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America's Got Talent (Season 1)
Encyclopedia
The first season of America's Got Talent
premiered on June 21, 2006 and concluded on August 17, 2006. The audition tour took place in April 2006, stopping at Los Angeles, California
, New York City, New York, Chicago, Illinois, and Atlanta, Georgia
. Regis Philbin
was the host for this season and David Hasselhoff
, Brandy Norwood
and Piers Morgan
were the judges. This season's winner was Bianca Ryan
.
round, each of the three judges has a button in front of them that they can press when they do not want the act to continue; the button rings an electronic bell and a large red X with the judge's name lights up over the stage. A louder buzzer indicates the third judge's button was pressed, and the contestant's performance is terminated. Then, the judges deliberate over the act and decide if it gets through to the live semi-finals. In the semi-finals, the judges have X's and check marks (ticks). Acts are divided into four groups of either 14 or 15, and only 10 of those acts in the group perform. They do not have the power to terminate an act in the middle of his/her performance. At the end of the performance, the judges give the act a check for approval, and an X if they did not like the act. At the end of the episode, the judges would pick an act and automatically move them through to the live finale. Then, the viewers at home would vote another act through to the finale, and that act would be announced in a live results show the next day. There was also a fifth wild card episode, where the judges picked ten acts who were previously eliminated and give them one more chance to perform. In the finale, there is no judges' choice, and the voting is entirely handed over to the viewers.
Acts that advanced to the second round include:
Eighteen additional acts from Los Angeles that also made it to the second round were briefly shown at the end of the show, since there were too many performers to fit into a two hour episode. They include: Celtic Spring
, Sugar n' Spice, Jessica Sanchez, N'Versity
, Rabbi Baptiste, George Kelly, Andy Chitanga, Conrad Wright, Shawn Ryan, Sean and John, Natasha Le, Realis, Caitlyn Taylor Love
, Marla and Michelle, Hell If I Know, Jesschelle, Trey Knight's Stilt World, Hoopalicious, and Desperation Squad
.
Acts that were eliminated include:
Acts that advanced to the second round include:
Seven additional acts from New York that also made it to the second round were briefly shown at the end of the show, since there were too many performers to fit into a one hour episode. They include: The Hemphill Kids, Clarence Donaldson, Ten13 Concept, Billy Januario, The King Charles Unicycle Troupe, Aaron Burr, and Daniel Colin.
Acts that were eliminated include:
Acts that advanced to the second round include:
Three additional acts from Chicago that also made it to the second round were briefly shown at the end of the show, since there were too many performers to fit into a one hour episode. They include: K Turbo, Sonia Lee, and Chadwick.
Acts that were eliminated include:
Three semifinalists: Sydney Park, Sideswipe, and Michael Speaks (all of which had televised auditions), didn't perform in the semifinals at all. No reason was given for their absence, but in 2007
, it was revealed that Sideswipe had to withdraw because of a member's foot injury. Sydney Park was believed to be absent because of her career in acting.
All semifinal programs were two hours long. The results shows, airing the next day, were one hour long, except for the first results show which was 30 minutes long.
Eliminated by judges (These acts were not selected by the judges to perform in the episode, and were eliminated from the competition unless chosen for the Wild Card episode):
Jessica Sanchez would appear in the Wild Card as the choice of Brandy.
Eliminated by judges:
The judges could not agree on a winner by the end of the performance episode, which upset Philbin and many of the audience members. Although Brandy revealed that she and Hasselhoff agreed on a choice, Morgan said he refused to add a third singing act to the two that had already made it to the finals, stating "this is not American Idol
" and he "wanted a more diverse group of acts for the final". This indicated that At Last was Brandy and Hasselhoff's pick (as the other singing acts that night got an X on Brandy's part). Realis became the judges' selection, announced on the following day's results show, while At Last became the viewers' pick.
Eliminated by judges:
Eliminated by judges:
Italics indicate that the act received three checks from the judges.
The winner of the one-million-dollar grand prize was 11-year-old singer Bianca Ryan. The ten finalists were first split into two groups. Group A consisted of Realis, At Last, Rappin' Granny, The Passing Zone and Quick Change. Out of the ten finalists, they received the lowest number of votes. The five finalists that received the most votes were The Millers, Taylor Ware, Bianca Ryan, Celtic Spring and All That. Regis asked All That and The Millers to step forward, and announced that they did not win the grand prize but were both runners-up, and were ranked in either 2nd or 3rd place. These acts each won a 2007 Dodge
Caliber RT. The remaining three were Taylor Ware, Bianca Ryan and Celtic Spring. Philbin announced that Bianca won the grand prize.
On the Finals Results Show (August 17), acrobat Rudi Macaggi won the Weird and Wacky Talent Finale (aka Crazy Caliber Talent) when the 5 finalists competed for a 2007 Dodge Caliber RT
. He tap danced and dribbled a basketball while in a handstand, and did a standing backflip and caught a trapeze with his feet. The other finalists were Duane Flatmo (who played the guitar with an egg beater and a weed whacker), The Great Stamen Show (who played music by tapping his teeth), The Douglas Lee (who played water-filled drinking glasses), and Dave Nakfoor (who caught hard boiled eggs in his mouth).
America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network, and part of the global British Got Talent franchise. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of...
premiered on June 21, 2006 and concluded on August 17, 2006. The audition tour took place in April 2006, stopping at Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, New York City, New York, Chicago, Illinois, and Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. Regis Philbin
Regis Philbin
Regis Francis Xavier Philbin is an American media personality, actor and singer, known for hosting talk and game shows since the 1960s. Philbin is often called "the hardest working man in show business" and holds the Guinness World Record for the most time spent in front of a television camera...
was the host for this season and David Hasselhoff
David Hasselhoff
David Michael Hasselhoff is an American actor, singer, producer and businessman. He is best known for his lead roles as Michael Knight in the popular 1980s US series Knight Rider and as L.A. County Lifeguard Mitch Buchannon in the series Baywatch...
, Brandy Norwood
Brandy Norwood
Brandy Rayana Norwood , known professionally as Brandy, is an American singer-songwriter, producer, actress, and dancer. In 2009, she introduced her rap alter-ego Bran'Nu....
and Piers Morgan
Piers Morgan
Piers Stefan Pughe-Morgan , known professionally as Piers Morgan, is a British journalist and television presenter. He is editorial director of First News, a national newspaper for children....
were the judges. This season's winner was Bianca Ryan
Bianca Ryan
Bianca Taylor Ryan is an American singer and guitarist, who won the debut season of NBC's America's Got Talent at age 11....
.
