America's Got Talent season 17 explained

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  1. 6A0038
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Host:Terry Crews
Judges:
Winner:Mayyas
Runner Up:
  • Kristy Sellars
Num Episodes:22
Network:NBC

The seventeenth season of the American talent show competition series America's Got Talent premiered on NBC on May 31, 2022, and concluded on September 14, 2022. This season featured the return of a full audience without COVID-19 restrictions, which had begun during the fifteenth season.[1]

The season was won by dance group Mayyas, with pole dancer Kristy Sellars finishing second, and singer and guitarist Drake Milligan placing third. During its broadcast, the season averaged around 6.14 million viewers.[2]

Production

On March 31, 2022, it was announced that the entire main cast from the previous season would return for the new season and that the season would premiere on May 31.[3] [4] Originally, host Terry Crews announced the 'end of an era' in September 2021, stating that the season sixteen finale of America's Got Talent and the series finale of Brooklyn Nine-Nine had marked the end of his deal with NBC.[5]

Judge Howie Mandel was partially absent from the June 14, July 19, and August 2 episodes, and was entirely absent in the July 12 episode, due to contracting COVID-19 at the 2022 Kids' Choice Awards.[6] [7] Additionally, judge Sofía Vergara was absent from the judge deliberations at Simon Cowell's house.[8] [9]

The live shows for the season were held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, the same venue where auditions have been filmed since season eleven.[10] [11] The live shows had been held at the Dolby Theatre since the same season, excluding season fifteen, during which the live shows were held at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Season overview

Judge Simon Cowell and host Terry Crews featured their favorite Golden Buzzer recipients from the previous seasons in a special retrospective episode on July 5. Singer Nightbirde from season sixteen was ranked as the number one Golden Buzzer in AGT history.[12] Inspired by Nightbirde, who died from cancer in February 2022, Lebanese dance group Mayyas previously honored her during an audition episode on June 21.[13] They received a Golden Buzzer from judge Sofía Vergara.[14]

For the second time in AGT history[15] (the first in season sixteen), a group Golden Buzzer was given by all the judges and host on the July 19 episode, to country trio Chapel Hart for their original song "You Can Have Him Jolene".[16] [17]

Unlike previous seasons of AGT, the live show format was changed to accommodate the top 55 acts, which were divided into five qualifying rounds of eleven acts (two acts from each qualifying round plus a wildcard advanced to the finals), instead of the usual quarter-final and semi-final rounds. In the judge deliberations portion of the episode aired on August 2, the judges selected 54 of the top 55 spots. Following this episode, a public vote was opened to allow viewers to vote the last act into the live shows. Danger act Auzzy Blood, singers Ben Waites and Debbii Dawson, and comedian Jordan Conley were all in contention for the final spot in the top 55.[18] During the August 9 live show, it was announced that Conley had won the America's Wildcard vote.[19]

During the final qualifying round results show on September 7, an Instant Save vote was held for viewers to send a final wildcard into the finals. The four acts included in this vote were acts that were eliminated in the live shows, with each act selected by one of the judges; Mandel selected Don McMillan, Klum selected Lily Meola, Vergara selected Celia Muñoz, and Cowell selected Players Choir. Celia Muñoz ultimately won the public vote, taking the last spot in the season's finals.[20]

