What To Know
- The top 12 acts performed in the America’s Got Talent Season 21 Semifinals on September 15, aiming for a spot in the Finals and the $1 million grand prize.
- Judges Howie Mandel, Mel B., and Sofía Vergara provided feedback, but America’s vote will determine which acts advance to the next round of competition.
- Simon Cowell was once again absent from the series amid his back surgery recovery.
The contestants of America’s Got Talent are one step closer to making it to the Finals and taking home $1 million.
The remaining 12 acts hit the stage during AGT‘s Season 21 Semifinals on Tuesday, September 15. While judges Howie Mandel, Mel B., and Sofía Vergara (Simon Cowell is still out while recovering from back surgery) weighed in on the night’s performances, it’s up to America to decide which contestants make it through the latest round of competition.
“Tonight, you’re gonna see 12 acts going head-to-head for a spot in that ultimate showdown. Only six will make it tonight, and that is all down to you and your votes,” host Terry Crews shared at the top of the episode. “There’s no Live Golden Buzzer. You at home are in charge of everything.”
Fans can vote for their favorite acts on NBC‘s website and through the AGT app and AGT‘s official TikTok account. Voting for the Semifinals closes Wednesday, September 16, at 7 a.m. ET, and the results will be announced during that night’s episode at 8/7c.
Scroll down for a recap of the AGT Season 21 Semifinals.
Acro Canine Crew
For the semifinals, the dog training crew added another adorable pup to their act. Set to “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper, the group put on another fun display of acrobatics combined with dog tricks, with the pets jumping and running over their trainers.
In addition to barks from the audience, the act received positive feedback from the judges, with Mel B. calling the act “so different” from other dog acts in the show’s history. Vergara said she could watch them “for days,” while Mandel joked they were his “favorite” act of the night.
Kameron Marshall
The magician celebrated making it to the Semifinals by getting a tattoo. With his mom in the audience, Marshall turned in another impressive magic act involving the audience and the show’s judges. Marshall had the judges imagine a playing card, with Vergara ultimately pulling the correct card from a bag. As it turns out, the card Vergara pulled matched the tattoo he got before the show, which included a drawing from an audience member.
“You really keep getting better and better and better,” Vergara stated, praising his commitment to the tattoo. Mandel said his performance proved the “most amazing people come from Toronto.” Mel B., for her part, called his act “brilliant.”
Cesar Dias
The singing comedian sang an impressive rendition of Louis Armstrong‘s “What a Wonderful World” for the Semifinals. But of course, his performance didn’t go off without a hitch, as he (purposefully) experienced everything from a faulty mic to ripped pants, faulty stairs, and his tie getting stuck on a cameraman, concluding with him falling off a platform.
While Mandel said the novelty of Dias’ act was beginning to wear off, it was “priceless” seeing Vergara cracking up at his act. For Vergara, he succeeded in making people laugh, but Mel B. said he could do “so much more” with the performance.
Veronika Goroshkova
Goroshkova took her aerialist act to the next level with her Semifinals performance. She showed off her acrobatic skills to Olivia Rodrigo‘s “Stupid Song,” spending most of her act spinning in the air above the judges’ desk and the audience.
The judges were in awe of her talent, with Vergara praising her for making her performances more challenging each time. Mel B. called Goroshkova “elegant” and “effortless, and Mandel was impressed with the speed and height at which she does her act.
Luke Taleno
Taleno balanced practicing for the Semifinals with studying for his U.S. citizenship test, which just so happened to take place one day before the show. He took to the AGT stage as an official U.S. citizen to perform another impressive original song about his American Dream.
“You are the American Dream,” Mandel declared, adding, “You are making your dream come true.” Mel B. couldn’t believe he performed his “brilliant” song with “so much passion and heart.” Vergara said Taleno was already a “superstar” and congratulated him on receiving his U.S. citizenship.
