]
- From my memory,
you're very talented.
So I'm excited to hear
what you're gonna do.
- Okay.
- Good luck.
[cheers and applause]
["Good Girl" begins]
♪ ♪
- ♪ Hey, good girl ♪
♪ With your head
in the clouds ♪
♪ I bet you I can tell you ♪
♪ What you're thinkin' about ♪
♪ His lips are dripping honey ♪
♪ But I'll sting you
like a bee ♪
♪ Hey good girl
get out while you can ♪
♪ I know you think
you got a good man ♪
♪ Why it's just
a matter of time ♪
♪ Till you find ♪
♪ He's low ♪
♪ ♪
♪ He's no good ♪
- Ansley, Ansley, sorry.
Uh, the track actually was
overwhelming you like before,
and it was pushing
your vocals so much,
but when you came down
in tone and tempo,
and I really liked
your voice at that point,
can you just do the second half
of the song a cappella?
And make it your version.
I don't want to hear that
kind of push in your vocals,
because it's going off-key
a little bit.
- Okay.
Um, okay.
I gotta think real quick.
[chuckles]
Okay.
♪ Why ♪
♪ Why you gotta be so blind ♪
♪ Won't you open up
your eyes ♪
♪ It's just a matter of time ♪
♪ Till you find ♪
♪ He's no good ♪
♪ Won't you open up
your eyes ♪
♪ It's just a matter of time ♪
♪ Till you find ♪
♪ He's no good girl ♪
♪ No good for you ♪
♪ You better get to getting
on your good-bye shoes ♪
[wild cheering]
[gentle music]
- Whoo!
- Yeah, yeah.
- Oh, the girl can sing.
No doubt.
♪ ♪
- You know what's
awesome about you?
Simon was like, "A cappella,"
and you're like, "Okay."
And you did it
at your audition,
and here you are again
taking that gamble
and blew it out of the water.
- Thank you.
- And I appreciate it.
Thank you.
[cheers and applause]
- I was wowed
by the first performance.
I cannot believe the voice
that comes out of you,
and to perform
what you just did
under this amount of pressure,
to me, is astounding.
I'm, like,
almost about to cry.
I thought it was beautiful.
[cheers and applause]
- One of the things I've
always loved about you, Ansley,
you have just the most
amazing personality.
You really, really do.
You really make me laugh,
and I don't believe there is
ever such thing
as a perfect
first or second audition.
Our job is to see
where you could go
and where we could help you,
but I think this is
a way, way better audition
than the first time.
I think you've got
something special about you.
I really like you.
- ♪ This is my fight song ♪
♪ Take back my life song ♪
- But as we say,
we have 18 acts, so...
- Yeah, but they don't all
have sparkly shoes.
- That's true.
[laughter]
We'll be talking
about you later.
Take care.
- Bye.
- ♪ And I don't really care
if nobody else believes ♪
- She, funny enough,
is someone who I genuinely
believe we could help.
- Ahh!
- ♪ No I've still got
a lot of fight left in me ♪
.
- It's a tough competition,
without a doubt.
- It really is, it's all
about stepping it up.
- Let's do this.
- Yeah.
- Okay.
- So we had Light Balance
on a few years ago.
These are Light Balance Kids.
all: Light Balance Kids, whoo!
- We are...
all: Light Balance Kids.
- We are from Ukraine,
and we are dancers.
[laughter]
- Light Balance is a team
that performed on "AGT"
and "AGT: Champions."
- My life was
completely changed
by "America's Got Talent."
So I wanted to give
other children the chance
to make their dreams come true.
- Growing up in Ukraine,
I think it's really different
to growing up in America.
Our country has been in a war
for about five years.
Some of us had to leave
their homes
and leave some family members
even behind.
- ♪ I like ♪
- Our first audition
went really well.
- ♪ I like ♪
- Ohh!
- ♪ Let me tell you what ♪
[cheers and applause]
- There's four yeses!
- Being back here in America
is, like, really
a dream come true.
For some of us,
flying was the first time
ever on the plane.
Our plane was nicer
than a house.
We could live there.
[laughter]
We have a big dream
of following
in Light Balance's footsteps.
So we're feeling
a lot of pressure
because we want to do as good
or even better than they did.
We really, really,
really want to.
[cheers and applause]
- Oh, yay, I love them.
- Welcome back.
We remember you.
You guys were
absolutely amazing.
- Hi. Thank you.
- So give us your age range
of your group.
- The youngest of us is 11,
and the oldest is 13.
- And tell us where
you're from.
- We are from Ukraine.
- Wow.
- Thank you guys
for coming all the way back.
So can you explain a little bit
of what you guys do.
- We are a dance group,
but it's not just dancing.
It's also lights,
programming, coding.
There's a lot
that goes into this
to make a whole,
good performance.
- All right, we can't wait
to see what you guys do.
Good luck.
- Thank you.
[cheers and applause]
- I'm so excited.
- Oh, here we go.
- Oh. Oh, my God.
