Top-notch talent goes a long way on “America’s Got Talent,” but so does naked ambition.
Nudist comedians Bomba Circus surprised judges Simon Cowell, Sofía Vergara, Howie Mandel and Heidi Klum during the eighth round of auditions Tuesday night.
Dressed in brightly colored tops and striped trousers, the Israeli trio began their audition by briefly retreating backstage for a costume change. When they reemerged, the comics had ditched their outfits in favor of wooden paddles that partially covered them up. The group proceeded to alternate and juggle the paddles among themselves, as well as balance a small ball without losing their coverings.
Despite the initial shock value, the zany act charmed Mandel. “I just loved it,” he said. “What you guys do is just tremendous.”
Klum was also impressed and playfully offered a suggestion to improve their routine. “I feel like you need smaller rackets, like the ones for table tennis,” she said. “It is my favorite act of today.”
Bomba Circus will get another chance to share their cheeky act, as the trio earned four yeses.
Here’s what else went down.
Simon Cowell calls disabled athlete Zion Clark an ‘inspiration’
Zion Clark won’t let anything stand in the way of his “AGT” glory.
The 25-year-old disabled athlete, who has no legs due to having the disorder caudal regression syndrome, deftly navigated an obstacle course onstage in which he performed box jumping, weight-lifting and climbed across a monkey bar set.
The uncanny physicality of Clark’s performance earned him a roar of applause and a standing ovation from the judges. “We use the word ‘amazing’ a lot, but I think it really applies to who you are,” Mandel said. “I want everybody to watch you, to know you. You are very, very, very important.”
Talent aside, Cowell said he was moved by the power of Clark’s resilience. “I am so happy you came on our show. You have no idea,” he said. “You have such an incredible personality. You define the word ‘inspiration.’ … How you’ve come through this with this attitude is remarkable.”
Clark conquered the obstacle of the “AGT” audition round. The athlete earned four yeses.
Howie Mandel says cartoon band Noodle and Bun is ‘most amazing thing ever‘
Who needs a rock ‘n’ roll growl, when a melodious bark will do just the trick?
The judges and studio audience were introduced to Bun, an animated singing dog, on a screen above the stage. Perplexed by the unusual setup, Cowell shared his doubts before the musical canine could sing his opening note.
“Can you just excuse me one second? Because I’m a little bit confused,” Cowell said. “Can I have a human please?”
A production crew member explained to the judges that Bun was a character created by a group of animators but voiced by a real singer backstage. After the audition was complete, the animators would edit the performance to give Bun a three-dimensional figure.
Appearing nearly lifelike onstage, Bun – accompanied by a feline guitarist and horse on the drums – launched into a powerhouse performance of “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith.
“We have had so many animals on this stage,” Klum said. “You are by far definitely the best we’ve ever had.”
Mandel also appreciated the novelty of the cartoon act. “This is the most amazing thing ever,” he said. “I am so excited.”
Noodle and Bun get to keep living the rockstar fantasy, as the group scored four yeses.
Comedian Sunny Chatum wins over judges with ‘annoying’ musician impersonation
Sunny Chatum proved that the element of surprise can be the greatest punchline of all.
Dressed in a black cowboy hat and matching button-down shirt, the undercover comedian appeared onstage as Chatum, a mustached singer-songwriter from Paris, Texas. However, Chatum spent much of his audition talking off the judges’ ears instead of singing.
Despite repeated pleas by the judges and jeers from the studio audience, Chatum stalled his audition with various tangents, including showing off his dream board, praising Vergara as “a strong woman” and bringing out egg shakers for the judges to play.
Fed up with his onstage shenanigans, all four judges gave Chatum red Xs, seemingly cutting his “AGT” journey short. “I wish I could show you our vision board. It’s a picture of you leaving,” Mandel said.
As the judges started to give their feedback, Chatum began peeling off his mustache, revealing it was fake. Chatum then shared that his real name is Chris and he’s a comedian from Brooklyn, New York.
The impersonation reveal changed some of the judges’ tunes, with Mandel and Vergara voting Chris through to the next round. Klum, however, remain unconvinced and said the act was “a little bit annoying.”
Cowell was the one who turned Chris’ “AGT” fate around, as he gave the comedian the final vote he needed to continue in the competition. “You’ve gone from being the most annoying contestant I’ve genuinely ever met in my life to suddenly everyone loves you,” he said. “For that reason, you’ve got a yes.”
Sofía Vergara awards Golden Buzzer to Brazilian singer Gabriel Henrique
Music is its own language, and Gabriel Henrique is a fluent master.
The Brazilian vocalist, who humbly confessed he speaks little English, floored the judges with his angelic tenor range and soaring cover of the Whitney Houston ballad “Run to You.”
The 27-year-old won over Mandel and Klum with his “pop diva” vocal prowess and whistle-tone embellishments.
“If Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey had a baby, it would be Gabriel,” Klum said. “You are incredible.”
Henrique’s performance especially struck an emotional chord with Vergara.
“That was so perfect, (so) spectacular,” Vergara said. “Every time as a judge, you’re waiting for that feeling and that was what I was waiting for: Something very beautiful and very heartfelt.”
Before she could give her fellow judges a chance to deliberate, Vergara hit her Golden Buzzer button, sending Henrique straight to the “AGT” live shows.
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