Spoiler alert! This story discusses the final night of auditions on America’s Got Talent Season 21. If you didn’t watch the July 21 episode, you can stream it with a Peacock subscription.

That’s a wrap on auditions for AGT’s 21st season, and while we've seen some incredible Golden Buzzer acts this season, they sure did save some of the best for last. The competition’s first round concluded Monday on the 2026 TV schedule, and in addition to a standup comic who wouldn’t quit and Pynk Beard’s country bop that had everybody on their feet, we met Maria. No one knew what to expect when the 18-year-old from Bavaria, Germany, took the stage, but her talent had me literally screaming.

Maria said she’d been watching America’s Got Talent all of her life, and she hoped to inspire others with her talent. Then the contortionist began to bend into shapes that shouldn’t be possible for a human body. This video is a must-watch:

Wow! Channel Zero's contortionist clown Pretzel Jack ain't got nothing on her! How were there no Golden Buzzers left for this astonishing act?

I am not exaggerating when I say I was screaming. At first I couldn’t wrap my head around how she was wrapping her head around and through her legs like that. Then when the box came out, a high-pitched, “NOOOOOO!” burst out of me. Despite the radiant smile on Maria’s face the whole time, I still have a hard time believing that wasn’t super painful.

Howie Mandel had a fun way of describing the teenager’s talent, telling her afterward:

Maria explained that when she was 10 was in a wheelchair for two years because inflammation on her spine had caused her to be paralyzed. When she regained movement, she said she was more flexible than before.

Mel B has fawned over some of the Season 21 acts so far, but she had trouble watching this one, covering her eyes and turning away as the contortionist twisted her head to sit below her entire torso. Simon Cowell, meanwhile, was thoroughly impressed, telling the 18-year-old:

Yes, it was definitely cool and quite a few other adjectives.

I can’t imagine that we won’t see Maria again in the live shows, but the competition is fierce. After the final audition, Terry Crews led Simon Cowell, Sofía Vergara, Mel B and Howie Mandel into a room with cards showing every act they’d sent through. Cowell estimated there were around 100 of them, and the judges were tasked with finding just 34 to join the 10 Golden Buzzer winners who were already sent through.

We’ll find out next week who made the cut and who didn’t, but I’ll be surprised if anyone can get the same reaction out of me that Maria’s audition did. Tune in at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday, July 28, on NBC to see the live acts revealed.

Spoiler alert! This discusses acts from America’s Got Talent Season 21 premiere. Stream the episode with a Peacock subscription if you haven’t watched yet!

America’s Got Talent is back, and when Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara, Howie Mandel and Mel B (remember, no Heidi Klum anymore) took their spots behind the judges table for Season 21, they were itching to hit that Golden Buzzer. In fact, three deserving acts from the talent show’s 2026 TV premiere got sent straight to the live shows, but it was a couple of knife-throwers who I can’t stop thinking about after hearing the terrifying story of what they had to overcome to get there.

It’s not rare to see seemingly dangerous acts on America’s Got Talent, but the knife-throwing and crossbow-shooting that Tyrone and Margo did was especially scary because they were aiming at each other in motion. Margo had to dodge knives at an unbelievable speed, and afterward, Simon Cowell had to ask if anything had ever gone wrong during their stunts. Tyrone shocked everyone when he said it had:

Mel B. — who had a strong reaction to a Season 20 crossbow performance — and Sofia Vergara were rendered practically speechless, but the panel gave Margo credit for being brave enough to continue.

But is she OK now?, they wanted to know. Margo told them:

What a terrible thing for the husband-and-wife team to have gone through. It was difficult even to watch them tell the story, because you could see how emotional Margo got talking about it, and Tyrone looked heartbroken about what happened.

Tyrone’s concern was teased ahead of their act, when they were shown backstage. Margo asked her husband if he was nervous, and he said:

Oof, points for honesty, but moments before taking the America’s Got Talent stage is a pretty terrible time to lose your confidence. Hearing that story is going to make me even more nervous if they take the stage again, which is a strong possibility, because Tyrone and Margo received a “yes” vote from all four judges. You can check out their act below:

The AGT Judges Had Itchy Buzzer Fingers For The Premiere

It’s not rare that the AGT champion is one of the performers who received a Golden Buzzer during auditions, and the judges picked three great acts during its Season 21 premiere. Fourteen-year-old Lai Noelle stunned the judges (and me) with a gorgeous vocal performance. Her singing voice was so surprisingly different from her speaking voice that Simon Cowell couldn’t help but steal the Golden Buzzer moment from Sofia Vergara, who had told him she was going to hit it.

Then it was Terry Crews who beat her to the punch by hitting the buzzer for the Acro Crew, who incorporated dogs into their impressive tumbling routine. Finally, Howie Mandel hit the Golden Buzzer for rapper Luke Taleno, who manifested the moment by telling Simon Cowell a year ago as an audience member that he’d be back to get the Golden Buzzer.

America’s Got Talent is off to a strong start, so be sure to tune in for the next round of auditions at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday, June 9, on NBC and streaming the next day on Peacock.

It’s not uncommon for a comedian to tell a joke that offends in some way, big or small. When that happens, there are usually one of two reactions. Either the comedian apologizes for crossing a line and upsetting people, or the comedian makes a big deal of not apologizing for upsetting anybody. However, in the most recent case, we have a somewhat unusual situation where Howie Mandel first apologized to Kelly Ripa for a joke, and now seems to be taking back that apology.

What Happened Between Kelly Ripa And Howie Mandel?

The issue traces back to a recent appearance by Howie Mandel on Live with Kelly and Mark, in which it is brought up that Mandel recently turned 70. Ripa says that Mandel looks good, and the comedian takes issue with the compliment, indicating that looking good “for 70” isn’t a compliment. She insists that’s not what she meant, but the two go back and forth for a minute in an exchange that isn't particularly heated, but also clearly isn't funny.

The conversation has now blown up, with implications that Ripa was upset by it all. Seemingly confirming the conflict. Howie Mandel took to Instagram to issue a public apology to the host.

This isn't the first time Howie Mandel has apologized for something he said, though he's also a comedian who doesn't offend quite as often as some others. While that would normally mark the end of things, that hasn’t been the case here. The issue is apparently still eating at Mandel as he explained on a recent podcast.

Why Howie Mandel Regrets Apologizing

The alleged “conflict” between Howie Mandel and Kelly Ripa has continued to be addressed following Mandel’s apology. The comedian recently appeared on Hot Mic with Billy Bush, where he addressed the situation. He seemed a little surprised that the whole thing was still being talked about, as to him, this was just a case of a joke that didn’t land. He said…

As Mandel said in the above apology, he had struggled with the statement, as he doesn’t generally believe comedians should apologize. It’s a perspective that many other comedians have, that jokes may not work and may upset people from time to time, but that doesn’t mean apologies should be issued. He continued…

Time will tell whether this is the end of the issue or if the apparent regret over the apology will result in it continuing. So, as this situation involving Mandel and Ripa continues to develop, we'll keep you posted.

Home Improvement is once again making headlines, thanks in large part to Tim Allen’s current ABC sitcom Shifting Gears, whose star-studded Season 2 premiere will have the comedian sharing the screen anew with former co-stars Patricia Richardson, Richard Karn and Debbe Dunning. Ahead of the episode airing, though, Allen had a convo with his old pal Howie Mandel and recalled a rather freaky stalker situation that he dealt with early on in his sitcom years.

Appearing on the podcast Howie Mandel Does Stuff, which the AGT judge co-hosts with his daughter Jackelyn Shultz, Tim Allen got into a real stream of consciousness that began with a yelling-at-clouds run over his own daughter’s compulsion to stare at her phone at all hours of the day. Which then led to Allen recalling getting a Twitter account for the first time and how much he only paid attention and responded to the negative comments.

Which then led to Allen sharing the reason why he had to rely on security during Home Improvement in the first place. In his words:

A sentence like that, without any jest involved, is worth at least 1,000 red flags. But instead of getting overtly freaked out and avoiding that person at all costs, Allen instead decided to respond. As he put it:

The story was news to Mandel and Schultz, with the former initially thinking Allen may have been riffing on a bit. Of course, they asked what happened next, and that's when the Home Improvement fan's mental issues became more apparent. Although not to the security guards on the Disney lot, unfortunately.

I can see how, as a celebrity who isn't accustomed to that kind of fan reaction, Tim Allen might think it was a helpful move to point out to the guy that he was confusing a TV family with real life, even despite the guy's initial message being so judgmental about his fictional parenting. However, this was not a case where intervening ended up helping anyone.

The Last Man Standing vet continued, sharing how his exchange with the security guards went:

Thankfully, Allen said that nude studio incident was the last time he had to deal with that particular stalker, who seemingly didn't try anything else afterward. However, Allen said situations like that have "been a reoccuring thing sometimes." But considering he still responded to some of his more prominent haters on Twitter years ago, it doesn't seem like he took the "don't engage" advice permanently to heart.

At least it doesn't seem like Home Improvement's writers turned that incident into a Tim Taylor storyline the way it's happened with other incidents. Debbe Dunning shared one of her Home Improvement horror stories, so to speak, recalling a point when Tim Allen wanted to bring Pamela Anderson back to the show, and how much that stressed her out as a sleep-deprived new mom. Which, if it sounds familiar, is because the writers turned that emotional trauma into the Season 6 finale, which did indeed feature an appearance from Anderson.

As well, Taran Smith spoke months prior about accidentally learning first-hand that his character Mark’s goth storyline was directly inspired by the head writer’s son. Because he actually ran into the teen, and Smith's on-screen wardrobe mirrored the other teen's real-life outfit.

With hopefully zero awkward or harassing fan encounters involved, be sure to check out Shifting Gears' Season 2 premiere on ABC on Wednesday, October 1, at 8:00 p.m. ET (available to stream the next day via Hulu subscription).

America’s Got Talent’s highly-anticipated Season 20 officially arrived on the 2025 TV schedule on Tuesday. But before each act can hit the stage, they have to go through a rigorous casting process to get there. When CinemaBlend attended the open call auditions in Pasadena, California a couple of months ago, we learned how the judges connect to the process.

It was a blast to tune in with our live blog of the premiere earlier this week, where we saw everything from a guy chugging jars of pickle juice and hot sauce to a breathtaking light, tech, and dance show that earned the first Golden Buzzer of the season and had Simon Cowell in awe. But how do Cowell, Mel B, Howie Mandel, and Sofia Vergara affect who’s chosen to be on stage? Here’s what casting producer Meg MacGregor told us:

Considering the four judges have to watch a lot of acts and react to them on television, I figured they might give the casting producers some notes when choosing the acts. However, the judges want to be as surprised as we are! MacGregor has been pivotal to the casting of America’s Got Talent for eighteen seasons, so she has a lot of experience on the subject. As she continued:

It sounds like it can be all about personality and bringing something that will get a reaction out of the judges. It definitely seems like those who have touching stories and really put their heart and soul into their acts also get pulled through, such as the magician in Texas who connected his act with giving a present to his daughter or 23-year-old Jordan Blue getting a Golden Buzzer after touching the judges with his backstory and amazing singing voice, and then bringing in his girlfriend and newborn on stage after the big moment.

Elsewhere in our interview, MacGregor talked about looking for really “confident, genuine people” who can “hold their own” on stage, and we saw a lot of that during the premiere on Tuesday.

Season 20 follows “the singing janitor” Richard Goodall winning last season after warming the hearts of America with his amazing singing voice and charm. When we spoke to Goodall after his win, he said he hoped his victory would inspire more people that “anybody can try out”, and make it to the finale. We can’t wait to watch more contestants take the stage, surprise us and the judges as the season continues on NBC this summer.

When we hear about celebrities being related, it usually involves those who already have famous parents. Occasionally, though, the internet discovers two disperate stars like Joe Rogan and Gerard Way are related, and loses its collective mind. A similar such occurrence took place when Smashing Pumpkins lead singer Billy Corgan publicly shared comedian Bill Burr might be his half-brother, which interested Howie Mandel enough to get both entertainers together for a hilarious chat.

Bill Burr was the scheduled guest on the AGT judge's podcast Howie Mandel Does Stuff, and was unaware that Corgan would be making an appearance. The comedian, whose hilarious quotes might telegraph how he'd feel about being surprised on a podcast, was predictably miffed as he proceeded to call the other two out. Check out the segment below:

For the record, there's enough credible evidence out there done by Men's Journal and Corgan himself to prove that he's not actually related to Bill Burr. The comedian's main gripe, as he pointed to in the segment, is that Corgan going public with that story led to Burr's relationship with his own father being brought up, which wasn't great for the stand-up fave. Incidentally, Burr's father was a dentist and not a traveling musician like Corgan's father was.

We all know Bill Burr as a great comedian, but I think those on the web convinced this segment has some truth to it may need to watch some of Burr's movies as well. The comedian was a good sport and leaned into the segment for entertainment value, despite the half-brother connection not having merit. I do have to wonder, though, with this video now going viral, will the identity of Billy Corgan's actual half-brother come to light?

While Burr and Corgan didn't necessarily get any closer as "brothers" on the podcast, they did land on a mutual love of pro wrestling. So, if you see these two at any upcoming WWE events in the future, it's not because they're on a family outing. They also found some common ground in agreeing that Howie Mandel was a jerk for setting all this up, knowing full well that Burr would be upset about it.

As for what's next for Bill Burr, he has an upcoming sequel for his animated movie Leo, which is available with a Netflix subscription. We still don't know if his Migs Mayfield will be a part of the cast of The Mandalorian and Grogu, the Star Wars movie planned around the title characters that made waves on streaming. I'd love to see him pop up, even if some fans have issues with his Boston accent appearing in the franchise.

CinemaBlend will continue to keep an ear to the ground for my possible ancestral ties celebrities have we didn't know about, even the ones that end up not being true. Continue to stick with us for more on other happenings in the world of entertainment, be it television or movies.

When it comes to the smartest TV detectives we’ve ever seen, Adrian Monk definitely can count himself among them – right next to Columbo, Sherlock Holmes, and Luther (to name a few). For eight seasons of the USA Network series, Adrian Monk’s tendency to see all the details, often tied with his OCD, matched with his personal motivation to get “the guy” following the death of his wife, Trudy, was exciting to tune into week-to-week. All the while, major actors would often guest star. Some of which were big names before Monk, and others that have since skyrocketed into fame. 

Jeffrey Dean Morgan 

Over a decade before Jeffrey Dean Morgan became The Walking Dead’s Negan, the famed TV actor was in the Season 3 premiere of Monk, “Mr. Monk Takes Manhattan.” In the episode, Monk travels with the SFPD team to New York City to do some work in association with the murder of Trudy, but in the meantime, Monk gets embroiled in the case of a recently deceased Latvian ambassador. Morgan’s character catches the detective’s eye in connection to the ambassador’s death. 

Malcolm McDowell

The lead of Stanley Kubrick’s masterful A Clockwork Orange, Malcolm McDowell, made his way into Monk during Season 4 in a particularly great episode of the series that takes the detective into the world of fashion. In “Mr. Monk Goes To A Fashion Show,” he decides to pay a visit to the inspector of his favorite collared shirts when he notices recent inconsistencies. It leads him and Natalie to meet a British fashion designer named Julian Hodge, played by McDowell. 

Jennifer Lawrence

Did you know that Silver Linings Playbook Oscar winner, Jennifer Lawrence, was in Monk? Back in 2006, when the actress was a teenager and had not yet starred in any movies, she had a very small role as a high school mascot in the Season 5 episode “Mr. Monk and the Big Game.” Her head is covered for most of her scene, but she does take off the helmet for a moment in the episode. 

Jason Alexander 

Seinfeld’s Jason Alexander guest starred in Monk for the Season 4 premiere “Mr. Monk and the Other Detective” as another P.I. in town named Marty Eels. During Monk’s latest case, the detective begins to be overshadowed by Alexander’s character, which hilariously has Monk calling him a cheater. As Eels becomes a big competitor for Monk, it’s a blast to see Shalhoub and Alexander act together. 

John Turturro 

Monk perfectly cast the detective’s brother in 2004 by bringing in John Turturro in a fabulous guest role, that he would play in three episodes. Turturro, who is famous for being in movies with the Coen Brothers, Spike Lee and Adam Sandler played Ambrose, who suffers from severe agoraphobia and deepened Monk’s backstory. He was so memorable in the series that he earned an Emmy for “Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series” for the episode in which he debuted the character, in Season 2’s “Mr. Monk and the Three Pies”. 

Stanley Tucci

One of the strongest Monk episodes of the series is definitely Season 5’s “Mr. Monk and the Actor.” In the 2006 episode, an actor named David Ruskin is set to play Adrian Monk in a movie based on his life and comes to shadow Adrian on his cases. Stanley Tucci plays Ruskin as the actor goes a bit too method with the role of Adrian and debunks some demons regarding what it’s like to be Monk. Tucci won an Emmy for the guest role, and was actually a finalist to play Adrian Monk prior to his guest role. 

Rainn Wilson 

Just a couple years before Rainn Wilson would become Dwight Schrute on one of the best sitcoms of all time, The Office, the actor made a small guest appearance on Monk in Season 2. He played a massive baseball fan and collector as Adrian Monk looked into a case involving a star baseball player. 

James Brolin 

Longtime TV and movie actor James Brolin (who is also the father of Josh Brolin and husband to Barbara Streisand), made his way into Monk for 2005’s Vegas episode. Brolin plays a millionaire casino owner who becomes a suspect following the death of his wife, and Stottlemeyer brings in Monk to solve the case. 

Sean Astin 

In Season 5, Lord of the Rings and The Goonies actor, Sean Astin crossed paths with Tony Shalhoub’s Monk in an episode called “Mr. Monk Is At Your Service.” Astin plays a young billionaire, Paul Buchanan, whom Monk and Natalie come across amidst a visit to Natalie’s parents' wealthy neighborhood. Monk ends up going undercover as Paul’s butler to learn more about him. 

Sarah Silverman 

Famed standup comedian, Sarah Silverman, guest starred in three episodes of Monk over the years as a character named Marci Maven. She first became part of the procedural in 2004 for “Mr. Monk and the TV Star,”  where she played an obsessed fan of the star of a hit show made up for the series called Crime Lab S.F. 

Danny Trejo 

In “Mr. Monk Goes To Jail” in Season 2, Danny Trejo, of Spy Kids, From Dusk Till Dawn and Desperado (among many of his movies), also got to work alongside Tony Shalhoub’s Monk. During the episode, Monk goes undercover as the cellmate of Trejo’s character, who is a convicted quadruple murderer. As you may suspect, comedy ensues. 