[engine whirring]
["Let's Shut Up & Dance"]
- Hey!
- Whoa.
- Bass drop.
♪ ♪
- ♪ Shut up and dance baby ♪
♪ Show me something ♪
- Hey!
♪ ♪
Ohh!
♪ ♪
- ♪ Hey ♪
♪ Hey ♪
♪ ♪
[whirring]
♪ ♪
[buzzer blares]
- [laughs]
- Oh!
- ♪ Give me your,
give me your ♪
♪ Give me your
attention baby ♪
♪ I got tell you a little
something about yourself ♪
♪ Oh-whoa ♪
♪ I know that
you don't know it ♪
♪ But you're fine, so fine ♪
♪ Fine, so fine ♪
♪ Oh-whoa ♪
♪ Oh girl I'm gonna show you
when you're mine, oh mine ♪
♪ Mine oh mine ♪
- Whoa!
♪ ♪
- Oh.
- Whoa!
♪ ♪
[wild cheering]
- I want more.
[upbeat music]
- Whoo!
[cheers and applause]
♪ ♪
- Whoo.
Light Balance Kids
tore the house down!
Julianne,
let's start with you.
- Oh, my goodness,
well, first of all,
this round is all about
stepping it up.
You did not disappoint.
The creativity, the innovation
was off the charts.
- Thank you.
- So good.
- Totally agree.
You know, I was a fan
of Light Balance, the adults.
I even like Light Balance Kids
better than
the regular Light Balance.
- Yeah.
- And it's really clear.
You know, you always
bring up, Simon,
like, where do
you see this going?
I would go pay
to see this in Vegas.
I would see this
at a live concert.
I love you guys.
- Thank you.
- Simon.
- I haven't seen people
your age, so young,
do something so brilliant,
so unique,
and the level of rehearsals
that must go into that...
- Yes.
- Is quite incredible.
I think you could be stars.
- Thank you.
[cheers and applause]
- Ellie.
- Okay, you guys,
I'm new here.
I'm just a guest.
I thought this was
the definition of a spectacle.
It was truly spectacular.
It was marvelous.
But there are only seven
acts that can go forward,
and I just wish
there were some guarantee
to get you guys through
to the live show.
If only there were
one surefire way
we could get you there.
Oh, wait.
There is!
[intense music]
There is!
- ♪ Light me up again ♪
♪ Light me up again ♪
- Oh, my God.
- Golden Buzzer
for Light Balance Kids, y'all.
- ♪ Light me up again ♪
♪ And you don't hold back ♪
- Give it up
for Light Balance Kids!
- ♪ And you don't look back
so I won't look back ♪
- That was so great.
- ♪ Light me up again ♪
- [sobbing]
- Congratulations!
That was a no-brainer.
- ♪ Light me up again ♪
- Oh, my gosh.
- Amazing.
- Guys.
- Such hard work.
I can't imagine.
- Fantastic, thank you.
- Yeah!
- Thank you.
You're in the live shows.
♪ ♪
- Okay, everybody,
Ellie Kemper has given
Light Balance Kids
the Golden Buzzer!
[cheers and applause]
They are going direct to
the live shows in Hollywood.
Give it up one more time
for these talented kids.
[wild cheering]
- Thank you.
- ♪ Light me up again ♪
♪ ♪
- You guys did it.
You did it.
Yes!
[all cheering]
- There's six slots left now,
which is--oh.
- ♪ We are, we are ♪
- ♪ Yeah-ah ♪
- I couldn't listen to that
screaming any longer.
- Don't be a hypocrite.
- Oh.
[cheers and applause]
- Ahh!
- Oh, God!
- That's brilliant, whoo!
- None of you are going through
to the live shows.
.
- Okay, yeah, this is
your new co-judge.
- Oh, okay, perfect.
It's an improvement for sure.
[laughter]
[buzzer]
all: Ohh!
- I know what that's like.
- Good boy.
- If that happens to us again,
I'm going to melt.
- We're...
all: Stephanie's Child!
- From New York City,
and we're singers.
- ♪ Bang, bang into the room ♪
- Most drag queens lip sync.
What sets us apart is
the fact that we are singers.
- We are the top of the top
when it comes to what we do.
- ♪ She might have let you
hold her hand in school ♪
♪ But I'm gonna show you
how to graduate ♪
[buzzer]
- We thought
we were doing great.
- Yes, we thought we were,
like, living our best life.
Bahh!
Red X.
- I thought the vocals
were terrible.
[audience clamors]
- Simon Cowell, you're wrong!
- Three yeses!
- Thank you so much!
- ♪ Bang bang into the room ♪
- We came here to win.
- Yes.
- We want to make music,
we want to sell out arenas.
All of that.
- Yeah!
- We want that for ourselves.
[cheers and applause]
- They hate me.
all: Hello!
- Hi.
- Hi, Simon.
- How are you?
Welcome back.
- Thank you so much.
- And the group is called?
all: Stephanie's Child.
- Okay.
[laughter]
Okay, so it was kind of
a mixed response
in your first audition.
