'AGT': Japanese dance troupe Chibi Unity scores final Golden Buzzer of Season 18
Even a well-oiled machine like “America’s Got Talent” can run into some friction from time to time.
Duo Dadiva, a balancing act duo from Cuba, divided judges Simon Cowell, Sofía Vergara, Howie Mandel and Heidi Klum during the final round of auditions on Tuesday night. Although the pair stunned with their graceful rolla bolla routine, their athleticism didn’t go the distance with Cowell and Klum.
“Usually when I really really love it, I jump up and clap. This did not happen, so I have kind of mixed feelings about it,” Klum said. “I’m sure it’s super hard, but the outcome is a little bit boring.”
Meanwhile, Vergara and Mandel gushed over the precision and physicality of the duo’s performance. “It was beautiful,” Mandel said. “Do you understand what the coordination is to be able to coordinate that?”
Klum eventually came around and voted Duo Dadiva through to the next round along with Mandel and Vergara, while Cowell remained the lone dissenter on the judges panel. “Today, we’re not on the same page,” Cowell said.
Here’s what else went down.
Dancer Donovyn Diaz pays tribute to ill mother with 'spectacular' audition
Donovyn Diaz showed that great art comes straight from the heart.
The 20-year-old dancer paid tribute to his mother, who’s battled breast cancer since he was a baby, with a lyrical dance piece set to the Dean Lewis ballad “How Do I Say Goodbye.”
“I’m here because I want her to be like, ‘That’s my son. He’s doing something great,’ ” Diaz said. “I want her to see me here and say, ‘I raised a star.’ ”
Diaz captured the hearts of the judges and studio audience with his sincere emotional delivery and agile leaps onstage.
“People had tears. People were crying. People felt the emotion,” Mandel said. “We weren’t just watching it; we were feeling it. It was beautiful.”
Vergara was also moved by Diaz’ dancing. “Your mom is going to be so proud,” she said. “This was spectacular.”
Diaz will get to keep making his mother proud, as the dancer earned four yeses.
Impressionist clown Papayaso wins over Simon Cowell with celeb impersonations
For Papayaso, imitation is the highest form of hilarity.
The Chilean clown, who specializes in celebrity impressions, threw the judges a curveball when he began his audition with a couple of lackluster animal impressions. Sensing the unenthused reception, Papayaso switched things up with a series of uncanny celebrity impersonations, including Jason Statham, Adam Driver, Jimmy Fallon and Cowell.
“I don’t mean to be rude, but I’ve seen funnier clowns in horror films,” Papayaso said as Cowell.
Papayaso’s unpredictability and star-studded goofiness charmed Mandel.
“We look for moments and we look for surprises, and you are a moment and you are a surprise,” Mandel said. “The way you started out with the animal noises, we thought this (was) a joke act. And then you are one of the best impressionists I’ve ever heard.”
The zany impressionist even won over clown disparager Cowell. “I’ve never seen or met a funny clown in the world,” he said. “You might be the only one.”
Papayaso and his copycat charisma are getting an “AGT” encore. The clown received four yeses.
Dancing swordsman Titos Tsai thrills judges with ‘beautiful dance’
Titos Tsai is a master of the art of adrenaline.
The Taiwanese swordsman captivated the judges with a daring dance routine that saw him twirl around onstage while balancing a trio of large swords with his hands and the crook of his neck. Tsai later upped the ante by bringing out a fourth sword.
“It was mesmerizing. What a beautiful dance,” Klum said. “You must have control over every little part of your body that you can make those swords dance around you like that.”
Vergara praised the 30-year-old dancer for his dedication to his craft.
“I cannot even imagine the amount of hours that you have put into this talent because it seems like something very, very difficult,” Vergara said.
Tsai will get to bring back his sword-wielding spectacle. The dancer scored four yeses.
Dance troupe Chibi Unity earns group Golden Buzzer with next-level act
Chibi Unity is in sync to a T.
The Japanese dance troupe dazzled with their synchronized footwork and high-energy dance style. Mandel said the group elevated the dance category on “AGT” to “another level” with its emotional intensity and showmanship.
“The emotion that comes out of your dancing, it’s inspirational,” Mandel said. “I loved the speed and the dexterity and the moves that you had. I would love to see a show, an hour of you, in Las Vegas.”
Vergara raved that the dance crew’s performance was the “perfect ‘AGT’ audition.” “I was getting goosebumps. My heart was beating,” she said. “It was the best dancing I’ve ever seen in my life.”
The adrenaline-pumping act left all the judges on the same page.
“We all loved you so much that we collectively would like to give you something special,” Cowell said.
Cowell called over host Terry Crews to the judges panel, and the group simultaneously pushed the Golden Buzzer button, sending Chibi Unity straight to the “AGT” live shows.
“You are going to make this season very, very special,” Cowell told the group onstage.
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