America’s Got Talent Fantasy League Recap: Qualifiers Week 2. Six acts advance
America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League continues with Week 2. The second group of 10 acts will perform for a chance to advance to the next round, and maybe even the Golden Buzzer which sends them straight through to the finale.
The new format has a couple of twists. Viewers at home picked the show’s 40 acts via online vote. Additionally, the judges–Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Mel B.–each assembled a 10 person “dream team” of acts. The judges mentored their teams, hoping to bring an act to the finale and ultimately the win. The winner of AGT: Fantasy League nabs a $250K prize.
At the end of the episode host Terry Crews will reveal the five acts the audience voted through to the next round. During the episode Howie Mandel will choose her Golden Buzzer–an act from her team or a steal from one of her fellow judges.
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Adrian Stoica & Hurricane – Dog Act – Team Simon Cowell
Adrian and his doggo won the most recent AGT season last summer. They are the reigning champs! NBC previewed this performance last week. It’s another cute routine featuring Hurricane interrupting Adrian as he tries to watch TV, eat dinner etcetera. Once again, it’s as if Hurricane has a mind of his own, not taking direction or being motivated by treats. The storytelling is adorable.
“It seems like Hurricane has trained you,” observes Howie. It’s the first time Mel has seen the act. She calls them “just adorable.” Simon thinks the act keeps getting better. He admires that Adrian is willing to put his title on the line. When Simon joins Adrian on stage, he admits to a crush on Mel B and that he hung a poster of her on his wall as a team. Simon doesn’t look very pleased.
Piff the Magic Dragon – Magician – Team Heidi Klum
IT’S PIFF AND MR. PIFFLES! “Eat it Howie,” Piff teases him about ending up on Heidi’s team. Piff recently became an American citizen. He admits that AGT changed his life when he competed on the show in 2015. Despite not winning, he headlines a popular residency in Las Vegas.
For the act, Piff invites the judges on stage to “make the greatest sandwich ever.” Each of the judges choose an ingredient. Mr Piffles picks the last! Ha ha ha Neil Patrick Harris who chose Piff as his Golden Buzzer way back when, appears on video to announce a sandwich is in a locked safe. And in the safe is…a sandwich with all the correct ingredients. AND OMG earlier in the bit, Heidi pulled a few hairs from her head and stuck them to a name tag. Piff bites into the sandwich…and he gets a mouth full of hair. EW. But yes…Piff pulled it off.
“You delivered the best overall performance I’ve seen from you,” Simon declares. Howie believes Piff came in with a winning performance.
Mersey Girls – Dance Group – Team Mel B.
This dance group competed on Britain’s Got Talent as an Alesha DIxon Golden Buzzer, with a heart-rending backstory. One of the members had scoliosis. She believed BGT would be the last time she ever performed on stage. She needed a surgery in the USA, so Simon flew her out to the USA and paid for it. Now, she can dance. Mel suggests that they incorporate their backstory into their dance.
The group performs a contemporary routine which is about catching somebody when they fall. Her surgery scars are visible on her back. Their dancing is perfunctory, but the emotional backstory, which centers Simon as the hero, might help them advance.
Howie gets honest. He’s moved by routine but doesn’t know if it’s great. Heidi agrees with Howie. She calls them snoozy. The girl reminds everyone that she has two metal rods in her back. Sheesh. Simon says “I like acts that want to win.” He adds, “Stories are important. I think the audience will advance you.” There you have it.
Drake Milligan – Country Singer – Team Howie Mandel
Heidi wanted him on her team and she’s mad. Remember when Howie predicted that the original song Drake performed on stage would hit number 1? That’s when Drake performed his new single for his AGT audition song back in 2017. He finished the competition in 3rd place. This time, Drake will sing a song he DID NOT WRITE called “Don’t Leave Me Loving You.” Although he didn’t write it, he feels it will show another side of his talent. The song is his new single from his upcoming EP.
Instead of performing in front of his band with guitar in hand. Drake begins the performance sitting on a stool as he belts out a heartfelt country weeper. It is a departure from his usual rolicking country performance.
Simon calls Drake a star, but didn’t like the song. “As a writer, you are better than that.” He calls Howie’s mentoring bad. He feels Drake didn’t connect to the song. Heidi disagrees. She liked the song. In the past, the crowd always loved his upbeat songs. Can Drake advance to the semi-finals with a ballad?
Ramadhani Brothers – Hand Balancers – Team Heidi Klum – Howie’s Golden Buzzer (STEAL!)
The brothers from Tanzania were season 18 finalists. Their act, which involves dangerous and audacious head balancing, finished in fifth place. The duo would have been deserving winners. They vow to raise the bar from last time.
The big trick involves the brother on the bottom wearing a blindfold as the other balances on his head. Then they climb stairs. Not even stairs–pedestals. Crazy. They manage to climb back down to the stage without killing each other. Then it’s back up the stairs backward. At least the brother took off his blindfold. It looks like he might slip…before a commercial interruption. But then, yay. They finish the act without a mishap.
Simon wishes he had the buzzer this week. “You are unbelievable!” says Mel. The duo broke through the ceiling, says Simon. Howie thinks they can do better. Uh oh. Heidi knows what’s coming. She tries to stop him. But she can’t. Howie hits his Golden Buzzer and steals them. Now, they will move on to Howie’s team and straight to the finals.
