For the past 18 years, America’s Got Talent, popularly known by its abbreviation, AGT, has been entertaining millions of fans from across the world. It’s a competitive show that brings together various talents, such as singers, magicians, comedians, dancers, and performers. The winner of AGT gets a whooping $1 Million cash prize and attains worldwide fame. For fans of AGT, here are some surprising facts you may not have known about this show.
1. None of the Current Judges are American
Although it’s called America’s Got Talent, the show welcomes people of all nationalities. To put the show’s diversity into perspective, none of its current judges are originally American. The founder, Simon Cowell, is from the UK, Sofia Vergara moved from Colombia, Heidi Klum was raised in Germany, and Howie Mandel is Canadian. Only Terry Crews is from the United States. AGT has had numerous judges from different parts of the continent over the years.
2. Winners of AGT Don’t Get the Entire $1 Million Reward
On the show, contestants always explain how the $1 million reward will change their lives. Fans attending the live shows and those at home also believe the winners get paid $1 million in cash. However, the truth is the winners don’t get the $1 million.
A disclaimer at the beginning of every competition explains how the $1 million is paid in an annuity of 40 years. Alternatively, the winner can ask to receive the present cash value of such annuity. When the taxes are removed, the $1 million reduces to less than $500,000. On the brighter side, winners get worldwide recognition and can forge a lucrative career path from AGT.
3. Lots of Celebrities Have Hosted AGT
Before Terry Crews, Nick Cannon hosted the show for a very long time. Other celebrities who have hosted AGT include Tyra Banks, Jerry Springer, and Regis Philbin, the first host of AGT’s premiere season.
4. People Do Get Hurt on AGT Live Performances
AGT is partly famous for contestants pulling hardcore acts. Even though most of them are executed safely, there have been instances when people got hurt live on stage. A famous act where a person was injured was the Ryan Stock performance in Season 11, where he was shot by a flaming arrow in the neck by his fiancée. The performer wasn’t severely hurt, but they were disqualified.
5. The Golden Buzzer was Introduced in Season 9
Initially, America’s Got Talent didn’t have the famous golden buzzer that sent a contestant to the live shows. It was introduced in season 9, with its main goal being to break ties or revoke another judge’s “No” vote. From season 9, the golden buzzer has been retained in all other seasons.
6. AGT Has Variations of the Show across the World
It is estimated that there are more than 69 variations of AGT worldwide. Some popular variations include Britain’s Got Talent, Australia’s Got Talent, and Asia’s Got Talent, amongst others.
7. Busty Heart, Who Got Four No’s on AGT, Made It to the Semifinals on Germany Got Talent
Susan Sykes, popularly known by her stage name, Busty Heart, got four “Nos” on AGT. However, when she applied for Germany Got Talent, she went to the semifinals using the same act, which involved smashing things with her breasts.
8. AGT Would Have Been Called Paul O’Grady’s Got Talent
In 2005, there were plans for a Got Talent TV show to be hosted in Britain by comedian Paul O’Grady, and it would have been named after him. However, when Paul decided to split from ITV, the show was abandoned and launched in America in 2006, a year before BGT was created in Britain.
9. The Founder of AGT Never Appeared as a Judge on the First Season
Despite being the founder of America’s Got Talent, Simon Cowell was never a judge on the first season. This was because of the contract he had entered with Fox Network. The first judges of the show were Piers Morgan, Brandy Norwood, and David Hasselhoff.
10. Fans Can Save Competitors on AGT
Over the years, America’s Got Talent has had an Instant Save style of voting where fans can choose which contestant should be brought back. This system has been reconfigured throughout the years, with fans saving competitors in numbers 4,5,6 and 7.
11. AGT Introduced Guest Judges in 2015
From season 10, America’s Got Talent introduced Guest Judges to break the monotony of the show. These Guest Judges are mostly celebrities skilled in various sectors, such as acting or sports. Notable guest judges who have made an appearance on AGT include DJ Khaled, Jay Leno, Ne-Yo and Laverne Cox.
12. Simon Cowell is the Most Generous Golden Buzzer Giver on AGT
Love or hate him, Simon Cowell is a very strict judge who doesn’t tolerate mediocrity in the show. However, despite his mean stance, Simon is the most generous Golden Buzzer giver on America’s Got Talent.
Since the buzzer was introduced, out of all the four judges, Simon Cowell has given five golden buzzers. Some contestants on the receiving end of Simon’s Golden Buzzer include Tyler Butler-Figueroa, Calysta Bevier, and Jane Marczewski. Howie Mendel comes in second with four golden buzzers.
13. In 2024, AGT Gave the Judges Two Golden Buzzers
For a while, it has been customary for each judge to get a golden buzzer, and the host also gets one. But in 2024, things have been done a little differently; each of the judges gets two golden buzzers. That means nine contestants will be sent to the live auditions, counting Terry’s Golden Buzzer.