‘America’s Got Talent’: 4 ways the Season 19 finale can make ‘AGT’ history
“America’s Got Talent” is TV’s only competition show that embraces all forms of variety acts, whether you’re a singer, a comedian, a magician, an aerialist, or anything in between. Throughout its nearly two decades on NBC, seven solo singers have claimed victory, with the most recent one being Season 14’s Kodi Lee. (See the “AGT” winners list.) However, there are four specific categories that have yet to win the top prize of $1 million and a headline show in Las Vegas. Can any of these types of acts make “AGT” history during the Season 19 finale on Tuesday, September 24?
First up, here’s a refresher on this year’s Top 10 finalists: singer Richard Goodall, quick-change artist Solange Kardinaly, air-dance group AIRFOOTWORKS, dance crew Brent Street, singer Dee Dee Simon, acrobatic group Hakuna Matata Acrobats, comedian Learnmore Jonasi, dog act Roni Sagi & Rhythm, aerial duo Sebastián & Sonia, and drone group Sky Elements.
SEE ‘America’s Got Talent’ winners list: All seasons, plus ‘Champions’ and ‘Extreme’
1. Comedians
Stand-up comics have come close to winning over the years, but none have ever claimed the top trophy. Tom Cotter in Season 7, Taylor Williamson in Season 8 and Drew Lynch in Season 10 were all runners-up on their respective years. Can Learnmore Jonasi pull through in Season 19? The lovable Zimbabwe resident got an early boost on “America’s Got Talent” in the form of Terry Crews‘ Golden Buzzer, and now he enters the finale as the last comic standing.
2. Quick-change artists
For those with long memories, David & Dania were the first quick-changers to appear on “AGT,” making it all the way to the Top 10. They were later followed by Sos & Victoria in Season 11 and Lea Kyle in Season 16. If Solange Kardinaly ends up winning Season 19, she would be the first quick-change artist to prevail, but the third overall magician following Season 9’s Mat Franco, Season 13’s Shin Lim and Season 16’s Dustin Tavella. The most successful female magician ever on “AGT” was Season 18’s Anna DeGuzman, who placed second to dog act Adrian Stoica & Hurricane.
3. Acrobats
There has never been a winner on a regular “America’s Got Talent” season that triumphed because of their acrobatic skills, however Season 13’s Duo Transcend, Season 16’s Aidan Bryant and Season 18’s Ramadhani Brothers all made strong impressions with the audience. (Aidan later won “All-Stars,” while Ramadhani Brothers scored a victory on “Fantasy League.”) We’d love to see an eye-popping danger act win one day along the lines of current contenders Hakuna Matata Acrobats and Sebastián & Sonia, but is this their year?
4. Drone groups
As the first drone group in “AGT” history, Sky Elements has a real chance of setting the standard for all future such acts that come down the line. In the auditions, Simon Cowell loved their moon landing routine so much that he broke all the rules and hit a second Golden Buzzer, thereby allowing the other judges to also hit theirs twice. During the live shows, Sky Elements performed acts focusing on the judges, on one of their deceased daughters, and on the American dream. Will their dreams of becoming millionaires reach the stars?
Besides the winner being crowned on Tuesday night, the following celebrities will also make appearances: Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles & the Gold Over America Tour, singer and “The Voice” coach Michael Bublé, guitarist Neal Schon alongside members of Journey, DJ and producer Steve Aoki, stand-up comedian Gabriel Iglesias, the cast of “Magic Mike Live Las Vegas,” singer and actress Andra Day, and former “AGT” act Detroit Youth Choir.
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