‘AGT’ Recap: Acts Step Up Their Game as Live Shows Continue
Photo by: Chris Haston/NBC Reading Time: 3 minutes
America’s Got Talent Season 18 returned on Tuesday night, as 11 more acts took the stage to earn America’s vote. The performers really stepped up their game, as the judges commented that a few of them were even better than their auditions.
Only two of tonight’s acts can move on to the finale. You can vote for your favorites on the show’s website or through the official app. Voting will be open until Wednesday morning at 7 a.m. ET. Results will be announced Wednesday night on NBC.
AGT Acts Step It Up from Their Auditions
One of the acts who upped their game during this week’s show is Freedom Singers. The choir joined voices for a stunning performance of “Another Day in Paradise” by Phil Collins, earning a standing ovation from the panel.
Sofia Vergara called the performance “perfection,” while Simon Cowell described it as a “massive step up” from their audition. He said something similar about Shadow Ace, who added some new tricks to his unique shadow puppet act.
This time, Shadow Ace stepped out from behind the screen to create his shadow puppets from the front. This allowed everyone to see exactly what he’s doing with his hands to create the shapes we see. It made the act even more impressive. Heidi Klum predicted that he could win the show.
Another act who improved after their audition is 11-year-old singer D’Corey Johnson, who sang a soulful rendition of “Wishing on a Star” by Rose Royce. Howie Mandel told D’Corey that he “went up nine levels” from his first performance.
SEE ALSO: PUTRI ARIANI THANKS ‘AGT’ FANS FOR VOTING HER THROUGH TO THE FINALS
The Judges Weren’t Sure About Puppet Simon, Kylie Frey
Not every act this week was a winner as far as the judges were concerned. Country singer Kylie Frey tried to take Mandel’s advice and perform a catchier original, but it didn’t work for him, as he thought she “overdid it.”
Vergara agreed, telling Kylie that “something happened with your voice” that made it hard to understand some of the lyrics. Cowell rounded out the negative critiques by calling Kylie’s performance a “manic mess.” The judges received boos from the audience for their comments.
Another act that didn’t quite land was Puppet Simon & the Cow Bells. Vergara buzzed the act early on, as “Simon” performed “You’ll Be Back” from Hamilton. That was before a puppet version of Vergara came out to sing “Let’s Get Loud” by Jennifer Lopez.
Eventually, Cowell hit his red buzzer as well. He said that it “started well, and then it just got increasingly worse,” inspiring boos from the audience. Meanwhile, Vergara joked that “the Latin flavor changed the whole act.”
Golden Buzzer Chibi Unity Impresses
Tuesday’s new episode also featured the return of group Golden Buzzer act Chibi Unity. The Japanese dance group took the stage dressed all in white. They added red fabric and lights to their synchronized routine, earning a standing ovation.
Cowell compared the performance to a “really cool Nike commercial,” calling it “one of the best acts we’ve seen this year.” Mandel declared it the “best act of the night.”
The judges were also wowed by Filipino singer Roland Abante, who delivered a powerhouse performance of “I Will Always Love You.” Cowell told Roland that he was “singing your life out,” while Klum said she wanted to hit the Golden Buzzer for him.
What was your favorite act of the night? Did you agree with the judges’ critiques? Let us know in the comments below, and remember to cast your votes ahead of Wednesday’s results show.
