'AGT's Simon Cowell amazed by 'astonishingly brilliant, creative' pole dancer: Watch here
The final semifinals episode of "America's Got Talent" has arrived, with 11 more acts vying for two coveted finale spots.
A pole dancer who uses digital media to stunning effect in her act wowed judges Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Sofía Vergara and Heidi Klum. A Target employee showed off her soaring vocals, and one dance group earned the highest compliment of the night, with their act called "the best moment I have seen in ‘AGT’ history" by a particularly enthusiastic judge.
That same judge said another act was "like a 'Saturday Night Live' sketch" — and not in a good way.
Here's everything that went down during Tuesday's two-hour live show.
Kristen Cruz delivers 'powerful' opener
Kristen Cruz, a singer aiming to take her talent from TikTok to the "AGT" stage, opened the show with a rousing performance of "Nothing Breaks Like a Heart" by Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus.
The act earned rave reviews from Vergara, Klum and Mandel — but not Cowell.
“In my opinion, you chose the wrong song tonight," he said, adding he finds Cruz's voice more suited to country. "Your voice is amazing. I just don’t think you connected with the song tonight for some reason."
Way to start off on a positive note, Cowell.
The other judges, however, assured Cruz to pay him no mind.
“The word that comes to mind is ‘powerful,’ " Mandel said. "America only has two to choose. Hopefully you’re one of them."
'AGT' judges Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel get 'deepfake' treatment by AI act Metaphysic: Watch here
Mervant brings music to magic
Rapping magician Mervant wowed the crowd with an act that combined his love of music with magic.
“It’s new, and it definitely separates you from the others," Klum said. During his act, Mervant performed a freestyle rap while performing an epic magic trick.
Did he manage to cheer up Cowell?
“I really, really, really liked your first audition," Cowell said. "I can hear tonight how nervous you are. And you know what? It made me like you even more."
'AGT': Howie Mandel gives Golden Buzzer to 11-year-old discovered singing in studio audience
Howie Mandel calls Travis Japan a 'Saturday Night Live' sketch
Japanese boy band Travis Japan performed stunning dance moves in shimmering silver ensembles. Their vocals, however, didn't shine as brightly as their wardrobe, according to the judges.
“I'm big boy band fan," said Mandel, who hit his X during the performance. "You’ve got to hit some of the notes when you’re singing those solos. ... It seemed like a parody. This looks like a 'Saturday Night Live' sketch.' "
Oof.
Klum agreed the vocals "do need a little more finessing, but we can get there."
"The vocals today were a little bit bad," Vergara added. "I don’t think tonight was your night."
To the audience's surprise, Cowell proved most forgiving.
"If you were to rewind this performance and turn the volume off, it would be great," he said. "Your nerves got you. It was actually the wrong song, full stop. However, I love you.”
Max Ostler gives 'incredible' choreography to Ed Sheeran
Max Ostler, a young dancer from Australia who dreams of becoming a world-renowned choreographer, performed a moving routine to Ed Sheeran's "Castle on the Hill."
"There’s something about you that makes people love you," Vergara said.
"It's his talent! That’s why people love him. And his guts," Cowell replied. "The song choice was immaculate. The choreography was incredible. ... For me, this was better than your first audition."
Mandel said Sheeran owed Ostler a collaboration.
“I think Ed Sheeran should give you a call, and you should do that live on stage with him," he said.
Jordan Conley makes crowd 'love' him
Jordan Conley, whom America voted into the semifinals after the judges passed him over, earned the judges' approval with his zany stand-up.
"You are just lovable," Manel said. "You’re likable and relatable, and that’s all you need. You have the energy, you have the spirit, and people just want to spend time with you."
Klum complimented Conley's physical comedy, while Vergara wished him "the best."
"You did brilliant tonight," Cowell said. "It means a lot to you, and I think our audience are gonna love you after this performance."
Kristy Sellars is only pole dancer you want 'the entire family to see'
Kristy Sellars proved once again she's no ordinary pole dancer.
Using stunning graphics on a massive LED wall behind her, the Australian performer delivered a dance routine that saw her explore a magical realm with Peter Pan-style aesthetics and whimsy.