- Everyone loved us
except you.
[laughter]
- You know,
you actually said that we--
the vocals were horrible.
- That's what I said, yeah.
- Yeah.
- Yeah, that is what you said.
- Personally, you
should have had someone else
singing the vocals, but...
- You know, that's funny,
because in past seasons
on this show,
the judges collectively said
that lip-syncing
is not a talent,
so for you to say that,
you know,
we should lip sync
is saying that
we should not present
a talent to you,
so that really doesn't make
any sense to me, Simon.
- Oh, I like this.
- It's just like,
don't be a hypocrite.
- Okay, well look, you know,
I hope I'm wrong.
Let's do it.
- Great.
- All right.
- Can't wait.
- Wow, a little battle
going on here.
- Go!
- ♪ Now I'm out here
looking like revenge ♪
♪ Feeling like a ten,
the best I've ever been ♪
♪ And yeah I know
how bad it must hurt ♪
♪ To see me like this
but it gets worse ♪
♪ Baby I'm sorry ♪
- ♪ Not sorry ♪
- ♪ Baby I'm sorry ♪
- ♪ I'm not sorry ♪
- ♪ Being so bad got me
feeling so good ♪
♪ Showing you up
like I knew that I would ♪
["Confident" begins]
- Not everyone is going
to love what you do.
- But, America, we've got
one question for you.
[cheers and applause]
- ♪ What's wrong with being,
what's wrong with being ♪
♪ What's wrong
with being confident ♪
♪ Oh what's wrong with being,
what's wrong with being ♪
- [laughs]
- ♪ What's wrong
with being confident ♪
- ♪ Yeah-ah ♪
- ♪ What's wrong with being,
what's wrong with being ♪
- ♪ What's wrong ♪
- ♪ What's wrong
with being confident ♪
♪ What's wrong with being,
what's wrong with being ♪
- Oh, my God.
- Yeah.
- ♪ Confident ♪
[wild cheering]
[upbeat music]
- Oh, the audience
is on its feet,
but Simon still buzzed them.
- Drag queens
don't usually sing.
- For a reason.
- No! I--
[crowd boos]
- I'm gonna kill him.
- It's okay.
You'll beat us to it.
[laughter]
- But I lived it, this is why
we're gonna fight to make sure
that you're one of the six
spots that go to the live.
- Thank you, Howie.
Thank you.
[cheers and applause]
- For me, I couldn't listen
to that screaming any longer.
I mean, whoever was doing
the high thing--
[audience boos]
Look, it's just my opinion.
- I love a wrong opinion.
Don't you girls?
[laughter and cheering]
- ♪ Bang bang into the room ♪
- Bye, guys!
- Bye, everyone!
- Bye, guys!
- They didn't listen to Simon,
and it looked like
it didn't pay off.
- No.
- What is up with Simon?
Talk to me.
- You know,
he just doesn't get it,
and that's okay.
He's gonna get it one day.
- You know, we're supposed
to kind of support each other.
- Not when you're wrong.
Oh-oh-oh!
- Oh, wait till
you hear that back.
- We'll do the best we can.
- That's all we can hope for.
- We've been working hard.
- [lips sputter]
[cheers and applause]
- Welcome back.
- How are you?
Thank you.
It's great to be back.
- And your names again are?
- I'm Nick.
- And?
- And I'm Lindsay.
- The last time you auditioned,
and, Nick, I think you got
some criticism
about your singing.
Was that, right?
- Yes, and thank you
for that criticism.
- Ugh.
- Because being a singer
for so long,
sometimes you forget
to just do the little things.
So it made me tell myself,
you know what,
I'm gonna try to get
my voice in better shape.
- Good. Okay.
[cheers and applause]
[playing Johann Strauss II's
"The Blue Danube"]
♪ ♪
- I'm Nick.
- And I'm Lindsay.
- From New Orleans,
Louisiana.
Most people don't think that
the side show and the opera
go hand in hand,
but actually it does.
[singing in Italian]
♪ ♪
- It's dangerous, it's funny.
- Thank you so much.
To get positive feedback
from that,
we were absolutely floored.
- Well, not 100% positive.
What didn't you like
about my voice?
- Your voice.
[audience boos]
- Really?
Okay.
I honestly felt vocally
that I was on my "A" game,
so that was a surprise.
- And I thought so too,
and I would tell you
if you weren't.
- I mean, I felt really good.
- Yeah.
- You know, there's people that
have criticized Pavarotti.
♪ ♪
That shouldn't stop you.
That's only
making me work harder.
So we're pushing the vocals.
- And we're pushing
the danger.
- And we want to fight
to be in the live shows,
because we're not done yet.
- We're not done yet.
[cheers and applause]
- Well, good luck.
- Thank you very much.
- Thank you so much.
- All right.
[cheers and applause]
["Music of the Night" plays]
- Oh, are those razor blades?
- Yep.
- Do not try this at home.
- ♪ Slowly gently ♪
[muffled vocalizing]
- [gasps]
- Ugh.