Snoop Dogg 

Snoop Dogg was also in Monk for the Season’s “Mr. Monk and the Rapper,” where he played a fictional hip hop star, Murderuss. In the episode, Murderuss approaches the detective to hire him to clear his name after becoming the primary suspect in the death of another rapper. The best part? Snoop Dogg actually raps Monk’s famous “here’s what happened” segment at the end. 

Alfred Molina

Beloved character actor, Alfred Molina, has also been part of Monk for a Season 6 episode. What’s interesting about Molina, is he was actually one of the finalists to play the lead role of Adrian Monk before Shalhoub was cast. In his guest role, he played a billionaire software mogul whose beach house has a view of a nudist beach. 

Jon Favreau 

MCU actor and famed director Jon Favreau was in “Mr. Monk Goes To The Dentist,” which aired during the series’ fourth season in 2006. Favreau plays a dentist who Lieutenant Disher goes to and swears murdered someone while he was under anesthesia for a procedure. 

Carmen Electra

All-star actor, model and singer Carmen Electra can be found in the Monk episode “Mr. Monk and the Panic Room” which came out in 2004. The episode has the detective investigating a crime scene where it seems like a chimpanzee has killed his owner. The victim is a record producer and Electra plays his pop star wife. 

Craig T. Nelson 

Poltergeist and Parenthood actor Craig T. Nelson earned a very important role in Monk for its two-part finale, “Mr. Monk and the End.” He plays Judge Ethan Rickover, who was on the California Court of Appeals and has a history with Monk’s late wife, Trudy. 

Tim Curry 

In Season 1, an enemy of Monk’s was introduced as financier Dale “The Whale” Biederbeck. After the character was originated by Adam Arkin, none other than The Rocky Horror Picture Show’s Tim Curry embodied the role for a brief time in “Mr. Monk Goes To Jail.” 

Niecy Nash

Reno 911’s Niecy Nash made a guest spot in Monk in the early days for “Mr. Monk and the Girl Who Cried Wolf.” The episode follows Adrian’s first assistant Sharona as she starts to believe she’s losing her sanity when she keeps seeing a man with a screwdriver sticking out of his ear (that no one else can see). Neicy Nash plays Sharona’s friend and fellow nurse, Varla should step in to assist Monk. 

Jeffrey Donovan 

The star of Burn Notice, which also was on USA Network like Monk, turned up in the detective series in the episode “Mr. Monk and the Astronaut.” In the Season 4 episode, Jeffrey Donovan plays an astronaut who Monk is sure killed someone, but his alibi is airtight… considering he was in space when the murder occurred. 

Laurie Metcalf 

Roseanne actress Laurie Metcalf had some fun on Monk when she guest starred in the Season 4 episode “Mr. Monk Bumps His Head.” When Adrian wakes up in a small town with amnesia, Metcalf’s unhinged character uses the opportunity to convince the detective he is her husband. 

Nick Offerman 

Parks and Recreation’s Nick Offerman made an appearance in 2005’s “Mr. Monk and the Election” before he became famous for playing the very quotable Ron Swanson. Look out for the actor in his clean-shaven days during the Season 3 episode that has Natalie Teager running for the school board. 

Jane Lynch 

Before actress Jane Lynch rocked sweatsuits on Glee, she did guest for “Mr. Monk Gets Married.” In the episode, Randy Disher is concerned about his mother getting suddenly married to a man who is 30 years younger (played by Lost’s Nestor Carbonell) than him and asks Monk to look into it. This leads Monk and Sharona to pretend to be a married couple for a retreat that Lynch’s psychologist character is in charge of. 

Amy Sedaris 

The very funny Amy Sedaris was on two episodes of Monk to play Sharona’s younger sister, Gail. She first appeared in 2002’s “Mr. Monk and the Earthquake” before also being part of 2003’s “Mr. Monk Goes To The Theater.” Since she’s an actress in the series, her part in a local play that turns into a crime scene makes the second episode a particularly juicy appearance for Sedaris. 

Rachel Dratch

Saturday Night Live’s Rachel Dratch found her way into Monk for “Mr. Monk and the Missing Granny.” In the 2004 episode, Dratch’s character is stressed about the kidnapping of her grandmother and offers to help reinstate Monk to the police force if he can help find her alive. 

Howie Mandel

The Gremlins actor and game and competition show host played the role of Ralph Roberts in two episodes of Monk in 2008. Howie Mandel played the head of a religious cult called Siblings of the Sun in the Season 7 episodes. Mandel is a germaphobe in real life like Monk is.

Holland Taylor

Two and a Half Men actress Holland Taylor played Natalie Teager’s mother Peggy in two episodes of Monk. In the series, Peggy is a well-off woman who married into the Davenport Toothpaste business. She is part of 2005’s “Mr. Monk Goes To A Wedding” and 2007’s “Mr. Monk Is At Your Service.” 

Gena Rowlands

Gena Rowlands is an Academy Award nominee who starred in movies like Woman Under The Influence and Gloria in her youth before famously playing the older version of Allie in The Notebook. In Season 7’s “Mr. Monk and the Lady Next Door,” Monk becomes friendly with Rowlands’ Marge Johnson, but suspicions about her true intentions begin to grow. 

Ariel Winter

Before Ariel Winter became part of Modern Family’s Dunphy family, the actress was in Monk as an eight-year-old for “Mr. Monk and the Astronaut.” She has a small but pivotal role as the neighbor of the victim, whose place in the story leads Monk to track down the killer. 

Julie Bowen

In Season 7’s “Mr. Monk and the Bully,” Julie Bowen plays a character that Adrian Monk investigates after his childhood bully comes out of the woodwork asking for help from the detective. The Truman Show’s Noah Emmerich plays her husband and Monk’s former bully. Julie Bowen is a two-time Emmy winner for her leading role in ABC’s Modern Family. 

Eric Stonestreet

Modern Family’s Cameron Tucker was on Monk the same year the hit ABC comedy first arrived on network television. In “Mr. Monk and the UFO,” Eric Stonestreet plays a small role as a local mechanic named Boom-Boom whom Monk offends and ends up raising his estimate. 

Sung Kang 

Sung Kang, who famously played Han in the Fast and the Furious movies, also guest starred in Monk as two separate characters. First in “Mr. Monk vs. the Cobra” he plays an employee of a martial arts school they visit while investigating the death of a fictional kung fu star, Sonny Chow. Four years later, Kang stars in “Mr. Monk on Wheels” as the cousin of a criminal named John Kuramoto.

Angela Kinsey 

The Office actress Angela Kinsey had a guest role in Monk as Arlene Boras for two episodes of the series. She plays an X-ray technician who was in Alfred Molina’s episode, “Mr. Monk and the Naked Man.” She reprised her role for the 100th episode of Monk as well. 

Howie Mandel has held many titles over the course of his four-decade career — comedian, actor, talent judge and one of the best game show hosts — and now I guess we can go ahead and add matchmaker to that list too. The America’s Got Talent panelist had an interesting interaction with an audience member during an appearance on Live with Kelly and Mark regarding his son’s love life, and I can’t help but think of how he also tried to play that same role for fellow AGT judge Sofía Vergara after her divorce. 

An Audience Member Expressed Interest In Howie Mandel’s Son During A Talk Show Appearance 

Howie Mandel visited Live with Kelly and Mark, where the subject of his children came up. After joking that while his two daughters went to college and got degrees, his son Alex Mandel “wasn’t accepted” to homeschool. He went on to make more playful jokes at Alex’s expense, telling the audience:  

At that point a woman in the audience interrupted him to seemingly take Howie Mandel up on the offer, saying that her name was also Alex. The comedian responded: 

Despite audience member Alex saying she’d “love to,” Howie Mandel had to walk it back, saying that the younger Mandel was going to be mad at him, despite Alex seeming like a “lovely young lady.” It was a pretty hilarious encounter, and it gave me flashbacks to similar stunts he’s pulled with Sofía Vergara. 

Howie Mandel Wanted To Find New Love For Sofía Vergara After Divorce 

Following the news of Sofia Vergara’s split from Joe Manganiello after seven years of marriage, her America’s Got Talent colleague Howie Mandel wasted no time in trying to play matchmaker for the Modern Family star. In fact only a month had passed before the comedian was joking to the talent show’s performers that Vergara was “in the market” for a new man. Despite the audience and other judges’ awkward reactions, the actress proudly raised her arms and let out a big laugh.

Howie Mandel even doubled down on the sentiment after people argued that it was “too soon” to make such jokes, pointing out how funny she thought it was and insisting he would never hurt his friend and co-worker.

It turns out Sofía Vergara didn’t need too much help in getting back on the saddle, so to speak, as she’s been dating orthopedic surgeon Justin Saliman. And if it was unclear to any fans just how much of a sense of humor she has about the whole situation, all you need to do is listen to what she thinks about the tattoo she got for her ex-husband now.

Howie Mandel seems to have some aspirations for matchmaking, so could we see him hosting a dating show in his future? Stranger things have definitely happened, many of them right there on the stage at America’s Got Talent. Catch Mandel, Sofía Vergara and the rest of the gang at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday, June 25, on NBC and streaming the next day with a Peacock subscription. 

When it comes to delivering awe-inspiring performances and shocking feats of astonishment, America’s Got Talent is the king of the castle, and creator Simon Cowell showed off his Midas Touch once more in bringing a second Golden Buzzer into the competition for Season 19. The NBC hit premiere, which featured quite the stressful dance routine, understandably didn’t need to utilize the new change just yet, but all the judges seem highly enthused about AGT’s continued evolution.

Ahead of the 19th season’s debut, the America’s Got Talent squad spoke with Entertainment Tonight about giving auditioning hopefuls a few extra shots at stardom with five additional Golden Buzzers in the running for the remaining weeks of tryouts. As it goes with the ones that were already in place, a Golden Buzzer allows one of the judges to automatically advance an act into the next round of competition, despite what anyone else thinks.

Simon Cowell explained what sparked the idea to bring more of that fan-favorite into the show’s future.

Indeed, every season of AGT auditions features at least one or two acts (if not more) that defy all forms of logic and expectation. And there are no doubt times when one of those offbeat acts could have gone farther in the competition if the judges had more Golden Buzzers to hand out. Which is definitely a reason why Cowell's co-stars are pumped about the addition.

Heidi Klum

Heidi Klum didn't even make it out of the Season 19 premiere without using up her first Golden Buzzer. She gave it to middle school teacher Richard Goodall for his show-stopper performance of Journey's karaoke fave "Don't Stop Believin'." So it's understandable why she's pumped about the new addition. In her words:

The question now is how long it'll be before she hands out that second Buzzer, perhaps followed by light suggestions for Simon Cowell to introduced a third Golden Buzzer in Season 20. Maybe she'll wait a few years.

Terry Crews

Not that Klum was the only AGT star to go the Golden Buzzer route in the first episode of auditions. Stand-up comedian Learnmore Jonasi took the stage, revealing he traveled to the show all the way from Zimbabwe, and that he also happens to be a mega-fan of Terry Crews, who wound up guaranteeing Jonasi's placement in the next round of the competition. And Crews spoke to the extra Golden Buzzer's importance on a show with such a wide variety of acts.

Perhaps whoever takes the stage in the second episode should also voice their extreme fandom for the Brooklyn Nine-Nine vet, as a way to try and secure his second Buzzer. Or maybe something less devious.

Sofia Vergara

Sofia Vergara, who returned to the franchise after stepping away for the Fantasy League spinoff didn't give out any of her Golden Buzzers on night one. But she definitely joined her co-judges in approving a decent-sized number of acts, such as Taiwanese magician Sam Huang (who seemingly pulled his fingers off of his own hand while standing in front of Vergara). When it comes to the extra Buzzer, Vergara was initially nonplussed, but came around once she realized that it wouldn't actually water things down. As she put it:

I can see why adding five new guarantees to the auditions might seem as if it would take away some importance from the Golden Buzzers that were already in place. But in this case, it just means the judges get to play favorites a few more times, giving lifelines to a few more acts that likely would have gone home extremely disappointed otherwise.

Howie Mandel

I'm pretty sure if America's Got Talent took its next season to space, or required all acts to be animal-related, Howie Mandel would have the same kind of "alright, let's do this!" attitude about it. So it's perhaps predictable that the stand-up comedian was just as positive-minded about additional buzzers, recalling how excited he was whenever the show first introduced the Golden Buzzer element.

Like Vergara and Cowell, Howie Mandel didn't reward any of the opening night acts with a Golden Buzzer, but there are plenty of auditions yet to come going into Summer 2024. That said, Cowell previously teased that more Golden Buzzers were issued out in the first two episodes than any comparable stretches in the past. Season 18's winner wasn't a buzzer recipient, but that could very easily change with the new season.

America’s Got Talent airs Tuesday nights on NBC at 8:00 p.m. ET, with episodes streaming the next day with a Peacock subscription.

Spoilers ahead for the second night of AGT: Fantasy League semi-finals.

After Night 2 of semi-finals, AGT: Fantasy League has narrowed down the four judges' picks to the very best of the best. This is the fourth spinoff of America's Got Talent, following All-Stars, Extreme, and The Champions. I've been enjoying the ride well enough in the 2024 TV schedule, but Fantasy League just hasn't been my favorite offshoot of AGT, even with the throwback fun of Mel B joining Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, and Heidi Klum. That said, there's one element in particular that I've really been enjoying, and a certain golden buzzer in the semi-finals has me ready to announce it.

The golden buzzers have worked differently in the newest spinoff, as the judges have been battling each other while also encouraging their favorite performers. They have had the option of hitting the buzzer to advance somebody from their own team... or steal somebody from one of the other teams. In the second night of semi-finals, Simon Cowell used his buzzer to advance a member of his own team: Musa Motha. Heidi Klum used hers in a more fun way: to steal V. Unbeatable from Team Howie.

It's hard to blame her – V. Unbeatable's semi-finals performance was incredible, and Howie Mandel's reaction was split between cheering for the group and trying to discourage Heidi Klum from stealing them from him. The crowd was cheering for her to press it, and it seemed at first like she might leave their fate up to the voters... but then, to Mandel's dismay, she hit the button and made her way up to the stage to welcome the dance group to Team Heidi with golden confetti raining down.

And – apologies to Howie – it was just really funny and fun! The stakes for Fantasy League were never going to feel as high as a normal season of AGT, considering that it will run for far fewer episodes and only features familiar faces, so a bit of goofiness with the golden buzzer was pretty much perfect. Heidi Klum stealing V. Unbeatable wasn't the first steal of the spinoff, but I think it's my favorite. Take a look at the performance that motivated Klum to use her advantage and snag the group from Team Howie:

On the whole, the banter between the judges hits just a little bit different as they battle each other vs. a normal season of AGT or one of the other spinoffs. Simon Cowell had blunt words for Howie Mandel about Drake Milligan early in the new year, and his Spice Girls joke to Mel B was great enough that I'm guilty of a rewind or two.

The extra layer of competition in Fantasy League has been entertaining, and is probably my favorite part of the show. Does that speak well of the actual competition, if my favorite moments are between the judges rather than on stage? Maybe not, but I'll enjoy the ride, and perhaps revisit some of those moments streaming with a Peacock Premium subscription.

That ride doesn't last for too much longer, though. The next episode will include the final performances, followed the week after by the results episode. The stakes aren't quite as high as the normal AGT for viewers from home, since the winners are determined by the audience in the theatre rather than live voting. Keep tuning in to NBC on Mondays at 8 p.m. ET for the remaining episodes of AGT: Fantasy League!

Spoilers ahead for the second night of America's Got Talent: Fantasy League qualifiers are ahead!

The America's Got Talent franchise may be nearly twenty years old, but NBC is doing something new with AGT: Fantasy League in the 2024 TV schedule. Season 18 judges Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, and Heidi Klum were joined by former judge Mel B to take their picks from 40 AGT standouts. The judges are mentoring the performers on their own teams, which occasionally involves stealing acts from each other. In the second night of qualifiers, country star Drake Milligan returned on Mandel's team, but Cowell's main response to the performance was a critique of Mandel as a mentor. 

Drake Milligan wowed the crowds back in Season 17 when he took the stage with some original songs, playing the guitar as he sang. He was charismatic on stage, penned very catchy tunes, and had his songs reaching #1 on the charts. Simon Cowell even praised him for not quitting AGT after he already reached those heights. He came in third in Season 17 after an extremely close vote, and it was no surprise that he was brought back for Fantasy League.

All the judges had their eye on him for their team before Howie Mandel claimed him. For Fantasy League, Milligan decided that he would go in a different direction than his original AGT performances and sing a song written by somebody else. He also didn't play the guitar and spent part of the performance seated. He was a hit with the crowd, but his demonstration of "Don't Leave Me Loving You" didn't win over Simon Cowell, who said:

Howie Mandel cut in to let his fellow judge know that Drake Milligan actually didn't write "Don't Leave Me Loving You," even though he had written his two songs – "Sounds Like Something I'd Do" and "Kiss Goodbye All Night" – that he performed in AGT Season 17. Cowell continued: 

While I'm certainly not going to say that I'm qualified to be a mentor for anybody on AGT, I have to agree with Simon Cowell that this wasn't Drake Milligan's best performance, and the songs he wrote himself were stronger. My favorite genre of music isn't country, but I still listen to "Sounds Like Something I'd Do" and "Kiss Goodbye All Night" on repeat every once in a while. Honestly, I fully expect those songs to be stuck in my head again just after typing out the titles. Back in 2021, he chose to perform "Sounds Like Something I'd Do" twice to show how much he could elevate it for the finale, and it worked. 

He definitely wasn't bad when he took a chance with "Don't Leave Me Loving You," but in my book, the songs and his performances were just stronger when he originally competed in Season 17, and I missed the guitar. Mel B. seemed to be on the same page as Simon Cowell, although she was less blunt. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, Drake Milligan didn't make the cut to continue the AGT: Fantasy League journey. If you missed the episode or just want to revisit the performance (and commentary) yourself, take a look: 

New episodes of America's Got Talent: Fantasy League air on Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, and there's still plenty of competition on the way, even with Drake Milligan's exit. You can revisit any acts you might have missed so far streaming with a Peacock Premium subscription, as well as past seasons of AGT and AGT: All-Stars.

