America's Got Talent season 15 explained

Bg Colour:
  1. B50000
Module1:
Judges:
Host:Terry Crews
Winner:Brandon Leake
Runner Up:
  • Broken Roots
Num Episodes:25
Network:NBC

The fifteenth season of the American talent show competition series America's Got Talent was broadcast on NBC from May 26 to September 23, 2020. Following the previous season, both Julianne Hough and Gabrielle Union left the program, leading to both being replaced prior to filming. Heidi Klum was brought back to resume her former role, while Sofía Vergara was hired to join her as a new judge on the judging panel. Simon Cowell missed the live shows, after sustaining an injury in August. While the first two quarter-finals featured guest judges in his place, the remainder of the live episodes were conducted without any further stand-ins.

The fifteenth season was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic that hit the United States in 2020, which affected arrangements for pre-recorded and live episodes. While most audition episodes had been filmed by the end of April (despite minor issues), remaining episodes were disrupted, but resumed after safety measures were implemented to prevent the risk of the infection spreading among staff and participants. Format changes included the use of a virtual audience for the live rounds, an alteration in the program's broadcast schedule for that year, and a revamp to the format for the Judge Cuts round that would condense it into a single episode while featuring no guest judges as in previous seasons.

The fifteenth season was won by spoken word poet Brandon Leake, with singing guitarists duo Broken Roots finishing second, and singer Cristina Rae placing third.[1] During its broadcast, the season averaged around 6.61 million viewers.

Season overview

Open auditions were held in late 2019, with closed auditions held across January to March the following year. Prior to the main auditions taking place, replacements were made for Julianne Hough and Gabrielle Union, who had been let go following the conclusion of the previous season.[2] On February 27, 2020, it was announced that Heidi Klum would return as judge, in addition to newcomer Sofía Vergara.[3]

The season was impacted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected television and film shoots across the globe. Although it had been partially disrupted by Klum falling ill, leading to Eric Stonestreet standing in for her during an audition session,[4] [5] restrictions imposed by the United States to combat the spread of COVID-19 caused the program to initially move to filming without an audience present at auditions (before production was ultimately suspended).[6] [7] Additional auditions were later allowed, but these had to be conducted online as a safety precaution.[8] By April 27, the season would broadcast as planned and premiere on May 26,[9] [10] with the season featuring a hiatus after the audition episodes had been aired with the footage that had already been filmed.[11]

In mid-June, production of the season resumed following changes in guidelines for media production by Californian state government, and discussions between industry unions, producers and local officials.[12] While the Judges Cuts stage was held at an outdoor venue in Simi Valley, California,[13] it required implementing several health and safety protocols including: performances conducted via videoconferencing on a cinema screen, masks being mandatory for all personnel when off-camera, enforced social distancing and regular testing of staff. The format was also changed with the number of participants for this stage reduced from seventy-two to sixty. No guest judges or Golden Buzzers were involved, and each participant were given a verdict after their performance. Cowell notably approved the change in format, including the decision to condense all footage taken into a single episode, having disliked the arrangement used in previous seasons.[14]

By the end of July, a decision on how to produce the live round episodes was reached to include a virtual audience for these rounds. Applications were made available within the week of July 28, in order to maintain safe working conditions, with Universal Studios Hollywood chosen as the venue for performances to take place within.[15] [16] [17] This included an expansion in the number of quarter-finalists for the season, an additional quarter-final, and a change to the number of semi-finalists that each quarter-final had. Prior to the first quarter-final's live broadcast, Cowell had an accident that left him with a severe back injury. After undergoing surgery to help repair the damage, he stepped-down from the live episodes until doctors approved his return. Guest judges appeared during Cowell's absence for the first two quarter-finals, before deciding to have the remaining live episodes stick to using a judging panel of three.

