‘America’s Got Talent’ episode 15 recap: Live shows continue with final night of quarterfinals [UPDATING LIVE BLOG]

John Benutty
·9 min read
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“America’s Got Talent” continues to countdown to the season 19 finale on Tuesday with the fourth live show of the summer. In this quarter-finals round, which consist of four episodes, 11 acts per night take to the stage. Only four will make the cut and move on in the competition. One will get a Golden Buzzer from one of the judges — Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel or Sofia Vergara — while three will top the tally when America votes.

Competing on September 3 are: dance group Brent Street, comedian Erica Rhodes, balancing duo Illya & Anastasia Strakhov, comedy magician Jonathan Burns, vocal group L6, singer Oscar Stembridge, singer Pranysqa Mishra, aerial duo Sebastián and Sonia, quick change artist Solange Kardinaly, singer Stephanie Rainey and novelty act Tonikaku.

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Below, follow along as we recap all the action on “America’s Got Talent” Season 19 Episode 15 in our minute-by-minute blog.

8:03 p.m. – Tonight the final Golden Buzzer of the season is in the hands of Simon, but prior to the start of the performances, Simon declared that he’ll give control to “me and the audience.” Their first look at the hopefuls was the Aussie dance crew Brent Street. To up their game from the first audition, the 31-member group used small stages on wheel to create a dynamic performance space that took the audience eye all over the stage. As one of Howie’s Golden Buzzer from the first round, he was elated by their routine tonight and challenged Simon to hit the Golden Buzzer for them. Heidi said she would have pushed the buzzer for them because the choreography was “outside of the box.” Sofia referred to them as “not a regular dance group” because it felt like “a little bit of danger.” Urged to hit the Golden Buzzer, Simon denied it because he said the second half was “too artsy” and “a little bit slow.” He at least acknowledged that they are the type of dance group that they’re looking for on the show.

8:16 p.m. – Descended from a family of acrobats, Illya & Anastasia came from Ukaine to Las Vegas to take their balancing act to the next level on the biggest entertainment stages in the world. This week they put thoughts of their family at the forefront of their mind while rehearsing a routine that involved Illya balancing upside down with his head on two stacked bowling balls and then one a single finger stuck in the top of a champagne bottle right in front of the judges’ table. Heidi was the only judge to stand in applause of the performance, telling them that they “keep us on the edge of our seats.” Sofia likes that you can tell how much they want to succeed and Simon detracted, saying that he doesn’t see them as a Vegas act and he’s “really, really disappointed” because it “didn’t feel big enough.” Howie brought the crowd back on side, saying that they delivered tonight.

8:27 p.m. – Tonight 16 year old singer Oscar Stembridge returned to the stage with another original song. The Swedish teenager was still debating between two possible sings the night before, stuck on whether or not an emotional song or something uptempo would be more effective in this round. In the end, he went with the guitar ballad and the crowd supported him by shining lights through the audience. Sofia “didn’t love the song so much,” but said he’s “already a superstar.” Howie agreed with Sofia because he thinks he picked the wrong song that “isn’t going to be memorable.” Heidi said he “sings with his heart,” but still wants “the voice to unleash.” Simon called him “a little diamond” that thinks he “has a really big opportunity in this business” and would like to work with him.

8:38 p.m. – Mixing comedy and magic in one act, Jonathan Burns strives to hear the gasp from the audience and to make people feel like their inner “5 year old kid.” He admits that his career takes him on the road a lot, which makes it hard on his family, so AGT is a chance to earn a Vegas residency that would give him more family time. Tonight he played off of the Houdini straight-jacket escape trick, but folded inside a sleeper sofa by Terry instead. Before the routine ended, Simon hit his red X buzzer, later explaining that he could “guess what was gonna happen” and wondering how this is what he came up with given all the time he had to prepare. Howie acknowledged that Jonathan combines two strong acts in one, Heidi said that she was surprised, and Sofia said she enjoyed it even though she “didn’t go crazy for it.”

