America’s Got Talent has always centered around judges sitting behind a table, selecting top performers to move forward to compete on the big stage. But some of their Season 21 decisions are pretty difficult to defend. At some point, AGT needs to remember what its title promises. Meaning, the live shows need to be stacked with the acts America most wants to watch, not the acts a particular judge happens to prefer.
Don’t get me wrong. Many talented performers are moving forward. The problem, however, lies with some of the most recent eliminations. Several of these axed performers have what the live shows need, from memorable performances to genuine and unique skills that viewers actually want, much less expect to see.
Meanwhile, some of the advancing acts feel questionable, at best. Generally speaking, the judges don’t have to agree with America. But they do need to give viewers a reason to believe they are sending the right acts through. Currently, this is where the series feels lacking, and in my opinion, it is hurting the overall tone of AGT Season 21.
Simon Cowell’s Callback choices on America’s Got Talent are questionable
Simon Cowell is typically the toughest judge on America’s Got Talent. However, his choices during the first Judges’ Callbacks were … interesting. To recap, Simon had six acts to reconsider. These acts included singers Travis Garland and Elsie, duo Nyjah Music and Zyah Rhythm, dancers Elektro Dads, magician Akira, and a novelty dancing performer named Abiud Sando.
Ultimately, Simon advanced five of these acts, leaving only one act in the dust. Meanwhile, Mel B advanced a much smaller number, sending just three of her six Callback Choices on. Mel B was willing to eliminate certain performers who weren’t ready for the big stage. In contrast, Simon was a lot more generous with his selections.
The live shows represent the best of the best. Yet, if one judge treats their Callbacks as a genuine final audition while another uses theirs as an opportunity to bring almost everyone back, then the format of the entire series starts to feel random, not talent-based. And that defeats the whole premise of this series.
Hopefully, the remaining judges will keep this in mind when making their Callback selections this week.
Some of AGT’s most memorable acts are being sent home too soon
The biggest frustration I have with the new Judges’ Callbacks is that the performers I actually remember keep getting eliminated. Joel M is the clearest example of this. During his original audition, this magician made Mel B’s prized Spice Girls bracelet disappear, only to bring it back in one piece. Then, during the Callback episode, Joel performed another memorable trick involving Emma Bunton’s ring, seemingly losing it in a haystack, only to reveal it sitting inside a walnut.
Despite his unforgettable performance, Joel got eliminated. And then we have comedian Lachlan Patterson, made to perform on the fly during a surprise set at a local pub, which understandably left him feeling unprepared. Even still, Lachlan brought the laughs and showed serious potential. But the judges still sent this memorable act home, opting to advance a dancer who wiggled around on the floor instead.
That is where the format this season becomes frustrating. America’s Got Talent is the show that highlights memorable performers. Yet, many of these acts are now going home far too early.
The AGT Live Shows should be about talent, not just entertainment value
There is an important discrepancy AGT needs to address. This series is about talent, as its namesake implies. Yet, some of the acts moving forward are solely just entertaining. And entertaining alone should not be good enough to win America’s Got Talent.
Instead, contestants need to be equal parts entertaining, likeable, AND talented enough to take home the $1 million prize. Yet, this season’s decisions are starting to raise the question of whether an act’s entertainment value is getting prioritized over the actual talents lurking within. Yes, AGT has always celebrated quirky, funny, and/or completely unusual performers. But when novelty acts become more memorable than the actually talented ones, the judges risk turning this series into a variety show instead.
More so, at its core, America’s Got Talent is always at its best when talent and entertainment combine. And these types of acts, the ones that deliver both, are the ones we deserve to see advancing. If the judges lose sight of this balance, they risk sending home the very performers who could have made each season truly unforgettable.
America’s Got Talent is streaming on Peacock.
TELL US – ARE YOU WATCHING AGT SEASON 21? DO YOU DISAGREE OR AGREE WITH ANY OF THE DECISIONS SO FAR?
