America's Got Talent (season 2)

America's Got Talent
Season 2
Broadcast from	June 5 – August 21, 2007
Judges	David Hasselhoff Piers Morgan Sharon Osbourne
Host(s)	Jerry Springer
Broadcaster	NBC
Website	www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/
Winner
Terry Fator
Terry Fator with his character Julius.
Origin	Mesquite, Texas
Runner-up
Cas Haley

The second season of America's Got Talent, an American television reality show talent competition, premiered on the NBC network on June 5, 2007 with a two-hour episode. Tabloid talk show host Jerry Springer succeeded Regis Philbin as host.^[1] Piers Morgan and David Hasselhoff returned as judges, joined by newcomer Sharon Osbourne.^[2] Brandy Norwood voluntarily stepped down as judge after a wrongful death lawsuit was brought against her for her involvement in a fatal car collision.^[3][4]

The second season of the show was originally announced to debut in January 2007,^[5] with a timeslot of Sunday nights at 8 p.m.; however, the network substituted another reality talent show, Grease: You're The One That I Want.

This season's winner was ventriloquist/impressionist Terry Fator.

Selection process

Overview

The audition process for the second season is very similar to that of the first, except that only a buzzer sounds when the X is pressed. When all the judges X's have been pressed, a lonely blue spotlight centers on the act, indicating they've been struck out. Unlike the previous season, the acts who pass the auditions then attend a Las Vegas boot camp, where they have a chance to perfect their craft. At this point, acts are divided into two groups, music, and variety. The music acts consist of singers and instrument players. The variety group consists of other acts. The music acts perform first, followed by the variety acts. Each act will perform for three minutes, and their performance will not be terminated, as the judges have no buttons to press. After each group has finished, the judges will split the groups into lines, either a yes line, or a no line. The ones who the judges said yes to will go to the short list of 35 acts. The acts which the judges have said no to will go home. After that, the judges will cut the short list of 35 to 20 final acts.

In the semi-final episodes, the 20 acts will be first split into two groups of 10. America will vote and eliminate five out of the first group, then five out of the second. The remaining 10 will perform head to head in the next round, where the field will be narrowed each week until there are four, which the viewing audience at home votes on. In the second season, the judges may terminate a performance any time they want with an X. The checks are eliminated from the game and the judges may only have comments. There is no judges' choice in this season, as the voting is entirely handed over to the viewers.

Differences from Season 1

Jerry Springer replaced Regis Philbin as host in season 2.

Sharon Osbourne replaced Brandy as a judge from season 1.

Unlike in season 1, where the acts were divided into four groups after the audition and sent straight to the semifinals, the acts were sent to Las Vegas for a boot camp, where they could perfect their skills. In Las Vegas, the acts were divided into two groups, "music" and "variety". The judges chose 35 acts from both groups to make it to their short list; afterward (with no additional performances after the first division of talent), the judges chose twenty acts to move on to the semifinals.

In the season 1 semifinals, within each group of 14 or 15 acts, only 10 would perform. In Season 2, the 20 remaining acts were divided into 2 groups of 10. America eliminated 5 from each group. The remaining 10 competed head to head, with some eliminated each week.

There are no more "judges' choice" and white check marks to signify approval. The judges may still press their X's anytime during the performance, but this rarely happens, as only Morgan used his button in the Season 2 semifinals (although Hasselhoff buzzed Luigi Padilla as Boy Britney after his semifinal performance, seemingly in jest).

Preliminary auditions

Dallas auditions

Aired June 5, 2007, 2 hours .^[6]

Acts that were eliminated include:

• Tony La Brea, took off his robe and sang shirtless, wearing a collar, tie and cuffs. Before his performance, the judges noted that his voice was similar to that of Barry White. However, once he took off his shirt, the judges eventually got him X'd out. The song he sang was "Don't Cha" by The Pussycat Dolls.
• Adam Aaron Michaels, Elvis Presley impersonator, was eliminated by all three judges as soon as he came out. He was then given another chance but was eliminated again after singing the first line of "Release Me". David commented that they were granting his wish by "releasing him."
• Erica Marks, 12-year-old singer who sang Jennifer Holliday's "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going." Morgan said she was trying to copy the style of last year's winner, Bianca Ryan, singing the same song.
• Mr. Bill, bus driver, sang "Climb Every Mountain" from The Sound of Music. At the end of his performance, Morgan noted that if the show were judged on personality, he would win the competition.
• Human Slinky, a male acrobat covered with large colored coils for appendages. David made a reference to a dancing colon on stage.
• Ari Marks, violinist. Her husband Nicholas Marks competed separately this season and continued to the next round. They auditioned as a duo in season 1.
• Breeze, 9 years old, performed a competitive cheerleading routine. All three judges hit their buzzers, and Morgan said her mother must have pushed her into performing. Springer escorted her mother on stage and said, "She's not on trial here". In response to Morgan's comments, Osbourne said that she was leaving the show as she left the auditorium and returned to her dressing room. Morgan followed her and talked through her dressing room door. When they heard that the contestant was still waiting on stage, they returned to the judges' desk and apologized to her.
• Sam Adu, sang "I Wish" by Stevie Wonder.
• "Bronzon Gold" (Tom Zemke), disco dancer. He told the judges that his dance was a combination of old and new dance moves, but Osbourne mentioned that she had seen all of the moves he performed.
• Bob Moore and his Amazing Mongrels, performed tricks with a dozen dogs he rescued from the pound. Piers pointed out that of the dozen, only two of the dogs actually did anything.
• David and Joel Letterman "The Pec Brothers" , tightened their pectoral muscles to the tune of "Dueling Banjos". The judges were laughing, but they eventually X'd them out.
• Brandon Pereyda, aerialist. He won over the audience, but the judges decided that his act was sketchy and unprofessional and asked him to keep practicing.
• Hollywood Steppers. Ronnie H Jackson & Jon Da Con. This step team from Ft. Worth rose to the top 35. The electrified the crowd with there moves with their feet. They performed tricks while stepping; the first team ever to do so. They tried to come back the following year but failed when all crashed on stage.