Royal Lasers
The performers received sweet messages from their dance students during Semifinals rehearsals. Inspired by their students, the group impressed the audience with a video game-inspired routine full of colorful graphics and special effects.
Mel B. gave the group a standing ovation, calling their choreography “on point” and “precise.” Mandel noted that most people don’t realize how much goes into their performance and wishes viewers at home could witness it in person. Covered in streamers, Vergara said their Semifinals performance was her “favorite” of theirs so far.
Olivia Befus
Befus felt the competition heading into the Semifinals against fellow dog act Acro Canine Crew. She showed no nerves on the AGT stage, turning in an energetic performance to “Dynamite” by BTS. The sports-themed act saw Befus incorporate various sports equipment in her tricks, such as tennis rackets, nets, and a jump rope.
Vergara said her “favorite thing” about Befus’ act is how much her dogs love her and how much fun they have on stage together. Mandel said he wished Befus performed on a different night so voters wouldn’t compare her to Acro Canine Crew. Unlike the other group, Mel B. said Befus should be proud of doing the act on her own.
Young & Strange
NBC
The U.K. magic duo brought out a special locked box prop for their Semifinals act. The pair brought two young audience members on stage, with one going inside the box and the other helping make the kid disappear and reappear on the theater’s balcony, incorporating several comedic moments throughout.
Vergara thought the night’s performance was more comedy than magic but still enjoyed the act. For Mel B., however, the performance didn’t cut it for her and didn’t live up to their previous act. Mandel disagreed, calling Mel B. “confused.”
Come Here
NBC
Another of Rodrigo’s songs made it to the AGT Semifinals stage, as the South Korean dance group performed to her hit song “Vampire.” The dancers channeled the song’s emotion through their movements, impressing the audience with their quick, synchronized moves.
Mel B. was so impressed by the group’s mix of dance styles and encouraged viewers to cast their votes for the dance crew. Vergara said dancing is one of her favorite kinds of AGT acts, and joked she’s glad she has no say in the night’s results. Mandel compared the group to “machines” and declared them his “favorite human dance troupe” of the season.
Daniel Alvarez
NBC
The final comedian left in the competition, Alvarez kicked off his Semifinals stand-up set by playfully poking fun at his wheelchair use, stating, “I’m competing against three magicians, and not one of them could make some legs appear for me.” Alvarez went on to joke about growing up with six sisters, stating he “grew up in a sorority, not a family,” among other hilarious quips.
Mandel praised Alvarez’s act, stating that his act felt natural and that he felt at “ease” on stage. Mel B., however, said she thought Alvarez got off to a rocky start, but pulled through with lots of laughs. Vergara praised his act, calling it “amazing.”
Geno Ploeger
NBC
Another of the night’s magicians, Ploeger felt the pressure heading into the Semifinals. Looking to make it to the Finals, Ploeger kicked off his act by sporting a hat featuring the random card Mandel picked from a pile. Ploeger also predicted the page of a notebook Vergara would pick, showing off the page number embroidered inside his hat. Ploeger had Mel B. circle a word on a page, made the page disappear, and reappear in his friend’s hat. Not only that, but the word she circled, “future,” was painted across his friends’ chests.
Vergara declared the performance “flawless,” while Mandel gushed over Ploeger’s magic skills. He earned high praise from Mel B., as she dubbed him her “favorite” act of the night.
Travis Garland
NBC
For the final act of the night, Garland had the audience cheering with a powerful performance of Billie Eilish‘s “when the party’s over.” Garland showed off his impressive vocal chops, putting his own spin on the popular song by belting several high notes.
Mel B. said the performance didn’t get off on the right note, but he reeled her in by the end. However, she thought a different song from Eilish’s discography could have suited his voice better. Vergara said his voice gives her “chills,” while Mandel ended the episode by noting that America has a tough choice picking which acts will make it to the Finals.
America’s Got Talent, Season 21, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8/7c, NBC