- [humming melody]
♪ ♪
- ♪ Darkness which you know
you cannot fight ♪
♪ The darkness of the music
of the night ♪
♪ Let your mind
start a journey ♪
[audience groans, gasps]
♪ Through a strange new world ♪
♪ Let your soul take you
where you long to be ♪
- Honestly, what's happening?
[audience screams]
- ♪ Floating, falling ♪
♪ Sweet intoxication ♪
- Oh, my gosh!
- ♪ Touch me, trust me ♪
♪ Savor each sensation ♪
[audience screaming]
- ♪ Let the dream begin ♪
♪ Let your darker side
give in ♪
♪ You alone can make
my song take flight ♪
- Ahh!
- Oh, God!
[cheers and applause]
- ♪ Help me make the music ♪
♪ Of the ♪
♪ Night ♪
♪ ♪
[wild cheering]
[operatic music]
- I guess?
♪ ♪
- Let me start with Howie.
- What I love--
there was just so much.
[laughter]
Saw, like, knife throwing.
Not great knife throwing,
but it was there,
and I heard violin playing.
Not great violin playing,
but it was there.
I even saw the top
of your butt, sir,
as you walked--
- These are my lucky shorts.
- Not so lucky for us.
[laughter]
- Julianne.
- They're super cute.
- You guys are characters,
and I think that's brilliant.
- Thank you.
- You're fun,
and you're dangerous,
and you're scary.
You've upped the ante,
and I'm here for it.
Whoo!
- Yeah! Thank you.
[cheers and applause]
- I loved it.
I love your personalities.
I was worried
at the beginning,
because it wasn't so precise,
and I feel this act
relies on precision,
but it in fact didn't,
even though there's fire
and nails and razors.
I don't know how you are alive
right now, but you did it.
That was great.
both: Thank you.
- Um...
- I want to see what
the monster has to say.
- Well, look,
it's fantastically nuts.
- Yeah, yeah.
- Oh, my God.
- I mean, did I sound better
this time?
- You know what,
I wasn't even thinking
about your singing this time.
I was just thinking, you know,
none of it's great but
collectively it's fantastic.
- Yeah, yeah.
[cheers and applause]
- But are you good enough
to make it through
to the live shows?
We're gonna find out later,
but thank you so much.
[wild cheering]
♪ ♪
- You walked off
to a standing ovation.
It wasn't perfect,
but we loved every bit of it.
- You can't write that.
- I don't think anybody did.
♪ ♪
.
[upbeat music]
- Whoa! Whoa!
- Oh, my gosh!
You guys have this, like,
precision and professionalism.
[cheers and applause]
I feel like the drama was
there, the danger was there.
That's what we want
on this show.
- You did a great job.
Thank you guys.
- Thank you.
- Great job.
- So much pressure, you know?
So we have no room
for any mistakes.
[cheers and applause]
- Oh, I remember.
- Oh, very sexy.
- Hello.
Tell us the name of your act.
- We are the Duo Maintenant.
- So you had an incredible
first audition.
I think all of us
were blown away.
[cheers and applause]
- Whoo!
- Takes so much strength.
You're amazing.
- Well, it was like perfection,
wasn't it?
I mean, I could only score
this in my mind out of ten,
and that is a ten.
Brilliant.
♪ ♪
- We are very happy
to be back here tonight.
This time it's even stronger.
We hope you will love it.
- With no further ado.
- ♪ I'm done with the noise
that life seems to bring ♪
♪ But I'll use my voice,
it's my turn to sing ♪
- We often see
these strength acts.
This was so seamless
and so smooth.
♪ ♪
- ♪ I've been waiting,
I have been waiting ♪
- I cannot get over the
physical ability of you two.
It's just stunning.
- What you did was, like,
ridiculous.
So--right?
Am I right or am I right?
- Yes. Yes!
- Yeah.
- Unbelievable.
[cheers and applause]
- Thank you.
- The strength is amazing.
- I think they're probably
our best duo though.
- Edson and Leon, the judges
are ready the stage.
[gentle music]
- The first time that
I saw Edson and Leon perform,
they completely
blew my mind away.
[cheers and applause]
- Is he really 84 years old?
- 84 years old.
- He's like the guy from "Up."
- Yes.
- When you first meet
Edson and Leon,
you think that they're, like,
normal, old, grumpy guys,
but they're very, very
different.
- He trains, trains, trains.
Me, I like to eat.
- Always eating.
[chomps]
- Being on
"America's Got Talent"
was always their dream,
but it came a little bit
later in their life,
and this is probably
the last chance of Leon
to show the world
his talent.
That makes me want to cry.
Ah, see, I'm gonna
start to cry.
♪ ♪
- We want to show it doesn't
matter how old you are.
You can follow your dreams.
[speaking Portuguese]
[cheers and applause]
- Ohh! Yes!
- Oh!
- Oh, he's doing "Up."
- Oh, it is like "Up."
- Oh, my gosh.
