America’s Got Talent premieres tonight on NBC at 8/7c PM with Simon Cowell, joining Mel B., Howie Mandel and Heidi Klum on the judges panel. The former American Idol judge and X Factor creator has not been a presence on American television since 2013 when the stateside version of X Factor was cancelled by FOX after 3 seasons.
Simon Cowell Talks New Singing Show, X Factor Failure
Before it was cancelled, X Factor did manage to produce one successful act. Season 2 3rd place finishers, Fifth Harmony, are currently riding high on the charts, having just released a new album, 7/27. Simon appears to be ready to find more American superstars. He has said in several interviews that one of his goals for AGT is to find better music acts.
I’ve heard that AGT producers had been aggressively casting singers–groups in particular–to audition for the new season. In fact, the first act to be previewed from tonight’s episode is a’cappella singing group Linkin’ Bridge. When the men first take the stage they look like they’re about to spit out some hip hop rhymes. But nope. It’s smooth as silk harmonies all the way as they croon one of Simon’s favorite songs.
Join me tonight as I live blog America’s Got Talent beginning at 8 ET.
Watch Linkin’ Bridge perform.
https://youtu.be/I5-I28L4MUk
America’s Got Talent Preview
https://youtu.be/x-MsrsnZKxE
