America's Got Talent season 16 explained

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Host:Terry Crews
Judges:
Winner:Dustin Tavella
Runner Up:
  • Aidan Bryant
Num Episodes:21
Network:NBC

The sixteenth season of the American talent show competition series America's Got Talent was broadcast on NBC from June 1 to September 15, 2021. Although production was still impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, live audiences were involved during audition sessions and live round stages of the competition. After Simon Cowell returned to his role on the program after an accident the previous year,[1] the Judges Cuts round was replaced by him with a new deliberation format arrangement similar to that used in Britain's Got Talent.

This season included the first group Golden Buzzer in the program's history, and the creation of a "Wildcard" special (which aired via online streaming service Peacock on August 10, 2021), following the withdrawal of a Golden Buzzer participant. The sixteenth season was won by magician Dustin Tavella, with aerialist Aidan Bryant finishing second, and stand-up comedian Josh Blue placing third.[2] During its broadcast, the season averaged around 6.60 million viewers, excluding its online Wildcard special.

Production

On February 24, 2021, the new season's line-up of judges and host was announced, revealing that Cowell would be returning, following an accident the previous year that had forced him to be absent in the fifteenth season's live episodes.[3] Closed auditions were held across March and April, with footage taken from these undergoing final editing before the season's premiere at the beginning of June.[4] A two-week hiatus in the broadcast schedule was also made, to avoid the NBC's live coverage of the postponed 2020 Summer Olympics between July and August.

The Judge Cuts round, which had been significantly modified in the previous season due to the disruption of production,[5] was replaced by the deliberation format used by Britain's Got Talent. The judges conferred after the conclusion of auditions, to determine which acts would proceed to the live rounds.[6] Some deliberations were filmed and used to fill in the remaining portions of the final audition episode for the season, as was done for the British edition.[7]

Due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the auditions were conducted with smaller audiences, augmented with stock footage of audiences from previous seasons and other editing techniques.[8] [9] With restrictions eased in California effective June 15,[10] the live rounds returned to their usual home of the Dolby Theatre, but with audience members required to be vaccinated for COVID-19 and wear masks.[11]

Season overview

During auditions, the judges and host agreed to grant a group Golden Buzzer for the first time in the program's history.[12] Although this would have meant six guaranteed places in the quarter-finals, singer Nightbirde later withdrew from the competition to focus on her battle with cancer, despite receiving a Golden Buzzer.[13] As a result of this, her place was converted into a Wildcard slot, with the process conducted via a special episode on the streaming service Peacock on the same night as the first quarter-final. The process involved five participants picked from those who were eliminated during the deliberation phase, with viewers voting via Twitter over a three-day period on which of these would be their Wildcard in the third quarter-final.[14]

Of the participants who auditioned this season, thirty-six secured a place in the live quarterfinals, with twelve quarter-finalists in each quarterfinal episode. Among these included: Northwell Nurse Choir,[15] [16] quick-change artist Léa Kyle, singer Jimmie Herrod, World Taekwondo Demonstration Team and classical singer Victory Brinker, who each received a Golden Buzzer; and singer Storm Large, a Wildcard act voted for during the Peacock special.[17] About twenty-two quarter-finalists advanced to and were split between the two semi-finals, with 10 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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America's Wildcard | Wildcard Semi-finalist | Golden Buzzer Audition
Participant[18] [19] Age(s) GenreActFromQuarter-FinalResult
1aChord19-22Singing Vocal TrioGreensboro, North Carolina1
Aidan Bryant16AcrobaticsAerialistPrince George, Virginia 2
ANICA51SingingSingerNew Brunswick, Canada3
Beyond Belief Dance Company 8-12DanceDance GroupMesquite, Texas1
Brooke Simpson30SingingSingerLos Angeles3
ChapKidz12-18DanceDance GroupFairfield, California3
Dokteuk CrewDanceDance GroupDaejeon, South Korea2
Dustin Tavella35MagicMagicianVirginia Beach, Virginia1
GangstagrassSinging / MusicBand New York City1
Gina Brillon41ComedyComedianNew York City1
Jimmie Herrod 30SingingSingerPortland, Oregon1
Johnny ShowcaseSingingSinger Philadelphia2
Josh Blue42ComedyComedianDenver, Colorado2
Kabir SinghComedyComedianLos Angeles1
Keith Apicary35DanceDancerPortland, Oregon3
Klek EntosMagic Magician France3
Korean SoulSingingVocal Group Seoul, South Korea2
Léa Kyle 25MagicQuick Change ArtistBordeaux, France3
Madilyn Bailey28Singing / MusicSinger & PianistLos Angeles1
Matt JohnsonDangerEscape ArtistChilliwack, Canada1
Michael Winslow62ComedyVoicetramentalistOrlando3
Northwell Nurse Choir SingingChoirLong Island, New York2
Peter AntoniouMagicMentalistSeattle2
Peter Rosalita10SingingSingerPhilippines1
Positive Impact MovementAcrobaticsAcrobatic Group Los Angeles2
RialcrisAcrobaticsAcrobatic TrioEnsenada, Mexico3
Sethward 32ComedyNovelty ActLos Angeles1
ShuffolutionDanceDance GroupLos Angeles2
51SingingSingerSouthborough, Massachusetts3
T.3SingingVocal TrioNew York City2
The Canine StarsAnimalsDog ActFort Collins, Colorado1
The Curtis Family C-NotesSinging / MusicFamily BandSan Francisco3
Tory Vagasy20SingingSingerPompano Beach, Florida2
UniCircle FlowVarietyUnicycle GroupJapan3
Victory Brinker 9SingingOpera SingerLatrobe, Pennsylvania2
World Taekwondo Demo. Team AcrobaticsMartial Arts GroupSan Jose, California3