Edson and Leon, you guys
dazzled us on the auditions,
and for those that don't know,
they're from Brazil,
and he is eighty---
- 84.
[cheers and applause]
- One of the strongest,
most athletic acts
I've ever seen comes from
that man holding the balloons.
You guys surprised us
the first time.
I know what
I'm in store for now,
so let's see it.
[cheers and applause]
- I like the "Up" idea.
- I love the "Up."
- Oh, it's adorable.
- Okay, I'm nervous
for some reason.
- ♪ Tonight I'm gonna ♪
- Hey!
- ♪ Have myself
a real good time ♪
♪ So don't stop me ♪
♪ 'Cause I've having
a good time ♪
- I'm so nervous.
- ♪ Having a good time ♪
♪ I'm a shooting star
leaping through the sky ♪
♪ Like a tiger defying
the laws of gravity ♪
♪ I'm a racing car passing by
like Lady Godiva ♪
♪ I'm gonna go, go, go ♪
- Hey!
- ♪ There's no stopping me ♪
- Oh, my God!
- [sighs]
- ♪ Through the sky yeah ♪
♪ Two hundred degrees ♪
♪ That's why they call me
Mr. Fahrenheit ♪
♪ I'm traveling
at the speed of light ♪
- The glasses make me nervous.
♪ ♪
- ♪ Don't stop me,
don't stop me ♪
♪ Don't stop me,
hey, hey, hey ♪
- Uh-oh.
Oh, gosh.
- ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
- Hey!
[laughter]
- ♪ Good time, good time ♪
- Oh, my goodness.
- ♪ Ohh ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Oh I'm burning
through the sky yeah ♪
- Yes!
- That's amazing.
- ♪ That's why they call me
Mr. Fahrenheit ♪
♪ Traveling at
the speed of light ♪
♪ I wanna make a supersonic
man out of you ♪
- ♪ Don't stop me now ♪
♪ I'm having
such a good time ♪
♪ I'm having a good time ♪
- Yay!
- ♪ Don't stop me now ♪
♪ If you wanna
have a good time ♪
- Ahhh!
- ♪ Just give me a call ♪
♪ Don't stop me now ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm having
a good time ♪
♪ Don't stop me now ♪
♪ Yes I'm having a good time ♪
- Oh, my gosh.
- ♪ Don't wanna stop at all ♪
♪ ♪
- Oh, my God.
[cheers and applause]
♪ ♪
[wild cheering]
[Jackie Wilson's
"Higher and Higher"]
- A standing ovation.
♪ ♪
- Oh, I love it.
[cheers and applause]
- I mean, wow.
I think the audience
got a taste of what we got
during the audition round,
because when you get started,
you're like, "Whoa!"
It was absolutely
endearing and charming,
and death-defying,
and we loved it.
Great job.
- Thank you so much.
- Ellie?
- I loved it.
I think what you're doing
is beyond impressive,
and I love the way you coolly
slink about the stage
like it's no big deal.
- Yeah.
- It's really quite a feat.
Great job.
- Thank you.
Thank you.
- Simon?
- I do believe this is what
"America's Got Talent"
is all about.
Something which we've
never seen before,
which is actually
quite inspiring,
and you've certainly
proved the point at 84,
your motor's still running.
- Thank you.
- Julianne?
- What you guys showed us
from the first audition
was outstanding,
but there's 18 acts
and only 6 can go through.
So this time around,
you needed to step it up,
and you did not disappoint,
so you've just made our jobs
a lot harder.
Well done.
- Great job.
- Thank you.
- ♪ Keep on lifting ♪
- They did step it up.
They did.
It's gonna be tough.
- ♪ Higher and higher ♪
- Thank you.
- Good luck.
- ♪ Keep on ♪
♪ Lifting me ♪
- Yeah.
- They're our competition.
- ♪ Higher and higher ♪
- It was so good, you guys.
Oh, my God.
The grip is amazing.
- His forearms
were very thick.
- He looks like he has grown
man strength is what we say.
- Correct.
That's right.
- He can change a carburetor
and chop wood and--
- Yes or lift
a full-grown man.
- ♪ Lift me up woman ♪
.
- This is gonna be a tough one.
- This is hard.
- There's actually a lot
of good people this show.
- No pressure.
- How do you compare...
- Right.
- What you do to what I do
to the 12-year-old singer?
- Right.
- Competition is fierce.
[rat squeaks]
- My name is Melissa Arleth,
I'm 40 years old,
and I'm originally
from New York.
I've got a 24-foot trailer,
and I travel
all over the country
performing with my rats.
♪ ♪
I love these guys,
but unfortunately
there is still a lot
of stigma about rats.
People think of creepy
sewer rats or bitey rats.
- It's cute.
- Ohh, she's very sweet.
But they are such sweet
and loveable creatures.
[cheers and applause]
- I think rats
have just got bad PR.
People think they're nasty.
They're nice.
- Four yeses.
- I loved when they said rats
get a bad rap,
because I've been
saying that for years.
- Ohh!
