‘AGT’ Returns: Death-Defying Stunts Earn Sofía Vergara’s Golden Buzzer

The 2024 Summer Olympics may be over, but the jaw-dropping displays of human talent continue on “America’s Got Talent.”

The NBC competition show made a grand return Tuesday night after a three-week hiatus, presenting 11 of its top 44 acts. These included daring Tanzanian acrobats, a dancing dog, a teenage contortionist from India, and an array of singers and rappers.

As the live Quarterfinals round commenced, judges Simon Cowell, Sofía Vergara, Howie Mandel, and Heidi Klum were thrilled as every act raised the bar since the auditions, which had aired from May through July.

Host Terry Crews surprised everyone by announcing a major twist: for the first time, the Golden Buzzer would be used during the live shows. This week, the honor of fast-tracking one act to the final round went to Vergara, with other judges set to use theirs in the next three quarterfinal weeks.

The results for the three acts that won the popular vote to advance to the semifinals will be revealed Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.

In a pre-recorded introduction, Tanzania’s Hakuna Matata Acrobatic group explained, “What we do is dangerous. Every trick is a risk.” Having overcome an issue with a too-pliable balancing board that had marred their audition, the four members put it all on the line. They balanced on multiple stacked rollers elevated on a platform above each other’s heads and incorporated music and choreography into their adrenaline-pumping feats, culminating in a final pose where one man balanced upside down atop another’s head.

Their daring was rewarded with Cowell dubbing the performance “one of the most dangerous acts on a live show.” Vergara deemed it “perfection” and “one of the most ambitious acts I’ve seen on ‘AGT.'”

“I don’t think you guys need any help from anyone, but regardless of that, I have to do this,” she said before pressing the Golden Buzzer, setting off a shower of gilded confetti across the auditorium.

Week one of the ‘AGT’ Quarterfinals featured an eclectic mix of performances:

• Australian father-son rap duo Flewnt and Inkabee
• Shadow theater troupe Attraction Juniors
• Singer Liv Warfield
• Ugandan dance troupe Hypers Kids Africa
• Band Ashes & Arrows
• Los Osos High School dance group
• Tanzanian Acrobats Hakuna Matata Acrobatic
• Batonist Phillip Lewis
• Dancer and dog performer Roni Sagi and Rhythm
• Teen contortionist Arshiya
• Singer Richard Goodall

Viewers have until 7 a.m. ET Wednesday to cast their votes for their favorite performers. Fans can vote on the “AGT” app or at agt.vote.nbc.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ‘AGT’ returns with death-defying stunts that earn Sofía Vergara’s Golden Buzzer

Source: USA Today