Quarter-finals summary

Buzzed Out | Judges' choice |

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Quarter-final 1 (August 10)

Guest Performers, Results Show: Brandon Leake & Darci Lynne[18] [19]

Quarter-FinalistOrderBuzzes and Judges' votesResult (August 11)
The Canine Stars1
Peter Rosalita2
Beyond Belief Dance Company 3
Madilyn Bailey4
Kabir Singh5
Dustin Tavella6
1aChord7
Gina Brillon8
Gangstagrass9
Sethward10
Matt Johnson11
Jimmie Herrod12

Quarter-final 2 (August 17)

Guest Performers, Results Show: Kodi Lee, The Clairvoyants,[18] [19] and H.E.R.[21]

Quarter-FinalistOrderBuzzes and Judges' votesResult (August 18)
T.31
Dokteuk Crew2
Johnny Showcase3
Tory Vagasy4
Shuffolution5
Aidan Bryant6
Northwell Nurse Choir7
Positive Impact Movement8
Peter Antoniou9
Korean Soul10
Josh Blue11
Victory Brinker12

Quarter-final 3 (August 24)

Guest Performers, Results Show: Shin Lim & Lindsey Stirling[18] [19]

Quarter-FinalistOrderBuzzes and Judges' votesResult (August 25)
UniCircle Flow1
ANICA2
Léa Kyle3
The Curtis Family C-Notes4
Keith Apicary5
Michael Winslow6
Brooke Simpson7
Rialcris8
ChapKidz9
Storm Large10
Klek Entos11
World Taekwondo Demo. Team12

Semi-finals summary

Buzzed Out | Judges' choice |

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Semi-final 1 (August 31)

Guest Performers, Results Show: Ben Platt[22] & Preacher Lawson[23]

Semi-Finalist[24] [25] OrderBuzzes and Judges' votesResult (September 1)
Peter Rosalita1
Michael Winslow2
Beyond Belief Dance Company3
Aidan Bryant4
Tory Vagasy5
World Taekwondo Demo. Team6
Madilyn Bailey7
Dustin Tavella8
Korean Soul9
Gina Brillon10
Jimmie Herrod11

Semi-final 2 (September 7)

Guest Performers, Results Show: Deadly Games[26] & Duo Transcend[27]

Semi-FinalistOrderBuzzes and Judges' votesResult (September 8)
1aChord1
UniCircle Flow2
Léa Kyle3
Kabir Singh4
Northwell Nurse Choir5
Peter Antoniou6
Victory Brinker7
ChapKidz8
Rialcris9
Josh Blue10
Brooke Simpson11

Finals (September 14–15)

Guest Performer, Finale: Idina Menzel[28] [29]

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FinalistPerformed with
(2nd Performance)
Result (September 15)
Aidan BryantJordan Chiles and MyKayla Skinner
Brooke SimpsonBishop Briggs
Dustin TavellaMat Franco and Rico Rodriguez
Gina BrillonGeorge Lopez
Jimmie Herrod
Josh BlueKenichi Ebina, Piff the Magic Dragon, Preacher Lawson, Taylor Williamson, and Tom Cotter
Léa KyleHeidi Klum
Northwell Nurse ChoirIdina Menzel
Victory BrinkerPentatonix
World Taekwondo Demo. TeamJordan Chiles and MyKayla Skinner