[laughter]
- Rats are super smart.
They can learn a routine in
a fraction amount of time
that a dog might be
learning it.
[Magic grumbles,
rat squeaks]
I love being on the road,
but the idea
that I could have
my own show in Vegas
and really build something
even bigger and grander
than I already have
is pretty exciting.
I just know that people
all over America
are gonna fall in love
with my rats,
and if the fifth judge
has a heart,
how can they not
fall in love as well?
[rat squealing]
[cheers and applause]
- Good evening, Melissa.
- Good evening.
- Ah.
- How are you?
- I am--
[rat squeaking]
- Whoa!
[audience oohs]
- We're both
really excited to be here.
- You're both
really excited to be here?
- Oh, yes.
[laughter]
- Ellie, do you like rats?
- I don't like rats.
For some reason,
they give me the shivers, but--
- Do you want to meet her?
- I don't--
I gotta say no.
- Well, good luck.
- Thank you.
- She's gonna throw him.
- [laughs] Right at us.
[Royal Crown Revue's
"Hey Pachuco"]
♪ ♪
- Maracilla,
through the bagel.
Come on, girl.
Come on.
In your own time.
- Those New Yorkers
are stubborn.
- Come on.
Come on, girl.
- This is not going to plan.
- Come on, girl, do it.
- Come on.
♪ ♪
[cheers and applause]
Good, good.
- Oh.
♪ ♪
- Good girl, good girl.
Press the lever.
♪ ♪
Yeah.
- Aww.
♪ ♪
- ♪ Hey Pachuco ♪
- ♪ They say damn my pride ♪
- Okay, Maracilla.
Good. Come on.
- ♪ There's no place to hide ♪
- Yeah. Go.
Good girl.
[cheers and applause]
Come on, girl.
Yeah.
And you wait for mom
over there, okay?
- ♪ You better grab your jack
and zip gun for me ♪
[laughter]
- Maracilla.
Here, come on.
- [chuckles]
The rat's leaving you hanging.
- ♪ Well when
we hit downtown ♪
♪ We start to throw down ♪
- Oh, oh.
- Oh!
- ♪ We end up doing time ♪
- Right here.
- [laughs]
- ♪ Soon as they've met us ♪
- ♪ They're out to get us ♪
♪ So I stick
with that gang of mine ♪
[cheers and applause]
- To the bridge.
♪ ♪
Good girl.
And quick, across the bridge.
Come on, girl.
Here, here.
That's my girl.
Go on, go on.
And last thing.
Come on.
Raise the flag.
- Yeah!
[cheers and applause]
- Oh, that's so cute.
- Aww, the rat.
["The Star-Spangled Banner"
plays]
♪ ♪
[wild cheering]
- Wow.
Ellie, what did you think?
- Um, first of all,
I did not think
I was gonna love rats,
but I think Maracella
is quite a show woman.
I have a toddler.
I mean, he's not a rat.
But I feel like sometimes
it's hard to get them
to do what you want them to do,
so I get it,
and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Great job.
- ♪ Love is in the air ♪
- The subtlety in your act
is beautiful,
because if anybody has
spent any time in Manhattan
and tries to get from
one end of town to the other,
it does take time,
and it does take coaxing.
[laughter and applause]
Gabrielle?
- I'm sure it's a challenge
to train a rat,
and they have their own minds.
Clearly Maracella is--
- Oh, no!
- Has other ideas.
I don't know where
Maracella's going now.
I think she's headed
to Brooklyn,
but I absolutely loved it.
- ♪ But it's something
that I must believe in ♪
- Simon.
- Look, it was a fun audition.
I don't believe that will
get you to the Dolby.
[audience grumbles]
But there are 18 acts.
There's only
six spots left now.
We're gonna find out later,
and thank you both so much.
- ♪ Love is in the air ♪
- She's already hiding
from the "papa-ratsi."
- Ohh!
You know what?
I'm gonna leave it with that.
The papa-rats--
I can't beat that.
- We all see things...
- Right.
- In a very, very
different light.
This is gonna be difficult.
♪ ♪
.
- We're in our home stretch,
my friends.
One final segment.
Bring that energy.
Are you ready?
- Yes!
[cheers and applause]
- One more. One more.
- Oh, it's so hard to be last.
- Yeah.
You have all the pressure.
- Yeah.
- My name is MacKenzie,
I'm 31 years old,
and I'm a singer.
One of my first jobs
was as a security officer.
It was actually
at the Boston Symphony House.
Every night,
I would sneak on the stage
and imagine the seats
being filled.
[cheers and applause]
And I would just pretend
and sing.
That was it for me.
I knew I wanted to sing,
and I've been chasing
the dream ever since.
At the end of 2017,
I had what was called
a vocal hemorrhage,
where a blood vessel in my
vocal fold actually ruptured.
I was told I could possibly
lose my voice for good.
That three-month period,
it was one of the darkest
periods of my life.
- ♪ I'll never let you down ♪
- I was very depressed
until the day the doctor said,
"I want you to take a breath
and I want you to hit a note."