It’s one of the least excitable points of any given year for an America’s Got Talent fan, as we’re just two weeks out from Adrian Stoica and his pup Hurricane pulling off a surprise victory in the Season 18 finale, meaning we’re about as far away from new episodes as can be. (And some viewers are still miffed about that outcome, which Simon Cowell defended.) Thankfully, the NBC hit’s judges can still be counted on to make headlines between seasons, and Howie Mandel appears to be going all-in on playing matchmaker for co-star Sofia Vergara amidst her divorce from Joe Manganiello. And it doesn’t sound like she’s mad about it, either.

As AGT viewers are probably aware, at least if they regularly tuned into Season 18’s live installments, Mandel started making direct appeals during episodes for someone to catch Vergara’s attention, even if the first “in the market” reference he made was directed at one of 12-year-old ventriloquist Brynn Cummings’ puppets. Not the mostly likely suitor for…well…anyone, but Vergara was totally tickled by it at the time, and appeared to keep that same bemused reaction when similar comments were made in later eps. 

Howie Mandel joked about making that his mission at the time, and provided People with the update that he’s not pulling back on assisting Vergara in attaining a new and encouraging romance. He first explained why he’s so invested, saying: 

Not everyone can boast a famous-for-decades comedian co-worker as a dedicated and engaged matchmaker, but then not everyone is Sofia Vergara. And to be quite frank, I can imagine that there are tons of people out there who wouldn’t want a colleague donning the matchmaker hat. I can name plenty of people I wouldn’t ever want to have those responsibilities. 

But it sounds like Vergara hasn’t caused a stink with Mandel over his efforts, which don’t exactly appear to be subtle in nature. He continued:

It’s definitely a net positive that Sofia Vergara isn’t perturbed by Howie Mandel’s attempts, and also that he isn’t holding himself up as her best option for a future husband. The comedian has been married to wife Terry Soil since 1980, so any hypothetical flirtations would have been weird on multiple levels.

That said, I think the longtime AGT judge is going about it all wrong. Screaming from rooftops? How many reputable bachelors can one possibly run into while on top of a roof? 1 or 2, maybe 3. But it seems to me like it’d be one of the least optimal places for Mandel to try out his courting skills. 

Mandel, who ranked among our Top 15 game show hosts of all time, has his work cut out for him, as it’ll likely take a very special someone to inspire Vergara to enter a serious relationship again, especially before all the divorce details have been finalized. 

While America’s Got Talent proper will be back presumably next fall, the franchise is moving forward in early 2024 with a new spinoff that’ll replace Vergara with Spice Girls vet and former AGT judge Mel B, so that should make it a little more difficult for Mandel to set the Modern Family vet up. 

As America's Got Talent's current Season 18 quickly approaches its finale, NBC is already working ahead on a spinoff. This won't be another season of The Champions, Extreme, or All-Stars, but tied to what judge Simon Cowell recently teased when Season 17's Drake Milligan returned for a performance. The new spinoff is called AGT: Fantasy League, and it will be the biggest departure from the usual format yet. There will be the normal panel of judges, however, with Sofia Vergara replaced by a familiar face for Fantasy League: former judge Mel B herself! The return of Mel B is a fun way to fill Vergara's seat on the panel for the spinoff.

AGT: Fantasy League is on the way next year with a format like that of a fantasy sports draft, but this won't involve football or baseball. Judges Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, and Mel B will each lead a team comprised of acts over the years from the entire Got Talent franchise. They'll be able to choose from a variety of favorites over the years, not just champions or golden buzzer recipients. 

Winners, finalists, viral performers, and just plain popular acts are in the running, and will be selected by American viewers with an early vote. The vote begins soon, with fans having their shot to suggest acts after the finale of AGT Season 18 on September 27 via the show's app, with a pool of more than sixty former stars to choose from. Forty former acts will make the final cut from the draft pool, with the judges choosing ten each to fill their fantasy teams.

With Mel B coming to Fantasy League with six seasons of the parent series and one season of America's Got Talent: The Champions under her belt, who better to bring back for a season that reaches back into the past for former favorites, especially fresh off of appearing in Fox's Special Forces: World's Toughest Test? Not many judges had runs as long as hers before she departed after Season 13! 

While audiences voting and AGT bringing back former standout performers isn't exactly new after the Champions and All-Stars seasons, the judges will also be competing this time. Cowell, Mandel, Klum, and Mel B will mentor and guide the acts for the goal of being able to brag about selecting the very first AGT: Fantasy League champion. It's not clear at this point what the actual champion will win, but I for one hope it's similar to normal AGT and involves cash and a chance to hit the stage in Las Vegas.

There's another twist to the normal format that makes me think AGT: Fantasy League could feel like a combination of America's Got Talent and The Voice, shortly after new Voice coach Reba McEntire took the AGT stage. While the golden buzzer will be used to send acts directly to the finals as usual, the judges also have the option to hit the valuable buzzer to steal an act from one of the others or boost a member of their own team. Viewers from home will also get to vote each week to choose who makes it to the finals. 

Personally, I'm optimistic about what's ahead with AGT: Fantasy League, and not just because this sounds like the franchise truly trying something new in comparison to past spinoffs that didn't change a whole lot from the format of the original. Plus, I loved Mel B as a judge during her time, and she brought a fun chemistry to the panel, even if she and Cowell didn't always seem to be on the best terms. 

In fact, she spent several seasons on a panel with Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, and Heidi Klum, so this truly is something of an AGT homecoming for her. I'm guessing she won't want to bring back Sacred Riana after getting a scare from her some years back! Plus, losing Sofia Vergara for Fantasy League doesn't mean that she won't be back for AGT Season 19, as the spinoffs often change up the judges panel. This could be a win-win: getting Mel B back without losing Vegara permanently, although that remains to be seen.

AGT: Fantasy League is slated to premiere in 2024, but no more precise date is available at the time of writing. That's not entirely unsurprising, given the uncertainty in the entertainment industry at the moment due to the WGA writers strike and SAG-AFTRA actors strike. For what's on the way sooner rather than later, check out our 2023 TV schedule. 

Season 18 of America’s Got Talent is in full swing, with those who made it past the auditions taking the stage for a second time in the qualifiers round in hopes of making it to the final for a chance at the $1 million prize and a Las Vegas stage show. Nobody said the journey was going to be easy, though, and after the shocking elimination of a Golden Buzzer winner on top of what some AGT fans feel is an uptick in red X appearances, Howie Mandel has addressed accusations that he and the other judges — Simon Cowell, in particular — have gotten “more harsh.”

Howie Mandel shared his thoughts on why he, Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara have been hitting their buzzers so often during the live qualifier shows, after social media users pointed out that these were performers they’d already seen and advanced in the competition. The comedian told Parade: 

His explanation makes sense, and there are a number of reasons a contestant might fall out of favor between the auditions and the qualifiers — including if they’re not able to up the ante from what the judges and audience have already seen. It’s also fair for Howie Mandel to point out that if they start to lose interest in an act, others watching at home or online might feel the same way.

It certainly hasn’t been easy for the Season 18 performers. Of the first 22 acts to take the stage in the qualifiers round, only four were sent through to the final. While Simon Cowell is accustomed to getting booed by the audience for his sometimes-blunt assessments, fellow judge Sofia Vergara accused him of being “the Grinch” during a recent episode when he offered harsher criticism than his cohorts on singer Summer Rios.

Whether Howie Mandel and the rest have been a little buzzer-happy recently (consciously or otherwise), there’s still been plenty of praise to go around when it comes to the often-emotional performances, and particularly for Season 18’s Golden Buzzer winners.

Simon Cowell had only the highest of compliments for 17-year-old singer Putri Ariani, after he requested a second song during her audition, and his kind words continued in the qualifiers round, when he said contestants like her were the reason he kept coming back to the show. (No matter how blunt he gets, I doubt anything Cowell does on AGT will be as bad as the allegedly fake rudeness of American Idol’s early seasons).

We’ll have to tune in to see if Howie Mandel and Simon Cowell continue to hit their red buzzers an unusual amount for the remainder of the live qualifiers. America’s Got Talent continues at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday and Wednesday on Fox and can be streamed with a Peacock Premium subscription. 

Something bothered me after the iconic Bob Barker died in August. First, it broke my heart that Hollywood lost an icon, who lived to the ripe old age of 99 and carved out an indelible mark on a generation of television audiences. But in the wake of Barker’s death, almost everyone immediately linked him to his unforgettable cameo in Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore, where the two fought to the death on the golf course. And it should be mentioned. But not at the expense of Barker’s legendary run as the host of the daytime game show The Price is Right. 

That’s wrong. 

Game shows are a staple of the television medium, dating back to Melody Puzzles in 1937, Battle of Sexes in 1938, The Ask-It Basket in 1939. They grew to grand stature in the 1960s and 70s courtesy of hit game shows such as Jeopardy, The Gong Show, The $10,000 Pyramid, and Wheel of Fortune, to name just a few. It was during that stretch that Barker took over as host of The Price is Right (in 1972), and it’s a position that he held for 35 years before retiring in 2007. His influence still can be felt in the game-show environment to this day, from the advice Barker gave to replacement host Drew Carey to the energy and attitude that’s reflected in modern hosts like Steve Harvey or Michael Strahan. 

With all of that in mind, I started to think about where Bob Barker would rank in the grand pantheon of game show hosts. And I realized that I knew way more about game show hosts than I ever assumed. Now, I’m keeping this focused on traditional game shows, not reality competitions (sorry, Jeff Probst). And so, here are the 15 greatest game show hosts of all time.

15. Pat Sajak 

Pat Sajak makes it onto this list due to his longevity. The man has presided over Wheel of Fortune for more than four decades, which is a LONG time to be listening to people guess the same letters over and over, five nights a week. I preferred Wheel of Fortune when the contestants used to shop in between rounds, their floating heads purchasing items off of a set. At least then, Sajak had time to interact with his winners. Because my biggest knock on Sajak is that he’s vanilla, and his lack of viral moments in that 40+ year career tells you exactly how boring he managed to be. With all due respect, props to the man for keeping the wheel spinning, but maybe the show would have been more entertaining with Vanna White in the hosting role? It’s not too late to find out.

14. Marc Summers

If you are nodding your head at this placement (or even challenging that it needs to be higher), then you are amongst the millions of readers who spent time after school cheering on families as they competed in outrageous physical challenges that usually involved finding a flag in the messiest situations possible. Marc Summers presided over Double Dare on Nickelodeon, and stood out because he didn’t mind embracing the chaos that came with the clever competitions invented for the show. It was fun watching parents and kids clawing through life-sized bowls of spaghetti and sauce in hopes of winning a prize. But it was uproarious seeing the affable Summers coated in the same goop by the end of almost every episode, doing whatever it took to get the laugh. Trebek would never. 

13. Regis Philbin / Dick Clark (tie)

Here’s the thing about the two men I have tied for 13th place on this list: Neither of them needed to be the host of a game show. They already were extremely popular (and successful) thanks to other endeavors. Both Regis Philbin and Dick Clark were staples in the homes of Americans thanks to other work they did on television. I’d put them in the same category as Michael Strahan, Elizabeth Banks, Jane Lynch, or Ben Stein. I don’t think of them as game show hosts first. They are entertainers who happened to host a show at some point in their career. But Philbin and Clark were so memorable as hosts of extremely popular primetime game shows (Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and The $10,000 Pyramid, respectively), that leaving them off of the list would be wrong. 

12. Bob Eubanks

Where Regis and Dick Clark were known well outside the realm of their respective game show gigs, Bob Eubanks basically had The Newlywed Game as his badge of honor. But he was so effective at getting couples to talk about “making whoopee,” it immediately cemented him in the pantheon of game show hosts. Eubanks succeeded as a radio deejay before helping to launch The Newlywed Game in 1966, and his ability to disarm his contestants with open and candid conversation likely came from his early years on live radio. And because Eubanks kept returning to the format during several revivals, he became the only person in the entertainment industry to host the same game show in six consecutive decades (from the 1960s through the 2010s). 

11. Anne Robinson

Do you know one thing that a game show host can do to cement their legacy? Come up with a catchphrase. “Have your pet spayed or neutered!” belongs to Bob Barker. “Survey says…” is linked forever to Richard Dawson. And during her run as the host of The Weakest Link, Anne Robinson locked her place on this list with her cruel, cold, and deliciously dismissive, “You are the weakest link. Goodbye.” She didn’t have to be great beyond that, and she’d still get placement on this list. But because Robinson had tight chemistry with her contestants that I put her JUST outside the Top 10. 

10. Howie Mandel

I almost lumped Howie Mandel into the same category as Regis Philbin and Dick Clark, because I remember him as an extremely successful stand-up comic who used to put rubber gloves over his head and blow them up using only his nose. It was a gimmick, but it worked! Over the years, though, the notorious germaphobe graduated to full-time contest host, and while he’s known for his current run on America’s Got Talent, I think he deserves a call out on this list for his tremendous work on Deal Or No Deal. Mandel’s gift as a stand-up allowed him to have tremendous conversations with the contestants, the banker, and the models holding the cases that were opened during the game. It made for a wildly entertaining, energetic primetime competition that also soared in syndication. Good deal!

9. Jim Lange

Of all the people showcased on this list, Jim Lange might be the most prolific in the game show field. A radio disc jockey (like so many other TV hosts before him), Lange stayed incredibly busy by hosting Oh My Word, $100,000 Name That Tune, Bowling for Dollars, Bullseye, Triple Threat, and others. But his masterpiece has to be The Dating Game, which he presided over for 15 years, charming beautiful bachelorettes with his banter while they fielded questions and answers from hopeful bachelors. Lange was a pro’s pro with a real gift for pacing, and knowing how to keep the flirtatious game show on the right side of the line.  

8. Ken Ober

A few people on this list landed one seminal gig, and made it into a career. That list has to include the brilliant Ken Ober, a comedian and actor who bounced around to a couple of gigs (and even hosted a few other game shows) but forever will be known for his outstanding work on the loose, freestyling, rowdy, and twisted MTV game show Remote Control. It catered to the kids who were tuning into the network on a daily basis. It was low-budget. It was goofy. And Ober was cool, offering snack breaks for the contestants, and introducing Adam Sandler and Colin Quinn to the world. This show needs a reboot, with Ober, Sandler, and Quinn back in their roles.

7. Wink Martindale

Some people were just born to host game shows. And if you embrace the stage name Wink Martindale on behalf of your professional career, you basically accept the fact that this is going to be your lot in life… and it’s best that you try to become the best of the best at it. And that’s what Wink Martindale did, primarily on Tic-Tac-Dough from 1978-85. Martindale made a basic game of tic-tac-toe entertaining and suspenseful, though adding a fire-breathing dragon behind one of the squares probably helped. Basically, though, if you mention the name “Wink,” we immediately think of Tic-Tac-Dough, and that shows real power and influence. 

6. Steve Harvey

Here’s where we start getting into the cream of the crop. Steve Harvey is outstanding as the host of Family Feud and Celebrity Family Feud. And as you’ll see with the list progressing, he had enormous shoes to fill as host of this long-running game show. But Harvey has mastered the art of viral videos, whether they come from emotional surprises in the audience, or hilariously inappropriate answers from clueless contestants. Harvey makes fun without ever insulting, spotlights the absurd for the right amount of time, and has earned the “Uncle Steve” nickname that so many players have lovingly adopted. With Harvey, it’s all in the Family.    

5. Chuck Barris

The top five is filled with heavy hitters. And if you believe Chuck Barris, it’s filled with professional hitmen, as well. Barris once claimed in his autobiography that he had worked for years in the CIA. He retracted that claim years later, then gently retracted the retraction, never revealing the truth before his death in 2017. What we DO know about Barris is that he created two wildly popular game shows in The Dating Game and The Newlywed Game, then turned himself into a household name as the ring leader of the televised circus known as The Gong Show. The acts were increasingly bizarre on that program, and Barris was the idea host, keeping things moving and perpetually entertaining. He was both dependable and unpredictable, in the same package. What a gift. 

4. Gene Rayburn

Play the game with me. “Gene Rayburn was so talented at his job, he could BLANK, and still not get fired!” Cue the unforgettable Match Game theme song. The great Rayburn hosted the classic Match Game, and the best part about him was the way that he interacted with the celebrity panel… which was usually the funniest content on daytime television. Match Game made household names of Charles Nelson Reilly, Brett Somers, Betty White, Vicki Lawrence, Nipsey Russell, and the legendary Rip Taylor. It took a razor-sharp wit and quick mind to keep up with the ball-breaking comics on that show, and Rayburn was magnificent with his timing, comebacks, and banter. Match Game wouldn’t have succeeded without him.

3. Richard Dawson

No one in the game show universe was cooler than Richard Dawson. Dudes admired his humor and style. Every woman on the Family Feud set wanted to kiss him (and usually did). He was a rock star game show host who treated Family Feud like a world tour. He read mildly suggestive clues, fielded bizarre answers from families competing for cash, and he wrung the sharpest jokes out of the entire endeavor. Dawson was a comedic actor on Hogan’s Heroes as well as a beloved panelist on Match Game. But survey says it is his stint on the original Family Feud that turned him into a legend. 

2. Alex Trebek

The late, great Alex Trebek changed the game when it came to hosting a game show. The majority of hosts prior to Trebek treated guests with respect. They were happy to have them there, and usually encouraged them to succeed. Trebek? Not so much. At best, Trebek seemed to tolerate the Jeopardy contestants, a tone that best reflected the intellectual challenge of the program. We wanted to be really good at Jeopardy because we thought it might please Alex Trebek. That attitude probably only works on one show, but Jeopardy was the one to use it on. It turned Trebek into a game show god. 

1. Bob Barker

Bob Barker had it all. The host of The Price is Right was witty, warm, and wise. He could be charming with guests, or impatient (when the contestants warranted it). In time, as Barker grew older and more generations welcomed him into their homes, the television personality felt more like a family member we’d check in on daily, rather than a “character” on a show. Barker would trade his unusually thin Price is Right microphone for celebrated cameos like the one opposite Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore. And he made controlling the pet population his charitable mission. But basically, the skilled Barker made the act of guessing grocery prices into an art, and every other game show host we see from this point forward will owe a debt of gratitude to him.

Heidi Klum has been in the public eye for a long time, dropping jaws as a supermodel long before she became a member of the America’s Got Talent judging panel. She’s well-accustomed to people commenting on her appearance and spreading false rumors, and while most of the time it’s best to ignore the noise, Klum felt it was important to respond to recent allegations that she ate only 900 calories per day. The former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model explained why she spoke publicly about these rumors, and her AGT colleagues were right there to back her up. 