8:48 p.m. – The vocal group L6 all live together in a house together with their large family where they support each other and train together. Following the devastation of a hurricane after their initial audition, the group returned to the AGT stage with their rendition of “Rewrite the Stars” from “The Greatest Showman.” Howie admitted that the group can sing, but called them “corny” and “not of today” because he doesn’t know where they’d fit in the music landscape. Heidi said it’s “crazy” that they’re only six people that sound like 40 people and suggested that they do a cappella net time. Sofia said they “look sure of what they’re doing” and they make her smile. Simon appreciates that the AGT audience is going to like them even if it is corny. He also stressed that they came back from the disaster and still pulled off something really good.

8:58 p.m. – One of the most unique acts to ever hit the stage is the novelty act Tonikaku that uses angles and tricks of body placement to appear as if he’s naked on stage, only to reveal his underpants. Tonight he began his act up close and personal in front of the judges before moving to the stage to play out a California fantasy with surfboard, a mock halftime show, and a role in an action film. Heidi had a sour look on her face as the audience chanted for him, but she didn’t think it was “mad enough.” Sofia said he’s “the gift that keeps giving,” Simon called him one of “favorite ever” because no one else does what he does, and Howie said he “has the ability to make so much out of so little” as a new “international event.”

9:09 p.m. – Before the next performer, Simon declared that he doesn’t think any of the acts have stepped their game up tonight. Hoping to change his mind, Irish singer songwriter Stephanie Rainey was up next with the original song “Woman” that was inspired by her mother’s fight with cancer. Sofia called her voice “so amazing” and her songs are “so personal.” Howie agrees that she’s a great singer, but doesn’t think this song or performance is as good as her first one. Heidi likes her “powerful” songs and she feels that she really wants it. Simon agreed with Howie that this song isn’t as good because the production and arrangement missed the mark, but he does think it’s good enough to get her through.

9:21 p.m. – Terry warned us that aerial duo Sebastián and Sonia suffered “a set back” during rehearsals that caused them to rethink their performance. In one of their practice sessions, Sonia fell and fractured her arm, leaving Sebastián to perform alone while she recovers. His solo effort to “In My Blood” left everyone on their feet, including Simon who stated that he’s impressed Sebastián didn’t give up and then made it “incredible.” He explained that most people would have discontinued their run in the show because of the accident, but instead it became “the best reaction we’ve had so far” in the night and that’s why he hit the Golden Buzzer for them to go straight to The Finals.

9:32 p.m. – Sofia was surprised to be reminded by Terry that she referred to Erica Rhodes as her “favorite comedian ever” following her first audition. In tonight’s set, Erica took digs at her own voice, age, dating life, and what it feels like being called “a lady” in public. Howie supported Erica with a standing applause because she is “so real, so comfortable” and “so memorable.” Heidi called her a “great storyteller” and Sofia said her “material is amazing” and wants to see her on a sitcom. Simon earned more boos from the audience because she didn’t love it, emphasizing that he didn’t laugh at any of her jokes.

9:43 p.m. – Up next was quick change artist Solange Kardinaly who, with nearly 500 million views of her audition online, Terry says is the most viral act of the season. Tonight she set out to “surprise the audience and the judges” by changing her act drastically from her audition. She still performed quick changes, but this time she incorporated up close magic and then took to the rafters for a final change while suspended in the air. Heidi said she “did not disappoint” with her use of props, Sofia called it “perfection,” and Simon underscored that “the numbers don’t lie” in terms of how many people have viewed her audition. He added that he does see her as a Vegas act, naming her one of the best acts of the night. Howie said that if she doesn’t get voted through then “America is nuts.”

9:54 p.m. – The last performer of the quarter-finals was Heidi’s 10 year old Golden Buzzer singer Pranysqa Mishra with a cover of “Wrecking Ball” that showed off her booming voice. Heidi was excited that they “saved the best for last” and emphasized that she stood there with just her voice and the piano. Simon said that in the room tonight she “sounded amazing” and he was surprised by how good she is. Sofia thought she made the song her own and applauds her confidence. Howie agreed with the others, but wanted to make it clear to the audience that she’s only 10 years old with the talent of someone much older than her.

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