America’s Got Talent 2023 LIVE — Fans cringe at ‘dreadful direction’ of Chibi Unity performance during semifinals
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FANS are cringing at America's Got Talent direction in the most recent episode.
Anna Deguzman and Chibi Unity generated the most votes in this week's qualifiers and are moving on to the finals.
While fans are elated about this, many were complaining about not being able to see Chibi Unity's performance properly.
One such fan took to X and wrote: "This was amazing but who is the Director? Every year I cringe at how dreadful the direction is. I don't want to watch the judges or a close-up of the faces during performances. I don't want to see it from the rafters. If you have to cut away then post the whole perf later online."
Another replied to the tweet, adding: "But if not from rafters, how does anyone even see what's going on? From the audience POV, they only see the front dancers. It's part of why I'm not a fan of these groups. Boring no matter [sic] how good because audience isn't watching from a drone POV."
To see the next round of qualifiers compete, tune in here next Tuesday at 8pm on NBC for America's Got Talent.
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Read our America's Got Talent blog for news and updates…
Putri Ariani backstory
After winning Indonesia's Got Talent, she was a finalist on The Voice Kids Indonesia in 2016 aged 10.
Two years later she performed the Song Of Victory at the Asian Para Games.
Putri has released almost 30 songs on iTunes, ranging from singles to live performances.
Her most successful song, Tak Mampu Lupa, which translates to Can't Forget, was released in 2022. It has received more than 11 million plays on Spotify to date.
Putri had to audition twice for the judges.
She took to the piano for a passionate rendition of an original song. Simon, impressed with Putri's vocal ability, jumped onto the America’s Got Talent stage and insisted that she perform another song.
Putri Ariani leaves fans upset, continued
Following pushback on the singer's eligibility, some fans came to her support.
One asked: "Are you saying she should have retired aged eight?"
Another remarked: "Last season had three former Got Talent winners in the finals. You better get used to it."
A third posted: "All Got Talent shows (except Canada) are open for contestants from everywhere. For instance this year's Britain's GT was won by someone from Norway.
"Btw Ariani Putri was 8 when she won Indonesia's GT nine years ago."
Putri Ariani leaves fans upset
Putri is a frontrunner in this season's competition but has won a competition like this before.
The blind 17-year-old singer won Indonesia's Got Talent in 2014 when she was just eight years old.
Because of her previous win, fans of the show are expressing that she should not be eligible to win this season.
One fan wrote on Reddit: "Putri won already. She won Indonesia Got Talent. She shouldn't be on this show."
Another added: "I think there were more deserving acts this season solely because she won already and others have not."
Howie Mandel on TikTok controversy, concluded
After a call from his son explaining what a prolapsed anus was and that the video was trending, the AGT Judge took down the video.
Howie said that "at that point," he didn't realize that someone's "a** could fall out."
The TV star revealed that he still doesn't understand why there was so much "hoopla over the post," considering that it wasn't his picture.
"To this day if you go on my TikTok right now, whatever I post, and I constantly post, they always go 'we will never forget' [and] 'we will remember,' so I'm constantly punished for it," Howie noted.
Howie Mandel on TikTok controversy, continued
Mandel continued to explain his thought process in creating the original video.
"I saw this picture in my for you feed, of what I thought was kind of a gross-looking wet muffin on the back of somebody's pants," Howie elaborated.
"I did not know what it was," he explained on the podcast.
Howie then said he proceeded to repost the content in the background of a TikTok, where he personally asked fans if the damaged anus shown was "Covid related."
Howie Mandel on TikTok controversy
Recently, AGT Judge, Howie Mandel confessed on Raven-Symone's podcast that a controversial TikTok clip he shared and then deleted still haunts him.
The clip he posted was markedly NSFW.
Howie did a reaction video to content that showed a prolapsed anus during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The comedian admitted that his reaction TikTok bit was done "out of ignorance."
He went on to explain that the snippet was done "in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic" when people were wondering if prolapsed anus' were "Covid related."