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America's Wildcard | Final Wildcard | Golden Buzzer Audition
Participant[21] [22] Age(s)GenreActFromQualifierResult
Acapop!12-18SingingA Cappella GroupVarious4
Aiko Tanaka42ComedyStand Up ComedianJapan2
Amanda Mammana19Singing / MusicSinger & GuitaristTrumbull, Connecticut3
Amazing Veranica & Her Incredible Friends12AnimalsDog ActOxford, Florida1
AmoukanamaAcrobaticsAcrobatic GroupConakry, Guinea1
Aubrey Burchell21SingingSingerPittsburgh, Pennsylvania5
Ava Swiss18SingingSingerOxford, Michigan1
Avery Dixon 21MusicSaxophonistAtlanta, Georgia1
Bayley Graham22DanceTap DancerNew Zealand4
Ben Lapidus29Comedy / Singing / MusicComic Singer & Guitarist Doylestown, Pennsylvania1
Blade 2 BladeDangerKnife Throwing DuoMallorca, Spain5
Celia Muñoz 36ComedyVentriloquistMadrid, Spain3
Chapel Hart SingingVocal TrioPoplarville, Mississippi2
Cline Twins17VarietyHockey Trick Shot Duo Waterloo, Ontario, Canada3
Don McMillan62ComedyStand Up ComedianSan Francisco, California1
Drake Milligan23Singing / MusicSinger & GuitaristFort Worth, Texas1
Duo RingsAcrobaticsAerial DuoBuenos Aires, Argentina2
Freckled Zelda19Singing / MusicSinger & IntrumentalistCalifornia2
Funkanometry19 & 20DanceDance DuoVancouver Island, Canada3
Fusion JapanDanceDance GroupJapan2
Harper10SingingScreamo SingerSomerset, England4
Hayden KristalComedyStand Up ComedianColorado3
Jack Williams25ComedyVentriloquistIndianapolis, Indiana4
Jannick Holste19Magic / DanceMagician & DancerGermany4
JoJo and BriSingingVocal DuoTBA3
Jordan Conley ComedyStand Up ComedianGarden Grove, California5
Kristen Cruz19SingingSingerIrving, Texas5
Kristy Sellars36DanceMultimedia Pole DancerBallarat, Australia5
Lace LarrabeeComedyStand Up ComedianAtlanta, Georgia1
Lee Collinson21SingingSingerEngland4
Lily Meola 27SingingSingerMaui, Hawaii4
MPLUSPLUSDanceLED Dance GroupTokyo, Japan3
Madison Taylor Baez 11SingingSingerYorba Linda, California2
Max Ostler18DanceContemporary DancerAustralia5
Mayyas 13-25DanceDance GroupLebanon5
Merissa Beddows23Singing / ComedySinging Impressionist New York4
Mervant VeraSinging / Magic Rapper & MagicianPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania5
MetaphysicVarietyArtificial Intelligence ActBelgium & Australia4
Mia Morris18Singing / MusicSinger & MusicianNashville, Tennessee3
Mike E. WinfieldComedyStand Up ComedianBaltimore, Maryland4
Mr. PantsComedyStand Up ComedianBrooklyn, New York2
Nicolas RIBSMagicMagicianParis, France3
Oleksandr YenivatovAcrobaticsContortionistUkraine1
Players ChoirSingingChoirVarious1
Sara James 14SingingSingerOśno Lubuskie, Poland3
Shu Takada25VarietyYo-Yo Artist Tokyo, Japan5
Stefanny and YeeremyDanceSalsa DuoColombia1
The Brown Brothers30 & 32Comedy / Music / SingingSinging Impressionist Duo and KeyboardistAnnapolis, Maryland2
The Lazy GenerationDanger Stunt GroupLondon, England4
The Pack DrumlineMusicPercussion GroupChicago, Illinois2
Travis Japan23-27SingingK-Pop BandTokyo, Japan5
urbancrew (Flyers of the South)DanceDance GroupPhilippines5
Wyn Starks39SingingSingerNashville, Tennessee2
XOMG POP!10-15SingingGirl GroupVarious3
Yu Hojin29MagicMagicianSeoul, South Korea2

Qualifiers summary

Buzzed Out | | |

Qualifier 1 (August 9)

Guest Performer, Results Show: Dustin Tavella with Sarah Hyland

ParticipantOrderBuzzesResult (August 10)
Amoukanama1
Amazing Veranica & Her Incredible Friends2
Ava Swiss3
Ben Lapidus4<-- Heidi did not buzz- as per https://www.billboard.com/culture/tv-film/agt-ben-lapidus-parmesan-cheese-song-rock-version-video-1235124825/ -->
Lace Larrabee5
Drake Milligan6
Oleksandr Yenivatov7
Players Choir8
Stefanny and Yeeremy9
Don McMillan10
Avery Dixon11

