TV Interview!
Interview with Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel and contestants of “America’s Got Talent” on NBC by Suzanne 8/9/22
This was a fun night (but very long). Members of the press were invited to watch the live show (Quarterfinals) and then interview some of the judges and most of the contestants! It was very entertaining – even if it did go on for 4 hours! I don’t normally watch shows like this, but I loved it. I can’t wait for the one coming up August 16! These comments below are just my impressions from watching them. All of these artists worked very hard on their acts. I feel bad for the ones that didn’t make it to the next round.
Heidi Klum
There were two judges there, but Heidi Klum was the one I was able to speak to (see Howie Mandel below). She was very funny and went on for quite a while.
Howie Mandel
It was great to see Howie because I used to watch him on “St. Elsewhere” years ago when I was in college. Great show, but he’s really come a long way. He was hilarious in this chat.
Amazing Veranica & Her Incredible Friends
Here are my favorites of the acts. I was really hoping this girl would go on to the next round because her act was so adorable. She’s only 12 years old! Learn More about her Instagram
Players Choir
I thought these guys would go on to the next round because they’re very talented. They sing, dance and put on a great show! The crowd clearly loved them. What a great idea to have a choir made out of NFL players! We only got to see a few of them on Zoom, though, because it’s a big group. Learn More  Instagram
Avery Dixon
This guy is not only very talented and has a great story, but he puts on a great show and has a lot of charisma. I wasn’t too surprised when he went on to the next round because you could tell the judges really liked him. Official Site Instagram
Don McMillan
There were two comedians among the contestants. They were both OK, but I didn’t think either of them was outstanding. Don was slightly funnier, I thought, than the other one. Both of them are professionals who perform standup regularly, so what do I know? Official Site Instagram
Lace Larrabee
Lace was funniest, I thought, when she was fighting with Simon during the show, and in our interview, where she was clearly still very angry with him. Like Don above, she is a professional comic. I don’t think you can fight with the judges, though, and expect to go on to the next round…? Maybe that’s just me. She’s a very busy woman, based in Atlanta. I will say that she has a sharp wit. I would watch her in a good sitcom. Official Site Instagram
Drake Milligan
I wasn’t as excited about this act as everyone else. To me, he’s just another pretty-boy country singer… but then, I’m not really into country music. The judges and crowd seemed to love him, and he was the other one selected to go on to the next round. He has an album coming out in September, and he’s already going places. Official Site Instagram
Ben Lapidus
This guy does comedy-singing. He thinks he’s a lot funnier than he is. The audience seemed to like him, but I’m not sure why. My question got cut off of the video for some reason. I asked him if he was influenced by “Weird Al” Yankovic. His bit is singing about Parmesan. Sorry, I’m allergic to dairy! Official Site Instagram
Oleksandr Yenivatov and Aurélie Yenivatov
Oleksandr is a contortionist, which is a very unusual act. He’s also got a weird-looking face and looks kind of creepy (which he plays to). AurĂ©lie is his wife and partner in the show, and they’re circus performers by trade. It’s a very strange act, but I didn’t think he would win because it’s a little unpleasant to watch. He’s from Ukraine, so he mentions that a lot. In this interview, which was the last one of the night, they paired them with dancers (below). Learn More Instagram
Stefanny and Yeeremy
These dancers from Colombia did a great job, but they were nothing special, so I didn’t think they would go on to the next round, either. Unfortunately, the interview was difficult because most of them had very limited English. Learn More Instagram
Amoukanama
This is a group of acrobats from a circus in Guinea. They were very good, but they didn’t really wow the crowd or judges. Official Site Instagram
Ava Swiss
Ava is a pop singer. She’s fine, but she wasn’t outstanding. Her back-story is interesting because she was a survivor of a high school shooting in Oxford, Michigan, last November. Tragically, there are so many mass shootings now in the U.S. that it hardly stands out (not enough to give her any help in the competition). She was judged on her talent more than her sad backstory. Learn More Instagram
MORE INFO:
The 17th season of âAmericaâs Got Talentâ returns with a new set of aspiring performers looking to compete for the ultimate $1 million prize. Executive producer Simon Cowell returns to the star-studded judging panel with global fashion icon Heidi Klum, fan-favorite comedian Howie Mandel and acclaimed actress and international superstar Sofia Vergara. The dynamic Terry Crews returns as host. This season promises to deliver some of the wildest acts to ever grace the âAGTâ stage. Official Website
August 2, 2022
New Supersized Format Means More Acts Than Ever Before Are Set to Compete for $1 Million Prize
âAmericaâs Wildcardâ Is Back as Fans Choose an Additional Act to Advance to the Live ShowsÂ
- âAmericaâs Got Talent,â summerâs most-watched show for the 17th straight year, returns to the Pasadena Civic Center for six weeks of live shows beginning Tuesday, Aug. 9 (8-10 p.m. ET/PT) on NBC. Results shows will air Wednesday nights (8-9 p.m. ET/PT).