Of the participants who auditioned for this season, forty-four secured a place in the live quarter-finals, with eleven quarter-finalists in each one. Among these included: singer Roberta Battaglia, choir Voices of our City Choir, spoken word poet Brandon Leake and singer Cristina Rae and dance group W.A.F.F.L.E. Crew, who had each received a Golden Buzzer from the main judges and host. About twenty-two quarter-finalists advanced and were split between the two semi-finals, with ten semi-finalists securing a place in the finals. The following below lists the results of each participant's overall performance in this season:

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Wildcard Semi-finalist | Golden Buzzer Audition
ParticipantAge(s) GenreActFromQuarter-FinalResult
Alan Silva38AcrobaticsAerialistLas Vegas3
Alex Hooper35ComedyComedianBaltimore, Maryland4
Alexis Brownley & The Puppy Pals9AnimalsDog Act Weston, Florida2
Annie Jones12SingingSingerVictoria, Australia3
Archie Williams59SingingSingerBaton Rouge, Louisiana1
BAD Salsa16 & 21DanceSalsa DuoIndia2
Bello & Annaliese Nock51 & 23DangerDaredevil DuoSarasota, Florida1
Bello Sisters14-22AcrobaticsAcrobatic TrioItaly4
BONAVEGA31SingingSingerToledo, Ohio2
Bone Breakers22–24Acrobatics / DanceContortion Dance GroupConakry, Republic of Guinea3
Brandon Leake 27VarietyPoetStockton, California4
Brett Loudermilk31DangerSword SwallowerNorth Carolina1
Broken Roots 38 & 44Singing / MusicVocal DuoChicago4
C.A. Wildcats13–29Acrobatics / Dance Cheerleading GroupDallas, Texas4
Celina Graves30SingingSingerSan Diego, California4
Cristina Rae 30SingingSingerNashville, Tennessee3
Dance Town Family 8-35DanceDance GroupMiami3
Daneliya Tuleshova14SingingSingerAlmaty, Kazakhstan2
Divas & Drummers of Compton3-20Dance / MusicDance & Percussion GroupLos Angeles4
Double Dragon32SingingVocal DuoSan Francisco1
Feng E13MusicUkulelistTaipei, Taiwan1
FrenchieBabyy25Acrobatics / DanceContortionist DancerFairfield, California1
Jonathan Goodwin40DangerDaredevilPembrokeshire, United Kingdom2
Kameron Ross30SingingSingerDallas, Texas2
Kelvin Dukes14SingingSingerBurtonsville, Maryland2
Kenadi Dodds15Singing / MusicSinger & PianistSalt Lake City, Utah4
Lightwave Theatre Company32–35VarietyPuppeteer Group Bucharest, Romania4
Malik Dope27MusicDrummerWashington, D.C.3
Max Major33MagicMagicianLas Vegas3
Michael Yo45ComedyComedianHouston1
Noah Epps12DanceDancerVirginia4
Nolan Neal39Singing / MusicSinger & GuitaristNashville, Tennessee3
Pork Chop Revue9-68AnimalsPig ActMiami1
Resound26–30SingingVocal TrioRichmond, Virginia4
Roberta Battaglia 11SingingSingerToronto, Canada1
Shaquira McGrath26SingingSingerKennesaw, Georgia1
Sheldon Riley21SingingSingerSydney, Australia3
Simon and Maria12 & 10DanceSalsa DuoColombia1
Spyros Brothers23 & 25VarietyDiabolo DuoNew York City2
The Shape15–19DanceDance GroupAlhambra, California2
Thomas Day 17SingingSingerBrentwood, California
Usama Siddiquee29ComedyComedianNew York City3
Vincent Marcus32Comedy / MusicImpressionistLos Angeles2
Voices of our City Choir 21–80SingingChoirSan Diego, California2
W.A.F.F.L.E. Crew 23–26DanceDance GroupNew York City3

Quarter-finals summary

Buzzed Out | Judges' choice |

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Quarter-final 1 (August 11)

Guest Performers, Results Show: Mat Franco and Kodi Lee

Quarter-Finalist[21] OrderBuzzes and Judges' votesResult (August 12)
Pork Chop Revue1
Feng E2
Shaquira McGrath3
Simon and Maria4
FrenchieBabyy5
Bello & Annaliese Nock6
Roberta Battaglia7
Michael Yo8
Double Dragon9
Brett Loudermilk10
Archie Williams11

Quarter-final 2 (August 18)

