America’s Got Talent Season 21 returned on Tuesday night for another live Quarterfinals episode, as Kenan Thompson stepped in as a guest judge to replace Simon Cowell, who was out once again due to surgery. During the show, Thompson pressed the Golden Buzzer for singer Lai Noelle.
Kenan Thompson Presses AGT Golden Buzzer for Lai Noelle
Each week during the Quarterfinals, one of the four AGT judges has the opportunity to press the Golden Buzzer to send an act straight into the Season 21 Finals. This week, the responsibility belonged to guest judge Kenan Thompson.
It took a while, but Thompson eventually did the honors for 14-year-old singer Lai Noelle, who previously received a Golden Buzzer from Simon Cowell in her audition. Lai delivered an impressive performance of “Your Song” by Elton John.
Judge Mel B called the performance “pure perfection.” After fellow judge Sofia Vergara lamented the fact that she didn’t get to press the Golden Buzzer for Lai, Thompson surprised her by asking her to press it for him. Lai will now go straight into the Season 21 Finals.
Lai wasn’t the only singer to wow the judges during Tuesday’s episode. Pynk Beard also took the stage to sing an original song called “On My Hood.” Thompson said he “blew the roof off of this place,” while Howie Mandel called him “a star.”
Another act who stunned the AGT judges during Tuesday’s episode was Holland & Sienna, an aerial duo who performed a unique routine using a cord that was connected to both the stage and the ceiling. Mel B called it “perfection on every single level,” while Thompson said it was “spectacular.”
Contortionist Maria also blew the judges away with her performance set to “Just a Girl” by No Doubt, which involved crawling through flaming rings. Mel called the act “extraordinary,” adding that Maria had “more swagger” than she did in her audition.
Acro Canine Crew (who earned the Golden Buzzer from host Terry Crews in their audition) also impressed with their beach-themed act. Vergara called it “better than the audition,” while Mandel went as far as to dub it the “best act tonight.”
Guy Kelton Jones I also made an impact with his spoken-word poetry act, which incorporated the song “O-o-h Child”by The Five Stairsteps. Mandel called it his “new favorite act of the night,” while Thompson implored Guy to “open a church tomorrow.”
Magician Kameron Marshall and comedian Daniel Alvarez also received praise from the AGT panel on Tuesday night. Thomson called Kameron’s performance “one of the greatest magic tricks I’ve seen in my life,” while Mel said she “could not stop laughing” at Daniel’s set.
The Judges Were Uncertain About Some Acts
Not every act earned unanimous praise from the AGT judges during this week’s live show. Singer Isaac Atkins (who earned Mel’s Golden Buzzer in his audition) performed “Way Down We Go” by KALEO, prompting Mandel and Thompson to suggest that he should show off his vocal range more.
Similarly, Elsie’s performance of “House of the Rising Sun” had Mel B suggesting that her “voice is so much bigger than you even know,” adding that she wanted to witness a “wow moment.” Mandel thought the pressure got to her.
Aerial sword swallower Herwan Legaillard inspired a mixed reaction from the AGT judges for his dangerous routine. Mel B said it “didn’t look as dangerous” as in his audition, adding that it “didn’t do anything for me.” Thompson, however, said he was “blown away.”
What did you think of Tuesday night’s new episode of AGT Season 21? Let us know in the comments. Voting will be open until 7 a.m. ET, with results being announced on NBC Wednesday night.
Words by:
Jill O'Rourke Jill O’Rourke is a contributor at Talent Recap, writing news stories and recaps for shows like ‘AGT,’ ‘The Voice,’ and ‘American Idol.’ She graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in English and Film Studies, and has been writing about pop culture since 2012, with previous bylines at Crushable and A Plus. Jill spends her free time binge-watching sitcoms and daydreaming about life as a hobbit