Selection Process
For the auditionAudition
An audition is a sample performance by an actor, singer, musician, dancer or other performing artist.Audition may also refer to:* The sense of hearing* Adobe Audition, audio editing software...
round, each of the three judges has a button in front of them that they can press when they do not want the act to continue; the button rings an electronic bell and a large red X with the judge's name lights up over the stage. A louder buzzer indicates the third judge's button was pressed, and the contestant's performance is terminated. Then, the judges deliberate over the act and decide if it gets through to the live semi-finals. In the semi-finals, the judges have X's and check marks (ticks). Acts are divided into four groups of either 14 or 15, and only 10 of those acts in the group perform. They do not have the power to terminate an act in the middle of his/her performance. At the end of the performance, the judges give the act a check for approval, and an X if they did not like the act. At the end of the episode, the judges would pick an act and automatically move them through to the live finale. Then, the viewers at home would vote another act through to the finale, and that act would be announced in a live results show the next day. There was also a fifth wild card episode, where the judges picked ten acts who were previously eliminated and give them one more chance to perform. In the finale, there is no judges' choice, and the voting is entirely handed over to the viewers.
Los Angeles auditions
- Aired June 21, 2006, 2 hours
Acts that advanced to the second round include:
- Bobby BadfingersBobby BadfingersBobby Badfingers is an American novelty performer whose claim to fame is that he can snap his fingers at a tremendous rate.He has appeared on television, radio and variety shows including:...
, a "professional finger snappist" from San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. He danced to classic 1950s rock, as well. - Dave the Horn Guy, a man with a plethora of horns attached to his body. He moved different parts of his body to honk the horns, making humorous music.
- At Last, a hip-hop a cappellaA cappellaA cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
quartet. - Kenny Shelton, a juggler from Alpine, CaliforniaAlpine, CaliforniaAlpine is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California. Alpine had a population of 14,236 at the 2010 census, up from 13,143 at the 2000 census.Alpine is the residence of former United States Representative Duncan Hunter...
, who was given three X's for dropping his props, and pleaded for another chance. He survived the first round by successfully juggling three swordSwordA sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
s on top of a Rola Bola for one minute. - Bernie Barker, a 65-year-old male stripperStripperA stripper is a professional erotic dancer who performs a contemporary form of striptease at strip club establishments, public exhibitions, and private engagements. Unlike in burlesque, the performer in the modern Americanized form of stripping minimizes the interaction of customer and dancer,...
from San Diego whose underwear was censoredCensorshipthumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
by the show with a black rectangle. Morgan didn't like the act, but Brandy and Hasselhoff voted him through, with Brandy saying she could use him as a backup dancer for her next music video. - Alexis JordanAlexis JordanAlexis Jordan is a National-Record-holding swimmer from Barbados. She swam for Barbados at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games, 2005 World Championships, and CARIFTA and CCCAN Championships.-References:...
, a 14-year old R&BRhythm and bluesRhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
singer. All three critics agreed that she had a 'perfect voice'. She performed the song, "I Have NothingI Have Nothing"I Have Nothing" is a song by American singer Whitney Houston and released as the third single from The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album on February 20, 1993 by Arista Records. The song was written by David Foster and Linda Thompson, and produced by Foster...
" by Whitney HoustonWhitney HoustonWhitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
. - Kevin JohnsonKevin Johnson (ventriloquist)Kevin Johnson is a ventriloquist, comedian, and magician who, along with his "fine feathered friends" Clyde and Matilda, has entertained many people. Johnson currently performs every Wednesday at the Welk Resorts Theater in Escondido, California...
, a ventriloquist who threw his voice and the voices of his two puppets out of synchronization with lip movements, à la the English-languageEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
dubDubbing (filmmaking)Dubbing is the post-production process of recording and replacing voices on a motion picture or television soundtrack subsequent to the original shooting. The term most commonly refers to the substitution of the voices of the actors shown on the screen by those of different performers, who may be...
of GodzillaGodzilla (1954 film)is a 1954 Japanese science fiction film directed by Ishirō Honda and produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka. The film stars Akira Takarada, Momoko Kōchi, Akihiko Hirata and Takashi Shimura. The film tells the story of Godzilla, a giant monster mutated by nuclear radiation, who ravages Japan, bringing back the...
. - Vladimir Malachikhin, a hand balancing acrobatAcrobaticsAcrobatics is the performance of extraordinary feats of balance, agility and motor coordination. It can be found in many of the performing arts, as well as many sports...
. - Team AcroDunk, a group of acrobatAcrobaticsAcrobatics is the performance of extraordinary feats of balance, agility and motor coordination. It can be found in many of the performing arts, as well as many sports...
s from Houston, TexasHouston, TexasHouston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, who shot basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
s while doing somersaults, backflips, and other tricks on a trampolineTrampolineA trampoline is a device consisting of a piece of taut, strong fabric stretched over a steel frame using many coiled springs. People bounce on trampolines for recreational and competitive purposes....
. Morgan didn't feel they were right for the competition, though he did agree that they could be the next Harlem GlobetrottersHarlem GlobetrottersThe Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theater and comedy. The executive offices for the team are currently in downtown Phoenix, Arizona; the team is owned by Shamrock Holdings, which oversees the various investments of the Roy E. Disney family.Over...
. Brandy and Hasselhoff gave their total praise for them though. - Ivan Pecel, a juggler. He did some technical juggling, which didn't impress Hasselhoff or Morgan, though Brandy supported him. Morgan reluctantly voted yes on the condition that Ivan step up his performance in the semi-finals.
- Nathan Burton, a magician who performed the Bowl-A-RamaBowl-A-RamaBowl-A-Rama is a stage magic trick invented by Kevin James.The magician holds up a pad, on which he draws a picture of a bowling ball, with the words "Bowling Ball" surrounding it. He then closes the pad, holds it in front of him, and a physical bowling ball appears to drop from the centre of the...
magic trick, making a bowling ball appear from a drawing in a large sketchpad. Then, he did a disappearing act involving the "Microwave of Death" - Vladik Miagkostoupov, a juggler. All three critics agreed that he was the only good juggler performing that day.
- Michael Speaks, a gospelGospel musicGospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
singer. The judges unanimously sent him through for his great energy and his pop-gospel vibe. - J.R. Johns and his Best Friends, a dog trainer who did some acrobatic and fast paced dog tricks.
- Rappin' GrannyRappin' GrannyVivian L. Smallwood , known by her stage name Rappin' Granny, is a grandmother who performs hip-hop music. She lives in Castaic, California, near Los Angeles....
, a 73-year-old rapping grandmother from Castaic, CaliforniaCastaic, CaliforniaCastaic, California, is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, north of Santa Clarita and a few miles from Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park. It is approximately 39 miles from the downtown Los Angeles Civic Center. As of the 2010...