♪ To get it another try ♪
[cheers and applause]
- This is what we call
a great moment.
- You're a star,
and you shine.
- I don't know why
I got a second chance.
♪ Nothing compares ♪
But I don't wanna waste it.
I want to be heard
by the world,
and I need to be one
of those seven moving on,
so I will be.
[vocalizing]
[cheers and applause]
- Welcome back,
welcome back, welcome back.
- Thank you for having me.
- Your first performance
literally brought
the house down.
What are you going to do
to raise the level
for the Judges Cuts?
- I wanted to show a different
side of my voice,
and I also wanted to pick
a song that I felt like
the lyrics really reflected
my lifestyle.
You know,
I'm a working musician.
That means a lot of late
nights, a lot or hard nights,
and I've been working at this
for a really long time,
and I think that'll be
reflected in the song.
- Wow.
- Without further ado,
take it away MacKenzie.
[cheers and applause]
- ♪ Highway run ♪
♪ Into the midnight sun ♪
[cheers and applause]
♪ Sending all my love ♪
♪ Along the wire ♪
♪ They say that the road
ain't no place ♪
♪ To start a family ♪
♪ But oh girl ♪
♪ You stand by me ♪
♪ I'm forever yours ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Faithfully ♪
- Oh, wow, wow.
- ♪ And being apart
ain't easy ♪
♪ On this love affair ♪
- Ooh, boy.
- ♪ Two strangers learn
to fall in love again ♪
- Yeah! Yes!
- ♪ I'm forever yours ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Faithfully ♪
♪ I'm still yours ♪
[holding note]
♪ ♪
[cheers and applause]
♪ Faith ♪
♪ Faithfully ♪
[wild cheering]
[Ben Platt's "Temporary Love"]
♪ ♪
- Man.
- ♪ This is not
a temporary love ♪
♪ This is not
a temporary love ♪
- Let's start with Ellie.
- The joy with which you sang
that song is undeniable
and it was raw
and it was you,
and I--I loved it.
- Thank you.
[cheers and applause]
- Julianne?
- I'm gonna say something
that people
might disagree with,
but there was something
so effortless
about your first audition,
but there was something
that felt a little pushed,
to be honest.
[audience booing]
- Simon?
- I got into a spat
earlier on with someone,
you know, an act who
I didn't think were great,
and they thought
they were amazing,
and then you come on,
I mean,
how could you criticize that?
I mean, it's amazing.
- Thank you, Simon.
Thank you, thank you.
- You know, 'cause
obviously I'm guessing
a bit of a bumpy road here,
right?
- Absolutely.
- To get to where you are,
and I felt everything
came from you.
You know, it wasn't
the backup track.
It was a song that was
personal to you,
and even though
it wasn't perfect,
it made it perfect
because it was raw,
and it was real.
I would say you're the best
singe we've had tonight.
[cheers and applause]
- Thank you.
- MacKenzie, I think we've
all heard that song
so many times,
but the way you performed it
gave me a whole different
understanding of that song,
and I felt that song that
I've loved for many, many years
in a whole, completely
different way.
Great job.
- Thank you.
- ♪ This is not
a temporary love ♪
♪ No this is not
a temporary love ♪
- The song was iconic,
but you took it
to a whole nother level, man.
That was a version
I never knew I needed.
- I feel good,
I put my heart out there,
and that's all I can do.
- But what about
the whole night as a whole?
Do you think it's hard
to pick six?
- There's a lot we could
make an argument for.
- We only have
six spaces left.
Based on all the other talent,
I'm sorry to tell you,
you are not going through
to the live show.
.
- So Ellie,
what we've gotta do,
we've gotta find 6
out of the 17.
- Okay.
- This would mean
so much to me,
if I could go ahead
to the live shows.
40 years of career time
to this moment,
so if I got sent home
right now,
I'd be devastated.
- What about this act?
- Yes.
- No, no, no.
- I love.
I just don't think is ready.
- It's up to the judges now,
and I hope they thought
my performance was good
and I make it
to the live shows.
[inhales deeply, chuckles]
- Yes, yes.
- Yes.
- Are you kidding me?
- What?
- We took a big, real risk.
Hopefully it was enough
to get one of those six spots.
♪ ♪
- Okay, we've got the six.
Can I say thank you?
You were amazing.
- Oh, thank you very--that
is a huge, huge compliment.
- Ellie Kemper.
- Oh, guys, guys.
Thank you to all of you
for making me feel at home.
- The judges have made
their decisions.
Will the following acts
please head to stage?
Greg Morton
and Marcin Patrzalek.
- ♪ You almost had me fooled ♪
[Kesha's "Praying"]
♪ ♪
♪ Told me that I was
nothing without you ♪
- You've done
an incredible job here.
It was very, very challenging
because we went back and forth
and back and forth.
But I will tell you
that it was unanimous.
♪ ♪
And both of you are...
going to the Dolby.
- ♪ I hope you're
somewhere praying ♪
- Well done, guys.
