America’s Got Talent 2025 LIVE SHOWS: Quarterfinals 2 Recap Live Blog
America’s Got Talent season 20 live shows continue tonight (August 26) with the second of four weeks of Quarterfinals. Eleven acts of 44 will perform tonight for YOUR VOTES! THREE acts voted through to the semifinals by viewers will be revealed on Wednesdays (August 27) LIVE RESULTS. Tonight, a judge will chose ONE Golden Buzzer to go straight to the Grand Finale in September.
Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara and Mel B. take their seats on the panel. Terry Crews serves as host.
America’s Got Talent 2025: Top 44 Live Show Guide
VOTE for your favorite contestants via the AGT phone app and/or NBC.com. Mel B. is in charge of the Golden Buzzer this week.
EDT Dance Team – Dance group
The young female dance crew from New Orleans have been rehearsing non-stop. The acrobatic dance troupe performs flips, jumps and all sorts of acrobatic tricks. They are energetic, fun, well rehearsed. But not so incredible, that they’ll make it to the next round, probably!
Sofia calls them an amazing way to open the show. Simon declares the group “spectacular.” He admires the group’s hard work. Mel B. admires their commitment and energy. “On fire,” she says. Howie thinks the group is a solid cheerleading outfit, but will have trouble competing with the rest of the competition (Howie is correct).
Mama Duke – Singer – Mel B. Golden Buzzer
For her audition, Mama sang an original song/rap “Feels so Good.” Already, her life has changed, she shares. She’ll perform another original song tonight.
This week, Mama is serious, rapping her way through a recap of the judges comments at her audition, which is kind of weird. She’s not singing this week, and that will probably not go over as well as her upbeat and catchy audition tune. But then, as it turns out, Mama doesn’t need America’s votes this time.
Simon gives Mama double thumbs up. “You have what I call IT,” he says, calling her live performance better than her audition. Howie notes that the audience loves her. He calls her real and authentic. Sofia appreciates her “clever” writing. “I hope that America votes for you,” she adds. Mel B. loved it so much that she gives Mama her Golden Buzzer! That was fast, and good for Mama as it’s debatable whether America would have voted her through to the semi-finals.
Unreal dance crew
Unreal were one of Howie’s audition Golden Buzzers. After. He told their rival group last week they were better than Unreal, they ended up not advancing. OOPS. Oh. B. Unique were students of Unreal. When they broke off to create their own group, members of Unreal felt betrayed. Now they are determined to succeed where their rivals did not.
Unreal employs precise hip hop dance moves, and humor. One of the dancers sports a Simon Cowell back tattoo, which he makes move in humorous ways. There also utilize light up suits and contortion.
Howie is on his feet. “I take back everything I said about you last week!” He gushes, calling it a million dollar dance. Howie begs America to vote for them. Sofia also thinks the routine was better than their audition. Simon believes B. Unique were stupid to leave them. “This was way better.” Mel B didn’t think they stepped it up from their first audition. The audience boos. The group claims the back tattoo would have depicted Howie if he hadn’t dissed them last week.
Alain Simonov – Magician
Alain’s father was a “grand illusionist” who toured a lot. The magician’s sleight of hand magic is creative–in particular his staging and the different props he uses. Mel B. buzzes him, which is rude. She’s a simpleton. Just not a bright person. Simon’s gotta rethink her for the panel next season.
Mel B is…confused. “I didn’t believe your magic,” she says. Sofia preferred his audition, but she liked the atmosphere he created. Howie found the routine boring. Hm. The overall vibe Alain created kept my interest. “That wasn’t great,” Simon says. “That wasn’t good enough.” Poor guy.
Leo High School Choir
Their group leader takes anyone in who wants to sing. Indeed, the solo singing from this group is not a highlight. However, the harmony singing on “Believer” is solid, while the group brings energy and commitment to the stage.
All four judges are on their feet. Sofia calls them one of the best of the night. The crowd is VERY loud! Howie says, “I love this choir more than I like cheerleaders and magic tonight.” Mel B. says, “You just lit up this whole entire place.” She begs America to vote for them. She might have given them her buzzer if she hadn’t used it already. The leader is crying as Simon declares “This is what the show is all about.” She’s retiring, so it’s bittersweet for her.