"You act. You perform. Your imagination is amazing," Klum said. "I loved it.”
Vergara marveled at Sellars' precision.
“You have to be at the right time, at the right place, at the right moment to create your magic," she said. "This was even better than the audition."
Cowell called Sellars' act unlike any other on "AGT."
“This was unbelievable," he said. "One of the most astonishingly brilliant, creative acts we’ve seen on the live show. You might be the one who’s gonna surprise us all at the end of this year."
Mandel quipped: "Finally, a pole dancer I can bring the entire family to see!”
'AGT' judge Simon Cowell stunned by 'phenomenal' pole dance act: Watch here
Blade 2 Blade's act 'like watching a horror movie'
As the last danger act left, Blade 2 Blade brought the thrills.
The duo of brothers threw knives at a woman spinning on a wheel and donned blindfolds while throwing flaming knives at each other, narrowly missing.
For the last part of the act, the woman spun on a pole in between them as they hurled axes that narrowly missed her and each other, all while blindfolded.
They earned a standing ovation from all four judges.
“It’s like watching a horror movie," Cowell said. "You shouldn’t like it, but you do."
Urban Crew is Heidi Klum's 'favorite act of the night'
Urban Crew, a dance group from the Philippines, leapt through hoops and performed plenty of backflips.
In a rare moment of self-awareness, Cowell named one of the most puzzling aspects of "AGT": How are these judges remotely qualified to evaluate these acts? Is Mandel an authority on magic? Klum on acrobatics?
"I'm thinking halfway through, 'What do we actually know about this?' The answer is nothing really," Cowell admitted, adding that, for what it's worth, Urban Crew made him "feel amazing."
Mandel said Urban Crew delivered "the most exciting, entertaining act of the night," and Klum called it her "favorite act of the night so far."
"You went all out tonight. The energy, the danger," Vergara said, "It was perfect."
Aubrey Burchell sings like 'perfection'
Aubrey Burchell, a Target employee with dreams of a singing career, showed off her impressive range with Kirby's "Loved by You."
Mandel praised her talent but lamented her song choice.
"I'm wondering if that choice in song was a little smallish and a little more cabaret for the people at home," he said "I love you. I might have chosen something even bigger."
Klum fired back that she "loved the song."
"Because you can show that amazing range that you have," she added.
Vergara called the performance "perfection."
"There was nothing nervous about you tonight," she said. "This sounded like you’d been doing this forever."
Cowell noted Burchell may not be a "perfect" singer — but that's why he likes her.
"I loved you from the minute we met," he said. "You’re really cool and really interesting. You’ve got great taste. ... I know what Howie is saying. ... You have to live by your own decision. Whether the song was known enough or not, I don’t think it matters, because you did brilliant."
Shu Takada gets 'two thumbs up' from Simon Cowell's 8-year-old son
Shu Takada, a yo-yo performer from Japan, showed how many lightning-fast tricks can be done with the children's toy.
Cowell said he saw his 8-year-old son Eric give "two thumbs up" from the audience. But did the act impress Cowell?
"You are a true world champion," he said. "You’ve given yourself a shot to be in the finals next week."
"You definitely made yo-yo cool," Vergara added. "You really know how to put on a show.”
Mandel also offered praise, telling Takada, “We have never seen yo-yo done to the level that you are doing it."
The Mayyas deliver 'best moment... seen in ‘AGT’ history'
Last but not least, Vergara's Golden Buzzer The Mayyas took the stage.
The dance group, consisting of 36 women from different parts of Lebanon, stunned the audience with a hypnotizing routine performed in perfect synchronicity.
"This not just gonna change your lives," Cowell said. 'This is a performance that changes the world."
Vergara, who leapt onto the stage after the performance, exclaimed: "I want to give them another Golden Buzzer!"
“I really think that you are Vegas ready," Klum said. "You don’t have to do anything else."
Mandel said The Mayyas delivered the most "singularly beautiful, most powerful" act.
"The best moment I have seen in ‘AGT’ history," he added.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'AGT': Simon Cowell marvels at 'brilliant' pole dancer Kristy Sellars
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