- In a series first, there will be 55 acts, divided into five qualifying rounds, that will perform live for âAmericaâs Got Talentâ judges Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara and host Terry Crews. Voting is more important than ever before, as each week, only two acts of the 11 that perform will move directly into the finale â both acts will be decided by viewers from the overnight vote.
- These top 10 finalists will be joined by an 11th act â a âFinal Wildcardâ â chosen by the viewers in an Instant Save on Wednesday, September 7th. This vote will consist of four eliminated Live Show acts, each selected by one of the judges.
- The top 11 finalists will compete one last time for Americaâs vote and the chance to win a $1 million prize during the two-night finale on Sept. 13 & 14. The winner will also perform in âAmericaâs Got Talent Las Vegas LIVEâ at Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
- Below are the 54 acts the judges selected for the live shows, including a wide variety of singers, dancers, comedians, contortionists, magicians and more.
- âAmericaâs Wildcardâ spot is back with four acts in contention for the final spot in the live shows. Viewers can go to NBC.com or the âAGTâ app to rewatch the four performances and vote for their favorite contestants. Voting is open from Tuesday, Aug. 2 at 7 p.m. ET until Friday, Aug. 5 at 7 a.m. ET. The winning act will perform on the live show on Tuesday, Sept. 6 (8-10 p.m. ET/PT).
- Throughout the live shows, viewers of âAmericaâs Got Talentâ will have a chance to vote for their favorite act at NBC.com/AGTVote and via the âAGTâ App (available through Google Play and on the App Store).
- âAmericaâs Got Talentâ was created by Simon Cowell and is co-produced by Fremantle and Syco Entertainment. Simon Cowell, Sam Donnelly and Jason Raff are the executive producers. âAmerica’s Got Talentâ is the #1 most-watched program across TV and streaming of the summer with 966 million video views across all of its social accounts.
- For more information, please visit the official show site at: http://www.nbc.com/agt and the official press website at https://www.nbcumv.com.
- Follow Americaâs Got Talent on social media:
- Facebook:Â https://www.facebook.com/AGT
- Twitter:Â https://twitter.com/AGT
- YouTube:Â https://www.youtube.com/AmericasGotTalent
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agt/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@agt?lang=en
- Hashtag: #AGT
- Auditions for the next season of âAmericaâs Got Talentâ are currently underway. Interested acts can visit www.AGTAuditions.com to submit a video online or to receive updates about the upcoming in-person open call auditions.
The 54 Acts Advancing to the Live Shows Include:
*Golden Buzzers
Acts in Contention for âAmericaâs Wildcardâ:
Auzzy Blood | @auzzyblood | https://youtu.be/t9MpF28LMzs |
Ben Waites | @bjwaites | https://youtu.be/oY4FctsUCfw |
Debbii Dawson | @debbiidawson | https://youtu.be/t1P3uoG4KLM |
Jordan Conley | @loljordancon1ey | https://youtu.be/k4d-zrWwglg |
Heidi Klum
Judge, “America’s Got Talent”
Born in Germany, Klum began modeling at the age of 19 and shortly thereafter she appeared on the cover of the 1998 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue which then propelled her career. Klumâs many titles now include supermodel, producer, entrepreneur, television personality, actress, author and fashion designer and she has continued to make an impact across various industries. In 2013, she won an Emmy Award as Outstanding Television Host for her longtime hit, âProject Runway.â
Klum launched her most recent endeavor alongside her frieend Tim Gunn as co-creator, host and executive producer of Amazon Prime Videoâs new fashion competition series, âMaking the Cut.â Twelve talented designers competed to take their fledging brands to the next level with all the winning looks were shoppable on Amazon.
Klum is also the executive producer and host of âQueen of Drags,â which premiered in Germany in 2019, alongside drag queen Conchita Wurst and German singer Bill Kaulitz of the band Tokio Hotel.
Klum was the host and co-creator of âProject Runwayâ and also served as an executive producer for 16 seasons. Under Klumâs tenure, the show received 14 consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Reality Competition program, which is the second-most nominations in the categoryâs history. Klum is also the host and executive producer of âGermanyâs Next Top Model,â a runaway hit for 15 seasons.
Author of lifestyle book âBody of Knowledge: 8 Rules of Model Behaviorâ as well as âRankinâs Heidiliciousâ and âHeidi Klum by Rankin,â featuring some of her favorite photos taken by world-renowned photographer Rankin.
Klumâs acting appearances include âThe Devil Wears Prada,â âBlow Dry,â âElla Enchanted,â âSpin City,â âThe Life and Death of Peter Sellers,â âHow I Met Your Mother,â âParks and Recreation,â âSex and the City,â âSesame Streetâ and a voiceover for âHoodwinked Too.â She also swam with sharks for an episode for Discovery Channelâs popular âShark Weekâ and hosted Lifetimeâs âSeriously Funny Kids.â She hosted the 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards and has hosted various specials for MTV, TNT and CBS.