Why Heidi Klum Responded To Calorie-Counting Accusations 

Heidi Klum and the rest of the America’s Got Talent crew are pretty good about awarding those Golden Buzzers to the deserving Season 18 contestants, but the supermodel showed that’s not the only thing she’s willing to dish out. After friends apparently started sending her articles that claimed she only ate 900 calories per day, she first took to Instagram to deny ever counting calories, before explaining why she felt the need to speak out. Klum told ET: 

She makes a good point, because who wouldn’t want to look like Heidi Klum? If people think she’s reducing her caloric intake that severely, others might try to make such changes in their own diets. Her fellow America’s Got Talent co-stars came to her defense, too. 

Sofia Vergara, Terry Crews And Howie Mandel Confirm That Heidi Klum Eats 

When asked about the rumors regarding the longtime AGT judge, Sofia Vergara was surprised, telling Heidi Klum:  

Host Terry Crews, who was also being interviewed with them at the time, confirmed Sofia Vergara’s sentiments by saying:  

In another interview with ET, Howie Mandel cracked a joke when addressing the Heidi Klum rumors, saying that the former Victoria’s Secret Angel had been kicked out of Italy for creating a pasta shortage. Mandel continued: 

Heidi Klum said she doesn’t care what people say about her, but she draws the line at rumors that could cause unhealthy behavior from her fans. Hopefully anyone who read the rumors about her also see how vehemently she and her America’s Got Talent friends are denying the calorie-counting claims.

You can catch the whole AGT crew at 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays on NBC, with new episodes available to stream the next day with a Peacock subscription. Be sure to check out our 2023 TV schedule to see what other shows are premiering soon. 

As NBC was busy airing its numerous weeks of America’s Got Talent audition rounds, star judge Sofia Vergara and now former hubby Joe Manganiello revealed that they’re heading for divorce after seven years of marriage. She’s reportedly doing okay with everything in the aftermath, and trying to keep a positive attitude. And she certainly seemed to exude such vibes whenever Howie Mandel rather quickly joked about her being “single” in the competition series’ return to live eps for the Qualifiers, though it didn’t stop some fans from calling him out for going there already. Ever the comedian, Mandel responded by amusingly doubling down on his initial comments.

During the episode, Howie Mandel quipped to 12-year-old ventriloquist Brynn Cummings, whose act involved a female puppet looking for a boyfriend, that his co-judge Sofia Vergara would have advice about eligible bachelors, since she’s “in the market right now.” The moment could have easily landed with a dull thud, and AGT’s Heidi Klum and Simon Cowell weren’t about to engage in that subject matter, but Vergara herself was clearly amused by the off-handed divorce reference. Which is probably why Mandel felt free to lean into his joke even more when talking to Extra about viewers who weren’t so approving. In his words: 

Would it be amusing and slightly disturbing if Vergara went all in on agreeing with Mandel’s thoughts, and tried getting some girl time alone with the puppet in order to share dating advice? Absolutely on both counts. But we (probably) don’t need to worry about things reaching that level, unless wayyy too much alcohol is involved.

• America's Got Talent: Every Season 18 Golden Buzzer Act, Ranked By Most Likely To Win

Howie Mandel joked that anyone watching the interview should send their romantic suggestions into the show, but when asked who he thought she’d be a great match for, the Gremlins vet became more sincere in saying Vergara didn’t need his input when it comes to finding new love. He continued: 

Naturally, that sincere approach was dropped immediately, as Mandel joked that Vergara should find a match before the end of the current America's Got Talent season, so that they could have audiences vote on what the outcome would be. Considering how many people attain celebrity status by looking for love on reality TV shows, it only makes sense for there to be more shows that feature already established celebrities gamifying their own lovelives. Not that this should be an instance where that's put into practice, or that it should ever be put into practice. But expect Howie Mandel to sign on to EP that project if it comes into existence. 

The Qualifier Rounds continue each week, as America’s Got Talent airs new episodes on NBC each Tuesday and Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m. ET. Those same eps are available to stream the next day with a Peacock subscription.

Spoilers ahead for the August 22 episode of America's Got Talent Season 18.

Season 18 of America's Got Talent is heating up now that the qualifiers round has begun in the 2023 TV schedule, and the first post-audition episode delivered something that might not have made it to the airwaves if the broadcast wasn't live on NBC. When the judges were giving feedback to young ventriloquist Brynn Cummings, Howie Mandel seized the opportunity to crack a joke about Sofia Vergara's divorce from Joe Manganiello, and Vergara – sitting with just one seat separating her from Mandel – had an iconic reaction.

12-year-old Brynn Cummings' ventriloquist act for the qualifiers involved one of her puppets looking for a new boyfriend after a breakup, and she recruited Heidi Klum's help. Afterward, Howie Mandel said this to the young performer: 

It was a clear reference to her divorce from Joe Manganiello, and the crowd didn't seem to know whether or not to laugh. Simon Cowell started looking around the room, and Heidi Klum seemed to not want to look in any direction other than straight ahead. For his part, host Terry Crews immediately started saying "No! No, we are not doing that here!" and then tried to move the judging along. Sofia Vergara's reaction was the best, as she immediately cracked up at the joke and lifted her arms with a big smile of acknowledgment. What could have been extremely awkward was pretty funny instead! 

If you missed the moment – or are like me, and just want to watch it again – you can find Howie Mandel setting up his joke around 4:10 in the video below or via a Peacock Premium subscription. Check it out:

This isn't the first time that Howie Mandel has poked fun at his fellow judges' personal lives on America's Got Talent, including when he roasted Simon Cowell for breaking his back during an incident with an electric bike. Like Sofia Vergara, Cowell laughed at the joke at the time. When you sit at a table for hours on end with a professional comic, maybe you just have to be ready for anything! For her part, Vergara told the beautiful story of Joe Manganiello's proposal on AGT a couple of seasons ago. 

News that the Modern Family alum was splitting with her husband of seven years broke back in mid-July, and a usual reason was cited for why it was happening. Not too long after, she was said to be feeling very fortunate about the life she loves even if she was also sad about the end of her marriage, although she didn't publicly comment in her own words. The paperwork for the divorce filing revealed what she was aiming to keep independently after their split (including jewelry, artwork, and earnings), but there was apparently no argument over whether Vergara or Manganiello would keep custody of their dog. 

Whether Sofia Vergara was genuinely amused by Howie Mandel's comment or just being a good sport is hard to say, but she definitely had a fun reaction to the joke about her divorce on America's Got Talent. You can see more of the banter between Mandel, Vergara, Simon Cowell, and Heidi Klum with new episodes of AGT on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET and Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET, all on NBC. 

Spoilers ahead for the June 20 episode of America's Got Talent Season 18 on NBC.

Season 18 of America's Got Talent has wasted no time in handing out golden buzzers to advance standout performers straight through to the live shows in the 2023 TV schedule, and the latest one rewarded more than sixty dancers. Just a week after 8-year-old drummer Chioma got a golden buzzer from AGT host Terry Crews, judge Howie Mandel hit the button for the Murmuration dance group from France after rocking blindfolds for their audition. They also received a comparison to a previous AGT champion that could bode very well for their future this season!

It was clear as soon as a long stream of dancers walked out onto to the stage that something special was going to happen, with veteran judges Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel commenting on the size of the group. The comments were nothing but enthusiastic after they performed, though! Take a look at the performance that mesmerized Mandel:

Count on Howie Mandel to deliver some comedy before hitting the golden buzzer! His moves may not be enough for him to score an invite to join the 60+ crew of Murmuration, but he clearly made a lot of people very happy when he surprised the group by hitting the buzzer. After telling them that he was mesmerized and describing them as "hypnotic," perhaps it shouldn't have been much of a surprise for viewers from home! 

Of course, Mandel wasn't the only judge impressed by Murmuration, although Simon Cowell losing his voice meant a lot less commentary from him over the course of the episode, which will be available for rewatch via Peacock Premium subscription. Heidi Klum started her commentary with "Wow!" and went on to praise how they were in sync with each other despite the blindfolds, while Sofia Vergara paid them the compliment of comparing them to Mayyas. 

Fans will remember Vergara hit her buzzer for the Lebanese dance group back in Season 17, and Mayyas went on to win after a very close vote that earned them a spot on the list of AGT champions who won a golden buzzer first. Could Murmuration follow the same path toward victory in Season 18? It's too soon to say after just four episodes, and the other acts who have already gotten golden buzzers – including one that motivated Simon Cowell to lead the other judges in making history – are certainly set up for success as well. 

Their odds definitely seem better at this point than they would have in earlier seasons of the show. Mayyas were the very first group to win a season of America's Got Talent (with the arguable exception of Olate Dogs from Season 7). If fans were willing to vote for a group last season, why not Season 18? Of course, Murmuration isn't even the only group to get a golden buzzer so far this season after Mzansi Youth Choir was the first. 

Whatever the future holds for the French dance group of 60+ performers, fans presumably won't see any more of them for quite some time now that they've been advanced to the live shows. See more auditions with new episodes of America's Got Talent on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC!

Eric André has built a reputation in Hollywood for leaning into things that are provocative and uncomfortable. As such, when he makes moves like posting a nude photo on Valentine's Day or psychologically torturing celebrities on The Eric André Show, he often gets a pass. André recently crossed a boundary that elicited responses from fellow celebs like Diplo and Howie Mandel, and he accomplished that by jumping on the "Free The Nipple" trend in a disturbing way. 

Just one week after Julia Fox freed the nipple at Cannes, Eric André decided to try his hand at the trend on Instagram. The actor plugged the upcoming premiere of Season 6 of The Eric André Show and shared a photo that would potentially be pulled from social media had it been shared by others: 

Eric André is sporting a breast prosthesis in the above photo, but it looks enough like the real thing. Suffice it to say there were many people with commentary, and quite a few of them were celebrities. Howie Mandel is always one to joke, as CinemaBlend learned when he dropped an epic zinger on Nick Cannon after appearing on The Masked Singer. The comedian went more subtle with his response to André's photo, and I absolutely love it: 

Other comedians, like Michael Rappaport, seemingly weren't in a joking mood. Rappaport's reaction was one of shock (unless he was kidding around), and perhaps is the guy willing to say what others are thinking but not willing to call the actor out themselves: 

Other celebrities didn't have much to add in terms of Michael Rappaport's commentary but did continue to weigh in on Eric André's photo. Diplo decided to pay the comedian a compliment and maybe even shoot his shot with the actor following his breakup with Emily Ratajkowski:

That's pretty tame compared to what former New Girl star Lamorne Morris had to say in response to the photo. Morris replied with a statement that I can almost guarantee was the first time anybody had ever made this comment on the internet:

Saturday Night Live's Sarah Sherman, also known by her online persona of Sarah Squirm, has absolutely no room to talk when it comes to being shocking on the internet. Given her history, however, I couldn't help but chuckle when I spotted her comment on the post in response to the nipple picture: 

As provocative as the photo is, there are still plenty of people who clearly thought it was hilarious because, c'mon, it's Eric André. After all, those following him on Instagram or any social media platform should be prepared to see something shocking at some point. For those who don't follow him and were subjected to it anyway... well, this will be a moment in the "Free The Nipple" movement many won't soon forget. This image is now burned into my subconscious! 

The Eric André Show will return to Adult Swim for Season 6 on Sunday, June 4th at midnight. I imagine the season will be at least as shocking as this recent photo of his, and maybe even a bit more extreme. I can't wait to find out for sure!

Simon Cowell dealt with a notable back injury during the pandemic. He’d been riding an e-bike when he fell and broke his back in several places, and he had to take a break from America’s Got Talent for a time while he recovered. This was nearly three years ago at this point, but a second e-bike accident later ensued, exacerbating the problem. Now, a new report indicates his harrowing bike accident is still impacting his day-to-day.

Most notably, Cowell is still wearing a surgical corset when he heads to work. It’s not something you would notice at a quick glance. In fact, he’s been rocking his usual tight tees and pants when he shows up to judge on episodes of America’s Got Talent alongside other cast members Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel and host Terry Crews. Insiders confirmed the use of the device to the Daily Mail.

The device can be  used to aid “lumbar discomfort,” and is often worn by those who have suffered back injuries. Though the AGT judge hasn’t confirmed he wears one, he was reportedly supported with the brace when recent man on the street-style photos were taken of him. 

The original accident happened back in 2020 and Simon Cowell’s been open in the past about how bad it was and how it was even worse than people thought at the time. He even had a metal rod inserted into his spine as part of the surgical intervention following his e-bike accident. He noted he was “like a mm away from completely cutting my back in half,” too.  He also told OK he was “lucky to survive.” 

More than a year later, the TV personality got back on an e-bike in London and crashed again. The second incident occurred around 18 months after the first and resulted in Cowell being hospitalized for a second time. 

At one point his AGT co-star Howie Mandel showed (comedic) concern by sending him a bicycle with three wheels instead of two in order to putz around town. 

A Quick Timeline Of Cowell’s Accidents And Recovery

• August 2020: First e-bike incident occurs. Steps back from AGT work as fans learn he’s broken his back.
• September 2020: Friend confirms the TV personality is not paralyzed and has taken steps.
• January 2021: TV veteran is spotted on vacation and back to an activity he loves: jet skiing.
• May 2021:  Cowell's spotted out in public on an e-bike again.
• May 2021: The TV veteran prepares to return to America’s Got Talent, calls himself ‘lucky’ after injury.
• June 2021:  Howie Mandel has an A+ AGT joke about the accident. 
• January 2022: Second e-bike crash occurs.
• February 2022: Reports indicate Simon Cowell has been hospitalized for a second time.
• April 2023: More than a year later, brace use is reported. 

The good news is the longtime TV name has been basically back to his normal self during the most recent season of AGT. However, the impact of both accidents can seemingly not be understated, as the 63-year-old continues on his path to recovery. Are thoughts are with him, as it's clearly been a long, brutal and sometimes treacherous road. 

Howie Mandel and Nick Cannon had a small America's Got Talent reunion when the judge surprised the host after being unmasked as The Rock Lobster on The Masked Singer. Cannon wasn't surprised to see Mandel unmasked, because he had guessed the comedian before his elimination. However, he might have been a bit shocked by the hug he received from the comedian and the great zinger Mandel made at the father of twelve's expense. Seeing Mandel hug the host was surprising to viewers too because he's a well-known germaphobe, however, once he explained why he loved his costume so much, this amusing interaction made a lot more sense.

I had the honor of speaking to Howie Mandel shortly after his elimination and nice interaction on The Masked Singer. When I brought up the hug he gave to Nick Cannon, Mandel explained why he not only embraced the host but also why he cracked a joke at his friend's expense: 

While it was hilarious to see Mandel poke fun at his former AGT co-star, in all seriousness, it was cool to see him embrace Cannon, especially after all the drama that led to the former host's exit. 

Howie Mandel and Nick Cannon worked together on America's Got Talent for many years, but that ended when Cannon quit the show in 2017 after alleging that NBC threatened to fire him for a joke he made at the network's expense. Mandel actually spoke out about the incident shortly after and mentioned on The View how it pained him to see his friend leave. America's Got Talent currently has Terry Crews handling the hosting duties for the ongoing talent series, while Cannon moved on to The Masked Singer.

As previously mentioned, Howie Mandel is famously germaphobic, and he doesn't like to touch people. Surprisingly though, The Masked Singer contestant revealed he loved suiting up as The Rock Lobster because it justified him having a barrier that kept the germs away: 

So, if anyone is out and about over the next few months and sees a man strolling around in a lobster costume, it might be Howie Mandel, because he really loved that outfit. It's great to hear that, unlike past celebrities, he actually didn't mind the costume, and he was perfectly comfortable performing ABBA's "S.O.S." while wearing it. I can't really say it made the performance any better, but Mandel didn't appear to be taking the singing part as seriously as others during the episode. At least now he may know what it feels like to get buzzed off the stage on America's Got Talent.

The Masked Singer airs new episodes on Fox every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. ET. It's one of many returning shows hitting the 2023 TV schedule, so continue to check out the rundown of new shows that are coming back to the small screen in the coming months. 

America’s Got Talent is narrowing down the remaining competitors to find the Top 10 who will have their shot at $1 million and a Las Vegas stage show. The qualifiers round has included two ventriloquists, with Celia Munoz dazzling last week with her Grease tribute. Jack Williams was up this week with his puppets and earned a lot of applause, but judge Howie Mandel weighed in on why a different competitor might have affected his chances at winning the whole thing.

Jack Williams actually mentioned Celia Munoz and her elimination in his video package before he took the stage for his live performance. Howie Mandel complimented the ventriloquist on his work and said that it’s hard to believe that he’s actually new to performing on stage vs. on social media. That said, he wasn’t blown away by Williams after watching Munoz last week. 

Mandel spoke with CinemaBlend and other outlets following the latest qualifiers episode, and when I asked if he thought Williams’ chances were affected by Munoz performing just seven days before, the judge shared:

Celia Munoz performed her qualifiers act on a competitive night, and ultimately golden buzzer winner Sara James and magician Nicolas Ribs were the two to move on. The judges were more critical on the night of August 30 when Jack Williams brought his puppets back for a bigger and bolder show, but for Mandel, seeing him after watching Munoz last week didn’t make him think any better of Williams’ odds of winning. The judge continued:

Of course, Jack Williams still did a great job and earned plenty of compliments, and it’s worth noting that he and Celia Munoz do different kinds of ventriloquism, so it’s a bit of comparing apples to oranges. While Williams brought out a second puppet to go along with his first, Munoz doesn’t use puppets at all. He’s more similar to past AGT contestants Terry Fator, Paul Zerdin, and Darci Lynne Farmer when it comes to using puppets, and those three all won their respective seasons of the show. So, America’s Got Talent fans tend to show up for traditional ventriloquists.

In case you missed Jack Williams returning to the stage for his shot at reaching the grand final, take a look:

Viewers had until 7 a.m. ET on Wednesday, August 31 to cast their votes for the latest batch of performers, including Jack Williams. The results will be revealed in the episode starting just over twelve hours later, with America’s Got Talent narrowing the eleven down to two at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. 

It’s hard to guess who delivered enough to move on, although Metaphysic’s odds seem good after deepfaking the judges and teasing what’s ahead if they make the finale. Golden buzzer winner Lily Meola (who earned the honor from Heidi Klum) returned as well with an emotional performance that could be enough to advance her, but as Madison Taylor Baez’s elimination proved – after I’d ranked her in the middle of the pack of those likely to win – a golden buzzer isn’t a guarantee at this stage in the game. 

