"America's Got Talent" Has Got All the Feels

I write at least one column every summer praising this program amp8230 which might seem redundant but my appreciation for it increases with every passing year so why not It continues to earn my annual praise and support amp8230 although it seems to me the television press doesn39t share in my perpetual enthusiasmTellingly and wisely despite many changes in the executive ranks at NBC throughout this show39s run nobody has been foolish enough to move AGT into the regular television season an outdated structure that spans September through May Rather it remains a summer staple that starts after Memorial Day ends shortly after Labor Day and in tandem with American Ninja Warrior keeps NBC alive and well throughout that time amp8230 while serving as an awesome promotional platform for the network39s upcoming fall lineup another dusty industry tradition but there it remains so there is no point in ignoring itAs ever with AGT there is much beyond the awesome talent to appreciate I39ll start as I always do by calling attention to the sponsored cups positioned by each of the judges More than any other commercial or product placement on TV they keep a brand39s logo front and center throughout each telecast in an atmosphere any advertiser should covet In years past Snapple and Dunkin39 held that prime real estate In more recent seasons including this one they have promoted SonicThere are special Sonic commercials designed to maximize the AGT connection along with cheerful branded backstage segments as there were for Dunkin39 but for me those cups continue to level up their sponsors in ways that make an impact without causing a distraction Maybe it has something to do with the lighting amp8230 and maybe it doesn39t amp8230 but I swear those cups sometimes appear to be glowing There was even a contest in 2019 that invited viewers to design a Dunkin39 cupIf entertainment and advertising is all about that allimportant emotional connectivity consider many of the extraordinary connections many of the contestants establish with their audience at home or in any of the venues where the auditions and finals take place With rare exception their talents are humbling their collective authenticity often more soIt39s not surprising that there is always much cheering and applauding throughout and many standing ovations even from Simon Cowell who as the star judge here is more empathetic and encouraging than during his time on American Idol though I loved him on that and continue to assert that that once formidable talent show has not been the same without him on Fox or ABC There is also a lot of laughter much needed these days the occasional resounding chorus of rejection always well deserved and sometimes comically and especially this season occasional tears most often of joySeriously the heartfelt stories told by some of the contestants and their desire to dedicate their performances to loved ones they have lost often leaves judges Cowell Heidi Klum Howie Mandel andor Sofia Vergara tearyeyed along with host Terry Crews countless members of the studio audience and viewers at home I speak from experienceTaken together the AGT feels can instantly make you feel alive or happy to be alive or both Is there another show on any network or streamer that can so readily and consistently manage to do that I think notI could fill this column just by singling out the many contestants in recent seasons who have gotten through to me in one way or another including at the least many a Google search either touched my heart or my wallet Some of the singers have previously released their music via independent labels But in the interest of brevity I39ll settle on these fourFirst there was 11yearold Maddie Taylor Baez who belted out quotAmazing Gracequot from her seat in the audience during a commercial break wowed the crowd impressed the judges especially Simon and took to and owned the stage There was plenty of emotion too as Maddie tearfully explained that if she won AGT she would help her dad who has been fighting stage four colon cancer for many years Howie gave her the coveted Golden Buzzer assuring her a place in the finalsThen there was Avery Dixon a 21yearold man with scary great talent on the saxophone who had been relentlessly bullied throughout his childhood Host Crews wasn39t having it declaring quotI want to tell you man you39ve been bullied all your life but you tell every bully that you have a big brother named Terry Crews who is here and has got your back And all those bullies are gonna have to watch you succeed my friendquot And then he gave young Avery the coveted Golden Buzzer assuring him a place in the live finalsThen came Wyn Starks who sang a remarkable original song dedicated to his twin brother who had recently passed Watch it and just try to hold back the tears Heidi couldn39t contain her enthusiasm quotHow can we make this a hit It39s so goodquotAnd finally check out Chapel Hart an amazing country trio I don39t think these three women need to win AGT to become stars based on their Twitter feed they are already well on their way But the judges were so caught up in the sheer joy of their performance an original song inspired by Dolly Parton39s 1973 smash quotJolenequot that they gave them a fiveway Golden Buzzer pictured at top Watch and just try to not enjoyThese are just a few of the singers so far this year The aerialists magicians dancers comedians and others have been similarly sensational amp8230 and the season is only half overAmerica39s Got Talent is telecast Tuesdays at 8 pm on NBCClick the social buttons to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated writers

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"America's Got Talent" Has Got All the Feels

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Ed Martin

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"America's Got Talent" Has Got All the Feels

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