Klum has been the face of numerous brand campaigns over the years, worked with many of the worldâs top photographers and has graced the cover of every major magazine across the globe.
Known for her epic Halloween bash and earning the nickname Queen of Halloween for her unpredictable, over the top costumes, this October marked the 20th anniversary of Heidi Halloween.
Klumâs charity involvements include work on behalf of such organizations as UNICEF, Childrenâs Hospital Los Angeles, the American Red Cross (as part of its Celebrity Cabinet), Godâs Love We Deliver, amfAR and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Â Klum also appears in PSAs for Stand Up to Cancer.
Howie Mandel
Judge, “America’s Got Talent”; Host/Executive Producer, “Deal or No Deal”
Howie Mandel begins his 12th season as a judge on NBCâs summer hit âAmericaâs Got Talent.â
Mandel hosts the podcast âHowie Mandel Does Stuffâ alongside his daughter. He recently finished production on his new documentary, âHowie Mandel: But Enough About Me.â Other recent projects include judging NBCâs âAmericaâs Got Talent: The Champions,â CNBCâs âDeal or No Deal,â where he served as executive producer and host, and Nat Geoâs âWildâs Animals Doing Things,â where he co-hosted with his son Alex. He also executive produced the Quibi series âKirby Jenner.â
In 2019 he released his first solo special in 20 years, âHowie Mandel Presents: Howie Mandel at the Howie Mandel Comedy Club.â In 2020 he teamed up with ePlay Digital and launched the charity âBreakout the Masks,â and mobile game campaign to give back to those involved in the fight against COVID-19. Via Howieâs Games, the first challenge is Outbreak, where playersâ points translate to donations of N95 face masks, portable ventilators, gloves and other personal protective equipment to doctors, nurses and more frontline workers. The second game, SwishAR, has users looking for Mandel to join in a backyard basketball game to shoot hoops. Both games are available on the Apple App store and Google Play.
His additional projects as a host, actor, and/or executive producer include âTake It Allâ and âHowie Do Itâ for NBC, âDeal With Itâ for TBS and âMobbedâ for Fox. Previously, Mandel received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program for âDeal or No Dealâ and a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Game Show Host for the syndicated version of the show. Mandelâs versatile career has encompassed virtually all aspects of the entertainment spectrum, including television, film and stage. From his work on the Emmy Award-winning âSt. Elsewhere,â to the international animated childrenâs series âBobbyâs World,â Mandel has become a mainstay of the American comedy scene.
In 2009, Mandel added author to his resume when he released his frank, funny and no-holds-barred memoir, âHereâs the Deal: Donât Touch Me.â The memoir revealed his ongoing struggle with OCD and ADHD, and how it has shaped his life and career. It made the New York Times bestseller list on its first week and remained on the list for several consecutive weeks. Mandel has done countless comedy specials both on cable and network television. He has also hosted his own syndicated talk show, âThe Howie Mandel Showâ and continues to be a mainstay on the talk show circuit. He also continues to perform as many as 200 stand-up comedy shows each year throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Season 17 premiere:
Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at 10 p.m. ET/PT
Host:
Terry Crews
Judges:
Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel and Sofia VergaraÂ
Created by:
Simon Cowell
Executive producers:
Simon Cowell, Sam Donnelly and Jason Raff
Executive in charge:
Mike Hofferth
Co-executive producers:
Keâalohi Lee Lucero, Adam Shapiro
Senior supervising producers:
Nigel Caaro, Emma Greenhalgh, Meg MacGregor and Lev Mergian
Supervising producers:
Susan A. Moyer, Michelle Taylor
Senior producers:
Chris Crawford (post), Kayla DePew (acts)
Producers:
Maureen Biegas (post), Dan Bowen (post), Kristin Campbell-Taylor (reality), Jamie Citron, Kelsey Cornell (reality), Miles Crowe (post), Courtney Harrell, Jasmine C. Leyva (reality), Jon Menell (post), Liza Pablico, John Piermarini, Bryan Riches (field), Alevil Rincones (post), Cory Smith (reality) and Joe Warwick (reality)
Associate producers:
Keith Glidewell (reality), Angela Green (reality), Christa Irvin, Anjali John, Brianna Solo (reality), Zach Stern (reality), Nicolas Villamar (reality) and James Zukor (reality)
Line producer:
Chase Marbumrung
Director:
Russell Norman
Associate directors:
Carrie Havel , Debbie Palacio and Marty Pasetta Jr.
Associate director/production supervisor:
Casey B. Davis
Production designer:
Joe OâNeil, Florian Wieder
Music supervisor:
Meryl Ginsberg
Music coordinator:
Christa Irvin
Digital producers:
Nick Berry, Anthony Scott, Ausrine Plioplys and Ever Pabon Torres
Art director:
Gregg Rainwater
Lighting designer:
Noah Mitz
Lighting directors:
Michael Berger, Bryan Klunder
Origination:
Los Angeles
Series produced by:
Fremantle and Syco Entertainmen
Proofread and Edited by Brenda