‘America’s Got Talent’ episode 19 recap: Live Finals [UPDATING LIVE BLOG]
After a summer of shows, “America’s Got Talent” has reached the last stage in the competition: the live final. Competing for America’s votes on September 17 are 10 finalists: dance troupes AIRFOOTWORKS and Brent Street, acrobatic group Hakuna Matata Acrobats, singer Richard Goodall, comedian Learnmore Jonasi, quick change artist Solange Kardinaly, dog act Roni Sagi & Rhythm, aerial duo Sebastián & Sonia, singer Dee Dee Simon, and drone group Sky Elements.
Four of these “AGT” finalists earned a Golden Buzzer from one of the judges during the Quarterfinals stage of the competition: AIRFOOTWORKS (chosen by Howie Mandel), Hakuna Matata Acrobats (chosen by Sofia Vergara), Sebastián & Sonia (chosen by Simon Cowell) and Dee Dee Simon (chosen by Heidi Klum). The other six contenders for the title made the cut during last week’s Semifinal.
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Follow along as we recap all the action on the “America’s Got Talent” Final in our minute-by-minute blog for Season 19 Episode 19:
8:04 p.m. – The first act of the night was Sofia’s Golden Buzzer from the live round round, the four members of Hakuna Matata Acrobats who specialize in balancing acts while perched on rolling platforms barely bigger than their leg span. Tonight they had one slip in their first trick, but recovered and ended with an all-member teetering ladder trick performed right in front of the judges’ dais. Sofia admitted to being nervous throughout their routine, Howie said that they’re more dangerous than the Ramadhani Brothers, and Simon was impressed that it “got crazier and bigger” as the routine went on.
8:26 p.m. – Up next was Dee Dee Simon, the Brooklyn-based vocalist that earned the live Golden Buzzer from Heidi in the Quarterfinals, with a new rendition of “Take Me to Church.” Heidi was “bowing down” to her “strength and power,” Sofia said she “keeps getting better and better” every round, and Simon said she showed “what it means to sing well” and noted the improvement in her confidence.
8:38 p.m. – After having to perform as a solo act last round because of Sonia’s injury, the acrobatic duo of Sebastián & Sonia was able to come together again for their final performance with Sonia taking more of a supporting role. Simon thought they were “amazing” tonight and thinks their story this season is “so incredible,” Howie loved the choice of music and said they “raised the bar,” and Heidi acknowledged that they “did everything [they] could” and it was “still beautiful.”
8:48 p.m. – Australian dance group Brent Street returned to the stage with their versatile staging props for another multifaceted routine that never has just one place to look. Howie said that his Golden Buzzer act is the “Van Gogh of dancers” and commented that even the still dancers are “mesmerizing,” Heidi thinks they’ve “never missed,” and Sofia called them “perfection” that is “so much fun to watch.”
8:58 p.m. – Third generation magician Solange Kardinaly designs and makes her own quick change outfits so these final rounds of the competition have been the ultimate gauntlet of creation for her. Following her performance tonight, Simon said “incredible, incredible, incredible” and thinks the combination of magic and quick change is “so unique and popular,” Heidi appreciates that she adds different elements to her act every week, and Sofia called her “so much fun to watch.” Howie told Solange that she’s the one act that he thinks could “have her own room in Vegas.”
9:08 p.m. – Terry’s Golden Buzzer choice this season was Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi, the only artist left this season that could become the first ever comedy winner. His set tonight went from airport behavior to dating experiences. Sofia called him one of her favorite comedians in all her time on the show, Howie said that he’s been working hard, Heidi called him “a cartoon character come to life,” and Simon thinks he’s “clever and smart” for making jokes out of things other people see as normal.
9:19 p.m. – Howie secured bragging rights over Simon when he earned the live Golden Buzzer hit for AIRFOOTWORKS, the performance artist dancers from Japan. After their routine to Coldplay’s “Higher Power,” Howie reiterated that it’s “the season of dance” and appreciates them for creating something they’ve never seen before, Heidi called it “top notch,” Sofia thinks it’s “so beautiful and so fun,” and Simon called them “sensational” because what they do is “so smart and so cool.”
9:31 p.m. – The second singer of the night was janitor Richard Goodall who prior to his performance was informed that he’d be joined by a member of Journey on finale night. Looking ahead to that, Richard delivered his own version of “Faithfully” tonight. Heidi supported her Golden Buzzer choice by calling him “an amazing man” that becomes a “big rock star” when he’s holding the microphone. Simon acknowledged that Richard’s “never crumbled” in the competition and referred to him as “our hero.” Howie made the prediction that Richard will win the show based on that performance.
9:43 p.m. – In the spirit of how they came together as an act, Roni Sagi & Rhythm created a performance for tonight about “learning to accept yourself” using almost 80% of moves that they’ve never done together before. Well-known to be a dog lover, Simon called the routine “perfection” because he’s never seen an act like them that is as good as them. Heidi called them adorable, Sofia begged to be given Rhythm, and Howie thinks it’s incredible that there’s a dancing dog in the competition.
9:52 p.m. – To follow up the personal story displayed in their previous performance, drone artists Sky Elements decided to honor America and its big dreamers with their final routine. In the showcase they showed images of a young child reading a book, the Statue of Liberty, a cowboy, a train, and a soaring bald eagle. Simon said it made him feel “very emotional” and sees them as a “really special act,” Sofia was “still surprised” by how emotional the drone stories can make her, Heidi appreciated the American dream narrative that she’s lived, and Howie thinks it was a “great celebration.”
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