Few limitations on who can audition for AGT
In an effort to attract the widest range of talent possible, AGT policies allow for almost anyone to audition at their open calls.
There are just a few stipulations:
- You must be an American citizen, permanent resident or “possess a current employment authorization card” at the time of auditioning
- You cannot be a current candidate for public office or run for a year after the conclusion of the season if chosen
- Contestants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times
What happened to Nightbirde
Mzansi Youth Choir sang It's Okay by Nightbirde, who appeared on the show in 2021 and received the Golden Buzzer.
After receiving the Golden Buzzer, Nightbirde had to leave the competition because she was struggling to win her battle with cancer.
The talented musician then passed away in February 2022 at the age of 31.
Nightbirde, whose real name Jane Marczewski, became an overnight success after a video of her performance of It's Okay racked up over 30million views on YouTube.
Enter to win tickets
Fans can enter to win four tickets to the show in Las Vegas.
They can enter multiple times to increase their chances of making the trip to the finale.
The Golden Buzzers of season 18
All of the Golden Buzzers have been used.
Here are the Golden Buzzer acts this season:
- Howie Mandel - dance group Murmuration, episode four
- Simon Cowell - singer Putri Ariani, episode two
- Sofia Vergara - singer Gabriel Henrique, episode eight
- Heidi Klum - singer Lavendar Darcangelo, episode six
- Terry Crews - Chioma and The Atlanta Drum Academy, episode three
- All judges and host - Chibi Unity, episode 10
The first-ever audience Golden Buzzer was given to the Mzansi Youth Choir on the season premiere.
What to know about the coveted Golden Buzzer
In the ninth season in 2014, the show added a new format to the auditions in the form of the Golden Buzzer.
When it was initially used, the buzzer simply saved an act from elimination.
But in its first season, three of the acts given the buzzer were cut during Judgement Week, while the fourth was never even shown.
The only rule to the buzzer was that a judge could use it only once per season.
How to vote on AGTThe voting process is easy and can be done through the official AGT app or NBC.com.
Remember, voting is time-sensitive, so mark your calendars for the voting window when it opens.
After the auditions phase is over, the voting window opens at the beginning of the show on Tuesdays at 8pm ET and closes at 7am ET on Wednesdays.
Don’t miss the opportunity to make a difference and help your favorite act win starting next week.
The Mayyas winning controversy, part two
Many viewers thought that the right winner was picked and congratulated the dancers on their victory.
“Worthy winners. Proud moment!” wrote one fan.
Another happy fan said: “Congratulations to the Mayyas on winning season 17! These ladies are going to take Vegas by storm! #AGTFinale.”
“Well deserved you girls were amazing congratulations each one of you deserves this win. Congratulations Lebanon. Thanks @AGT,” wrote an America’s Got Talent fan.
The Mayyas winning controversy
The season 17 winners were a source of controversy as many people believed them to be deserving of disqualification.
“Mayyas should be disqualified. They will only win because the whole country of Lebanon is voting for them (simply because they’re Lebanese) when clearly the rules say only US Citizens can vote,” pointed out one fan.
“I don’t get why people like the Mayyas. The act was boring to me. Their last 2 performance where step-downs from what they did in auditions. Honestly, Drake Milligan is my winner here,” said another.
More backlash came after many of the acts, including The Mayyas, in the finals were not American-born.
Since there are other Got Talent shows around the world, some fans thought that America’s Got Talent should just stick to American acts, so it is “more fair.”
Where are they now – The Mayyas
The Mayyas won season 17 of AGT with their dance performance.
They are a Lebanese all-female alternative precision dance group, with 36 members in total.
In 2019, The Mayyas reached the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions and won Arab’s Got Talent.
Becoming the fifth Golden Buzzer act to win, The Mayyas took home the title on AGT in season 17.
After AGT, The Mayyas went on to dance with Beyonce at the opening of the Atlantis The Royal Dubai Hotel in the United Arab.
Where are they now – Kodi Lee
Kodi Lee won the hearts of America with his sweet personality and amazing singing voice in season 14.
