Howie Mandel and Heidi Klum on Why 'A Lot of People Got Crushed' on 'AGT'
“That’s the litmus test in this business...That’s what separates the big boys from the rest of the pack," Howie said.
Night four of America’s Got Talent’s Live Shows was a surprise as several of the acts received criticism from the judges, especially when Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, and Sofia Vergara thought that their Live Show performances hadn’t risen to a level above their audition.
“You have to judge harder. You have to be more critical. It is what it is,” Howie told reporters in a press conference after the show. “I do get jaded. Here we are on the fourth night of Lives, and I might not have buzzed [someone] if this was the first night of Live Shows but being the fourth live show and seeing what has made it through, and how many acts have been cut that are so much better that as we get closer and closer to the end, you have to judge harder.”
Related: Photos and Videos! See All 11 Acts Performing on Night 4 of America's Got Talent Season 17 Live Shows
An example Howie cited was ventriloquist Jack Williams. Last week, Celia Muñoz, also a ventriloquist, made it to the top 3 before being eliminated, and according to Howie, Jack’s material did not rise to what she did, nor was he as original.
“I have seen remote control puppetry before,” Howie said. “We’ve had it on the show. We actually had a winner do something like that where the puppet was a face mask. [Jack’s] voices were not as intelligibly different from the puppets to him, so that was in my head. I was sitting there thinking, ‘Celia could be in the finals, and if she got into the finals, she could win.’ Compared to that, that’s not what I saw here.”
But Howie will concede that there is another factor to take into consideration: the additional pressure that the acts performing on night four may feel after having seen who went home from the previous three nights.
“That’s the litmus test in this business,” he said. “When you get knocked down, how do you stand up under pressure? How do you perform in the worst situations? That’s what separates the big boys from the rest of the pack. I think tonight you saw a lot of people getting crushed under a ton of pressure.”
Heidi tended to be more diplomatic, saying at this point in the show, it really doesn’t matter who she chooses in her own mind. What counts is what America wants at the finale.
“I try to say what I don’t like without being harsh on people,” the Making the Cut host said. “I always think what is so great about AGT is it’s a variety show and there are so many different acts in the show and there are so many different people watching the show, I feel like there is something there for everyone. So, while maybe some people didn’t like the tap-dancing guy, there are some people who love him. So, it depends on what kind of passion you have and then you see someone who you resonate with and that’s the one you vote for.”
Heidi continued that she sees the panel of judges as representing people at home. Everyone on the panel doesn’t agree, so she may be the voice for some people at home; for others she’s not.
“It is a roller coaster ride of ups and downs,” she added. “What is my up might be your down. And your up is my down. It doesn’t really matter what we say because it’s about the voting.”
Wednesday night’s results show will provide the answers as to who rose to the occasion and who did not.
America’s Got Talent airs Tuesday and Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.
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