*AMERICA’S GOT TALENT 2019 — Judge Cuts 1 – Pictured: (l-r) Brad Paisley, Sophie Pecora, Terry Crews — (Photo by: Justin Lubin/NBC)*

Tonight the America’s Got Talent 2019 Judge Cuts begin. Eighteen acts will perform for judges Howie Mandel, Gabrielle Union, Julianne Hough and Simon Cowell, but only SEVEN acts will advance to the live shows.

This week’s special guest judge is country star Brad Paisley. He’s got the Golden Buzzer and the ability to advance ONE act straight through to the lives. Terry Crews hosts.

We’re live blogging all the performances and RESULTS here. Join us!

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Lukas & Falco – Dog Act – Doggo Falco loves humans! He’s a cutie, but turning 10 soon and ready to retire. Aw. Lukas is 23 years old. Smartly, he decides to craft their routine around Simon’s favorite movie, The Greatest Showman. Lukas is dressed up in a circus outfit, he incorporates a cane and big colorful balls and barrels to execute the tricks. Lukas has his own tricks! He juggles and tumbles. Simon can’t keep the grin off his face. He gives them a standing ovation. The tricks are ordinary, but that dang pupper is adorable. Brad notes it was smart to tailor the act to Simon. Howie mentions how Lukas had a bunch of tricks too. Gabrielle thinks they improved from the first time. Julianne calls his essence “special” and believes he deserves to be here. Simon thinks the Greatest Showman 2 should be made with dogs. He may not be kidding. He adds that Lukas couldn’t have done more. He plans to fight for the act.

Andy Rowell – Viral “Tequila” karaoke guy – This time the song is “Turn Down for What” and the bit is even lamer than his audition. Why is he wasting our time?

Jecko – Loud annoying comedian – He’s a “gonzo” dude. Loud, with props. Didn’t Gallagher do this in the 80s? No wonder we didn’t see his audition. Simon calls it “annoying” adding “I hated every minute.”

The Orange Magician – He wasn’t featured in the auditions either. He has a catchphrase “It’s good.” Brad asks, “How’s my music?” Hardy har har. He does some quick change stuff first. He’s annoying, but not without talent. I don’t care for the broad humor, but he is creative. Kids would love this. “I love the act, but you are so annoying when you talk,” says Simon. Brad calls it an allegory to Game of Thrones. Ha ha. “My little kids would flip out over this,” he says. Howie likes that he fits into a lot of categories.

Berywam – French beatboxing quartet – The quartet has been working hard to up their game, they say. They plan to take everybody to “the nightclub.” They perfectly imitate a club DJ, and it’s really canny? Where’s the turntable? Don’t need one. They do a clever rap about AGT. Inhuman sounds are emanating from this group. It’s impressive. The crowd is on their feet. Howie reminds people at home there is no track. Brad declares that the group is busting down doors. Simon thought the act only had a great ending. “I’m not sure that…will go viral they way it could.” Gabrielle and Julianne disagree. Both think they should have a chance to go through.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81HZteMAUA4

Dylan – Ten year old rapper – Dylan wasn’t featured during the auditions. He raps a Kendrick Lamar tune. It’s very brief. Brad mentions that he auditioned for something at 10 and was terrible. Dylan says “You proved them wrong and won 3 Grammys” This kid will have some proving wrong to do. He won’t be advancing based on that performance.

Emerald Belles – High kick precision dance troupe – The large group of dancers are high schoolers from Texas. Last time, Howie compared them unfavorably to the Rockettes. It wasn’t really a fair comparison. The girls are ready to prove him wrong. There are SO MANY OF THEM and they manage to stay in sync. That in itself is impressive. They incorporate a little bit of ballet into the routine, and then end with a split. “Somebody’s in it to win it!” says Simon. Julianne is impressed, but feels it still has a bit of a “high school element.” Simon meows. C’mon, Julianne knows what she’s talking about. She advises them to up their game. Gabrielle thinks they are worth fighting for. Howie still doesn’t think it’s enough to move on to the next level. Simon encourages the audience to boo. The girls get all giggly in front of Brad. “Howie can suck it,” he says. Simon thought their personalities made the performance. He’ll be fighting for them, along with Gabrielle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtIFWq4qVcc

Finally, the judges are mixing it up a little.

The Sentimentalists – Mentalists – Howie didn’t care for this act either. But they convinced Simon with one last trick. Steffie guesses that Brad chose a red marble out of a box. He becomes tonight’s volunteer. Brad is thinking of a photo from his phone. She guesses it’s a photo of a guitar and she’s correct. Brad is handed a piece of paper, which not only predicts the colors of the judges marbles, but also Brad’s guitar photo. Brad promises that he didn’t know a thing, “You aren’t getting anywhere near my wallet.” Howie is still not impressed, he doesn’t care for the presentation. Julianne promises to fight for them.