Kodi is a singer, who is blind and autistic, and wowed the judges after he played the piano flawlessly and sang in a voice completely different from his speaking voice.
After his AGT win, he went on to perform shows across the country and was even seen playing alongside the Plain White T’s at the 2022 Yucaipa Music & Arts Festival.
He still currently sings and performs around the country.
Where are they now – Darci Lynne Farmer
Darcy Lynne Farmer became the third ventriloquist to win America’s Got Talent, and also the third Golden Buzzer act to take home the title.
After her win, she started touring across the country and is still on tour to this day.
Darci also made her acting debut in the film, A Cowgirl’s Song.
She recently graduated high school and attended prom.
The season 12 winner lives a relatively normal life, aside from touring or attending movie premieres.
Where are they now – Grace Vanderwaal
Grace Vanderwaal won season 11 of America’s Got Talent at just 12 years old.
After winning the television show, she released one album and three EPs.
In 2017, Grace performed at the Special Olympic Games in Austria.
She first toured for her album, Just The Beginning, and then opened for Imagine Dragons and Florence and the Machine.
Grace moved to New York City in 2023 and is currently performing unreleased music throughout the city.
Where are they now – Paul Zerdin
Paul Zerdin was the second ventriloquist to win America’s Got Talent in season ten.
He made history as the first-ever Golden Buzzer act to win.
In 2019, Paul competed in AGT: The Champions and Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions, but failed to make it to the finale of either show.
He is still currently touring the world and has had televised comedy specials.
Where are they now – Michael Grimm
Michael Grimm won season five of America’s Got Talent over classical singer, Jackie Evancho.
After winning, Michael headlined the first-ever America’s Got Talent Tour.
He went on to release seven albums, with his latest being released in 2015, and opened for Stevie Nicks.
In June 2023, it was revealed the blues singer had been hospitalized and in the ICU with an undetermined medical issue.
He was then rushed to the hospital after “talking gibberish” and his wife released a statement that he wouldn’t be making any public appearances anytime soon.
Where are they now – Mat Franco
Mat Franco made America’s Got Talent history during season 9 by becoming the first magician to win.
The season 9 winner began his Las Vegas residency in 2010 and has gone on tours throughout the country ever since.
Mat has also had a TV special and will continue his residency through 2025.
He got married in 2019 and became a father this year.
Where are they now – Neal E. Boyd
Neal E. Boyd won America’s Got Talent in season three after wowing the judges with his opera talent.
Shortly after, he released the album My American Dream, which debuted at number 95 on the Billboard 200.
The season three winner headlined a show at MGM’s Grand Garden Arena after his win and again in 2010.
The star died in 2018 at the age of 42 due to heart failure, kidney failure, and liver problems.
Where are they now – Terry Fator
After Jeff Dunham, Terry Fator is the next most popular ventriloquist in the world after winning America’s Got Talent in season two.
Now, Terry headlines the Who’s the Dummy Now? show at New York New York Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Earlier this year, the season two winner competed on AGT: All-Stars, but did not make it far in the competition.
Where are they now – Bianca Ryan
Bianca Ryan won the first season of America’s Got Talent, impressing the judges and the country with her renditions of popular songs including, And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going from Dream Girls.
Bianca’s hit Christmas song, Why Couldn’t It Be Christmas Everyday? reached the top of the charts, and is still widely popular today.
After a few years in the spotlight, she went back to living a pretty normal life.
The season one winner left her label and started to release music independently.
Bianca made her big comeback in 2019 when she appeared on AGT: The Champions and got to tell her story.
The ladies of AGTThe panel of judges wouldn’t be complete without Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara.
Heidi Klum is a German-American model, television personality, producer, and entrepreneur who was the first German Victoria’s Secret Angel.
She originally appeared on the show in 2013 and remained on the panel until 2018, when she took a brief hiatus. For Season 15, Klum returned as a judge.
Sofía Vergara is a Colombian-American actress best known for her role as Gloria in the television comedy Modern Family.
Between 2013 through 2020, she was the highest-paid actress on American television.