. - Sydney "Syd the Kid" ParkSydney Park (entertainer)Sydney Park known professionally as Sydney Park and Syd the Kid, is an American child actress and comedian. She is best known for playing the role of Sydney in That's So Raven and appearing on America's Got Talent....
, a young stand-up comedianStand-up comedyStand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
, and gospelGospel musicGospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
singer Michael Speaks, also advanced to the second round from the L.A. auditions, but didn't compete in any of the semifinal episodes, for reasons not disclosed.
Eighteen additional acts from Los Angeles that also made it to the second round were briefly shown at the end of the show, since there were too many performers to fit into a two hour episode. They include: Celtic Spring
Celtic Spring
Celtic Spring is an Irish-American dance and fiddle band from California, United States. The family band combine Irish Traditional Music with Irish and Cape Breton step dancing. The members of Celtic Spring are all members of the Wood family....
, Sugar n' Spice, Jessica Sanchez, N'Versity
N'Versity
N'Versity was an American girl group from Pomona, California. The group were most notable for their two-time appearance on NBC's America's Got Talent. The group consisted of members Cassy, Kandie and BB. On September 2, 2006, N'Versity won the award for Best Rising Star Female Vocal Group at the...
, Rabbi Baptiste, George Kelly, Andy Chitanga, Conrad Wright, Shawn Ryan, Sean and John, Natasha Le, Realis, Caitlyn Taylor Love
Caitlyn Taylor Love
Caitlyn Taylor Love is an American actress and singer. She currently co-stars in the Disney XD sitcom I'm in the Band.-Career:...
, Marla and Michelle, Hell If I Know, Jesschelle, Trey Knight's Stilt World, Hoopalicious, and Desperation Squad
Desperation Squad
Desperation Squad is a rock and roll band from Pomona, California. They played their first live show on May 19, 1984 and are still active as of 2008...
.
Acts that were eliminated include:
- Blue Velvet, a singing trio, was voted out as soon as they sang their name. They mentioned that they were missing out on their music.
- Shadow Dancers, a troupe of performers who used costumed actors and a donkeyDonkeyThe donkey or ass, Equus africanus asinus, is a domesticated member of the Equidae or horse family. The wild ancestor of the donkey is the African Wild Ass, E...
to tell some sort of allegoricalAllegoryAllegory is a demonstrative form of representation explaining meaning other than the words that are spoken. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation...
tale. Neither the judges nor the audience could understand it. The judges refused to vote; the audience was allowed to vote in their place. - Eddie Haskell, who played a sawSawA saw is a tool that uses a hard blade or wire with an abrasive edge to cut through softer materials. The cutting edge of a saw is either a serrated blade or an abrasive...
as a musical instrument. He was voted off very quickly, and was visibly angry with the judges as a result. - Kathy Kavanaugh, a singing harpist. Morgan commented that he would like her to sing at his funeral, as the music was deep and touching, but said it was not the right kind of talent for the show.
- Eric "Harry Carrey" Mol, who tried to impersonate the voices of Arnold SchwarzeneggerArnold SchwarzeneggerArnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
, YodaYodaYoda is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe, appearing in the second and third original films, as well as all three prequel trilogy films. A renowned Jedi master, Yoda made his first on-screen appearance in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back where he is responsible for...
and Shaggy RogersShaggy RogersNorville "Shaggy" Rogers is a fictional character from the American animated television series Scooby-Doo, about the adventures of four crime-solving teenagers and Shaggy's pet great dane, Scooby-Doo. Shaggy is a cowardly slacker more interested in eating than solving mysteries. He is the only...
from Scooby-DooScooby-DooScooby-Doo is an American media franchise based around several animated television series and related works produced from 1969 to the present day. The original series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, was created for Hanna-Barbera Productions by writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears in 1969...
, but appeared to have failed on all accounts. - Jay Myl, a man in a pirate costume playing "Tiptoe Through the TulipsTiptoe Through the Tulips"Tiptoe Through the Tulips" is a popular song originally published in 1929. The song was written by Al Dubin and Joe Burke .‘Crooning Troubadour’ Nick Lucas’ recording of "Tip-Toe Through The Tulips" hit the top of the charts in May 1929. The song he introduced in the 1929 musical talkie Gold...
" on a nose fluteNose fluteThe nose flute is a popular musical instrument played in Polynesia and the Pacific Rim countries. Other versions are found in Africa, China, and India.- Hawaii :In the North Pacific, in the Hawaiian islands the nose flute was a common courting instrument...
. After being eliminated, he started insulting the judges. - Betty Victor, a 76-year-old woman singing "God Bless AmericaGod Bless America"God Bless America" is an American patriotic song written by Irving Berlin in 1918 and revised by him in 1938. The later version has notably been recorded by Kate Smith, becoming her signature song ....
". Morgan single-handedly stopped the act by pushing all three X buttons. - The Boofont Sisters, a singing duo featuring a woman and a cross-dressing man in matching outfits, singing "Total Eclipse of the HeartTotal Eclipse of the Heart"Total Eclipse of the Heart" is a song written and produced by Jim Steinman and recorded by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler for her fifth studio album, Faster Than the Speed of Night...
". - Holy Cow, a man breakdancing in a cow suit that shot milk at the judges. Morgan said he would be popular with children, but not with adults.
- Wildlife Wendy, a zookeeper with an African Grey ParrotAfrican Grey ParrotThe African Grey Parrot , also known as the Grey Parrot, is a medium-sized parrot found in the primary and secondary rainforest of West and Central Africa. Experts regard it as one of the most intelligent birds. They feed primarily on palm nuts, seeds, fruits, leafy matter, but have been observed...
named Wazoo, that was trained to make various sound effects. The judges weren't impressed, but Wendy shot back, emphasizing the hard work and amount of time it took to train the parrot - S. Frank Stringham, a performer who blew up balloonBalloonA balloon is an inflatable flexible bag filled with a gas, such as helium, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, oxygen, or air. Modern balloons can be made from materials such as rubber, latex, polychloroprene, or a nylon fabric, while some early balloons were made of dried animal bladders, such as the pig...
s to make parts of a face, then put the parts on while singing Frank SinatraFrank SinatraFrancis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
's "All of MeAll of Me (song)"All of Me" is a popular song and jazz standard written by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons in 1931.First performed by Belle Baker over the radio and recorded in December 1931 by Ruth Etting, it has become one of the most recorded songs of its era, with notable versions by Russ Columbo, Bing Crosby,...
". Despite not moving on, he presented Philbin with a mini replica of him made out of balloons.