Only a couple of weeks of America’s Got Talent Season 17 are left, but primetime will be packed with options as the fall TV season begins. For what to watch, be sure to check out our 2022 TV premiere schedule.

Spoilers ahead for the August 23 episode of America's Got Talent Season 17. 

America's Got Talent entered the third week of qualifiers with another eleven contestants (including Simon Cowell's golden buzzer winner) that will be cut down to two after the voters are finished. This episode brought back the XOMG POP! girl group of singers and dancers, which was put together by So You Think You Can Dance judge JoJo Siwa and her mom. While they brought the energy and the excitement, judge Howie Mandel's comments weren't 100% favorable for them. Speaking with CinemaBlend, Mandel explained why he wanted to make a point with his comments. 

XOMG POP! is comprised of seven girls between the ages of 10 and 15: Leigha, Kinley, Bella, Tinie T, Dallas, Kiya, and Brooklynn. After their original song of "Candy Hearts" back in May advanced them to the qualifiers, "Merry Go Round" in the August 23 live show wasn't as much of an immediate hit. Simon Cowell said that he "personally" didn't like the song (although he deemed them "unstoppable" with the right material). For his part, Howie Mandel said that the tone "hurts" him but acknowledged that XOMG POP!'s music isn't for him. 

When Mandel (who recently weighed in on watching live in person vs. from home) spoke with CinemaBlend and other outlets following the live qualifiers episode, I mentioned that he'd pointed out that he's not the target audience for XOMG POP! right after they performed, and he responded:

Given that Howie Mandel wasn't alone on the judges panel in not loving the song because it wasn't aimed at him, it would indeed be a little confusing! While Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara, and Terry Crews were enthusiastic, Mandel dished out his praise by quoting his granddaughter, who is a fan of the girl group on AGT. When asked whether having such a specific demographic appeal (which clearly doesn't include either Mandel or Simon Cowell) would affect the girls' chances at the top prize, Mandel weighed in, saying:

Howie Mandel's comments weren't intended to discourage voters from supporting XOMG POP! or say that the girl group didn't deliver with their energetic performance, even though they weren't as complimentary as what some of his fellow judges said. (My personal favorite was Heidi Klum saying that "It's like a piñata exploded and seven little Spice Girls fell out." If only Mel B. had been around to hear it like the old days!) 

He isn't the world's biggest fan of XOMG POP!, but it sounds like they would have all of his granddaughter's votes. Even if the majority of the voting audience may not fall in the target demographic for this young girl group, there may be enough of an audience to advance them to the finale. Check out their performance of "Merry Go Round" that will decide whether they still have a chance at $1 million and a Las Vegas stage show or will be going home:

Will this girl group continue to chase their AGT dream, or is their Season 17 journey going to end early? Their fate lies in the hands of fans, who can vote with the official America's Got Talent app and the NBC.com voting page until 7 a.m. ET on Wednesday, August 24. The results episode will begin airing at 8 p.m. ET, so there's not a whole lot of time for the votes to be cast and then tallied for primetime! 

It's hard to speculate with any certainty about who will advance, although I may have to reevaluate my ranking of the America's Got Talent golden buzzer winners most likely to win after watching Sara James bring the house down with her performance of Elton John's "Rocket Man" as the final act of the night. Ventriloquist Celia Munoz was a favorite of the judges with her tribute to Grease and the late Olivia Newton-John, and Howie Mandel predicted that magician Nicolas Ribs could win the whole season after watching his latest performance. 

The two spots are up for grabs at this point, so be sure to watch the results episode on Wednesday, August 24 at 8 p.m. ET to see whose AGT dreams will survive. New qualifiers episodes will continue airing on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. You can also revisit past episodes streaming with a Peacock subscription.

America’s Got Talent is deep into the live shows of Season 17, although the qualifiers present a twist this year. Instead of slowing cutting the groups of semi-finalists down, each of the 55 acts who advanced from the auditions have just one shot to make it to the grand finale for the chance at $1 million and a Las Vegas stage show. The acts have to be bigger, bolder, and more dazzling for viewers, but do fans and voters miss out on the spectacle by not watching live in person? Judges Howie Mandel and Heidi Klum shared their thoughts with CinemaBlend, and they don’t 100% agree. 

The two judges spoke with CinemaBlend and other outlets following the second night of live qualifiers, with the eleven acts soon to be cut down to just two. When I asked if they thought that viewers were missing anything by watching on their TVs from home as opposed to live in person, Howie Mandel specifically mentioned acrobatic act Duo Rings, who closed out their latest performance with a drop right in front of the judges. He shared his thoughts, saying:: 

Duo Rings were pretty spectacular in their live performance, to the point that it would have been shocking that they were cut before the finale if the night hadn’t been stacked with fan-favorites and golden buzzer winners. Madison Taylor Baez (who I ranked in the middle of the pack of golden buzzer winners most likely to win) was cut and she was definitely a fan-favorite. 

The two moving on are country music group Chapel Hart after they went for a sassier original song and magician Yu Hojin. Music and magic acts are definitely easier to experience on the small screen than an acrobatic act, based on what Howie Mandel had to say! Singers and magicians tend to be popular with AGT voters, so Duo Rings’ fate may have been sealed by viewers not being able to fully experience the drops in person. 

That said, Heidi Klum has a different perspective on whether fans are missing anything by watching from home as opposed to right in front of the action. She said:

While the experience of watching AGT live in person is “thrilling,” according to Heidi Klum, it’s not possible to see every detail up close or the benefit of an instant replay like what viewers get from home. Even though voters can only use the reactions of the judges and audience to gauge what it was really like, they do have some advantages in their TV screens. Klum continued her comparisons:

America’s Got Talent was one of the many shows that made changes in light of COVID protocols, which meant some virtual auditions and an absent audience in the previous season. Episodes did include a combination of real shots, virtual shots, and shots from past seasons to create the illusion that AGT was back to normal. Audiences are officially back for Season 17, which has evidently been “fun” for Heidi Klum.

But would acts like Duo Rings have been more fun in person, to the point that they would have gotten enough votes to advance if more people could get the full experience? Howie Mandel seems to think that they’re more of a thrill live, but you can judge for yourself with the video of their qualifiers performance:

The qualifiers are still going, and several of the golden buzzer winners still have yet to perform for their shot at making the finale. Madison Taylor Baez being cut is proof that the buzzer is no guarantee at advancement, and stand-up comic Jordan Conley is back in the mix after winning the wildcard vote. Be sure to keep tuning in to NBC on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET for new episodes of America’s Got Talent, and stop by NBC’s voting page by Wednesday mornings to help your favorites advance. 

If you’re still in the market for some viewing options as fall TV season approaches, be sure to check out our 2022 TV premiere schedule. You can also revisit earlier episodes of AGT Season 17 streaming with a Peacock subscription.

Season 17 of America’s Got Talent celebrated its first night of qualifiers during the live episode earlier this week, and it included plenty of talented hopefuls aiming to make their mark. One would-be entertainer that took the stage was stand-up comic Lace Larrabee, whose act comprised stories about her marriage and her friends. Unfortunately, Simon Cowell buzzed her just three minutes in, which Larrabee later claimed was an unfair move. Luckily, she had the support of the other judges, including fellow stand-up vet Howie Mandel.

Following the live AGT episode, Mandel spoke to PEOPLE in support of Larrabee, whom he talked to after she'd exited the stage. He apparently gave the younger comedian some great advice that she will presumably keep close to her heart and mind for years to come. Here's how Mandel put it:

Getting rejected is never easy, and having Simon Cowell be the one to do the rejecting in front of millions of viewers AND an in-studio audience is even worse. Especially considering Lace Larrabee wasn’t even a wildcard for Season 17, meaning she already won over the judges initially. But even though she was a bit miffed by Cowell's actions, the fact that Howie Mandel offered some advice to Larrabee afterwards will hopefully keep her confidence high enough to keep on performing and creating. Maybe even for Mandel’s new game show?

Lace Larrabee even played it cool after Simon Cowell hit the buzzer, which was very red and very loud. She continued on with her routine and finished the story she was telling as the audience booed the judge and cheered her after she finished. You can check out her performance below!

Unfortunately, her composure and short-but-funny routine on Tuesday was not enough to put her through to the next round. Viewers voted following that episode, and it was revealed the next night that country musician Drake Milligan and saxophone player Avery Dixon were safe. Fingers crossed that this doesn’t mark the end of Larrabee’s comedic career because she already faced a tough critic with Simon Cowell and handled it with ease.

There is no word on where Lace Larrabee will show up next with her comedy, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the AGT appearance helped boost her rep a bit, considering she still made thousands of people laugh and smile. And who wouldn’t feel bette inspired after getting some solid advice from Howie Mandel? 

Meanwhile, there are still nine spots left for the America's Got Talent finals, so plenty of fan-favorite acts still have a chance. (Even if it’s not Ben Lapidus after his absurd parmesan cheese performance during night 1 of the Qualifiers.) It should be interesting to see what other performances will be done in the next few weeks and who will join Milligan and Dixon at the finals.

Don’t miss more of America’s Got Talent qualifiers on NBC on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST, with the result airing on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. EST. Check out CinemaBlend’s 2022 TV schedule to see what else to look forward to.

Spoilers ahead for Episode 2 of America's Got Talent Season 17 are ahead!

No season of America's Got Talent is complete without young performers proving that kids can be serious competition for the adults in the chase for the top prize, and the second golden buzzer of Season 17 revealed that the adults have an 11-year-old powerhouse to contend with in the live shows. Madison Taylor Baez took the stage for an amazing rendition of "Amazing Grace" that took the judges by surprise for more than one reason. They thought she was just an audience member with some pipes!

11-year-old Madison Taylor Baez has been wanting to compete on AGT since she was just 4 years old, and her dream came true in Season 17... but not how anybody could have expected it. When she showed up for the auditions, the AGT production team sent her out to sit in the audience, and got her chance to sing during the commercial break behind-the-scenes. 

This happens regularly on the talent competition show, but the reactions of Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, and Sofia Vergara make it very clear that a performance like Madison's doesn't happen every day, and it's no surprise that she got a golden buzzer from Mandel after not only her powerful performance, but also her emotional story. And two standing ovations don't hurt either! Take a look:

I hope I'm not the only viewer who was emotional after watching Madison Taylor Baez finally have her shot at blowing the judges away, and succeeding so thoroughly! Honestly, she had me won over just from how overjoyed she was to sing on AGT, plus the performance itself. Her reactions to everybody else's reactions – and her announcement that she'd want to use the prize money to help her father while he's been struggling cancer – just sealed the deal. 

Throw in her dad's reveal that she learned to sing so she could sing for him at the hospital during his chemo treatments, and I was about ready to reach for the tissues. Brava to Madison for her performance, and bravo to Howie Mandel for hitting the golden buzzer for her! 

On the whole, possibly my favorite moment of all the reactions to this little girl coming up from the audience to blow everybody away came from Simon Cowell. His small gesture to encourage Madison to continue on to the second verse of "Amazing Grace" was lovely, and seemed to come from a genuine place of wanting to hear her sing more. (He definitely seemed happier with her "Amazing Grace" than with the "The Parmesan Cheese Song" last week!) 

The crowd that had already jumped to their feet for an ovation after the first verse jumped right back down to listen to the second, and more than one person in the audience was crying. 

Madison Taylor Baez is the second golden buzzer winner of Season 17, after host Terry Crews hit his buzzer in the premiere for the 21-year-old saxophonist Avery Dixon who also had pretty much everybody in tears from his emotional story and powerful performance. (You can rewatch the full episode streaming with a Peacock subscription.) 

They're currently the only two contestants of this season who are guaranteed a slot in the live shows, but three more will join them before the auditions are over, when Sofia Vergara, Heidi Klum, and Simon Cowell choose theirs. Cowell's golden buzzer from Season 16 sadly had to withdraw from competition before the end due to health reasons, and she passed away earlier this year.  

For now, you can look forward to new episodes of America's Got Talent on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. If you're in the market for some more summer viewing options, be sure to check out our 2022 TV premiere schedule. 

Howie Mandel is a notable TV show host known for Deal or No Deal and America’s Got Talent. Recently, though, he made his way to Netflix in the form of a new game show, and it sounds like it may be a better gig than Deal or No Deal. Mandel is now the host of Bullsh*t the Game Show.

In Bullsh*t, contestants have to answer a difficult trivia question correctly, but it also involves lying in order to win. Mandel explained to E!’s Daily Pop the difference between his new series and Deal or No Deal, and why he may enjoy being on Bullsh*t more than the latter. He said:

Bullsh*t the Game Show is a very new show, so Howie Mandel has some very different challenges and opportunities than he handled on Deal or No Deal. He can be part of the action in a way that wasn't possible on the other show, and he's clearly a fan.

Currently, Bullsh*t sits at #5 on Netflix’s Top 10 chart for shows, with ten episodes. Howie Mandel is definitely not the only one enjoying the series, so it will be interesting to see whether it can match Deal or No Deal’s run of seven seasons. Though for now, it looks like people are just enjoying watching others lie in order to win some money. 

Bullsh*t also isn’t the only game show doing well on Netflix right now. Season 4 of the popular social media competition The Circle just released, and it’s sitting just above Mandel’s show at #4.

It’s nice to see that Howie Mandel is returning to a game show following Deal or No Deal’s end in 2019. He's certainly doing much better than when he passed out in a Starbucks late last year, due to dehydration and low blood sugar. Mandel knows what he’s doing, and being a game show host seems to be second nature to him.

Meanwhile, Mandel continues to be a judge on America’s Got Talent as well as Canada’s Got Talent. He is definitely keeping busy between shows. Perhaps he can find a new contestant on one for the others? It would be a treat to see some of the contestants on AGT try their hand at lying through their teeth on Bullsh*t, or vice versa. Who knows? Maybe someone on the Netflix series has some serious talent.

Catch all ten episodes of Bullsh*t the Game Show now on Netflix, and be sure to check out what else is coming to the streaming platform in 2022.

While this was initially intended to be a largely positive and exciting week for all things America's Got Talent, with NBC debuting the highly anticipated Extreme spinoff, things instead took a more melancholy turn when the news went public that former contestant and viral inspiration Nightbirde passed away after a long battle with cancer. While none of the AGT judges that showered the late talent with praise were able to voice their condolences on the pre-taped Extreme premiere, stars Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara, Terry Crews and Heidi Klum all shared heartfelt responses to the sad news.

Though Simon Cowell was arguably Nightbirde’s biggest champion during her audition back in 2021, granting her his Golden Buzzer in that episode, the America’s Got Talent creator has yet to share a public reaction to the news of her death. However, everyone else from the show took to social media soon after the news broke. 

On Twitter, Howie Mandel shares how much of an inspiration Nightbirde was and is, despite not being such a major part of everyone’s lives during her brief AGT journey, and he’s grateful for the time he had, saying:

Meanwhile, Mandel’s America’s Got Talent co-judge Sofia Vergara took to her Instagram Stories to share the pic and message below. 

Terry Crews, who balanced AGT hosting duties with his Brooklyn Nine-Nine starring role until the cop-centric comedy ended in 2021, took to Instagram with a loving post in Nightbirde’s memory.  

While she may have had the least to say, message-wise, the pie-loving Heidi Klum made up for it in style, sharing the imagery below on her Instagram Stories:

Not to be outdone by all of the show’s stars, the official America’s Got Talent Twitter page also posted a touching message on Twitter spotlighting Nightbirde’s memory.

It was announced by someone close to the singer that Nightbirde passed away on Saturday, February 19, after her cancer had spread to her spine, liver and lungs. She’d been receiving treatment for the disease for months, but sadly was not able to pull out ahead this time, despite having gone cancer-free temporarily in the past. She’d gained national attention after her successful AGT audition aired, but sadly had to pull out of the competition due to health concerns, with Simon Cowell offering a public update on her situation during that season’s finale back in September 2021. 

With its previously injured contestant now back on the healthy side of things, America’s Got Talent: Extreme airs Monday nights on NBC at 8:00 p.m. ET, while fans can revisit Nightbirde’s memorable performances via YouTube clips. Check out our 2022 TV premiere schedule to see what new and returning shows are on the way soon. 

Comedy fans are mourning a fresh loss to the pantheon of iconic talents that rose to fame in the 1980s, as it was reported that former Family Feud host and Baskets star Louie Anderson died at the age of 68. In the wake of this somber news, celebrities like Howie Mandel, DL Hughley, and many more have paid tribute to the life, talent and generosity of this comedic legend. The results are as heartfelt as they are shocked about Anderson's relatively sudden passing.

After being hospitalized last week while being treated for blood cancer, the star of shows such as Baskets and Life with Louie passed on Friday in Las Vegas. CNN was one of many outlets that confirmed Louie Anderson’s death, through a statement from his publicist Glenn Schwartz. With the news making the rounds this morning, the tributes started to pour in. 

Sharing a connection with Louie Anderson as a fellow comedian and veteran of the Fox Kids Saturday morning lineup, America's Got Talent judge and Bobby's World creator Howie Mandel was naturally upset to hear the sad news. Reflecting on the recent losses of Norm MacDonald and Bob Saget, Mandel’s reaction was as follows: 

Known throughout the world of film and television, Louie Anderson quickly made a name for himself in the world of comedy after his 1984 debut on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. His star rose to the point that when Coming To America saw Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall had to select a white comedian to play a part in the film, Louie was their go-to choice for “the funniest white guy around.” This would lead him to reprise his role as Maurice, an employee at the fictional restaurant McDowell’s, in the sequel Coming 2 America, which was his final film effort.