Guest Performers, Results Show: Darci Lynne and Jabbawockeez[27] [28]

Quarter-Finalist[29] OrderBuzzes and Judges' votesResult (August 19)
Kelvin Dukes1
The Shape2
Kameron Ross3
BAD Salsa4
Vincent Marcus5
Alexis Brownley6
BONAVEGA7
Spyros Brothers8
Daneliya Tuleshova9
Jonathan Goodwin10
Voices of our City Choir11

Quarter-final 3 (August 25)

Guest Performer, Results Show: Jon Dorenbos[32]

Quarter-Finalist[33] OrderBuzzes and Judges' votesResult (August 26)
Dance Town Family 1
Nolan Neal2
Usama Siddiquee3
W.A.F.F.L.E. Crew4
Annie Jones5
Malik Dope6
Max Major7
Bone Breakers8
Sheldon Riley9
Alan Silva10
Cristina Rae11

Quarter-final 4 (September 1)

Guest Performers, Results Show: Cam and Duo Transcend[35] [36]

Quarter-FinalistOrderBuzzes and Judges' votesResult (September 2)
C.A. Wildcats1
Kenadi Dodds2
Lightwave Theatre Company3
Resound4
Divas & Drummers of Compton5
Celina Graves6
Noah Epps7
Alex Hooper8
Broken Roots9
Bello Sisters10
Brandon Leake11

Semi-finals summary

Buzzed Out | Judges' choice |

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Semi-final 1 (September 8)

Guest Performers, Results Show: Piff the Magic Dragon, David Copperfield, and Ndlovu Youth Choir[37] [38] [39] [40]

Semi-Finalist[41] OrderBuzzes and Judges' votesResult (September 9)
Double Dragon1
Dance Town Family2
Broken Roots3
Spyros Brothers4
Thomas Day5
Alan Silva6
Shaquira McGrath7
Brandon Leake8
Malik Dope9
Archie Williams10
Roberta Battaglia11

Semi-final 2 (September 15)

Guest Performers, Results Show: BTS and Colin Cloud[42] [43]

Semi-FinalistOrderBuzzes and Judges' votesResult (September 16)
W.A.F.F.L.E. Crew1
Kenadi Dodds2
Max Major3
Bello Sisters4
Celina Graves5
Jonathan Goodwin6
Cristina Rae7
BAD Salsa8
Voices of our City Choir9
Brett Loudermilk10
Daneliya Tuleshova11

Finals (September 22–23)

Guest Performers, Finale: David Dobrik, Detroit Youth Choir, Meghan Markle, and Usher[44]

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FinalistPerformed with
(2nd Performance)
Result (September 23)
Alan SilvaBishop Briggs and Deadly Games
Archie WilliamsMarvin Winans
BAD SalsaV.Unbeatable
Bello SistersBishop Briggs and Deadly Games
Brandon LeakeN/A
Broken RootsBlake Shelton
Cristina RaeOneRepublic
Daneliya TuleshovaAva Max
Kenadi Dodds
Roberta BattagliaJP Saxe and Julia Michaels