New York auditions
- Aired June 28, 2006, 1 hour
Acts that advanced to the second round include:
- All That, a clog dancing group; the five men from Myrtle Beach, South CarolinaMyrtle Beach, South CarolinaMyrtle Beach is a coastal city on the east coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is situated on the center of a large and continuous stretch of beach known as the Grand Strand in northeastern South Carolina. It is considered to be a major tourist destination in the...
(who had auditioned in New York) danced with incredible rhythm and had the audience on their feet in no time. Brandy described the men as worthy of their title and Hasselhoff thought they were "up front", Morgan joked that he didn't like them, adding after the audience expressed, "because all the women in America will love you." - Leonid the MagnificentLeonid the MagnificentLeonid the Magnificent is a Russian performance artist born in 1973 in Siberia who now lives in Brooklyn, New York City. Leonid has been performing on stage since the age of 12. He finished Russian Circus School and University of Art and Culture to become an artist and a show creator...
from Russia; a tall, flamboyant AdonisAdonisAdonis , in Greek mythology, the god of beauty and desire, is a figure with Northwest Semitic antecedents, where he is a central figure in various mystery religions. The Greek , Adōnis is a variation of the Semitic word Adonai, "lord", which is also one of the names used to refer to God in the Old...
with angel's wings, who balanced a sword tip to tip on a sword held in his mouth. He was noticeably nervous, dropped the sword during his first try, and was rejected. Later in the show, Brandy asked him to be brought back. Leonid cried and said he was on the show to make his dream come true. - Elliot Zimet, a magician that made doves and a parrot appear in a more exciting and cool fashion. Piers said that he usually finds dove acts excrutiatingly boring, but that Zimet had managed to make it interesting, and all the judges agreed to put him through.
- Corina BrouderCorina BrouderCorina Brouder was born in The Bronx, New York City. As a child, her sister, Christina, spent some time in hospital after a hit and run incident, and Corina and her other siblings started entertaining her recovering sister and the other children in the ward...
, a young IrishIrish peopleThe Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
woman who played a harpHarpThe harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
while singing; the judges said that she and her voice were beautiful, and agreed to put her through. - Dave Smith, a contortionist and musicianMusicianA musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
who sang and played the song "Bend Me, Shape MeBend Me, Shape Me"Bend Me, Shape Me" is a song written by Scott English and Larry Weiss. It was first recorded by The Outsiders as a track on their album The Outsiders In in 1966...
" on his guitar while his legs were wrapped behind his head. He amused Morgan and he wanted to see what other crazy stuff Dave could do. - PBMPBM (band)PBM is an American rock band based out of Detroit, Michigan. Founded in 1997 by lead singer Nate Castle and trumpet player Tom Torrento, PBM has released two full length albums - Overview and One Sip at a Time ....
, A rock band from DetroitDetroit, MichiganDetroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, came on stage with hopes of dazzling the judges and the audience. Their music was a combination of rock and reggae, also known as skaSkaSka |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
or ska-punk. Morgan liked the band’s energy but wasn’t a big fan of the lead singer. Hasselhoff and Brandy wanted the band to come back. Brandy challenged PBM to prove Morgan wrong the next time they hit the stage. - Michelle L'amourMichelle L'amourMichelle L'amour is an American neo-burlesque performer who grew up in Orland Park, Illinois. In 2006, she performed stripteases on NBC's America's Got Talent, Showtime's , and small touring performances. Her tagline is "The Ass That Goes POW!" and she sells related promotional products...
, dressed as Snow WhiteSnow White"Snow White" is a fairy tale known from many countries in Europe, the best known version being the German one collected by the Brothers Grimm...
, performed a burlesqueAmerican burlesqueAmerican Burlesque is a genre of variety show. Derived from elements of Victorian burlesque, music hall and minstrel shows, burlesque shows in America became popular in the 1860s and evolved to feature ribald comedy and female striptease...
stripteaseStripteaseA striptease is an erotic or exotic dance in which the performer gradually undresses, either partly or completely, in a seductive and sexually suggestive manner...
for the judges. This infuriated Brandy, who vigorously pushed Hasselhoff and Morgan's strike buttons. The two male judges enthusiastically gave their approvals for her to go on to the next round. - Bianca RyanBianca RyanBianca Taylor Ryan is an American singer and guitarist, who won the debut season of NBC's America's Got Talent at age 11....
, an 11-year old from PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, belted out the Jennifer HudsonJennifer HudsonJennifer Kate Hudson is an American recording artist, actress and spokesperson. She came to prominence in 2004 as one of the finalists on the third season of American Idol coming in seventh place...
cover of the Jennifer HollidayJennifer HollidayJennifer-Yvette Holliday is an African-American singer and Tony Award-winning actress. She started her career on Broadway in musicals such as Dreamgirls, and later became a successful recording artist...
song "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from the 2006 motion picture adaptation of the 1982 Broadway musical DreamgirlsDreamgirlsDreamgirls is a Broadway musical, with music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen. Based upon the show business aspirations and successes of R&B acts such as The Supremes, The Shirelles, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and others, the musical follows the story of a young female singing trio...
. Brandy gave Bianca a standing ovation and called her "my favorite contestant in this competition." Morgan told Ryan to change her hair, dress and shoes, "and you will win this tournament. ... You came on this stage, and you blew us away!" Hasselhoff called her "a star" and called for the audience to "get on your feet for this girl!" - Side Swipe, a karate team who performed karateKarateis a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
moves to music, also advanced to the second round from the New York auditions, but didn't compete in any of the semifinal episodes. In their audition for the second season of America's Got TalentAmerica's Got Talent (Season 2)The second season of America's Got Talent, an American television reality show talent competition, premiered on the NBC network on June 5, 2007 with a two-hour episode. Tabloid talk show host Jerry Springer succeeded Regis Philbin as host. Piers Morgan and David Hasselhoff returned as judges,...
in 2007, it was disclosed that the group had to withdraw from the competition in Season 1 because one of the members had injured his foot shortly after their first round performance.
Seven additional acts from New York that also made it to the second round were briefly shown at the end of the show, since there were too many performers to fit into a one hour episode. They include: The Hemphill Kids, Clarence Donaldson, Ten13 Concept, Billy Januario, The King Charles Unicycle Troupe, Aaron Burr, and Daniel Colin.
Acts that were eliminated include:
- William J. McGowan, an opera singer that sang "Cara MiaCara Mia"Cara Mia" is a popular song published in 1954 and became a hit for English singer David Whitfield in 1954 and a #4 hit by the American pop group Jay and the Americans in 1965. The title means "my beloved" in Italian....