Outside of his standup and film appearances, Anderson became prominent as one of the iconic hosts of Family Feud, on top of his animated series Life with Louie. It’s that wide span of appeal that helped launch him to stardom, as well as kept his memory so fondly in the eyes of his peers. Here’s how fellow comedian DL Hughley paid tribute to Louie Anderson’s memory: 

One of the best stories to come out of this tragic passing comes from writer/director Travon Free, who’s written for both Full Frontal with Samantha Bee and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. The Academy Award winning director of 2021’s Best Live-Action Short Two Distant Strangers, Mr. Free shared a personal moment of generosity from Mr. Anderson from earlier in his career as his tribute:

That pattern of behavior was known among other comedians as well, one of which happens to be Happy Days legend and Barry co-star Henry Winkler. Further touting Louie Anderson as a truly good person, his contribution to honoring the man’s memory was bittersweet:

In recent years, Anderson’s career saw him making appearances on shows like Young Sheldon and Search Party, as well as becoming one of the few hosts of Family Feud to actually play the game himself. But one of the landmarks in the latter era of his career was the role of Christine, the mother to Zach Galifanakis’ protagonist on the FX dramedy Baskets. It was the role that saw him win the Primetime Emmy in 2016 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, as well as two more consecutive nominations. Reflecting on that part of his legacy, actor/comedian Michael McKean offered a fitting closer to our tribute to Louie Anderson: 

As a comedian, it helps if you can win a room with your wit like Louie Anderson could. It’s even more amazing if you’re able to do so while also being a person of exemplary character, which was also one of his lifelong achievements. We here at CinemaBlend send our deepest condolences to his fans, friends, and family, as they grieve in his honor.

America’s Got Talent judge Howie Mandel had to deal with a very scary situation yesterday, when he suddenly passed out while at a Los Angeles-area Starbucks with his wife and friends. While the comedian, actor, and host has been known to have some issues with his mental health, this was a shocking turn for him, and his fans were understandably concerned. Well, Mandel has now explained what happened when he passed out.

Anyone who’s enjoyed Howie Mandel’s comedy, or seen him in interviews for the past several decades of his career, will know that he’s been living with obsessive-compulsive disorder, along with mysophobia (a fear of germs), and ADHD, for many years. But, he’s now taken to Twitter to open up about what led to him passing out while at the popular coffee shop earlier in the week, and told his followers:

As noted before, Mandel hasn’t been known to have any health problems that would have led to him passing out, and he’s made millions of fans through his work since the early 1980s, so it makes sense that once people heard what happened to him, they would have posted a lot of well-wishes for him, and it’s good to see that he’s thanked everyone for their concern.

Mandel was right outside of his local Starbucks when he fell over without any warning, and then had to find his way to one of the cement benches outside so that he could lie down. By the time paramedics arrived, he was able to sit up, but they still took him to the nearest hospital for tests afterward. 

There’s never a good time for such a thing to happen, but I can imagine that it’s particularly scary to collapse when you’d previously been feeling fine, not to mention when you’re hanging out and enjoying time with family and friends in public. Luckily, the funny man (who’s also known for hosting the game show Deal or No Deal, creating and voicing the lead character on the animated show Bobby’s World, and starring on the hit medical drama St. Elsewhere, among his many accomplishments) was able to post his update for fans while already feeling much more like himself. 

Apparently, a combination of low blood sugar and dehydration is what led to the incident, so hopefully the medical professionals who took care of Mandel were able to offer some tips so that he could avoid such a worrisome situation again. 

America’s Got Talent wrapped for the season several weeks ago, but Howie Mandel is expected to be back for Season 17. In the meantime, be sure to see what you can watch right now with our 2021 fall TV schedule.

America’s Got Talent's Howie Mandel was rushed to the hospital after an alarming event at a Los Angeles-area Starbucks. An ambulance took the judge and comedian to a nearby hospital after he passed out while outside the coffee shop, in what witnesses described as a shocking event. 

Howie Mandel, who turns 66 in late November, was at his local Starbucks with his wife and friends when he unexpectedly passed out. TMZ reported Mandel fell over and then had to lie back on a cement bench to recover. Paramedics arrived on the scene, and apparently, Mandel was able to sit up by that time. 

Reports say low blood sugar possibly played a factor in the collapse and that Howie Mandel is undergoing tests at the hospital to further investigate what happened. Mandel hasn’t posted on social media since the incident but is often active on Twitter and other social media platforms. 

Any issues Howie Mandel may have with blood sugar weren't so public before now, but the actor has been candid with his fanbase about some of the health struggles he goes through. Mandel is diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, as well as mysophobia, or a fear of germs. That said, it doesn’t seem likely either played a part in this medical event or if either exacerbated the issue in any way. 

The Ellen Show welcomed Howie Mandel on its program just a day prior to the Starbucks incident, and based on the segment he did on the series, it didn’t appear anything was off with the comedian. In fact, Mandel put on a show for the camera and even dropped his pants to show off just how much he loved his Ellen underwear.

Howie Mandel’s been a fixture on television since the early 1980s and first captured the attention of American audiences with a six-year run on the series St. Elsewhere. (No one ever looked at plastic gloves the same way.) He’s since gone on to do voice work for prominent fictional characters, random appearances on late-night television, and of course, found work on primetime network television as a judge and host. Mandel hosted Deal or No Deal at the height of its popularity and later joined the judges’ panel of America’s Got Talent in Season 5.

America’s Got Talent is no stranger to its judges having unexpected health problems. Prior to this, the NBC series had to make some adjustments when judge Simon Cowell broke his back while riding an electric motor-bike and couldn't appear on the show for a while. The NBC competition series is not presently in-season, with the Mandel-free Extreme spinoff airing next, so it’s possible that Mandel could deal with any related health and get back to his duties as a judge without missing any time on the show whatsoever. Honestly, it just depends on the severity of what’s going on and whether this Starbucks incident was just a one-off issue or an indicator of a larger problem. 

CinemaBlend would like to offer its best wishes to Howie Mandel and a speedy recovery. Hopefully, he’s already on the mend and ready to resume normal activities soon. 

Spoilers ahead for the final round of America's Got Talent Season 16 performances.

Season 16 of America's Got Talent is nearly at an end, and one of the ten remaining acts will get the news that they've been hoping for ever since their auditions. The prize of $1 million plus a major role in a Las Vegas stage show is within reach, and it's hard to narrow down at this point who will even make the top five, let alone become the first champion since Brandon Leake last year. Fortunately, judges Howie Mandel and Simon Cowell as well as host Terry Crews have shared their favorites who would crush on a Las Vegas stage.

The ten finalists include every golden buzzer winner with the exception of Nightbirde, who had to withdraw, but there are also some competitors who are among the favorites to win it all without a golden buzzer to their name. Those still in the running are teen aerialist Aidan Bryant, singer Brooke Simpson, magician Dustin Tavella, stand-up comic Gina Brillon, singer Jimmie Herrod, stand-up comic Josh Blue, quick change artist Léa Kyle, singing group Northwell Health Nurse Choir, martial arts group World Taekwondo Demonstration Team, and young singer Victory Brinker.

Howie Mandel, Simon Cowell, and Terry Crews spoke with CinemaBlend following the final round of Season 16 performances before the voting, and they shared their perspectives on who of the remaining ten has what it takes for Vegas.

Howie Mandel

Howie Mandel didn't have a bad thing to say about anybody's final performances all night, even though he does continue to advocate for Northwell Health Nurse Choir in particular as his golden buzzer pick of the season. He has also been a consistent fan of World Taekwondo Demonstration Team, even comparing their act to a Marvel movie. But who among the final ten would fit well with Las Vegas? Howie Mandel had a pretty complimentary response to my question:

World Taekwondo Demonstration Team got another specific shout-out even as Howie Mandel suggested that every one of the remaining ten acts would do well on a Vegas stage. He also mentioned Dustin Tavella, who once again weaved an emotional story about his family in with a magic trick that was more than a little uplifting. None of the judges thought they detected nerves in Tavella this time around, and he obviously made a positive impression on Mandel. Plus, of course, Mandel has a point about magic doing well in Vegas. Just look at Season 13 champ Shin Lim!

Simon Cowell

Simon Cowell has a reputation as the judge who can be "grumpy" (to quote Heidi Klum herself), but he too was full of compliments and praise for the contestants in their final performances to try and win the votes of the viewers who will make the Season 16 champion. There was no grumpiness detected, even (or especially) when comedian Josh Blue dropped a Botox zinger at Cowell's expense! Interestingly, his favorites for a potential Las Vegas stage show are similar to Howie Mandel's, although not quite identical. Cowell said:

There was no ambiguity in Simon Cowell's reaction to Aidan Bryant's big act, when he just ignored that he was seriously injured not all that long ago to climb up on the desk to give Aidan Bryant the well-earned highest of standing ovations that he possibly could. Josh Blue's Botox joke at Cowell's expense actually seemed to make Cowell laugh harder than anybody else in the building, and the "grumpy" judge has consistently praised Dustin Tavella as a storyteller. Cowell may have led the charge in the full group of judges plus Terry Crews in hitting a bonus golden buzzer for Victory Brinker, but she's not in his prediction for the top three!

Terry Crews

Terry Crews may not be a judge like Howie Mandel, Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, and Sofia Vergara, but he gets a golden buzzer and holds plenty of sway himself even without a seat at the desk. Like Mandel, Crews has been a loyal supporter of his own golden buzzer, which was World Taekwondo Demonstration Team, who shockingly didn't sail right through to the finals just a couple of weeks ago and had a close call with being cut. In his picks for acts most suited for Las Vegas, Crews ended up agreeing with the two judges, saying:

You might think that Simon Cowell and Terry Crews were in the same room together when speaking to press when they pitched nearly the same final three, but that's not the case! World Taekwondo Demonstration Team's odds of winning felt better before they wound up at risk for elimination after not getting enough votes to easily advance, which seemed to be proof that riotous applause within the Dolby Theatre doesn't necessarily translate to voters from home. Still, can anybody argue that any of Crews' choices – or Cowell's or Howie Mandel's, for that matter – wouldn't fit with Vegas in some form or other?

Of course, who the judges think would excel on a Las Vegas stage isn't necessarily going to align with who wins the most votes based on their final performances, so don't miss the America's Got Talent results finale that airs on Wednesday, September 15 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. Some of the network's biggest dramas will be back next week to fill the AGT time slot, so there will still be plenty of TV options.

Spoilers ahead for the August 24 episode of America’s Got Talent Season 16 on NBC.

The final night of quarterfinals competition on America’s Got Talent’s sixteenth season has come and gone, with the final twelve performers hoping to secure a spot in the semifinals starting next week. Some acts received more applause than others, but one clear standout was World Taekwondo Demonstration Team. Terry Crews’ golden buzzer pick returned with a number so powerful, fast, and athletic that even the judges were taken by surprise, and Howie Mandel shared after the episode why he thinks their moves are comparable to a Marvel movie. Plus, Terry Crews revealed his thoughts on how his golden buzzer pick performed, and more!

World Taekwondo Demonstration Team certainly made the most of the stage, and their performance was dazzling enough that it deserves to be watched multiple times. And really, it’s not hard to understand why Howie Mandel made a comparison between their moves and blockbuster action sequences. Take a look:

World Taekwondo Demonstration Team may have been Terry Crews’ golden buzzer choice during the auditions, but all four judges looked like they’d happily hit a golden buzzer for them if they’d had the chance, which wasn't the case even for some of the best acts last week. It undoubtedly didn’t hurt that they were the last group to hit the stage on the last night of quarterfinals, and what they delivered really did feel like AGT was saving some of the best for last.

And in fact, the act was so fast-paced, elaborate, and gravity defying with so many moving pieces that it almost seems impossible without special effects or safety wires. Howie Mandel was so impressed that he compared the performance to a “Marvel movie the musical.” When he spoke with CinemaBlend and other press after the live show finished airing, Mandel explained his comparison and weighed in on how their second AGT performance compared to their first:

There certainly didn't seem to be anybody at the Dolby Theatre who would disagree that World Taekwondo Demonstration Team put on a thrilling performance that all but defied the laws of physics. That said, there is a reason why this particular performance might call a Marvel movie to mind more than their audition.

Group members Hyeri Shin and Long Nguyen also spoke with press following their quarterfinals performance, and Shin revealed that the theme for the night was "struggling against an outside enemy." Considering that the banner at the end of their act read "Peace is more precious than Triumph," the act at least came to a happy ending with its theme! Only time will tell if the group gets the happy ending of advancing to the semifinals.

The performers shared their reactions to the Marvel movie comment from Howie Mandel, as well as the praise from the other judges:

There wasn't any negative feedback to be heard for World Taekwondo Demonstration Team, and all of the judges seem pretty confident that the group will easily advance to the semifinals after the results are tallied. Their remarkable performance came after they were advanced straight to the quarterfinals courtesy of Terry Crews' golden buzzer. Crews shared what it meant to him to see them do so well in this performance:

The Taekwondo group certainly knows how to deliver the kind of spectacle that would fit right in on a Las Vegas stage, especially considering that some of the most recent America's Got Talent winners were rewarded not just for their talent, but for how unique they were in presenting it to audiences. This is a show that crowns champions from multiple genres, after all. What other show would feature a young singing ventriloquist as a winner in one season, only to go for a magician the next season, a powerhouse singer next in Kodi Lee, and then most recently a spoken word poet?

There's still stiff competition, largely in the form of other golden buzzer winners like Victory Brinker and Jimmie Herrod, but World Taekwondo Demonstration Team just proved that they're one of the acts that could be tough to beat as Season 16 continues. Of course, that's assuming that viewers from home responded to their performance as well as the judges and live audience at the Dolby Theatre did, but I'm guessing World Taekwondo Demonstration Team won't have any trouble advancing to the semifinals.

If you want to show your support for them, or any of the others from the latest round of quarterfinals, you can vote for your favorite America's Got Talent acts here and on the AGT app until Wednesday at 7 a.m. ET. To find out who will advance and whose AGT journey has come to an end, tune in to the results episode on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

Spoilers ahead for the second episode of America's Got Talent Season 16 on NBC.

After the previous season of America's Got Talent ran into some obstacles that saw Brandon Leake take the top prize with no studio audience and no Simon Cowell, Season 16 is more or less back to business as usual. Cowell had to leave Season 15 early after breaking his back in an electric bike accident, and although AGT made up for his absence with some fantastic guest judges, it just felt strange that he wasn't around. But now he's back, and Howie Mandel was inspired by an incredible unicycle act to roast his fellow judge.

The roasting actually started gently, before Japanese group Unicycle Flow started their fantastic dance act on their unicycles. Howie Mandel addressed Simon Cowell from the opposite end of the judges' table, saying:

To his credit, Simon Cowell immediately laughed and responded with "Now you mention it..." Cowell and Mandel have a history of mocking and even pranking each other on America's Got Talent, so it was probably inevitable that Mandel's gloves would come off once it was clear that Cowell was back and, according to Mandel, even better than ever. That wasn't the only instance of Mandel joking Cowell about his back-breaking bike incident, however.

After Unicycle Flow blew the judges' (and probably viewers') minds with their act, Howie Mandel went out of his way to both compliment the four people who dazzled on their unicycles and poke some fun at Simon Cowell for breaking his back. Mandel said to Unicycle Flow:

Simon Cowell's response after the second zinger was just "Don't ask" and Unicycle Flow had larger concerns while waiting for the judges to vote than asking what Howie Mandel was talking about with his allusions to a bike incident for Cowell. All things considered, Cowell clearly took the comments in good fun, so this wasn't an example of attempted AGT humor falling flat and feeling awkward for everybody. Besides, Cowell has recovered from a very serious injury!

In case you missed the whole performance, check out the Unicycle Flow act, which Howie Mandel posted on Twitter with one last joke at Simon Cowell's expense:

Unicycle Flow earned a yes from each of the four judges, guaranteeing that they'll advance at least one more stage of the competition. Although not getting a golden buzzer means that they won't be advanced all the way to the live shows automatically, that's good news for viewers! After all, we'll be able to see Unicycle Flow take the stage multiple more times, assuming they continue to dazzle the judges.

Check out new episodes of America's Got Talent on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC as the auditions continue. For some more viewing options now and in the coming months, check out our 2021 summer TV premiere schedule!

AGT Season 16 is already off to an unusual start thanks to none other than Sethward getting to advance from the premiere after being quickly eliminated after all his other appearances, AGT including a virtual audience, and more, so be sure to tune in.

It had been a long time coming, but Simon Cowell finally made his return for the new season of America’s Got Talent, and the host didn’t seem to miss a beat during the premiere. Cowell’s return was a big moment, especially when you consider the serious back injury he suffered last summer and his subsequent surgery and recovery. It’s likely that viewers missed having the brutally honest judge back on the show and, now, fellow judge Howie Mandel has shared his thoughts on reuniting with Cowell for Season 16.

Having worked with Simon Cowell on the last several seasons of America’s Got Talent, one would imagine that Howie Mandel has become pretty close to him. And based on his recent comments to Hollywood Life and other entertainment outlets, Mandel was more than glad to have Cowell back. He also reflected fondly on seeing his co-star back in action again:

Howie Mandel’s love for Simon Cowell and his joy over his current health status is great. The chemistry between Mandel, Cowell and their fellow judges is usually apparent on screen, but it’s nice to see that the love definitely carries over when the camera isn’t on.

Simon Cowell’s 2020 back injury was honestly a scary moment. The music mogul and TV personality injured himself after falling off his electric bike at his home. He was then taken to a hospital and eventually underwent a successful five-hour surgery. Since the incident, Cowell has been working to get himself back in shape, adopting a healthier and more active lifestyle to help with his recovery. Along the way, he’s also received encouragement and advice from those closest to him, including former American Idol co-star Randy Jackson.

With Simon Cowell, having committed to the recovery process, he seems to be doing quite well. The TV judge recently spoke about how “lucky” he feels to have healed from the injury and to be back with his co-stars on the show.

It would have been tough to see Simon Cowell sit out America’s Got Talent again, but fans are surely loving the fact that he’s back on the job. We’ll see how things continue to progress for Cowell, his co-stars and the contestants when the reality competition show returns for the second round of auditions on Tuesday, June 8, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

During its syndicated eight-season run, Monk wasn't simply a cornerstone of USA Network's continued brand. It became one of the most acclaimed and meticulously watched original shows of the '00s. So much so that the unconventional detective procedural was the most-watched scripted drama show when its series finale aired.

Suffice to say, Monk was a very popular program, and it helped usher in the careers of several prominent actors today, while also hosting several notable celebrity cameos that might've slipped your mind over the years. If you're wondering what pre-famous stars appeared on this show, we're here to help. Here are the celebrities you might've forgotten were on Monk, including Jennifer Lawrence, Danny Trejo, and several more.

Jennifer Lawrence (Mascot)

Everyone needs to get their start somewhere. Before the future A-list actress became an Oscar-winning, franchise-topping superstar — and, you know, one of the biggest movie stars of her generation — Jennifer Lawrence earned her first acting credit by playing a character credited solely as "Mascot" (though she's referred to as "Jen") in Season 5's "Mr. Monk and the Big Game." The cameo is quite quaint in retrospect, knowing that the young actress in this minor part would become the major league mega-star behind The Hunger Games franchise, Silver Linings Playbook, and the recent X-Men prequel series, but the first-time actress makes the most of her screen debut.

