Season 20, episode 1

[Tango64]

Simon’s golden buzzer act is the latest example of a “crazy tech dance crew” that mostly consists of a mediocre CGI projection and some minimal dancing. Are we just putting through video projections now?

I’m glad to see Mel B back and handing out Xs with glee. What’s the point of judging if you’re just going to gush and fawn over every act?

 

[Diana Berry]

So agreed with Mel about the second act- the dancers.  Even before her comments, they weren’t all that. 

The magic act- so you come up with an algorithm that all leads to the red bear.   I rewinded it and did the trick from both sides.Did you notice that after he gave Simon the block …he was turning it in the cup. What was up with that?Trick  was a yawn.

only good thing was having mel back.

[rr2911]

A few bullet points about AGT tonight.

.  Hate that MelB is back.  She seems to buzz people before they start their routine. (sarcasm) I can't never understand what she is saying.  Ugh!

.  I actually agreed with MelB with the dance group.  If it wasn't for the second group this act wouldn't have passed.  They won't go very far.

.  I didn't think the second GB was that good.  Why be a street singer instead of finding a job at a local bar?  It sounds better singing at a street corner.  Pulls on those heartstrings.  Another sob story!

.  AGT is starting to be a bore.  I guess I still watch out of habit.  I'll give it a chance.

 

[Lonesome Rhodes]

I'd bet everything I own, and you own, that each GB tonight was pre-determined.  The light thingy is super complicated and requires a ton of prep.  The GB gives them time to develop the next presentation.  It's also the equivalent of a music act entirely lip-synching to a recording being played. 

Jordan the N'awlins lad had the slurpiest intro I can remember.  Why was the mom and child brought out to sit in the audience and not placed just offstage like pretty much all other relatives of acts are?  The story about the tragic killing by a murderous truck driver was beyond any reasonable level of pandering and his crocodile tear was phony as can be.  Rotten form, show.  He does have an interesting Bayou tonality (which he waaaaay exaggerates), but is in no other way special as a singer.  SYCO producers and/or execs believe they can market the heck out of their creation.  They're correct.  Harry Connick, Jr. is probably already booked for the end-of-season revue.

The magician was smooth as can be.  The substance was weak as can be.

It was weird that no jidge expressed disdain or intolerance for Gallagher the parrot's silence.  Simon has endlessly inveighed about animal acts who are a bust.  Tonight?  Nothing but love and understanding.  Very odd.  Mel B was on a tear all night, yet sat mute as the act imploded.  Weird.

Contortionist was genuinely next level, but now what?

The elderly sword dancers got through?  Seriously?

The massive dance routine was quite something.  It was certainly inventive and to my eyes, pretty much coordinated and on point.  The best act of the night.

I've always liked Mel B. as a jidge and I love her English accent.  I like Heidi, as well, but I am fine with the switcheroo this season.  Howie seems less involved and more indifferent.  Is it age?  Being tired of it all at AGT?  Simon was far too benign and way too easy to please.  Sofia was the non-entity she was last season.    

Glad to have AGT back, despite its many faults.  It's a diversion from the TV desert of Summer.

 

[ketchuplover]

Coming Soon from the makers of AGT...AGT AUDIENCE!  All audience all the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ponygirl]

I followed the directions at home and touched something red but it wasn’t a bear.  

[Crashcourse]

5 hours ago, ketchuplover said:

Coming Soon from the makers of AGT...AGT AUDIENCE!  All audience all the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's why I stopped watching AGT because I got so sick of them constantly showing the audience.  I only tuned in last night because I got tired of channel surfing.

[Chit Chat]

I hope the season gets better.  I didn't see much in this episode that wowed me.

On 5/27/2025 at 10:26 PM, Diana Berry said:

The magic act- so you come up with an algorithm that all leads to the red bear.

I remember something similar being done in an earlier season and how someone explained it on these forums.  The magic sure loses its "wow" factor once you know how it's done!!  I'm surprised that the judges are either clueless or they're just good at acting like they're truly stunned after each magic trick.  😁

[marketdoctor]

What I liked:

Welcome back, MelB.  (I don't always agree with her choices, but I often do, and she seems like a good person.)

The magician's presentation--it was like he didn't expect the trick to work, which was either great acting or a bad rehearsal--or maybe just the joy of having a complicated trick (several smaller interlocking ones) work.

There were fewer sob stories--or I was better at fast-forwarding; probably some of both.  Someone learned that just because you film something, doesn't mean it has to go on camera.  (I almost hope they put that stuff on the web site, so they can see who tunes in for it, and who doesn't.)

What I didn't:

They didn't call out the blackout/projector act for what it was.  They've had both parts of that before, and projection-screen acts nearly every season--but the blackout effect was a nice addition.  

The Golden Buzzer, for a new reason:  if you don't have something else, or it's an act that's not good repeated, it won't sustain a show.  If you're using it because someone is genuinely the best you've seen, in which case go back and give it to Piff the Magic Dragon retroactively, but if you're using it in part for an act that's amazing once, and then move on, you've got...part of a show.  It might be a great part, but it's still just a part.