". Morgan called him the worst singer he'd ever heard. - Frank Simon, a man who balanced a motorbike and then a stoveStoveA stove is an enclosed heated space. The term is commonly taken to mean an enclosed space in which fuel is burned to provide heating, either to heat the space in which the stove is situated or to heat the stove itself, and items placed on it...
on his lower jaw. Though extremely popular with the crowd, the judges felt that wasn't a level of talent. Morgan stated, "This is a talent show, not a freak show," which was followed by loud boos from the audience. - Matthew Fuhrman, a navy reserveUnited States Navy ReserveThe United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
soldier from Miami Beach, FloridaMiami Beach, FloridaMiami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
who attempted to beatbox. Though taking off his shirt won him some female audience support, the judges didn't like his audition. - Marlon Reynolds, a man that sang "I Left My Heart In San FranciscoI Left My Heart in San Francisco"I Left My Heart in San Francisco" is a popular song, written in 1954 by George Cory and Douglass Cross, and best known as the signature song of Tony Bennett...
", did not get a chance to sing the chorus. Morgan said he should have left his voice in San Francisco.
Chicago auditions
- Aired July 5, 2006, 1 hour
Acts that advanced to the second round include:
- The Passing ZoneThe Passing ZoneThe Passing Zone is an American comedy-juggling duo. Jon Wee, of Minnesota, and Owen Morse, of California, met at a juggling convention in Northern California in 1986 and decided two years later to team up...
, two comedians/jugglers who juggled lit torches while on the 'Rola Bola of Death' as they make one-liners. Hasselhoff didn't like them, as with most of the other jugglers on the show, but Brandy and Morgan both said yes. - The Millers, Cole on guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and vocals, and L.D. on harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
and backing vocals. They played Lynyrd SkynyrdLynyrd SkynyrdLynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
's "Sweet Home AlabamaSweet Home Alabama (song)"Sweet Home Alabama" is a song by Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd that first appeared in 1974 on their second album, Second Helping.It reached #8 on the US charts in 1974, and was the band's second hit single.-Creation and recording:...
". Morgan said that L.D. was a terrible singer, but in contrast, was the best harmonica player he had ever seen. - Lilia StepanovaLilia StepanovaLilia Stepanova is a contortionist. She was born in Chişinău, Moldova, to parents who were also contortionists. She started training with her mother at the age of five....
, a contortionist who shot a bow and arrow with her feet while executing a handstandHandstandA handstand is the act of supporting the body in a stable, inverted vertical position by balancing on the hands. In a basic handstand the body is held straight with arms and legs fully extended, with hands spaced approximately shoulder-width apart...
to Ecstasy by ATBATBATB may refer to:*The US Reorder tone is often referred to as an ATB, for All Trunks Busy*Active Time Battle system is a feature of role-playing games*Mountain bike is an off-road bicycle...
. - Mark Faje (aka Mark "The Knife"), the "world's most dangerous comic", kicked a burning bowling ballBowling ballA bowling ball is a spherical ball made from plastic, reactive resin, urethane or a combination of these materials which is used in the sport of bowling. Ten-pin bowling balls generally have a set of three holes drilled in them, one each for the ring and middle finger, and one for the thumb;...
with two steak knives protruding from it to the side of his head after placing a live scorpionScorpionScorpions are predatory arthropod animals of the order Scorpiones within the class Arachnida. They have eight legs and are easily recognized by the pair of grasping claws and the narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back, ending with a venomous stinger...
in his pants. The judges all voted yes (though Morgan thought he was "completely barking mad"). - Taylor WareTaylor WareTaylor Marie Ware is an American singer and yodeler from Franklin, Tennessee, a suburb of Nashville.Before Ware knew how to yodel, she performed at a county fair at age four. Her talent was singing and playing a violin. When she was six she decided to sing to seniors, so she started an...
, a singer and yodeler who learned all her yodeling from a tape and instruction booklet. The judges were blown away by her performance ("You learned that from a tape," asked Hasselhoff, "and an instruction booklet?! You are a good student!"). - The Players Club, a group of people who were "Step dancers", which involves using only your body as musical instruments. Morgan didn't see that they had an audience for their talent, while Hasselhoff and Brandy liked the act, though Brandy wanted them to be tighter.
- Quick Change ArtistsQuick-changeQuick-change is a performance style in which a performer or magician changes quickly within seconds from one costume into another costume in front of the audience.-Modern Quick-Change Artists:...
, a magic duo who rapidly changed outfits, with no visible way of determining how they did it.
Three additional acts from Chicago that also made it to the second round were briefly shown at the end of the show, since there were too many performers to fit into a one hour episode. They include: K Turbo, Sonia Lee, and Chadwick.
Acts that were eliminated include:
- The Chicago Matadors, a group of overweight Chicago BullsChicago BullsThe Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
fans who danced to music. - Shawn Crump, a singer who had only been singing for nine months. When asked by Brandy how good he was, he said he was awesome. Soon after starting "Suspicious MindsSuspicious Minds"Suspicious Minds" is a song written by American songwriter Mark James that, after the failure of his own recording, was handed to Elvis Presley by producer Chips Moman becoming one of his most notable hits and a number one in 1969, "Suspicious Minds" was widely regarded as the single that returned...
", he was quickly voted off. - Sharon Kissane, a bird caller. She called birds that weren't there and made bird noises. Brandy wondered where the birds were that she was calling, Hasselhoff said she should be on medication, and Morgan said that she got off the wrong bus and came to the studio by mistake. He also said that he thought of the cuckooCuckooThe cuckoos are a family, Cuculidae, of near passerine birds. The order Cuculiformes, in addition to the cuckoos, also includes the turacos . Some zoologists and taxonomists have also included the unique Hoatzin in the Cuculiformes, but its taxonomy remains in dispute...
when she was performing. - Buster Balloon, a man who put himself inside a giant balloonBalloonA balloon is an inflatable flexible bag filled with a gas, such as helium, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, oxygen, or air. Modern balloons can be made from materials such as rubber, latex, polychloroprene, or a nylon fabric, while some early balloons were made of dried animal bladders, such as the pig...
. The balloon popped the first time, so he got another and did his act again. The judges were not very impressed, though. - Flippy the Magnificent, a man wearing only a loinclothLoinclothA loincloth is a one-piece male garment, sometimes kept in place by a belt, which covers the genitals and, at least partially, the buttocks.-History and types:Loincloths are being and have been worn:*in societies where no other clothing is needed or wanted...
who imitated a hand-to-hand balancing act with an inflatable doll that looked like himself. When asked what was the "magnificent" part of the act, Flippy said that the judges did not give him a chance to bring out the magnificent part. Morgan said it was a ridiculous act and it was a waste of time. - The Laughing Yogi (YogiYogiA Yogi is a practitioner of Yoga. The word is also used to refer to ascetic practitioners of meditation in a number of South Asian Religions including Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.-Etymology:...