Ratings

Notes and References

  1. 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.
  2. Web site: America's Got Talent finale: Magician Dustin Tavella wins Season 16 in star-studded finale. USA Today. Cydney Henderson. September 16, 2021. September 16, 2021.
  3. America's Got Talent Judges Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel and Sofia Vergara to Return for Season 16 Set to Air This Summer on NBC. NBC. The Futon Critic. February 24, 2021. February 24, 2021.
  4. Web site: Making It Moves To June As NBC Kicks Off Unscripted Summer Season With Return Of America's Got Talent & American Ninja Warrior. Deadline Hollywood. Peter White. March 9, 2021. March 9, 2021.
  5. Web site: Simon Cowell & Sofia Vergara Talk What's Back, What's Been Cut on AGT. TV Insider. Emily Aslanian. May 25, 2021. July 20, 2021.
  6. Web site: See Inside Simon Cowell's Malibu Mansion for Tonight's America's Got Talent Judge Cuts. Parade. Paulette Cohn. July 20, 2021. July 20, 2021.
  7. Web site: Check Out the Acts Auditioning on Night 8 for America's Got Talent Season 16. Parade. Paulette Cohn. July 20, 2021. July 20, 2021.
  8. Web site: AGTs Howie Mandel on Welcoming Back Simon Cowell and a Live Audience for Season 16. People. Karen Mizoguchi. June 1, 2021. July 7, 2021.
  9. Web site: America's Got Talent 2021: Did the Auditions Film With a Live Audience?. Heavy. Beth Heyn. June 8, 2021. July 7, 2021.
  10. News: Allday . Erin . Ho . Catherine . May 17, 2021 . California to lift indoor mask mandate June 15 for vaccinated people . San Francisco Chronicle . May 17, 2021.
  11. Web site: AGTs Terry Crews, Howie Mandel and Producers Open Up About Returning to Live Shows amid Pandemic. People. Karen Mizoguchi. August 10, 2021. January 13, 2022.
  12. Web site: AGT: Simon Cowell breaks show's rules so 9-year-old opera singer could make history. USA Today. Charles Trepany. July 6, 2021. July 7, 2021.
  13. Web site: America's Got Talent: Simon Cowell's Golden Buzzer act Nightbirde forced to pull out as cancer takes a 'turn for the worse'. Metro. Nola Ojomu. August 2, 2021. August 2, 2021.
  14. Web site: America's Got Talent Reveals 35 Acts Going Live in Season 16 — Plus, Which Wildcard Hopeful Gets Your Vote?. TVLine. Andy Swift. August 5, 2021. August 14, 2021.
  15. Web site: America's Got Talent: Inspiring Choir, Emotional Magician and Musical Trio Shine in Season 16 Premiere. Entertainment Tonight. Zach Seemayer. June 1, 2021. June 7, 2021.
  16. Web site: America's Got Talent Premiere: Who Got the First Golden Buzzer of Season 16?. TVLine. Andy Swift. June 1, 2021. June 7, 2021.
  17. Web site: AGT: Wild card winner Storm Large returns to competition, but fails to impress Simon Cowell. USA Today. Cydney Henderson. August 24, 2021. August 25, 2021.
  18. Web site: AGT Will See 36 Acts Perform During Season 16 Live Shows — Including 1 Wildcard Chosen by Viewers!. People. Natalie Stone. August 5, 2021. August 5, 2021.
  19. NBC Reveals 35 Acts to Perform on America's Got Talent Live Shows Kicking Off on Tuesday, Aug. 10 on NBC. NBC. The Futon Critic. August 5, 2021. August 5, 2021.
  20. 1432402740882198529. Back, back, back AGAIN! @BeyondBeliefDC is this season's Semifinals Wildcard and we can't wait for them to slay the #AGT stage! . AGT. America's Got Talent. America's Got Talent. August 30, 2021. August 30, 2021.
  21. 1425916678601203713. Ladies and gentlemen, H.E.R...will be performing next week during the #AGTResults show this Wednesday!. AGT. America's Got Talent. America's Got Talent. August 12, 2021. August 12, 2021.
  22. 1432810431228297223. From Broadway, to the #AGT stage! @DearEvanHansen's @BenSPLATT will be taking center stage TOMORROW 8/7c on @nbc! . AGT. America's Got Talent. America's Got Talent. August 31, 2021. August 31, 2021.
  23. 1432882312467791879. Don't miss the #AGTResults tomorrow with special guest performances from @PreacherLawson and @BenSPLATT!!. terrycrews. terry crews. Terry Crews. August 31, 2021. September 1, 2021.
  24. Who is Performing at The Semifinals Week 1?. Video. America's Got Talent. YouTube. August 26, 2021. August 26, 2021.
  25. Web site: A 'frustrated' Simon Cowell warns AGT semifinalists to 'get better.' Here's who advanced.. USA Today. Cydney Henderson. August 25, 2021. August 27, 2021.
  26. 1435699107679465472. .@deadly__games is bringing danger back TONIGHT during the #AGTResults show on @nbc! ⚔️. AGT. America's Got Talent. America's Got Talent. September 8, 2021. September 8, 2021.
  27. 1435679329950715906. That's right - your favorite high-flying couple, @duotranscend, is back to take the #AGT stage TONIGHT! . AGT. America's Got Talent. America's Got Talent. September 8, 2021. September 8, 2021.
  28. NBC's America's Got Talent Concludes Season 16 with Star-Studded Guest Performances, Including Idina Menzel, Pentatonix, Bishop Briggs, George Lopez, Rico Rodriguez, Mat Franco and Olympians Jordan Chiles & Mykayla Skinner. NBC. The Futon Critic. September 14, 2021. September 14, 2021.
  29. Web site: Expect a star-studded Finale! #AGT. agt. America's Got Talent. Instagram. September 15, 2021. September 15, 2021.