Notes and References

  1. America's Got Talent crowns season 15 winner. Entertainment Weekly. Rachel Yang. September 23, 2020. September 23, 2020.
  2. Web site: America's Got Talent: Gabrielle Union & Julianne Hough Out, Simon Cowell & Howie Mandel Back For Season 15. Deadline Hollywood. Nellie Andreeva. November 22, 2019. November 22, 2018.
  3. Web site: Sofia Vergara, Heidi Klum Set as America's Got Talent Season 15 Judges. Variety. Matt Donnelly. Joe Otterson. February 27, 2020. February 27, 2020.
  4. Web site: Eric Stonestreet Subs for Ailing Heidi Klum at AGT Taping. The Hollywood Reporter. Michael O'Connell. March 11, 2020. April 27, 2020.
  5. Web site: Eric Stonestreet To Sub For Ill Heidi Klum Who Skips Second America's Got Talent Taping – 2nd Update. Deadline Hollywood. Nellie Andreeva. March 11, 2020. April 27, 2020.
  6. Web site: All the Shows and Movies Shut Down or Delayed Because of Coronavirus. Will Thorne. Kate Aurthur. Variety. March 12, 2020. April 27, 2020.
  7. Web site: Development Update: Monday, March 16. The Futon Critic. March 16, 2020. April 27, 2020.
  8. Web site: America's Got Talent: NBC Show Re-Opens Online Auditions As It Searches For More Stars During COVID-19 Shutdown. Deadline Hollywood. Peter White. April 1, 2020. April 27, 2020.
  9. NBC Announces Return of America's Got Talent, World of Dance. NBC. The Futon Critic. April 27, 2020. April 27, 2020.
  10. Web site: America's Got Talent & World Of Dance Get Premiere Dates On NBC. Deadline Hollywood. Denise Petski. April 27, 2020. April 27, 2020.
  11. Web site: America's Got Talent Sets Debut Date With Production in Limbo. The Hollywood Reporter. Rick Porter. April 27, 2020. April 27, 2020.
  12. Web site: California Governor Gavin Newsom Announces Guidelines For Restarting Film & TV Production On June 12, If Local Conditions Permit. Deadline Hollywood. Tom Tapp. June 5, 2020. July 10, 2020.
  13. Web site: Exclusive: How AGT is adjusting to COVID-19, from no-audience auditions to drive-in Judge Cuts. USA Today. Bill Keveney. June 30, 2020. July 10, 2020.
  14. Web site: America's Got Talent: How NBC's Talent Show Returned To Filming With Production Pods, Masks, & A Drive-In Movie Theater-Style Stage. Deadline Hollywood. Peter White. June 30, 2020. June 30, 2020.
  15. (#1509) "LIVE SHOW 1". NBC. The Futon Critic. July 28, 2020.
  16. Web site: America's Got Talent. On Camera Audiences. July 28, 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200728050036/https://on-camera-audiences.com/shows/Americas_Got_Talent. July 28, 2020.
  17. America's Got Talent Reveals the Top 44 Acts Headed to Season 15 Live Shows Starting Tuesday, Aug. 11 at Universal Studios Hollywood. NBC. The Futon Critic. July 30, 2020. July 30, 2020.
  18. Web site: Don't miss all the incredible acts hitting the #AGT stage TUESDAY! . agt. America's Got Talent. Instagram. August 28, 2020. August 28, 2020. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CEcPAmcHDhr. December 24, 2021. limited.
  19. Web site: America's Got Talent switcheroo: Broken Roots replaces Thomas Day in AGT live shows. Marcus James Dixon. Gold Derby. August 28, 2020. August 28, 2020.
  20. Web site: 'AGT': Thomas Day's wild card opportunity called 'unfair' by fans after he nails Billie Eilish song. Cydney. Henderson. USA TODAY.
  21. Find Out Who is Performing at the Live Shows Week 1. Video. NBC. YouTube. August 10, 2020. August 10, 2020.
  22. Web site: Simon Cowell breaks his back falling off electric bicycle, will miss this week's AGT live shows. USA Today. Kim Willis. Bill Keveney. August 9, 2020. August 10, 2020.
  23. Web site: AGTs Simon Cowell Hospitalized After Falling Off Bike in Malibu: He 'Will Be Having Surgery'. People. Karen Mizoguchi. August 8, 2020. August 10, 2020.
  24. Web site: Simon Cowell To Skip America's Got Talent Live Shows While Recovering From Back Surgery. Deadline Hollywood. Nellie Andreeva. August 9, 2020. August 10, 2020.
  25. Web site: America's Got Talent Recruits Kelly Clarkson to Fill In for Simon Cowell After Bike Accident. Variety. Joe Otterson. August 10, 2020. August 10, 2020.
  26. Kelly Clarkson to Serve as Guest Judge on This Tuesday and Wednesday's Live Telecasts of America's Got Talent. NBC. The Futon Critic. August 10, 2020. August 11, 2020.