Ramesh), a man who did yogaYogaYoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
that tried to make people laugh. However, nobody laughed and he was eliminated.
Semi-finals
At this point, 58 of the 61 acts (29 with televised auditions and 29 without) that made it to the semifinals were divided into four groups. The 14 or 15 acts in each group had to perform a second audition in front of only the judges. Brandy, Hasselhoff, and Morgan then pick ten of these performers to continue onto the telecast. The contestants chosen to perform on stage were announced one at a time. Those acts that were not chosen did not find out until the last act is called, ending their chances to move on to the semifinals, unless a judge selected a nonperformer for the Wild Card show later in the season.Three semifinalists: Sydney Park, Sideswipe, and Michael Speaks (all of which had televised auditions), didn't perform in the semifinals at all. No reason was given for their absence, but in 2007
America's Got Talent (Season 2)
The second season of America's Got Talent, an American television reality show talent competition, premiered on the NBC network on June 5, 2007 with a two-hour episode. Tabloid talk show host Jerry Springer succeeded Regis Philbin as host. Piers Morgan and David Hasselhoff returned as judges,...
, it was revealed that Sideswipe had to withdraw because of a member's foot injury. Sydney Park was believed to be absent because of her career in acting.
All semifinal programs were two hours long. The results shows, airing the next day, were one hour long, except for the first results show which was 30 minutes long.
| Semifinals legend | ||
|---|---|---|
| Formatting | Description | |
| Contestants | 1. | Order of appearance in the episode |
| italicized | contestant received three checks from the judges | |
| bold | contestant moved on to the final round | |
| Audition city |
contestant's audition was televised | |
| contestant's audition was not televised | ||
| Results | Judges choice | judges' favorite act and selection to automatically move on to the finals |
| Viewers elim | eliminated from competition by viewers' votes, unless chosen to perform in the Wild Card episode | |
| Viewers 2nd | received second-most votes from viewers; would later perform in the Wild Card episode | |
| Viewers choice | received the most votes from viewers; moves on to the finals | |
Part 1
| Semifinals - Part 1, July 12, 2006 | |||
| Contestant (audition accreditation) |
Audition city |
Result (July 13, 2006) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Taylor Ware Taylor Ware Taylor Marie Ware is an American singer and yodeler from Franklin, Tennessee, a suburb of Nashville.Before Ware knew how to yodel, she performed at a county fair at age four. Her talent was singing and playing a violin. When she was six she decided to sing to seniors, so she started an... |
Chicago | Viewers choice | |
| 2. All That | New York | Viewers 2nd | |
| 3. Kevin Johnson Kevin Johnson (ventriloquist) Kevin Johnson is a ventriloquist, comedian, and magician who, along with his "fine feathered friends" Clyde and Matilda, has entertained many people. Johnson currently performs every Wednesday at the Welk Resorts Theater in Escondido, California... |
Los Angeles | Viewers elim | |
| 4. Alexis Jordan Alexis Jordan Alexis Jordan is a National-Record-holding swimmer from Barbados. She swam for Barbados at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games, 2005 World Championships, and CARIFTA and CCCAN Championships.-References:... |
Los Angeles | Viewers elim | Chosen by Brandy to perform in Wild Card episode |
| 5. Vladik (Vladik Miagkostoupov) |
Los Angeles | Viewers elim | |
| 6. Shawn Ryan | Los Angeles | Viewers elim | Cabaret Cabaret Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or... singer |
| 7. JR Johns and His Friends | Los Angeles | Viewers elim | |
| 8. Hoopalicious | Los Angeles | Viewers elim | Hula hoop Hula hoop A hula hoop is a toy hoop that is twirled around the waist, limbs or neck.Although the exact origins of hula hoops are unknown, children and adults around the world have played with hoops, twirling, rolling and throwing them throughout history... dancer |
| 9. Corina Brouder Corina Brouder Corina Brouder was born in The Bronx, New York City. As a child, her sister, Christina, spent some time in hospital after a hit and run incident, and Corina and her other siblings started entertaining her recovering sister and the other children in the ward... |
New York | Viewers elim | Chosen by David Hasselhoff to perform in Wild Card episode |
| 10. The Millers | Chicago | Judges choice | |
Eliminated by judges (These acts were not selected by the judges to perform in the episode, and were eliminated from the competition unless chosen for the Wild Card episode):
- Audition televised: Bernie Barker (auditioned in Los Angeles) and The Players' Club (Chicago)
- Audition not televised: Hell If I Know, Andy Chitanga, and Jessica Sanchez (all from Los Angeles)
Jessica Sanchez would appear in the Wild Card as the choice of Brandy.
Part 2
| Semifinals - Part 2, July 19, 2006 | |||
| Contestant (audition accreditation) |
Audition city |
Result (July 20, 2006) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Dave the Horn Guy | Los Angeles | Viewers elim | |
| 2. Realis | Los Angeles | Judges choice | Acrobatic dancing duo; see note below |
| 3. At Last | Los Angeles | Viewers choice | |
| 4. Natasha Le | Los Angeles | Viewers 2nd | Pianist |
| 5. Vladimir (Vladimir Malachkin) |
Los Angeles | Viewers elim | |
| 6. Bobby Badfingers Bobby Badfingers Bobby Badfingers is an American novelty performer whose claim to fame is that he can snap his fingers at a tremendous rate.He has appeared on television, radio and variety shows including:... |
Los Angeles | Viewers elim | Chosen by Piers Morgan to perform in Wild Card episode |
| 7. Sugar n' Spice | Los Angeles | Viewers elim | Pop music family group |
| 8. N'Versity N'Versity N'Versity was an American girl group from Pomona, California. The group were most notable for their two-time appearance on NBC's America's Got Talent. The group consisted of members Cassy, Kandie and BB. On September 2, 2006, N'Versity won the award for Best Rising Star Female Vocal Group at the... |
Los Angeles | Viewers elim | A cappella singing group; chosen by Piers Morgan to perform in Wild Card episode |
| 9. Mark The Knife (Mark "The Knife" Faje) |
Chicago | Viewers elim | |
| 10. Leonid the Magnificent Leonid the Magnificent Leonid the Magnificent is a Russian performance artist born in 1973 in Siberia who now lives in Brooklyn, New York City. Leonid has been performing on stage since the age of 12. He finished Russian Circus School and University of Art and Culture to become an artist and a show creator... |
New York | Viewers elim | Chosen by David Hasselhoff to perform in Wild Card episode |
Eliminated by judges:
- Audition televised: PBMPBM (band)PBM is an American rock band based out of Detroit, Michigan. Founded in 1997 by lead singer Nate Castle and trumpet player Tom Torrento, PBM has released two full length albums - Overview and One Sip at a Time ....