Duo Togni – Acrobatic duo from Budapest – We didn’t see their full audition, but apparently, Howie said no, calling it “wonky.” They work in their air with harnesses and grips. Oy. He holds up the girl by her hair and then drops her. She lands like a cat. Yeah, they meant to do that. The lady wants to hold Howie in his teeth. She pulls him high in the air. He’s freaking out. Heh. Howie will fight for them, if they promise not to use them in their act. Brad calls it “amazing.” Simon loved the danger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YUXYtk60vc

Sophie Pecora – Teen Youtube star – Fifteen year old calls herself “shy” but she’s actually a big Youtube influencer. She writes her own songs. During her audition, she impressed the judges with a talky rap thing. She calls the song she’s about to sing “the most personal out of all of them.” It’s about wanting to be alone “Everything makes me so angry sometimes.” TEEN ANGST. She raps part of the song again. Her vibe reminds me a little of American Idol’s Catie Turner. but not as good, frankly. She gets a standing ovation for that. It was smart to bare her soul. “You just reached into our heats and snatched it out,” says Gabrielle. Simon thinks the song should have ended with “I don’t think about you anymore.” Oh hey Simon. Mansplain her feelings why don’t you. He claims he’s speaking as a father, and he means well. But still. Brad loved the line “Misfits have powers that are pretty rad.” Brad thinks she schooled so many people in the moment AND OH HECK SHE’S HIS GOLDEN BUZZER. Sophie is speechless. Dad is wiping away tears.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgtDHLBfreg

Dakota and Nadia – Contemporary dance duo – They were a Golden Buzzer act on France’s Got Talent 2018. Julianne feels they didn’t do enough. She can’t imagine them as a Vegas act.

Kevin Schwartz – Shy comedian – He does the deadpan Stephen Wright deal. We see a few of his jokes, but he’s being montaged. Simon thinks he’s talented, but not a Vegas act.

Loki Alohikea – Singer – Hoo boy. We see only a snip. Howie thinks he’s a very good singer, but not enough to be a headliner in Vegas.

Matthew Richardson – Hoop Aerialist – He impressed the first time around. This time, he’s performing a routine inspired by his dad, who supported his dream. While staying in a hotel called the Dream Catcher, Mathew dreamed about his dad’s death. Then he learned his dad had pancreatic cancer. He died a month later. He works with a hoop styled like a dream catcher. His dad’s voice from recordings narrate the act. This is different. His presentation, like last time, is elegant and artistic. Unsurprisingly, Matthew receives a standing ovation. Brad calls it moving and inspiring. Gabrielle says we’re watching him literally make his dreams come true. Simon confesses that he still talks to his late mom and dad. He thinks the act is worthy of headlining the main show.

Damiyr – Subway busker – We didn’t see his initial audition. Simon told him that he needed to take a risk. He begins his “Say Something,” a’cappella. He sings nearly the full first verse without instruments. Frankly, the naked presentation reveals his thin tone. He’s just OK. He cries at the end. Brad calls it brilliant. Simon feels he sang with passion and intensity. Hm.

Chris Klafford – Former Swedish Idol winner. – He knows his look is “odd.” He sang “Imagine” for his audition. Oh. He’s singing an original this time. It’s called “Something Like Me.” It’s about people judging him over appearance. It’s a decent tune, he sings with passion. This song shows off his range. He’s better than the singer who preceded him, actually. Oh, he’s crying too, as the audience gives him a standing ovation. Brad calls him inspiring. Howie thinks he stepped it up by singing an original song. Julianne urges him to stay who he is. Simon was less excited when he watched his audition back. Singing an original changes everything, he says.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUu7iUM46Jw

Messoudi Brothers – Hunky hand balancers – They BARELY made their audition. Their flight from Beirut lost their luggage and they haven’t slept or eaten. Their dad is in the audience. Aw. The trio is so strong. The balancing poses look impossible. They waste little time stripping off their shirts. They know what the audience wants. Heh. Good lawd. One brother is literally holding up another by his calf muscles. Yikes. Terry concurs that it’s mega hard to do that! The brothers invite their dad on stage. HIS SHIRT IS COMING OFF. Ha ha. One last routine with all four. One brother is standing on another’s a**. They form a crazy family configuration. CRAZY. Gabrielle thanks the airlines for losing their shirts. “You did not disappoint. You upped your game by 100 percent.” Brad says he couldn’t to that with his sons when they were 2 and 4. Simon jokes that he will never show the audition to his son Eric. He is impressed that they rose in a challenging situation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTktDfbjoA4

NDLOVU Youth Choir – African Youth Choir – The group is made up of disadvantaged youth from South Africa. They love their leader, who has made them believe in themselves. They love America a lot! They love hot dogs! The leader, who is white, notes they would have been arrested in apartheid South Africa. This is one of the best choirs to ever appear on AGT. Their singing and choreography is superior. And their energy is so infectious. Julianne is impressed by their unity and collective-ness. Brad calls it beautiful and effortless. Gabrielle loves everything they represent. “Pure magic,” she says. If Simon could bottle them, he’d drink it every day. “I don’t think you could have done any more.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCaECRMOdyw

TIME FOR RESULTS. The judges “deliberate.” Always my favorite–the staged, fake deliberation. Each of the acts are called to the stage, where they learn their fate.

America’s Got Talent Judge Cuts 1 Results Part 1