‘AGT’ Semifinals Kick Off as Acts Face Technical Issues, Harsh Criticism
Trae Patton/NBC Reading Time: 4 minutes
On Tuesday night, America’s Got Talent Season 16 returned for the first night of Semifinals. Eleven acts performed for a spot in the Finals, and now it’s time for viewers to vote for their favorites.
Tonight’s episode included a performance from the judges’ wildcard, Beyond Belief Dance Company. Some of the performers overcame a few difficulties during the night, from technical problems to some seriously harsh criticism. But they handled it like true professionals.
Voting is open until Wednesday morning at 7 a.m. ET. We’ll find out tomorrow night during the results show which acts will be moving on to the next round, and which will be eliminated from the competition.
‘America’s Got Talent’ Star Peter Rosalita Handles Technical Problem Like a Pro
The night kicked off with a performance from 10-year-old Filipino singer Peter Rosalita. The young performer had a slight technical problem at the beginning of his song, seeming unsure of when to start singing. Peter handled it like a true professional, politely asking if the music could be restarted and apologizing to the audience.
The show honored his request, and Peter went on to belt out “Without You” by Harry Nilsson. The judges praised him for how he handled an issue that might have negatively impacted even a grown-up performer. “I probably would have run off the stage, but you held it together,” Heidi Klum told him.
It just goes to show that mistakes and hiccups aren’t the end of the world, as long as you know how to recover for them. The fact that Peter was able to handle that situation at such a young age and still deliver an amazing performance says a lot about him.
Aerialist Aidan Bryant Gives a ‘Gold Medal Performance’
Tuesday’s episode also featured a memorable performance from 16-year-old self-taught aerialist Aidan Bryant, who spun from a hanging hoop, showing off both his strength and his natural grace. He ended the performance by hanging from the ceiling by the back of his neck.
The judges gave Aidan a standing ovation, and the crowd went so wild for his performance that Sofia Vergara could hardly get a word in during her critique. She called it “so smooth,” saying it felt like she was watching a Las Vegas Show. Simon Cowell gave the ultimate compliment, calling it a “gold medal performance.”
Aidan continues to prove that you don’t have to have years of experience or professional training to truly wow people on America’s Got Talent. We have a feeling he’ll pull out all the stops if he makes it to the Finals this season.
SEE ALSO: SOFIA VERGARA THINKS HEIDI KLUM’S EX-HUSBAND IS ON ‘AMERICA’S GOT TALENT’
‘AGT’ Judge Howie Mandel Criticizes Madilyn Bailey’s Emotional Song
YouTuber Madilyn Bailey took to the stage to perform an original song called “Red Ribbon,” which she wrote for her late grandmother. Madilyn sang and performed at the piano, wearing a red outfit to match the theme of the song. It was nice to see her returning to original material after singing an existing song in the Quarterfinals.
However, judge Howie Mandel had some seriously harsh criticism for her performance. He said Madilyn was a “lucky girl” that people voted for her, saying, “I didn’t think that was anything.” Mandel added that he preferred the quirkiness of Madilyn’s audition song, in which she sang people’s mean comments.
The other judges defended Madilyn, with Cowell saying Mandel was talking out of his rear end. Even if Mandel didn’t enjoy the performance, his delivery came across as a little too harsh considering the emotional nature of the song.
Jimmie Herrod Closes ‘AGT’ Semifinals with Incredible Performance
We’ve come to expect greatness from Sofia Vergara’s Golden Buzzer act Jimmie Herrod, and he didn’t disappoint during this week’s show. Jimmie performed “Glitter in the Air” by Pink, once again showing off his unique voice and commanding stage presence.
The America’s Got Talent judges gave Jimmie a standing ovation. Vergara raved about the performance, calling it a “showstopper.” Cowell called it a “masterclass.” Klum said it was a good thing he performed last, because no one would be able to follow him. Mandel called Jimmie “by far the best singer in this competition,” predicting that he could win the whole season.
We feel pretty confident that Jimmie will make it to the Finals, in which case we can’t wait to see what he has up his sleeve for his final performance. If he wins, it would mark the first time Vergara’s Golden Buzzer has won the show.
What was your favorite act of the night? Do you agree with the judges’ criticism of some of the acts? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to vote for which acts you want to see in the Season 16 America’s Got Talent Finals!