Reflecting back on the experience on Conan, Jennifer Lawrence considered her time on Monk to be "really cool" but also "the most humiliating thing in my life." The reason? The up-and-coming soon-to-be-famous actress believed that she would have a bigger role than she ultimately had. She even told her church as much — much to her chagrin. But JLaw has no reason to be embarrassed! It's an amusing appearance and a fun debut.

Nick Offerman (Jack Whitman)

Before he became Ron Swanson in Parks and Recreation, Nick Offerman was Jack Whitman, a rug importer with unlawful intent, in "Mr. Monk and the Election." Prior to this appearance, Offerman was still coming into his own as a performer. His other acting credits remained limited to minor characters in City of Angels, Speaking of Sex, and Stealing Havard. Also, the TV actor appeared in Deadwood, The Practice, The West Wing, NYPD Blue, and 24, though Offerman was rarely seen in more than one episode. Arguably his most notable credit at this point was his recurring role in George Lopez.

Suffice to say, Nick Offerman didn't have nearly the same acclaim and notoriety that he has today, so it's understandable if you forgot about this brief pre-fame cameo in Monk.

Jane Lynch (Dr. Julie Waterford)

Before she found fame with her Emmy-winning star turn in Glee, Jane Lynch was proving her sharp comedic talents in a number of movies and shows, including Party Down, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Likewise, Lynch took on the role of Dr. Julie Waterford, a marriage therapist, in Season 2's "Mr. Monk Gets Married."

Though her appearance was limited to one episode, Jane Lynch showcases her dry wit and signature deadpan delivery throughout this performance. Even from this brief clip, it's easy to see why the actress found such an exceptional career in the years to follow.

Danny Trejo (Spyder Rudner)

With upwards of 400 credits to his resume (and counting!), Danny Trejo has been seen in a hell of a lot of movies and shows over the past three-plus decades. Perhaps it's not surprising, then, that Trejo found some time in his ever-busy schedule to appear in Monk. In the episode "Mr. Monk Goes to Jail," Trejo plays Darnell "Spyder" Rudner, a convicted quadruple murderer whom Monk corresponds with during his investigation. The convicted criminal and the eccentric detective form a connection from there.

At this stage of his career, Danny Trejo was a standout supporting player in Robert Rodriguez's Desperado, From Dusk Till Dawn, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, and the Spy Kids trilogy, along with other notable '90s/'00s movies like Heat, Con Air, Anaconda, Bubble Boy, and Anchorman, though he wasn't heading movies like Machete and Bad Ass just yet. Still, Trejo always makes the most of every moment. Monk is no exception.

Sarah Silverman (Marci Maven)

Between 2004 and 2008, during the advent (and first season) of Comedy Central's The Sarah Silverman Project, that show's title-bearing comic had a recurring role as Marci Maven, an obsessive superfan who forms a deep longing for our neurotic sleuth, in "Mr. Monk and the T.V. Star," "Mr. Monk And His Biggest Fan," and "Mr. Monk's 100th Case."

Prior to this notable performance, Sarah Silverman was a proven stand-up comedienne who became popular in the public eye through Saturday Night Live and other guest star appearances. She was certainly a name, albeit not as big as she is today; her concert film, Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic, even premiered in select theaters. But her time on Monk came just shortly before she would find greater success, both as a comic and actress. Nevertheless, this energetic supporting role showcased her developing talents.

Jon Favreau (Dr. Oliver Bloom)

Just a few short years before he jumpstarted the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Iron Man, called the shots on one of the highest-grossing movies in film history with The Lion King (2019), and became the showrunner behind The Mandalorian, Jon Favreau had a standout cameo as Dr. Oliver Bloom, a nefarious endodontist, in "Mr. Monk Goes to the Dentist." While it's a prominent appearance, the character ultimately only lasted a single episode — though it came at an interesting point in Favreau's expanding career.

Already established as both an indie-darling actor-writer thanks to Swingers and top-grossing director through Elf, Jon Favreau was well-proven at this stage of the game, but the actor-writer-director wasn't necessarily a household name. Therefore, it's hard to call this role a celebrity cameo per se — at least, in the strictest sense. But in retrospect, it's interesting to see Favreau in a minor guest role shortly before his career propelled.

Stanley Tucci (David Ruskin)

Admittedly, Stanley Tucci was well-established as an actor, writer, and director by the time the character actor appeared in Season 5's premiere, "Mr. Monk and the Actor." Nevertheless, it's a real kick to see the esteemed thespian reunite with his Big Night co-star to play David Ruskin, a method actor who vigorously tries to nail down Adrian Monk's whole persona. This inspired performance was such a delight that Tucci won an Emmy for this guest role, which admittedly makes it more memorable than the other cameos that we've listed. It's fitting, though, because it's arguably the best of the bunch.

Howie Mandel (Ralph “Father” Roberts)

There's something cosmically perfect about Howie Mandel appearing in Monk. In a pair of Season 6 episodes titled "Mr. Monk Joins a Cult" and "Mr. Monk's 100th Case," Mandel played Ralph "Father" Roberts, a supposed cult leader, in what appeared to be a winking nod to the actor's personal life. More specifically, Mandel is an outspoken germaphobe, much like Adrian Monk, which has hindered him throughout his life.

Likewise, Monk's detective career is often disrupted by his own individualized fears and phobias. The titular TV sleuth and the child actor-turned-game show host are, in a way, kindred spirits. One may argue that their paths were destined to cross, as they did here.

Snoop Dogg (Murderuss)

Playing the part of Russell Kroy, i.e. Murderuss, a rap artist who wants Monk to clear his name after he's accused of murder, Snoop Dogg proved to be an amusing guest star in Season 6's "Mr. Monk and the Rapper." Though the musician isn't the type of actor who disappears into his characters, Dogg is game to play up the heightened absurdities of this rap personality. The result isn't a "before they were famous" appearance, unlike many other celebs listed in this article, but Dogg is always an exceptional entertainer.

Ken Marino (Lester Highsmith)

Ken Marino isn't necessarily a household name, but there's a decent chance that you're familiar with his work. In 2004, following his time in The State and Wet Hot American Summer but years before he made Party Down, Children's Hospital, or Burning Love, Marino played Lester Highsmith, the ex-husband of the victim behind "Mr. Monk Takes His Medicine." It's a brief appearance and it might not have made a huge splash for anyone who wasn't a fan of Marino's brand of alternative comedy. But it's an amusing cameo that came only a few years before his profile rose — both in front and behind the camera.

Monk is available to stream on Amazon Prime and Peacock.

Given how many original TV shows debut on a yearly basis, it's no surprise that many of the projects end up feeling similar to one another. The same can't be said for America's Got Talent, though, which even stands apart from other talent-based competition shows given how wildly unique its acts can be from season to season. One element that doesn't tend to change up very much is Simon Cowell's presence behind the judges' table, and though he did have to opt out the back chunk of Season 15 episodes due to breaking his back, he's totes back for Season 16, and there's more proof!

NBC released the first official look at America's Got Talent Season 16, with Simon Cowell joined by his co-stars Sofia Vergara, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandell. The pec-popping host Terry Crews shared the first pic on Instagram, cluing fans in on the show being back in production now for a new season of comedy, acrobatics, magic, ventriloquism, dancing, and likely a whole lot more. Check out the judge-some foursome and Crews in the post below.

Unsurprisingly, breaking his back in that electric motorbike accident did not inspire Simon Cowell to completely change up his traditional America's Got Talent attire by wearing a bright pink tuxedo. Rather, he kept to his habits by donning an all-black shirt while the other judges got a bit more colorful with their outfits. That said, even if Cowell's back doesn't hurt that much anymore, wearing a loose-fitting shirt is still magnitudes more comfortable than wearing something formal, especially under glaring TV stage lights.

While there wasn't that much worry fluttering about as of late, the period immediately after Simon Cowell's injury in 2020 was full of unknowns, as fans wondered whether he'd be able to return to his busy TV career. As it turns out, no such injury could keep Cowell down for the count, although his flagship series Britain's Got Talent did go down via cancellation in the interim. We probably shouldn't expect to see Cowell being more physically active on America's Got Talent itself, but at least viewers can take comfort in knowing he could do it if he needed to.

America's Got Talent Season 16 will be the first one to go into production with COVID protocols intact, since the industry-wide shutdowns in 2020 went down in the midst of the NBC series' production. As such, the producers had to make vast changes to the try-outs by implementing totally virtual auditions, which we spoke to former champ Darci Lynne Farmer about. It remains to be seen just how wild and crazy the acts could get via Zoom calls and phone videos, but I'm betting there won't be a very noticeable dip in over-the-top performances.

With Simon Cowell back behind the judging frontlines for Season 16, America's Got Talent will return to NBC on Tuesday, June 1, at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Once upon a time, before Howie Mandel was primarily known for hosting Deal or No Deal and being a judge on America’s Got Talent, he delighted (or terrified) kids in the late 80s with the movie Little Monsters. He played Maurice, a blue monster with horns on his head, living under a boy’s bed. Now, it’s been revealed, that experience made him phobic of latex, and yeah, that includes condoms.

Howie Mandel has long suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But when he agreed to be Maurice in Little Monsters, he didn’t give much thought to what the process could be like transforming him into the monster. Sitting and having people touch him and wrap him in latex was torture for the gemaphobe, according to an interview with Gamespot. Here’s what Howie Mandel said about it:

Ouch. That makeup process would be painful for anyone, but even worse for someone suffering from OCD and ADHD. I think anyone could empathize with Howie Mandel’s disgust for latex after going through that ordeal. He's only human.

For those of you who didn’t grow up in the '80s and '90s, Little Monsters was a kids movie starring Fred Savage and Howie Mandel about Brian Stevenson having a monster named Maurice under his bed. They become friends and Maurice takes Brian down to the world of monsters and they play tricks on other kids that are sleeping. It’s kind of like Monster’s Inc. to a degree. But, take one look at Howie Mandel’s Maurice and you’ll see the extent of makeup they put on him. Does not look fun.

Howie Mandel isn’t the first or the last actor to suffer through an extensive makeup process for a role. Many have admitted the process is long and difficult to get through, sometimes taking up to 8 hours to put on makeup. Dave Bautista, who has to put makeup on for his character Drax in the MCU, reportedly has to sit in a sauna and sweat the makeup off.

But for Howie Mandel, the main issue with the makeup process comes down to the amount of latex they used on him. My guess is if he knew then what he knows now, he’d say, “No deal.”

Simon Cowell has notably been missing from his America’s Got Talent judge's chair since August. After breaking his back in an electric motorbike accident, Cowell underwent surgery and has been nearly completely absent from the public eye. With America’s Got Talent headed into its finale this week, will Cowell return for an appearance? Heidi Klum may have the inside scoop.

The show has gone on without Simon Cowell in recent weeks, but America’s Got Talent hasn’t forgotten him in his absence. He got roasted by one former contestant, and during the Season 15 quarterfinals, judge Howie Mandel even paid tribute to him with a Cowell puppet. It was kinda weird, sure, but it served as a reminder that Cowell was still a part of the show in spirit. Though it’s been weeks since anyone last saw Cowell on the show, Heidi Klum expected him to be back quite soon. Here’s what she told Mirror.co.uk:

It’s too late, the cat’s out of the bag! Of course, Heidi Klum didn’t elaborate on the details of his return, so it’s hard to say whether Simon Cowell will actually show up to the America’s Got Talent set in person, or if he’ll just call into the show via video. It’s also unclear if Cowell take part in judging for the finals at all.

But just in case that wasn't quite enough proof, fellow judge Howie Mandel also said he wouldn’t “count out seeing” Cowell before the end of the season. So it certainly sounds like he’ll at least be back in some capacity, though likely not to join in any acrobatic routines.

In the aftermath of his fall off of his electric vehicle, Simon Cowell made light of the situation and joked that anyone thinking of riding one should obviously read the manual first. The message indicated that Cowell was doing well mentally, all things considered. Following his surgery, Cowell was reportedly recovering at his home in Malibu.

However, a source allegedly implied that his back injury was more serious than we thought and that there was fear he will now continue to have issues with the three vertebrae he reportedly broke in the accident. I think it’s possible that Simon Cowell will indeed appear during the America’s Got Talent finals, if only to assure fans that he's still living and breathing.

While he’s been recovering, American Idol alum Kelly Clarkson and Saturday Night Live’s Kenan Thompson have filled in for him as judges. They did really well in their guest roles and even offered advice on how certain competitors could improve their acts. I think Clarkson and Thompson’s stints on the show actually proved that the judging on America’s Got Talent needed to change every once in a while.

The Season 15 finale of America’s Got Talent will air on Tuesday, September 22 at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBC. For more on what to watch this fall, be sure to check out our 2020 TV premiere guide.

The latest round of semi-finals was the last chance for America’s Got Talent's remaining contestants to really impress the judges ahead of the finals. Some of the contestants did a tremendous job and won over Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara, and Howie Mandel, and escape artist Jonathan Goodwin even managed a death-defying and dangerous act that left viewers pretty shocked. However, mentalist and magician Max Major seemed to have a major slip-up during his act that led to fans calling him out as a fraud, and it wasn’t pretty.

During Tuesday’s live show, America’s Got Talent contestant Max Major asked the judges and members of the virtual audience to choose random numbers for his act. However, when one girl appeared to call out the number 13, but Major went ahead and claimed she'd said "14," which worked better for his act.

Max Major revealed that he’d already placed a bet and bought a lottery ticket before the show with all six numbers that the judges and audience had chosen. (Half-ironically, the roulette spin landed on the number 13.) Fans caught the mistake and were not thrilled that Major disregarded the girl’s number choice to make his illusion work. One fan called him a fraud on Twitter, and they weren't alone.

I watched the act myself, and the audience member seemed to very clearly state a different number than what Max Major presumably heard. Making it worse, and all the more awkward, is that no one corrected him and the America’s Got Talent judges even looked downright confused about the whole thing. Perhaps it might have been different under prerecorded circumstances, but someone should have raised a concern or two. That said, I completely understand why fans (like the one below) called out not just Major, but the competition show for letting it slide.

Meanwhile, another fan had to go back and replay the moment to ensure that they’d heard what the girl said correctly.

I don’t know about you, but when fans are collectively hearing the same number, it’s impossible not to think something and/or someone was being sketchy. And the fan below didn't like that very much either.

There is some debate on Twitter about which number the girl did actually say, but many seem to feel like it ruined the act and outed Max Major as a fake. Plus, one fan even posted a screenshot of closed captioning to show that the girl said "13." For those who were going to vote for him, the number debacle changed their mind.

This isn’t the first time Max Major has been called out about a presumably shady act. A few weeks ago, Major predicted that the judges and the virtual audience would draw a sun because his interview video apparently included subliminal messages. One alleged member of the virtual audience claimed that they had been told to draw a sun before Major took to the stage. A fan on Twitter also wondered about how genuine Major’s act was when they drew something different.

It sure sounds like something fishy is going on, though no one at America’s Got Talent has confirmed anything either way (and I doubt they’d come out and say it anyway). I suppose we’ll have to wait and see what happens next, assuming there isn't someone out there who already knows.

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America’s Got Talent Season 15 continues tonight at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, and be sure to check out the finale when it airs next Tuesday, September 22. For more on what to watch, go ahead and swing by our 2020 fall TV premiere guide.

Spoilers ahead for the America's Got Talent Season 15 results episode on September 9.

America's Got Talent has officially determined the first round of competitors who will make it to the finals, each getting one big step closer to the grand prize. The latest results episode would determine the fates of some of the highest-profile acts of Season 15, including spoken word poet Brandon Leake. The Dunkin' Save round was the element of the episode to watch, however, with three very different yet formidable acts on the block: death-dropping aerialist Alan Silva, singer Archie Williams, and drummer Malik Dope.

Alan Silva won the viewer vote with the Dunkin' Save, so it fell to the judges to choose between Archie Williams and Malik Dope. This marked the second time Dope was in the bottom two with his AGT fate in the hands of the judges in Season 15, and it was also his last. Although judge Howie Mandel voted for Dope to advance to the finals, Sofia Vergara and Heidi Klum both voted for Williams. With no Simon Cowell, who is still absent from AGT due to his back injury, the final vote was 2-1, with Williams moving on.

While no act could have gotten this far in a season of America's Got Talent without packing a talented punch and both acts up for elimination were worthy of praise, I wouldn't be surprised if Archie Williams' advancement is a bit divisive among fans due to why the judges voted the way they did.

Sofia Vergara had such a hard time choosing between Archie Williams and Malik Dope that she could ultimately only point at Williams, but she went with the singer over the drummer. Although Howie Mandel voted for Malik Dope, he did clarify for viewers that Williams teared up in his previous performance because he was surprised by a picture of his daughter and couldn't get his composure. Dope got Mandel's vote ultimately because of his originality.

So, why did Heidi Klum drop the deciding vote for Archie Williams? Klum told Malik Dope that he has a bright future ahead of him regardless of what happened in the vote, and then told Archie that "you have had most of your life taken away from you" and that she wasn't going to do it to him again, so she chose him. Klum was of course referring to Williams' decades in prison after wrongful incarceration, and he was all smiles and gratitude in response.

While I certainly won't argue that Archie Williams didn't deserve the win, it is worth noting that he is sticking around due to his story as well as his talent. Would the vote have gone differently otherwise? I do wish that both acts had been able to stick around to the finals.

Between his voice, his story, and his snazzy suits, Archie Williams has been a joy to watch during Season 15. As for Malik Dope, I'm with Howie Mandel on appreciating his originality in delivering an act that hasn't been done time and time again on AGT. Hopefully Heidi Klum is right and Dope does indeed have a bright future ahead of him!

Find out if Archie Williams gets further in the competition when America's Got Talent continues heading toward the grand prize, with new episodes on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. One contestant already has an idea on what he would do with the Las Vegas residency if he wins, but the competition is stiff! Be sure to vote in our poll below about the judges' save in this episode, and check out our 2020 fall TV premiere schedule for some upcoming viewing options.

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Season 15 of America’s Got Talent is in full swing, and things got a bit heated during the latest round of quarterfinals performances. Comedian Usama Siddiquee was in the midst of telling a joke and it seemed like he had the judges in his court. That is, until Siddiquee called Heidi Klum a “tramp” as a part of his comedy set concerning music and feminism. Despite the disapproval of Klum and audience members, however, the comedian is standing by his joke.