(New York) - Audition not televised: Rabbi Baptiste (Los Angeles), The Hemphill Kids (New York), K Turbo (Chicago), and Clarence Donaldson (New York)
The judges could not agree on a winner by the end of the performance episode, which upset Philbin and many of the audience members. Although Brandy revealed that she and Hasselhoff agreed on a choice, Morgan said he refused to add a third singing act to the two that had already made it to the finals, stating "this is not American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
" and he "wanted a more diverse group of acts for the final". This indicated that At Last was Brandy and Hasselhoff's pick (as the other singing acts that night got an X on Brandy's part). Realis became the judges' selection, announced on the following day's results show, while At Last became the viewers' pick.
Part 3
| Semifinals - Part 3, July 26, 2006 | |||
| Contestant (audition accreditation) |
Audition city |
Result (July 27, 2006) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Team Acrodunk | Los Angeles | Viewers elim | |
| 2. Caitlyn Taylor Love Caitlyn Taylor Love Caitlyn Taylor Love is an American actress and singer. She currently co-stars in the Disney XD sitcom I'm in the Band.-Career:... |
Los Angeles | Viewers elim | Singer |
| 3. Sonia Lee | Chicago | Viewers elim | Electric violinist |
| 4. Elliot Zimet | New York | Viewers elim | |
| 5. Ten13 Concept | New York | Viewers elim | Punk band |
| 6. Rappin' Granny Rappin' Granny Vivian L. Smallwood , known by her stage name Rappin' Granny, is a grandmother who performs hip-hop music. She lives in Castaic, California, near Los Angeles.... |
Los Angeles | Judges choice | |
| 7. Nathan Burton | Los Angeles | Viewers 2nd | |
| 8. Bianca Ryan Bianca Ryan Bianca Taylor Ryan is an American singer and guitarist, who won the debut season of NBC's America's Got Talent at age 11.... |
New York | Viewers choice | |
| 9. Kenny Shelton | Los Angeles | Viewers elim | |
| 10. Trey Knight's Stilt World | Los Angeles | Viewers elim | Stilt performers |
Eliminated by judges:
- Audition not televised: Billy Januario (New York), Marla & Michelle (Los Angeles), Jesschelle (Los Angeles), and Chadwick (Chicago)
Part 4
| Semifinals - Part 4, August 2, 2006 | |||
| Contestant (audition accreditation) |
Audition city |
Result (August 3, 2006) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Jon & Owen - The Passing Zone The Passing Zone The Passing Zone is an American comedy-juggling duo. Jon Wee, of Minnesota, and Owen Morse, of California, met at a juggling convention in Northern California in 1986 and decided two years later to team up... |
Chicago | Judges choice | |
| 2. Celtic Spring | Los Angeles | Viewers choice | Irish fiddle/dance act |
| 3. Sean and John | Los Angeles | Viewers elim | Tap dancers |
| 4. Lilia Stepanova Lilia Stepanova Lilia Stepanova is a contortionist. She was born in Chişinău, Moldova, to parents who were also contortionists. She started training with her mother at the age of five.... |
Chicago | Viewers elim | Contortionist archery Archery Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity... act. |
| 5. Dave Smith One Man Sideshow | New York | Viewers elim; bot 3 |
|
| 6. David & Dania - Quick Change |
Chicago | Viewers 2nd | |
| 7. George Kelly | Los Angeles | Viewers elim | Singer |
| 8. Michelle L'amour Michelle L'amour Michelle L'amour is an American neo-burlesque performer who grew up in Orland Park, Illinois. In 2006, she performed stripteases on NBC's America's Got Talent, Showtime's , and small touring performances. Her tagline is "The Ass That Goes POW!" and she sells related promotional products... |
New York | Viewers elim | |
| 9. King Charles Unicycle Troupe | New York | Viewers elim; bot 3 |
Unicyclists/stunt basketball performers |
| 10. Desperation Squad Desperation Squad Desperation Squad is a rock and roll band from Pomona, California. They played their first live show on May 19, 1984 and are still active as of 2008... |
Los Angeles | Viewers elim; bot 3 |
Punk rock band |
Eliminated by judges:
- Audition televised: Ivan Pecel (Los Angeles)
- Audition not televised: Aaron Burr (New York), Daniel Colin (New York), and Conrad Wright (Los Angeles)
Wild Card
| Wild Card, August 9, 2006 | |||
| Contestant | Chosen by | Result (August 10, 2006) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Nathan Burton | Viewers (Semi-finals part 3) | Viewers 2nd; elim | A magician |
| 2. Bobby Badfingers | Piers Morgan | Viewers elim; bot 3 | A professional "Snappist" |
| 3. Jessica Sanchez | Brandy | Viewers elim | Singer; Wasn't picked to perform in semifinals |
| 4. All That | Viewers (Semi-finals part 1) | Judges choice | Clogging Group |
| 5. Corina Brouder Corina Brouder Corina Brouder was born in The Bronx, New York City. As a child, her sister, Christina, spent some time in hospital after a hit and run incident, and Corina and her other siblings started entertaining her recovering sister and the other children in the ward... |
David Hasselhoff | Viewers elim; bot 3 | Singing Harpist |
| 6. David & Dania - Quick Change | Viewers (Semi-finals part 4) | Viewers choice | Quick Change Artists |
| 7. N'Versity N'Versity N'Versity was an American girl group from Pomona, California. The group were most notable for their two-time appearance on NBC's America's Got Talent. The group consisted of members Cassy, Kandie and BB. On September 2, 2006, N'Versity won the award for Best Rising Star Female Vocal Group at the... |
Piers Morgan | Viewers elim; bot 3 | Singing Group |
| 8. Natasha Le | Viewers (Semi-finals part 2) | Viewers elim | 8 Year-Old Pianist |
| 9. Alexis Jordan Alexis Jordan Alexis Jordan is a National-Record-holding swimmer from Barbados. She swam for Barbados at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games, 2005 World Championships, and CARIFTA and CCCAN Championships.-References:... |
Brandy | Viewers elim | Teen Singer |
| 10. Leonid the Magnificent | David Hasselhoff | Viewers elim | Random Acts |
Finals
In the final round, the judges were still allowed to judge, but only the audience can decide the winners. In addition, each finalist had a celebrity coach to guide them.Italics indicate that the act received three checks from the judges.