- ♪ Praying ♪
- Congratulations.
- ♪ Changing ♪
- Whoo!
- ♪ Changing ♪
[laughter]
- I am so happy.
This is what
I've worked so long for.
It's insane.
Live rounds, let's go.
Let's go. [laughs]
Let's go now.
♪ ♪
- There was an argument made
for every single one of you.
♪ ♪
But unfortunately,
we just didn't feel we could
put you into the live shows.
- We're really, really sorry.
- ♪ I can thank you for ♪
♪ How strong I have become ♪
♪ 'Cause you brought
the flames ♪
- This year, we have an
incredibly tough competition.
At the end of the night,
I'm really sorry to tell you
that none of the three acts
are going through
to the live shows.
- ♪ I hope you're
somewhere praying ♪
- Really, really sorry.
- But thank you so much.
- Thank you very much.
- ♪ Praying ♪
- Thank you.
- ♪ I hope your soul is ♪
- Oh, boy.
That's heartbreaking.
- There's so many good people.
- Yeah.
- ♪ But after everything
you've done ♪
♪ ♪
- Two powerhouse vocalists.
Is there room enough for both?
After a very tough battle,
a lot of contentious debate,
we all decided...
Oh, hell yeah!
You're both going through!
- ♪ I hope you're
somewhere praying ♪
- There's room enough
for everybody.
The water is warm.
Come on in, baby.
- Oh, my God. Ohh!
- ♪ Changing ♪
- I'm just glad
the judges see me.
You know, they see me.
- ♪ Praying ♪
- Oh--
- ♪ Praying ♪
- Now it's me stepping
out there as a soloist.
- A year ago I was laying
on the couch silent,
'cause I'd just had
a vocal procedure,
and I was literally
contemplating
what I was gonna do
with my life.
So to have this shot now,
I'm on fire, man.
I'm on fire, I'm on fire.
♪ ♪
[Mika's "Happy Ending"]
- This day has been
excruciating,
because we have 18 acts,
and we could
only put through 7,
including the Golden Buzzer.
You guys are extremely
talented acts,
but we're not gonna be
having you go through
to the live shows.
- So sorry.
- I'm sorry.
- ♪ This is
the hardest story ♪
- Thank you.
- ♪ That I've ever told ♪
- Ohh, she's crying.
- ♪ No hope or love or glory ♪
- Aww, sorry, guys.
- ♪ Happy endings
gone forever more ♪
- I don't think
they were ready for us
quite just yet, but...
- Not gonna stop us
from chasing our dreams.
- Yeah.
- And we're really proud
of what we did.
- There's a reason why you
made it to the show tonight.
But we have to decide
what we believe
the public at home would like
to see in the next round.
I have to tell you
we are going
to invite you please
to join us at the Dolby Theatre
at the live broadcasts.
- Congratulations.
- That's amazing.
- It is your personalities
and the fact that you keep
trying overwon everything.
- Thank you guys so much.
- Thank you so much.
- Really.
- ♪ It's forever ♪
- You made it! You made it!
- Oh, it was wild.
- We're feeling good,
and we're gonna work hard.
We're gonna get
to the Dolby Theatre,
and we're gonna show them
even more of what we got.
- Yes.
- Get ready, guys.
It's gonna be big.
- I'm scared.
[laughter]
- Now you're scared?
- I've been scared.
Oh, my gosh.
[laughter]
- Oh, they're gonna
think we're nuts.
♪ ♪
- Both of you are terrifically
talented beyond your years.
But I will tell you something,
even now I get nos
so many times.
- We all do.
- We all get nos.
And based on
all the other talent,
I'm sorry to tell you,
you are not going through
to the live shows.
- I'm really sorry.
- We are so sorry.
- Don't cry.
- ♪ This is the way
that we love ♪
♪ Like it's forever ♪
- I'm sorry.
- Are you okay?
You okay?
- ♪ Then live the rest
of our life ♪
♪ But not together ♪
- Come on.
Come down here.
Come on.
- [sobbing]
♪ ♪
Okay, so all you gotta do,
practice, practice,
focus, focus.
Promise? Deal?
- Deal.
- All right.
- Thank you so much
for everything.
- You're so welcome.
- ♪ I feel as if I'm wasted ♪
- A lot of people don't
understand and don't get you.
- [translating in Japanese]
- People show up and--
- Slow down a little bit.
She's trying to keep up
with you.
- Oh.
They see you, Gonzo.
And they go,
"Here's a naked man from Japan
with a tambourine."
I said, "I'll tell you what
my argument is, 'cause I--"
- You've got to slow down
a tiny bit, Howie.
- [snorts]
- [speaking Japanese]
- You're going through
to the live show, Gonzo!
- ♪ A little bit of heaven,
a little bit of hell ♪
- Bang!
- Gonzo!
- [cheering]
- ♪ Little bit of love,
little bit of love ♪
[both shouting]
♪ ♪
♪ Then live the rest
of our life ♪
♪ But not together ♪