Jonglissimo – Light + Juggling
The juggling group struggled with technical problems during their audition, but somehow they pulled it off. They plan to step it up this time.
Performing backed by energetic music, the group works with even more background and pin colors. Be Happy flashes on the screen, creating an uplifting message. It’s a fun routine. It helps that the group members are really likeable.
Howie says, “Everything was perfectly in time.” He asks America to vote. Mel B is on her feet. “You were great.” She points out that one of them dropped a pin. She compares them to the kids’ group, The Wiggles. Simon doesn’t love juggling. He thinks the graphics help, but is not sure he wants to see then again. Sofia calls it a Vegas level show.
Ben Hightower – Singer
Ben has been in the military for over a decade. Former First Lady Michele Obama complimented his audition. Oh, he performed in a military choir “In the Stairwell” that was previously eliminated from AGT. He switched his song at the last minute, so last minute he worried over the song clearing in time.
He performs the “rick roll” spectacular “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley, but at the piano as a big ballad. He seems nervous. The arrangement is cool, but he starts off with a few obvious pitch problems. The performance improves in the second half. Hm. He looks upset.
Mel B. loved it. She calls it a risk and a brave choice. Howie calls it musical theater. And he does not like that. “You shrunk it.” Sofia says, “You have so much star quality.” She also liked the song choice. Simon loved his audition. “This wasn’t as good.” He felt the track was overproduced. “You’re interesting.” Simon suggests that if he advances, come with a more personal performance.
Duo Stardust – Roller Skating Acrobats
The duo were one of Sofia’s audition Golden Buzzers. They flopped on the BGT live shows last year. The couple return to the Got Talent universe for redemption. This time? REAL FIRE. However, they struggled in rehearsal–too dangerous. So, no fire.
Instead, the couple rely on roller skates and dangerous tricks as they are pulled high into the air on straps. They spend a few minutes fiddling with the straps for their next trick. They might get dinged for that. They make the delay worth it finishing in dangerous fashion.
Sofia wishes she had another Golden Buzzer. She calls them insane. Howie says his heart stopped. “You didn’t need the fire,” Sofia added. “You gave us your all,” says Howie. Simon dissed them on BGT. “This time I believe the opposite happened. I think you did way better.” He calls it the best act of the night. Mel B. agrees with Simon.
Boston Dynamics – Robot dogs
Ha ha…look at those doggies prancing around a Boston (or maybe Cambridge) park. During their audition, one of the robots died on stage, but the crowd found it quirky.
Now, five robot dogs dance to that Marky Mark song, “Good Vibrations.” Simon isn’t impressed. He buzzes them. The tech is impressive, but once the novelty wears off, maybe it’s a little boring. The routine kicks off with a robot dog that actually looks like a real dog.
Mel B didn’t love the choreography. Simon loves the doggo-realistic robot, Sparkles. He’s disappointed. The last triple back flip was all new, one of the builders insists. Howie loved it. He appreciates the technology. Sofia agrees with Howie.
Alex Zinger – Goofy dancer
Alex is a joke contestant who got buzzed and eliminated last season. He’s still bad, but producers seem to be using him as comic relief this season. He gave up an anniversary trip to perform on AGT. Backstage his wife looks happy about it (She does not).
Alex is ridiculous, and Howie buzzes him quickly. He attempts a laughably bad moon walk. His foot work is uhm…interesting. He does manage a lift! A+ Jazz Hands though.
Alex insists he’s as serious as a “heart attack.” Howie pulls out the ole drunk uncle diss. Mel B. appreciates what he brings to the stage. “It’s really bad,” Sofia says flatly. But she compliments his effort. Simon calls him “fantastically awful” and “not boring.”
Bay Melnick-Vigilio – Kid singer/guitarist
He met Def Leppard last week. His parents claim no musical talent, but Bay asked for lessons at 3 years old.
This 10 year old kid is quite the shredder, evident as he plays “I Love Rock and Roll.” His singing isn’t as good as his playing. But that’s OK. He’ll probably go through to the next round. The cute factor on its own could carry him.
Simon compliments his attitude, confidence and stage presence. “You nailed that.” Mel B knocks his vocals, but loved his guitar playing. Howie advises Bay not to listen, as Mel loved Alex Zinger. He loved it.
Basketball player turned rapper Flau’jae will be the Results show music guest tomorrow night.