  27. 1294337071855747073.
    1. AGTResults are this Wednesday and @ItsDarciLynne wouldn't miss it for the world!
    . AGT. America's Got Talent. America's Got Talent. August 14, 2020. August 14, 2020.
  28. 1295850372255199232. TOMORROW!!! Make sure to tune into America’s Got Talent @agt #agt and catch a special performance by us ‼️. JABBAWOCKEEZ. JABBAWOCKEEZ. Jabbawockeez. August 18, 2020. August 18, 2020.
  29. Find Out Who is Performing at the Live Shows Week 2. Video. NBC. YouTube. August 14, 2020. August 14, 2020.
  30. Web site: Kenan Thompson To Serve As Guest Judge On America's Got Talent As Simon Cowell Continues To Recuperate. Deadline Hollywood. Peter White. August 17, 2020. August 17, 2020.
  31. Kenan Thompson Will Serve as a Guest Judge on This Tuesday and Wednesday's Live Telecasts of America's Got Talent. NBC. The Futon Critic. August 17, 2020. August 17, 2020.
  32. 1298046599726166017. And just like magic, @JonDorenbos will be performing at the #AGTResults show this Wednesday! ✨. AGT. America's Got Talent. America's Got Talent. August 24, 2020. August 26, 2020.
  33. Web site: Who's excited?! We've got more talent heading your way TUESDAY 8/7c on @nbc!. agt. America's Got Talent. Instagram. August 23, 2020. August 24, 2020. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CEQRWRtheC0 . December 24, 2021. limited.
  34. Web site: America's Got Talent Reveals First Season 15 Wild Card — Who's Back?. TVLine. Andy Swift. September 4, 2020. September 4, 2020.
  35. Web site: We've got a CLASSIC @camcountry performance coming your way TOMORROW! ☀️ #AGT. agt. America's Got Talent. Instagram. September 1, 2020. September 1, 2020. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CEmtoHPnWwX. December 24, 2021. limited.
  36. Web site: @duotranscend is taking us to new heights with some new tricks! Don't miss them take on the #AGT stage TOMORROW!. agt. America's Got Talent. Instagram. September 1, 2020. September 1, 2020. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CEmmxPHnb7U. December 24, 2021. limited.
  37. 1303442825409974272. Oh God are they going to make me lose again? Tune in tomorrow at 8/7c on NBC to find out if I can regain some dignity. #piffthemagicdragon @nbc @AGT. thepiff. Piff. Piff the Magic Dragon. September 8, 2020. September 8, 2020.
  38. 1303773307787857920. What is happening here? Do we even know? Best guess wins a stuffed @MrPiffles! Watch @AGT 8/7c @NBC to find out if you nailed it.. thepiff. Piff. Piff the Magic Dragon. September 9, 2020. September 9, 2020.
  39. Web site: We are super excited to let you know that we will be back on @agt on Wednesday evening. Our performance is guaranteed to lift your spirits and make you smile.. choirafrica. Instagram. August 30, 2020. September 3, 2020. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CEhpUXJjmB8 . December 24, 2021. limited.
  40. Web site: Our @agt performance has been postponed to next week. Another week of excitement won't do any harm. We can't wait for you to see what we have been up to.. choirafrica. Instagram. September 2, 2020. September 3, 2020. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CEpGoRLjvzo. December 24, 2021. limited.
  41. Web site: TUESDAY can't come soon enough! You don't want to miss what's to come during the first round of the #AGT Semifinals!. agt. America's Got Talent. Instagram. September 6, 2020. September 6, 2020. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CEze9IjBzrX. December 24, 2021. limited.
  42. Web site: We're sure this is going to be a DYNAMITE performance! We're so excited to announce that @bts.bighitofficial will be returning to the #AGT stage 9/16!. agt. America's Got Talent. Instagram. September 1, 2020. September 6, 2020. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CEm7W2zH0Ax. December 24, 2021. limited.
  43. 1304518489659510784. EXCITING NEWS!!! I’ll be appearing as a special guest on @AGT this coming!!!.... Colin_Cloud. Colin Cloud. Colin Cloud. September 11, 2020. September 11, 2020.
  44. agt. America's Got Talent. CFdAQP-JlYm. Can we just talk about this LINEUP?! When we say you don't want to miss a minute of the #AGTFinale TOMORROW, WE MEAN IT!. September 22, 2020. November 9, 2020.