Qualifier 2 (August 16)

Guest Performer, Results Show: Jon Dorenbos

ParticipantOrderBuzzesResult (August 17)
The Pack Drumline1
The Brown Brothers2
Mr. Pants3
Fusion Japan4
Freckled Zelda5
Duo Rings6
Wyn Starks7
Aiko Tanaka8
Madison Taylor Baez9
Yu Hojin10
Chapel Hart11

Qualifier 3 (August 23)

Guest Performers, Results Show: Kodi Lee with Teddy Swims and Neal Schon

ParticipantOrderBuzzesResult (August 24)
MPLUSPLUS1
JoJo and Bri2
Cline Twins3Eliminated
Amanda Mammana4
XOMG POP5
Nicolas RIBS6
Mia Morris7
Hayden Kristal 8
Celia Muñoz 9
Funkanometry10
Sara James11

Qualifier 4 (August 30)

Guest Performers, Results Show: Piff the Magic Dragon and Riverdance[23]

Participant[24] OrderBuzzesResult (August 31)
Bayley Graham1
Acapop2
Jannick Holste3
Lee Collinson4
Jack Williams5
Metaphysic6
The Lazy Generation7
Merissa Beddows8
Harper9
Mike E. Winfield10
Lily Meola11

Qualifier 5 (September 6)

Guest Performer, Results Show: Cast of & Juliet

ParticipantOrderBuzzesResult (September 7)
Kristen Cruz1
Mervant Vera2
Travis Japan3
Max Ostler4
Jordan Conley5
Kristy Sellars6
Blade 2 Blade 7
urbancrew (Flyers of the South)8
Aubrey Burchell9
Shu Takada10
Mayyas11

Finals (September 13–14)

Guest Performers, Results Show: Black Eyed Peas and Light Balance[25] [26]

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FinalistPerformed with
(2nd Performance)
Result (September 14)
Avery DixonTrombone Shorty
Celia MuñozTerry Fator and Darci Lynne
Chapel HartDarius Rucker
Drake MilliganJon Pardi
Kristy SellarsN/A
MayyasN/A
MetaphysicJeff Ross, Don McMillan, Mr. Pants, and Lace Larrabee
Mike E. WinfieldJeff Ross, Don McMillan, Mr. Pants, and Lace Larrabee
Nicolas RIBS
Sara JamesBlack Eyed Peas
Yu HojinShin Lim

