America’s Got Talent 2023 Qualifiers 4: Cardistry Magician Anna Deguzman Makes AGT History
America’s Got Talent Season 18 Qualifiers continued for a 4th week with another talented lineup, featuring the judges group golden buzzer Chibi Unity. They will most likely nab a spot in the final, but the other spot is truly up for grabs this week. One act that wowed and made history at the same time is female close-up magician, Anna Deguzman. (Read our Recap)
Anna specializes in a type of magic called cardistry. In her pre-performance package, she says, “I’m here to inspire more young girls because I didn’t have a female magician role model when I was getting started.” Her audition was her biggest performance yet. Anna’s mom, who raised her by herself, inspired her. Anna notes that she is the first female close-up magician to make the live shows in AGT history. She says she is attempting something never seen before.
She brings the judges up to a table on stage where she performs her act. Anna starts off nervously, but overall her presentation is one of the more engaging I have seen from a magician. She starts off with her signature cardistry, and then has each judge select a card telling them to remember their cards. She tells the judges to place their cards in the row of cards on the table, but she lets Howie Mandel sign his card and show the audience as the veteran judge is her mom’s favorite.
The judges mess with Anna’s delivery, but she still impresses
She first reveals Simon Cowell’s card through a typical cardistry trick. For some reason he jokes with her by saying the wrong card first which definitely made her nervous. She does guess the correct card though. Anna then guesses Sofia Vergara’s card, but she says it in Spanish, and goes on to say it’s the Ace, and a shamrock, but Simon, too says the wrong card, saying ace of spades when it should be the ace of clubs. Anna still guessed the card correctly, using cardistry.
For Heidi Klum’s, she does a trick where the card appears in her mouth, and Heidi pulls it out, revealing that it too is the correct queen card. Howie jokes since she pulled it out of her mouth, that she is the “queen of Covid,” noting he does not want to pull the card out of anything. Anna then reveals that all the cards on the table are now blank, and pulls out a cake that has the correct card numbers on it. She then reveals Howie’s signed card inside the cake. It’s a very impressive magic presentation, and it is notable how she was a pro presentation wise when the judges continually “forgot” their cards or messed with her delivery. I could be wrong, but this felt a bit intentional.
“We need more female magicians”
Howie calls Anna’s act “adorable”. Heidi says, “we need more female magicians”, calling her “incredible”. Sofia says, “I think you have a big career ahead of you.” The judges mention her nerves. Simon jokes that Anna picked the “worst assistants,” saying “she deserves this show.”
Anna’s act was one of the best of the night, and if a magician is to go through to the finals this season, she may be the one. The other acts that impressed me were dance troupe and group golden buzzer recipient Chibi Unity and solo dance act Mariandrea who celebrated her 15th birthday tonight. Those 3 acts deserve to advance, but if Shadow Ace advances, it won’t be a surprise, as that act is a fan favorite and it closed the episode.