| Finals, August 16, 2006 | |||
| Contestant | Chosen by | Celebrity coach | Result (August 17, 2006) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. At Last | Viewers (Semi-finals part 2) | Chaka Khan Chaka Khan Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career... |
Bottom 5 |
| 2. David & Dania - Quick Change | Viewers (Wild Card) | Steve Valentine Steve Valentine Steven John Valentine is a Scottish actor, singer and magician who has performed on stage and screen, but is best known for his role as the eccentric Nigel Townsend on NBC's crime drama Crossing Jordan... |
Bottom 5 |
| 3. Rappin' Granny | Judges (Semi-finals part 3) | Master P Master P Percy Robert Miller , better known by his stage name Master P or his business name P. Miller, is an American rapper, actor, entrepreneur, investor, and producer. He is the founder of the popular label No Limit Records, which went bankrupt and was relaunched as New No Limit Records through Koch... |
Bottom 5 |
| 4. Bianca Ryan Bianca Ryan Bianca Taylor Ryan is an American singer and guitarist, who won the debut season of NBC's America's Got Talent at age 11.... |
Viewers (Semi-finals part 3) | Yolanda Adams Yolanda Adams Yolanda Adams is an American Grammy- and Dove-award-winning Yolanda Adams is an American [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]]- and [[Dove Awards|Dove]]-award-winning... |
Winner |
| 5. All That | Judges (Wild Card) | Dave Scott (R&B choreographer) | Top 3 (runner-up) |
| 6. Taylor Ware | Viewers (Semi-finals part 1) | Tom McBryde (country music arranger) | Top 5 |
| 7. Jon & Owen - The Passing Zone | Judges (Semi-finals part 4) | Penn & Teller Penn & Teller Penn & Teller are Las Vegas headliners whose act is an amalgam of illusion and comedy. Penn Jillette is a raconteur; Teller generally uses mime while performing, although his voice can occasionally be heard during their performance... |
Bottom 5 |
| 8. Celtic Spring | Viewers (Semi-finals part 4) | Tara Barry (Riverdance Riverdance Riverdance is a theatrical show consisting of traditional Irish stepdancing, notable for its rapid leg movements while body and arms are kept largely stationary. It originated as an interval performance during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, a moment that is still considered a significant... lead dancer) |
Top 5 |
| 9. Realis | Judges (Semi-finals part 2) | Gene Lubas (Cirque du Soleil Cirque du Soleil Cirque du Soleil , is a Canadian entertainment company, self-described as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment." Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy... choreographer) |
Bottom 5 |
| 10. The Millers | Judges (Semi-finals part 1) | John Popper John Popper John Popper is an American musician and songwriter.He is most famous for his role as frontman of rock band Blues Traveler performing harmonica, guitar and vocals... |
Top 3 (runner-up) |
The winner of the one-million-dollar grand prize was 11-year-old singer Bianca Ryan. The ten finalists were first split into two groups. Group A consisted of Realis, At Last, Rappin' Granny, The Passing Zone and Quick Change. Out of the ten finalists, they received the lowest number of votes. The five finalists that received the most votes were The Millers, Taylor Ware, Bianca Ryan, Celtic Spring and All That. Regis asked All That and The Millers to step forward, and announced that they did not win the grand prize but were both runners-up, and were ranked in either 2nd or 3rd place. These acts each won a 2007 Dodge
Dodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
Caliber RT. The remaining three were Taylor Ware, Bianca Ryan and Celtic Spring. Philbin announced that Bianca won the grand prize.
Crazy Caliber Talent
- Rudi Macaggi, Mike Lloyd, Kelvin Gordon, James Thompson Winner:Rudi Macaggi
- The Douglas Lee, Nicolas Abramowitz, Larry Clark, Gery Deer and Scout, Camille Trout Winner:The Douglas Lee
- Duane Flatmo, Mayling Garcia, Bandaloni, Zach Freeman, Arthur the One Man Band Winner:Duane Flatmo
- Skylar Aud, Sammi Pryor, Alexis and Alysha, The Great Stamen Show Winner:The Great Stamen Show
- Dave Nakfoor, The Rubberband Kid, Jim McDonald, Nikolo Ashford, Sizzle Twins Winner:Dave Nakfoor
On the Finals Results Show (August 17), acrobat Rudi Macaggi won the Weird and Wacky Talent Finale (aka Crazy Caliber Talent) when the 5 finalists competed for a 2007 Dodge Caliber RT
Dodge Caliber
The Dodge Caliber was a compact car produced by the Dodge division of Chrysler. It replaced the Neon, and it went on sale in the spring of 2006 as a 2007 model year vehicle...
. He tap danced and dribbled a basketball while in a handstand, and did a standing backflip and caught a trapeze with his feet. The other finalists were Duane Flatmo (who played the guitar with an egg beater and a weed whacker), The Great Stamen Show (who played music by tapping his teeth), The Douglas Lee (who played water-filled drinking glasses), and Dave Nakfoor (who caught hard boiled eggs in his mouth).
Performers on results shows
- July 13 - Teddy GeigerTeddy Geiger-Singles:-Album appearances:-Television and movie appearances:-External links:****...
- July 20 - Jurassic 5Jurassic 5Jurassic 5 was an American alternative hip hop group formed in 1993 from members of two previous groups, Rebels of Rhythm and Unity Committee by rappers Charles Stewart , Dante Givens , Courtenay Henderson , Marc Stuart , and disc jockeys Mark Potsic and Lucas Macfadden...
- July 27 - Cirque du SoleilCirque du SoleilCirque du Soleil , is a Canadian entertainment company, self-described as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment." Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy...
- August 3 - Tom GreenTom GreenMichael Thomas "Tom" Green is a Canadian actor, rapper, writer, comedian, talk show host and media personality. Best known for his shock humour brand of comedy, Green found mainstream prominence via his MTV television show The Tom Green Show...
- August 10 - Penn & TellerPenn & TellerPenn & Teller are Las Vegas headliners whose act is an amalgam of illusion and comedy. Penn Jillette is a raconteur; Teller generally uses mime while performing, although his voice can occasionally be heard during their performance...
- August 17 - Aly & AJAly & AJ78violet is a pop rock band consisting of sisters Alyson and Amanda Michalka. They were born in Torrance, California, but spent part of their childhood in Seattle, Washington. They are both actresses, singer-songwriters, and guitarists. They signed a record deal with the Disney-owned label,...
, Blue Man GroupBlue Man GroupBlue Man Group is an organization founded by Chris Wink, Matt Goldman and Phil Stanton. The organization produces theatrical shows and concerts featuring popular music, comedy and multimedia; recorded music and scores for film and television; television appearances for shows such as The Tonight...