Notes and References

  1. Web site: America's Got Talents Heidi Klum Says 'I Might Poop Myself' from Nerves About Season 17. People. Kelly Wynne. May 20, 2022. July 18, 2022.
  2. Web site: AGT: Sofía Vergara's Golden Buzzer the Mayyas crowned winner over pole dancer Kristy Sellars. USA Today. Charles Trepany. September 15, 2022. September 15, 2022.
  3. NBC Sets Summer Lineup with Big Stars and High Stakes. NBC. The Futon Critic. March 31, 2022. May 30, 2022.
  4. Web site: NBC Sets Premiere Dates For America's Got Talent, New Dancing With Myself & Other Unscripted Series. Deadline Hollywood. Erik Pedersen. March 31, 2022. May 30, 2022.
  5. Web site: Late post… What a week. A lot of transition. The end of an era as 8 years of @nbcbrooklyn99 came to an end last night. Also hosted my 3rd…. terrycrews. Terry Crews. Instagram. September 17, 2021. May 30, 2022. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/terrycrews/2665175929740241413. December 23, 2021. subscription.
  6. Web site: Howie Mandel Is 'Recovering' From Being 'Depressed, Neurotic' in COVID Isolation: 'I Went Insane'. People. Vanessa Etienne. April 28, 2022. July 18, 2022.
  7. Web site: AGTs Howie Mandel Says He Got Covid-19 at the Kids' Choice Awards. Talent Recap. Jill O'Rourke. May 13, 2022. July 18, 2022.
  8. Web site: AGT judge Sofía Vergara raves over 88-year-old's 'unexpected' strip tease act: Watch here. USA Today. Charles Trepany. August 2, 2022. August 3, 2022.
  9. Web site: America's Got Talent episode 10 recap: 13 more acts perform in the final round of auditions [LIVE BLOG]]. Gold Derby. John Benutty. August 2, 2022. August 3, 2022.
  10. Web site: When are the America's Got Talent 2022 live shows?. Gold Derby. Marcus James Dixon. July 23, 2022. August 3, 2022.
  11. America's Got Talent Unveils the 54 Acts Set To Perform on the Live Shows Beginning Tuesday, Aug. 9 on NBC. NBC. NBC Universal Media Village. August 2, 2022. August 3, 2022.
  12. Web site: AGT: Why Nightbirde Is Simon's Favorite Golden Buzzer. Screen Rant. Jared Naut. July 17, 2022. August 3, 2022.
  13. Web site: Lebanese dancers honor late AGT contestant with stunning routine: 'What really got us to audition this year is Nightbirde'. Yahoo! Entertainment. Lyndsey Parker. June 21, 2022. June 22, 2022.
  14. Web site: AGT Recap: A Dance Group Inspired By Nightbirde Gets Sofia Vergara's Golden Buzzer. Hollywood Life. Avery Thompson. June 21, 2022. June 23, 2022.
  15. Web site: Watch the 'Brilliant' Act That Earned the Second-Ever Combined Judges' Golden Buzzer Last Night on America's Got Talent. Parade. Paulette Cohn. July 20, 2022. August 3, 2022.
  16. Web site: AGT Recap: A Talented Country Trio Earns A Group Golden Buzzer. Hollywood Life. Avery Thompson. July 19, 2022. July 19, 2022.
  17. Web site: AGT judges break show's rules, hit unanimous Golden Buzzer for this ode to Dolly Parton. USA Today. Charles Trepany. July 19, 2022. July 19, 2022.
  18. Web site: AGT Reveals Pair of Game-Changing Twists Ahead of Season 17 Live Shows — Which Wild Card Gets Your Vote?. TVLine. Andy Swift. August 2, 2022. August 3, 2022.
  19. Web site: America's Got Talent announces 55th and final live show act: It's comedian Jordan Conley. Gold Derby. Marcus James Dixon. August 9, 2022. August 9, 2022.
  20. Web site: America's Got Talent instant save wildcard: How to vote your favorite eliminated act into the finale. Gold Derby. Marcus James Dixon. September 7, 2022. September 7, 2022.
  21. Web site: America's Got Talent Season 17 finalists: Meet the 54 acts competing in 2022 live shows. Gold Derby. Marcus James Dixon. August 2, 2022. August 3, 2022.
  22. Web site: Vote Now! America Will Pick The Final Act to Make the America's Got Talent Live Shows!. Parade. Paulette Cohn. August 2, 2022. August 3, 2022.
  23. 1565036702346854405. You're gonna want to be seated when @thepiff and @Riverdance take the #AGT stage!!. AGT. America's Got Talent. America's Got Talent. August 31, 2022. August 31, 2022.
  24. Web site: America's Got Talent Qualifiers 4 preview: Heidi Klum's Golden Buzzer singer Lily Meola returns to the stage. Gold Derby. Marcus James Dixon. August 24, 2022. August 29, 2022.
  25. NBC's America's Got Talent Cements Its #1 Status with an Incredible Two-Night Finale Featuring Off-the-Chart Acts and Special Guest Performances. NBC. The Futon Critic. September 9, 2022. September 13, 2022.
  26. Web site: welcome to the #AGT stage TONIGHT 9/8c !!!! ✨. agt. America's Got Talent. Instagram. September 14, 2022. September 14, 2022.