Preacher Lawson – Comedian – Team Howie Mandel
Preacher made it to the finals of AGT season 12 seven years ago. This is his fourth go at a Got Talent show. He even competed on BGT: Champions. Preacher is thrilled to be mentored by a fellow comedian. He jokes about Howie not saving his Golden Buzzer for him.
He starts with stories about touring in England and how bad British impressions of American accents are. He’s more manic than usual up there, going from joke to joke and topic to topic. From England to peeing in public toilets.
Howie believes that Preacher doesn’t need his Golden Buzzer. Simon believes he’s stepped up his act. he calls it a “winning performance” adding, “I really like you.”
Grace Good – Hoop Artist – Team Heidi Klum
Grace was cut at the Qualifiers on season 18. Howie thought she lost her nerve and made mistakes. Mentor Heidi believes Howie was too hard on her.
She uses silks as she has before. But this time, she incorporates balancing on a huge ball as she works with several hula hoops set on fire. She’s definitely added new elements to her act. She ends the routine by twirling fiery torches about.
Simon can’t figure out her unique selling point. He didn’t like the work on the ball. I disagree! That took skill! Mel B. disagrees. Howie ALSO disagrees with Simon! Reversing himself from last time–he calls her fantastic.
Vardanyan Brothers – Acrobats – Team Mel B.
Armenian brothers were semi-finalists on Britain’s Got Talent season 13. The two feel that they learned from their mistakes and are back for redemption.
First things first–ripping off their tee shirts. They perform hand and head balancing similar to the Ramadhani Brothers. But they set themselves apart with sword play. Incredibly they manage to balance sword tip to sword tip. That looked hard! But it’s really their only trick.
Howie felt they took it to a whole new level. Simon thinks the Ramadhani Brothers had more levels. Simon doesn’t think they stepped it up from BGT. “I don’t think they’ll go through,” Simon believes. I agree with Simon. Their whole schtick is “one weird trick,” while the Ramadhani Brothers presented a more layered act.
Wes-P – Comedian – Team Simon Cowell – AGT S13
Wes got three nos when he competed on AGT season 13. But since then he’s built up a huge social media following in the millions. He has also broken 8 Guiness records. Wes wound up on Simon’s team, because the poor guy was last (or so the video package says).
After he rips off his shirt and attaches clips to his nipples, Mel. B. buzzes him. Now he’s naked, covered by a tablecloth and/or a mylar star balloon. He ends with plungers attached to his breasts which light on fire. Really really REALLY STUPID. The only reason he’s back on AGT is the hoped for viral video. Simon HATED him last time. But now he loves him! Mel is not impressed. “I’ve just wasted 4 minutes of my life,” she says.
Sheldon Riley – Singer – Team Mel B.
NBC previewed this performance earlier today. Sheldon performs dramatic songs while wearing elaborate masks. He explained that the mask helps him deal with his self-confidence problems. The singer competed on AGT the year of COVID-19 and was forced to perform remote from Australia. He was eliminated before the finale. Since then, Sheldon competed on Eurovision Song Contest representing Australia. Now, he confesses to Mel that he’s ready to rip off his mask.
He starts off his cover of Eurovision winner Loreen’s song “Tattoo” wearing the mask. But then halfway through the song, he rips away the mask and tosses it aside. It’s very dramatic. He performs with his eyes closed and seems nervous. But he can sing and looks fine!
Sheldon says it felt good to ditch the mask. Mel and Heidi call him “gorgeous.” Howie thinks he stepped it up and “did something wonderful for the world.” Simon calls his voice distinct and him a “proper frontman singer.”
RESULTS
Terry announces the five acts the audience voted through to the semi finals.
Vardanyan Brothers and Wes-P step forward. The act going into the semi-finals is…Vardanyan Brothers. Wes-P is eliminated. Mersey Girls and Sheldon Riley are next. The act going into the semifinals is Sheldon Riley. Piff the Magic Dragon and Grace Good are next. The third act going into the semifinals is…Grace Good! SHOCK PIFF IS ELIMINATED ROBBED. Preacher Lawson, Drake Milligan and Adrian and Hurricane are last. The next act toing into the semifinals is Adrian Stoica & Hurricane. The act taking the last spot in the semifinals is…Preacher Lawson! Drake is eliminated. He is still dropping his EP right before the finale, however.
Howie’s Golden Buzzer moving straight to the finale
Rahmahadan Brothers (Stolen from Team Heidi)
Five acts audience voted through to the semifinals
Vardanyan Brothers – Team Mel B.
Sheldon Riley – Team Mel B.
Grace Good – Team Heidi
Preacher Lawson – Team Howie
Adrian Stoica & Hurricane – Team Simon
ELIMINATED
Wes-P – Team Simon
Mersey Girls – Team Mel
Piff the Magic Dragon – Team Heidi
Drake Milligan – Team Howie
Howie lost his first team member this week, but stole an additional act from Heidi. I am a little surprised Grace Good advanced instead of Piff the Magic Dragon. They moved on even after Simon criticized and tried to tank their act. Oh well. Piff will be fine. He’ll go back to his headlining show in Vegas. Grace is talented and could use the exposure.
