After night one of the America’s Got Talent Season 21 auditions, three acts had advanced to the live shows after receiving Golden Buzzers from the judges and Terry Crews. Simon Cowell awarded one to 14-year-old singer Lai Noelle, Terry gave one to the dance crew-dog act Acro Crew, and Howie Mandel anointed Cuban rapper Luke Taleno. Heading into the second night, Sofia Vergara and Mel B. had yet to make it rain gold confetti.
This season, each of the judges and Terry have two Golden Buzzers to hand out. The 10 acts chosen in that way earn a ticket straight to the live shows. Acts not originally chosen to advance, but who earned “yes” votes from three or more judges would participate in an all new Judges’ Callbacks round for a another chance to earn their spot through judges’ deliberation.
Read on for our “Auditions 2” recap of the 12 contestants who performed on America’s Got Talent Season 21, Episode 2, which aired June 9 at 8 p.m. on NBC.
Kevin Quantum
Talent: Science experiments
Hometown: Scotland
Votes Yes/No: No — Howie, Mel, Simon
Buzzers: X — Howie, Sofia, Mel, Simon
Simon’s comments: “Because you spoke too long, you lost us. I think we got it – it’s a cannon ball, it’s heavy, you could have done that in about 30 seconds. This is why auditions are important, you don’t always nail it the first time.”
Mel’s comments: “I do actually feel for you because what you were doing actually looked really, really hard… but at the same time, I did buzz because it was taking too long.”
Nyjah Music & Zyah Rhythm
Talent: Singing
Hometown: O’ahu, Hawaii
Votes Yes/No: Yes — Howie, Mel, Sofia, Simon
Buzzers: None
Howie’s comments: “I have to say that your voice and the quality reminded me a little bit of Grace VanderWaal. I think you’re gonna be memorable. I think people are gonna know your name. I think they’re stars.”
Sofia’s comments: “You were like in heaven on that stage and we could feel it from here.”
Mel’s comments: “You’re very likable and I’m rooting for ya… but I have to be honest with you also. The song didn’t really connect with me. What did connect with me was your vocals and then your harmonies.”
Simon’s comments: “This is so hard to do… but if you got talent, you got talent. And you do.”
Frankie Lapenna
Talent: Balloon popping
Votes Yes/No: No — Howie, Sofia, Mel
Buzzers: X — Mel, Sofia
Howie’s comments: “Were you attempting to set a record? I don’t think it’s for AGT, it’s a no for me.”
Sofia’s comments: “Nobody knew what you were doing! I’m gonna say no thank you very much.”
Abiud Sando
Talent: Breakdancing
Votes Yes/No: Yes — Howie, Sofia, Simon; No — Mel
Buzzers: None
Mel’s comments: “I could be completely out of my brain, but I was not that impressed.”
Howie’s comments: “She’s completely out of her brain. I think that what you did was amazing and I know that you got more.”
Sofia’s comments: “I love it. I’ve never seen anybody do that, it’s like a crab.”
Simon’s comments: “He reminds me of a lot of people who we see and then ask to come back and supersize it. You have to imagine what something’s going to look like and I’m seeing this in my head so I’m saying yes.”
Rynia Kando
Talent: Impressions
Hometown: Chicago
Votes Yes/No: Yes — Sofia, Simon, Howie; No — Mel
Buzzers: None
Howie’s comments: “I loved it. You are hysterical, you are talented. I got a feeling your life is gonna change tonight, you’re gonna be working so hard you’re gonna be limping.”
Mel’s comments: “Okay so it was funny, but it could have been even funnier. I liked it, but I think you need a little bit more showmanship.”
Simon’s comments: “It was hilarious because the impressions were hilarious and secondly even though it was annoying, it was great annoying. And then it got to the point where I was thinking who are you gonna do next?”
Lara D
Talent: Singing
Hometown: Australia
Votes Yes/No: n/a
Buzzers: Sofia’s first Golden Buzzer
Simon’s comments: “Thank you so much. Brilliant.”
Sofia’s comments: “I loved it. There’s something about you that is very special and I think everybody felt it tonight.”
Howie’s comments: “This is the kind of thing that I’ve been looking for. I’ve been looking for a surprise. I’ve been looking for something unexpected. You are a star and I wanna do something special.” [Sofia hits Golden Buzzer before Howie can]
Julia and Charlie
Talent: Opera singing dog
Votes Yes/No: No — Howie, Simon, Sofia, Mel
Simon’s comments: “I have a feel Charlie is saying to you in dog language, please don’t sing. I think that’s what the dog was trying to say.”
Sofia’s comments: “He can do it, but this time he wasn’t very happy.”
Brad and Tracy
Talent: Shock tricks
Hometown: Moscow, Idaho
Votes Yes/No: No — Mel; Yes — Howie, Sofia, Simon
Buzzers: X — Mel
Simon’s comments: “Have you ever watched a film called Misery? The fact that you’re so normal is what made it so crazy to me.”
Sofia’s comments: “One of the weirdest things I’ve watched on AGT ever.”
Mel’s comments: “I was looking at the audience and they were horrified so I’m gonna say no.”
Hundred Fingers
Talent: Magic
Hometown: South Korea
Votes Yes/No: n/a
Buzzers: Howie’s second Golden Buzzer
Howie’s comments: “Wow. I’ve never seen a better magic act in my life. You guys deserve your own hotel in Vegas.”
Simon’s comments: “One of the best I’ve ever seen. I’m really happy for you.”
Holland and Sienna
Talent: Aerial dance
Hometown: Las Vegas
Votes Yes/No: Yes — Simon, Sofia, Mel, Howie
Buzzers: None
Sofia’s comments: “That was very exciting. I was super nervous from the beginning and you kept going even though your dress broke… it was flawless.”
Mel’s comments: “The way that your bodies move, it looked effortless. But what you’re doing is so impossible. It was perfection.”
Simon’s comments: “That was one of the best aerial acts we’ve seen, but I’m just curious what would you do next time?”
Geno Ploeger
Talent: Magic
Hometown: Arizona
Votes Yes/No: Yes — Howie, Mel, Sofia, Simon
Buzzers: None
Mel’s comments: “I’ve never seen magic done so quick with so much showmanship. Shut the front door! That was brilliant, entertaining, magical.”
Howie’s comments: “What you did was so entertaining. You were so professional and so exciting. That being said… if you’re lucky to come back, do something that is so you and not reminiscent.”
Simon’s comments: “We saw earlier what was maybe one of the best magic acts we’ve seen. You have something completely different which is this incredible enthusiasm, love for magic, you can see it in your eyes.”
Cesar Dias
Talent: Singing
Hometown: Portugal
Votes Yes/No: Yes — Simon, Sofia, Mel, Howie
Buzzers: None
Sofia’s comments: “Cesar, we’re gonna leave tonight with a smile because of you.”
Howie’s comments: “You are talented, you are funny, you are physical. You are the best way to end a night.”
Simon’s comments: “The whole act made me laugh and I was laughing even more thinking if somebody had tuned in halfway through… you’re very clever.”