During Tuesday night’s episode, Usama Siddiquee took to the America’s Got Talent stage to, well, show off his talent, and his jokes were generally hitting the mark with judges Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, and Sofia Vergara. Mandel even praised Siddiquee’s set. The questionable turn came when Siddiquee addressed Klum, saying that while it wouldn’t go over well if he called her a tramp on any given day, she might not take it as offensively if he did it while in the middle of a club with a good beat playing behind the words. Speaking with ET, Siddiquee confirms that he wouldn’t take back what he said. In his words:

Usama Siddiquee is certainly taking the Ricky Gervais route by not apologizing for making a joke that was perceived as offensive and sexist, saying his joke was targeted more at modern music than anything else. The America’s Got Talent comedian goes on to add that comedy always incites “visceral reactions” from people, but that he had nothing but love for Heidi Klum and the rest of the judges.

Speaking of Heidi Klum, the long-time judge was certainly not a fan of Usama Siddiquee’s tramp joke. I believe the pursed-lipped, serious expression she had on her face while watching his act made that clear. Here’s what Klum had to say about Siddiquee’s tramp joke:

America’s Got Talent Season 15 has already proven to be unpredictable, with a shocking elimination during Wednesday night’s results. The competition’s stakes are rising, and there's still no sign of Simon Cowell's return following his back surgery a few weeks ago. We’ll just have to wait and see what the next episode of America’s Got Talent will bring.

The next round of America’s Got Talent live quarterfinals will air on Tuesday, September 1, at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBC. For more on what to watch in the coming months, be sure to check out our 2020 fall TV premiere schedule.

With everything that's been going on in the world today, overzealous fans being concerned for America’s Got Talent judge Howie Mandel’s safety is just one of many plot twists of 2020. After Mandel posted an offbeat TikTok video, rumors began swirling that the reality show judge was being held captive. Yes, seriously. Following that weirdness, Mandel is openly debunking the rumors regarding his lack of safety.

It all began with a TikTok video of Howie Mandel cutting up a paper bag at the edges and labeling it “shoe stuff,” as a quasi-parody of other tutorial videos on the platform. The video has since gone viral, with many fans making their own TikTok videos to share concern for the America’s Got Talent judge. You see, they believed he was being held captive – as is an increasingly common assumption when celebs get a little odd – and that the DIY video was his cry for help. But the comedian wants everyone to know that he is, in fact, just fine. Here’s what he told BuzzFeed about the situation:

It’s obviously good to be assured of Howie Mandel’s safety. This is actually the second time that Mandel has gone on record to stem the flooding concerns for his well-being. The America’s Got Talent judge went on to say that he’d gotten phone calls regarding the situation and heard about the numerous conspiracies that his original video spawned. You can watch Mandel cut up that paper bag below.

Wanting to ease people’s minds, Howie Mandel made another TikTok video to confirm that he was indeed okay. However, some didn’t believe him and continued to speculate about the situation. Of course, Mandel once again reassured concerned fans that there was nothing suspicious about his videos and that the movements he was doing in his “I’m fine” TikTok weren’t secretly signs that something was indeed amiss.

Despite the rather bizarre situation, Howie Mandel was comforted by the fact that people cared about his safety, even if he was very confused by it. In his words:

Whew! While it might still not convince everyone, Howie Mandel is “fine.” He’s currently busy judging Season 15 of America’s Got Talent, for one, as the competition show started airing its remote auditions, with more live shows on the horizon. However, rather than hinder the show, the stay at home auditions have been pretty awesome.

Fans can watch Howie Mandel on America’s Got Talent every Tuesday night at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBC. For more on what to watch, be sure to check out our 2020 summer TV premiere schedule, as well as our fall guide to new and returning series.

It's one-and-done for America's Got Talent 2019 judges Julianne Hough and Gabrielle Union. They judged alongside Simon Cowell and Howie Mandel in AGT Season 14, but they are not going to return for Season 15 in 2020.

That's the scoop from Variety, which added Simon Cowell and Howie Mandel are expected to return as judges, and Terry Crews is expected back in 2020 to host.

So who will replace Julianne Hough and Gabrielle Union? We don't know yet. Maybe the America's Got Talent: The Champions judges, we'll have to see. It's an abrupt change, though, considering most past judges have had at least a couple of seasons to get used to the gig.

America's Got Talent Season 1 had Regis Philbin as host with Piers Morgan, David Hasselhoff, and Brandy Norwood as judges. Regis and Brandy did not return for Season 2, but Piers and Hasselhoff did, and they were joined by fellow judge Sharon Osbourne, with Jerry Springer stepping in as host. Nick Cannon joined AGT as host in Season 4. Howie Mandel joined AGT as a judge in Season 5 and he's been here ever since. When Piers Morgan left AGT, Howard Stern arrived as a judge in AGT Season 7. The next season, Sharon Osbourne left as judge and both Mel B and Heidi Klum arrived to judge AGT Season 8.

Mel B, Heidi Klum, and Howie Mandel judged together up until last year, when Gabrielle and Julianne Hough were brought in. The only other change was bringing in American Idol's occasionally lovable Grinch Simon Cowell, who replaced Howard Stern in America's Got Talent Season 11. Tyra Banks replaced Nick Cannon as host in AGT Season 12 and Season 13, until Terry Crews arrived this past summer in AGT Season 14.

Phew! Lots of changes. America's Got Talent does sometimes have guest judges as well, including several in Season 14. So fans should probably expect the same in Season 15. Not that NBC has officially renewed AGT for Season 15, but it's still an extremely popular and well-watched show, so it's pretty much a given.

America's Got Talent: The Champions premiered as a spinoff last January and it will return with Season 2 this January 6, 2020. Terry Crews also hosts that show. The judges of Season 2 include Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, and Britain's Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon.

It's possible America's Got Talent: The Champions judges will go straight to America's Got Talent Season 15 this summer. We'll have to see.

Meanwhile, Gabrille Union is busy with a lead role on L.A.'s Finest, a Bad Boys film offshoot that premiered on Spectrum and will be airing Season 2 in 2020. Julianne Hough can be seen in the Netflix series Heartstrings based on Dolly Parton's songs. She's still best known to many fans as a pro dancer on Dancing With the Stars. Her fellow DWTS alum brother Derek Hough still judges NBC's World of Dance.

America's Got Talent tends to air in the summer, premiering in May or June, so we should expect that to continue with AGT Season 15 in 2020. America's Got Talent: The Champions premieres January 6, 2020 on NBC.

As America's Got Talent continues through its live rounds, the competition gets fierce and the judges get pickier about what they want to see. That was certainly the case for Howie Mandel in the August 27 episode of Season 14, as the judge was all but doing a Simon Cowell impression by voicing his displeasure over certain acts, almost too much. Some viewers thought Howie was a bit harsh, and began to go after the judge on Twitter.

Howie Mandel noticed he was getting some flak during the episode for his opinions, and decided to do something about it. While the show was in commercial, the judge recorded a short video begging fans not to be so mean to him and let him judge the competition in peace.

Whether he was actually hurt or just joking around, Howie Mandel felt the need to address the negativity that was being thrown his way on Twitter. Meanwhile the flawless Gabrielle Union is over his shoulder and encouraging Twitter to keep it up after the judge made some comments on acts that many seemed to think a bit harsh.

It wasn't just that Howie Mandel was being harsh to talented America's Got Talent acts, though; it was the act the judge considered to shower an excessive amount of praise for. Mandel hopped on Twitter to make the video not long after his mentions increased with viewers wondering why he was so low on some contestants, but so high on the bizarre tambourine man Gonzo.

A vast majority of the comments criticizing Howie Mandel all revolved around his love for Gonzo, which was devoid of the harsh criticism he delivered to other acts throughout the night. For every comment Mandel made of an act that was slightly critical, there's a tweet of someone on Twitter pointing out he wasn't nearly as harsh with America's Got Talent's tambourine act.

With that being said, the Gonzo incident was really the height of America's Got Talent Twitter piling on Howie Mandel (who does tend to like the more bizarre acts). There's an argument to be made that the judge made some quick enemies at the episode's start when he started ragging on the dog Falco. Howie went against all the judges saying he was unimpressed with Lukas & Falco's routine.

It wasn't the best night on social media for Howie Mandel, who just recently celebrated his decade tenure on America's Got Talent. Some may be hoping that celebration marks the end of an era, though there's still plenty of "#Fandels" out there thrilled that the comedian is still doing the damn thing. In short, don't expect this incident to be the breaking point that drives Mandel away from the show.

Howie Mandel Calls Police On People Having Sex In His Bathroom

America's Got Talent is on NBC live Tuesdays and Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. ET. Stick with CinemaBlend for updates on the competition and to stay up to date on all things happening in the world of television and movies.

Spoilers ahead for the August 21 episode of America's Got Talent.

America's Got Talent has become a staple of the summer TV lineup, and judge Howie Mandel hit a milestone in Season 14. He's officially been part of the AGT family for ten years, and the August 21 episode pulled out all the stops to celebrate him. While the episode included everything from a cake of Howie's face to a throwback to many of the puns he's dropped over the years, the celebration of all things Howie started out with a little surprise from Simon Cowell, and Simon himself was all over it.

Terry Crews, who is basically the best part of AGT this season, revealed that Simon had a surprise in store for Howie in celebration of the milestone, and Simon explained that he wanted to pay Howie a tribute to show his "significance" and "importance" for the ten years he's been on the show. Simon had something to show his longtime fellow judge.

Now, if this was your first episode of America's Got Talent and first experience with the dynamic between Simon and Howie, you might have expected to see something 100% heartfelt and genuine. If you've been an AGT viewer for more than a handful of episodes, however, you probably were amused but not surprised by what followed. Take a look at what Simon had put up on Sunset Blvd.!

I wasn't kidding when I said Simon was all over the celebration of Howie! His tribute to Howie that celebrated his significance and importance to AGT was a gigantic billboard showing all of Simon's smiling face and just a little tiny sliver of Howie's face, with an arrow pointing out Howie because it would have been easy to miss him.

Luckily, Howie wasn't offended that this was how Simon -- who pretty undeniably is the star of America's Got Talent -- chose to honor him. In fact, Howie was laughing so hard that he nearly fell off his seat and grinned broadly at Simon. He did ask "Is that real?!" right before he got up to share a very big hug with Simon.

For his part, Simon was grinning ear-to-ear the whole time, and it was clear that his compliments were sincere even despite the joke. This isn't the most conventional bromance on television, but it's pretty fun! I'm glad that neither Simon nor Howie joined their two former fellow judges and Tyra Banks when they departed ahead of Season 14.

Later on in the hour, after Howie had the chance to recover a little bit from the joke, Terry Crews asked Howie how he feels about the billboard, and Howie said this:

Howie was pretty jovial throughout the whole episode, even though this was a results show. The judges had to say goodbye to five of the acts that were so talented that they made it to the live shows, and there were some real nail-biters. The acts that were eliminated were Golden Buzzer winner (and Dirty Dancing-esque lift recipient) Joseph Allen, The Sentimentalists, Nick & Lindsay, Charlotte Summers, and Marina Mazepa.

Find out what happens next on America's Got Talent when new episodes air Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

The judge cuts round of America's Got Talent has come again, which means the addition of a guest judge. For the first week of judge cuts, country superstar Brad Paisley joined the panel comprised of Simon Cowell, Julianne Hough, Gabrielle Union, and Howie Mandel. Paisley was a fun and funny addition, but he wasn't exactly doubled over with laughter at some of Mandel's remarks about a high-kicking high school dance team from Texas. In fact, he said that Howie could "suck it." Here's what happened.

The Emerald Belles dance team, comprised of 76 young women from South Lake, Texas, took the the stage for a routine set to Britney Spears' "Work Work." Pretty much everybody in the room seemed impressed by how they upped the ante for their second AGT performance, although Julianne Hough commented that they still felt "high school," prompting Simon to cattily meow into his microphone. (Hough didn't appreciate that.)

Howie Mandel went farther than just suggesting that the Emerald Belles weren't refined enough in their performance. He came right out and said that it "wasn't enough" to win America's Got Talent or even to move on to the next level. The audience booed, and Simon said the boo wasn't loud enough. Brad Paisley had more to say.

After wondering what prom must be like at their high school (and grinning when the Belles said that they're big fans of his), Brad Paisley said this:

Fortunately, Brad Paisley said "Suck it!" with a smile on his face and a friendly look to Howie Mandel while everybody (including Mandel) erupted into laughter, so it's clear that there are no hard feelings. It was also a night packed with the other judges heckling Mandel about his harsh comments about several of the acts who returned in the July 16 episode.

Howie Mandel was more impressed by some of those acts than he had been in their firsts performances, but he wasn't really overflowing with praise for all the acts he'd panned in the past. Luckily for the Emerald Belles, Simon Cowell came out and said that he thinks they deserve one of the seven slots in the next round of competition, and he planned on fighting with Howie Mandel about it.

Did America's Got Talent Give An Unfair Advantage To These Acts?

Simon Cowell wasn't quite as openly gleeful about the high-kicking high schoolers as he was about the man who reenacted The Greatest Showman with his dog, but who could really compete with that combination for Simon Cowell's affection?

The man may be infamous for critical commentary, but the man loves dogs and he loves The Greatest Showman. Should the Emerald Belles go Greatest Showman for a future performance, on AGT or elsewhere?

Take a look at the act and decide for yourself if Howie Mandel deserves to "Suck it!" for his less-than-glowing remarks about the Emerald Belles:

I'm not sure that I would rank the Emerald Belles as a group that's ready for a Las Vegas show of their own at this point, but there's something truly remarkable about how high they can kick while also pulling off impressive choreography. Throw in the fact that most of the dancers are likely 18 and under, and they could have a long future in the performance arts.

Find out what's in store next on America's Got Talent with more judge cuts when new episodes air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. Some acts have already made it to the live shows by virtue of winning the golden buzzer, but singer Joseph Allen told CinemaBlend that there are challenges that come with earning a golden buzzer. Stay tuned to find out who else has a future on AGT this season!

For the previous three seasons, America's Got Talent had held strong with its dependable judge's table of Simon Cowell, Howie Mandell, Heidi Klum and Mel B, but that's all changing for Season 14. The latter two celebs stepped down ahead of the upcoming season, with Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough taking their places. Not to mention Brooklyn Nine-Nine beast Terry Crews fully replacing Tyra Banks as the presenter. Now, NBC has revealed a first look at the new America's Got Talent team.

Everybody looks pumped and ready to go as far as I'm concerned. Terry Crews, who already replaced Tyra Banks as host of America's Got Talent: The Champions, is rocking his signature big, beaming grin, and his outstretched arm looks ready to deliver some major congratulatory high-fives to anyone to comes onto the America's Got Talent stage, assuming their hands aren't covered with blood or raw eggs or anything. I kinda wish Crews was my life coach and alarm clock.

While no one else's smiles are quite as beaming as Terry Crews' is, there are definitely some happy vibes wafting off of the new duo of judges. Julianne Hough is no stranger to this kind of gig, having served as a judge on Dancing with the Stars for four seasons (after spending some years on that show as a competitor). That said, she'll be checking out a wholly different set of acts on America's Got Talent, where dancers usually have a few other tricks up their sleeves, or pant legs as it were.

On the flip side, sitting behind the America's Got Talent table will be a relatively new experience for Gabrielle Union, who has spent the majority of her TV career purely showing off her acting talents. This will be her first time judging a primetime reality competition on a broadcast network, and I bet the charisma-oozing star will be a fantastic fit with this team.

Here, the new female judges get together for a solo shot away from Howie Mandel and Simon Cowell.

Taking on this America's Got Talent gig should be a good way for Gabrielle Union to promote her upcoming Spectrum Originals series L.A.'s Finest, which is an offshoot of the Bad Boys films centered on Union's character Syd Barrett. The action drama made headlines for more disturbing reasons recently, as a horrific on-set accident reportedly led to one of the showrunners getting part of a leg amputated. An investigation into the accident is ongoing.

Looping things back around to the two faces in this image who are most familiar to America's Got Talent fans, Howie Mandel looks primed and once again ready to be wowed by magicians, acrobats and more. Meanwhile, Simon Cowell does look more photoshopped than anyone else, but at least he appears pleased enough by it all.

America's Got Talent Season 14 doesn't yet have a debut date locked down, but viewers can probably get ready to see it premiering on NBC at the tail end of the TV midseason, at some point in May.

Some reality shows have remarkable consistency from season to season with their judges. Other shows bounce around and incorporate new faces almost every year. During its initial run, America's Got Talent mixed it up quite a bit, but recently, a more stable crew has emerged. Howie Mandel has been on board since Season 5, Heidi Klum and Mel B since Season 8 and Simon Cowell since Season 11. If the latest rumors are to be believed, however, that all could be about to change.

Right now, America's Got Talent is in the middle of a season of champions. The spinoff brought with it all four current judges but swapped out host Tyra Banks for Terry Crews. The show has already been renewed for Season 14, but Page Six is claiming that when it does return, Simon Cowell may be the only one back. No one on the show is commenting on the record, but the outlet is claiming its sources are saying the talk originally centered on whether to bring Mel B back and eventually questions about all the others were raised, with Simon allegedly "ready" for new judges.

Now, at this point, all of this is just a wild rumor without any confirmation, but it's important to note there is some related smoke. Some whispers of Tyra Banks leaving as host have been swirling for weeks, and Terry Crews hosting the spinoff definitely isn't the best sign for her future, though some are claiming she's the one who decided to bail. We might never know, but at some point sooner rather than later, we will get confirmation on the status of the rest of the judges.

It's always important to keep a judging panel fresh, but it's also worth noting that the America's Got Talent judges have pretty good chemistry and pretty good diversity of opinion. Simon Cowell is the blunt and aggressive one. Howie Mandel brings a wholesome and warm-hearted energy. Heidi Klum always has the most delightful reactions, and Mel B does a good job of waffling back and forth between genuinely rooting for the contestants but also providing direct feedback. The balance is there.

There aren't any rumors as to who might take over any of the judging spots if they end up vacated, but with the show headed for a summer return, we should start getting some answers soon. I predict we'll see a new host and probably one new judge, but I obviously have no inside knowledge and am just guessing as a fan. Stay tuned here at TV Blend though, and we'll pass along more definitive word as soon as we hear anything. Until then, enjoy the spinoff season because it could be the last we ever get from some of these familiar faces.