AMERICA'S Got Talent judge Sofia Vergara made series history last night when she pressed the first ever live show Golden Buzzer. Sofia, 52, couldn't contain her excitement after one act left her so impressed, she sent the Hakuna Matata Acrobats straight to the finals during Tuesday's two-hour episode. The Modern Family star became the first AGT judge to use the new live show Golden Buzzers after host Terry Crews revealed a major format shakeup that left fans fuming.
The Brooklyn Nine-Nine star announced that "the Golden Buzzer is about to go live", meaning each judge has the power to send one act to the final episode this season. "This summer, anything can happen," Terry teased the live show episodes, before AGT went on hiatus for the duration of the 2024 Paris Olympics. The show was back with a bang, as Sofia reunited with fellow judges Simon Cowell, 64, Heidi Klum, 51, and Howie Mandel, 68, to kick off season 19's first quarterfinal on August 13.
Read More on AGT By the end of the night, the four-member acrobatics group from Tanzania was all anybody could talk about after Hakuna Matata earned the series' first live show Golden Buzzer Heidi praised their "death-defying" performance set to Zayde Wolf's Maniac, as the foursome pulled off incredible headstands and mid-air splits while balancing on top of each other. "The is one of the most difficult, dangerous acts we have seen on a live show," Simon said of their display. "It felt to me like you have arrived.
" "It's death defying what you do," Heidi added. "On top of it you are doing it on a roller baller. You guys are incredible.
" Most read in Reality "This is definitely one of the most ambitious acts I've seen on AGT," Sofia said. "I can see the difference from the audition. You guys deserve to be here.
"I don't think you guys need any help from anyone. But regardless I'm going to have to do this," she added, before standing up and pressing the Golden Buzzer. AGT fans reacted to Hakuna Matata's triumphant performance on X, with several people congratulating the group despite their aversion to the new Golden Buzzer twist.
"Wow...
Hakuna Matata Acrobats were f**king credible," one user commented. "They deserved that Golden Buzzer." Another comment read, "Hakuna Matata Acrobats was the best act of the night so far and definitely deserved the golden buzzer.
" "Hakuna matata acrobats were amazing tonight!!! They definitely have my vote!!!" a third fan wrote. THOUSANDS of hopefuls have graced the America's Got Talent stage to showcase their abilities. Here is some more information about the A-list judges.
Simon Cowell - On October 22, 2015, it was revealed Simon was replacing Howard Stern on the AGT judges panel. He became a judge during the program's 11th season and has since remained a series regular. Heidi Klum - In March 2013, Heidi was announced as Sharon Osbourne's replacement on AGT .
After a few seasons off, she returned during Season 15. Sofia Vergara - On February 27, 2020, NBC revealed Sofia was replacing Gabrielle Union for AGT season 15. Howie Mandel - Out of all the panelists, Howie Mandel is the longest-tenured judge on America's Got Talent .
Howie joined the hit reality series during the show's 5th season replacing David Hasselhoff . After Terry first explained how the Golden Buzzers would be used during the live shows, viewers declared that the "desperate" new format "makes zero sense" in tweets on X. "I don't like the golden buzzer.
It's never truly been about talent," one person complained. "I have seen the judges basically force guest celeb judges to give it to who they wanted. "This is just telling the fans 'We don't like who you vote for'," they added.
"If someone asks you to describe to them what #AGT is if they've never seen it your only option would be to say 'oh it's just a show about acrobats where 4 people press a buzzer that makes it rain gold confetti'," another fan commented. "Such a desperate attempt to generate something new because a live show golden buzzer makes zero sense. #AGT," a third user wrote.
While Hakuna Matata might have cut through the noise, viewers at home complained that the studio audience made it impossible to hear the judges' feedback. 'LITERALLY RUINING IT' X users noted that the live audience seemed louder than usual after each act, including a performance from the dance team at Los Osos High School in Rancho, Cucamonga, California. "Shut up audience I can't hear the microphone!" one X user exclaimed in all caps.
A second admitted, "The screaming audience is literally ruining it. Slightly too obnoxious reaction for some of the acts. "They've all been great, but none have been THAT great.
" Read More on The US Sun Someone else mentioned, "I want to hear how the audience hears these acts, cause the broadcast audio sucks. "Singers get drowned out by the background track, and the audience not shutting up. You'd think they'd fix these issues cause we're the ones voting.
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