L.A. auditions

Aired June 12, 2007, 2 hours^[7]

Acts that were eliminated include:

• Laticia Widman, sang Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" with her mouth closed.
• Normandie Manchester, drag queen who danced to "Mickey" by Toni Basil.
• Tammie Brown, drag queen
• Galadin, male belly dancer
• Maximilliana, a male impressionist. She sung like a male and she frightened the judges. She got X'ed out by the judges.
• Tika Rainn, a Valley Girl rapper with 2 backup singers. She is also known as Sweetie from the first season of Flavor of Love. After the judges didn't vote her back, she mooned them, the pixelization showed she was wearing no underwear under her skirt.
• Jason and Nolan, twin violinists
• Fred Grzybowski, pogo stick acrobat
• Hanne Frederick, singer

Chicago auditions

Aired June 19, 2007, 2 hours^[8]

Acts that were eliminated include:

• Consuelo Campbell, sang in the style of gospel, opera, religious, and blues.
• Francisse Elaine, 10 years old, sang Kelly Clarkson's "A Moment Like This".The judges all agreed that she would be much better in a few years.
• Jon England, a pianist from, as his last name suggests, England, and dressed in red, white and blue. He failed to impress the judges, particularly Piers.
• Mr. Heart & Soul, a mime that was criticized for talking and singing throughout his performance. Morgan reacted: "You have an appalling singing voice, so if I were you, I would just keep quiet."
• Charlie the Whistler (Charlie King), played banjo and showed off several styles of Tuvan throat singing.
• Serpentia, a dance group that carried boa constrictors.
• L.A. Penetrate, a rock band.
• Coolaid the Clown, a youth center's hip-hop dance troupe. Although Hasselhoff opted to put them through, Osbourne and Morgan voted not to.
• Hot Pink Feathers, a cabaret burlesque dance group, led by the Latin inspired director, Kellita Tabouli of San Francisco.
• Alex Mooney, who broke or bent small objects such as a ruler and spoon by squeezing them between his buttocks. The judges generally thought his act to be ridiculous.

New York auditions

Aired June 26, 2007, 2 hours^[9]

Acts that were eliminated include:

• Sexy Techno Boy, from Astoria, New York - Techno Music Producer from NYC. He sang original track "Beat Conductor" while dancing.
• S. K. Thoth - A self-proclaimed "prayer-formance artist" - violin, chanting, dancing. The chant was in a language that Thoth invented.
• Ricardo Aleman - standup comedian who insulted Hasselhoff and Morgan after being refused to the Las Vegas callbacks.
• Pennsylvania Hand Band - made music by squeezing their hands together, with one band member performing in a giant hand costume.
• Abenz, rapper. He originally performed with Byrain Wynbush as his background singer, but the judges said no to Abenz alone and invited Wynbush to come back later for a solo audition.
• Sunshine, 51-year-old hippie who sang "Amazing Grace."
• Shad-Dai - singing twin sisters.
• Jay Green - juggler.

Second round

Las Vegas Callbacks

Part 1 of the Las Vegas callbacks was broadcast on July 10, 2007. The 70 remaining acts were trimmed down to a short list of 35 acts.^[10]

Part 2 of the Las Vegas callbacks was broadcast on July 11, 2007. The short list of 35 acts was then reduced to a Top 20 to be voted on by the viewing audience.^[11]

Acts that were eliminated during the callbacks included:

• Ada Lynn
  • Chicago auditions: 80-year-old singer/comedian.^[8]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not televised.
• Bruce Block & Skippy à la King
  • New York auditions: a talking rabbit ventriloquist act. The judges liked the act in general, but thought the actual material was weak.^[9]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Originally planned to have a lady dance on him while he lay on a bed of nails. After his assistant cancelled at the last minute, he regrouped and performed a "pulling a rabbi out of a hat" trick (played by Anthony Salazar), but actually made his head vanish.^[10]
• Byrain Wynbush
  • New York auditions: The Roxbury, Massachusetts, resident started the day as backup singer to rapper Abenz, who was eliminated. Wynbush, however, was invited by the judges to audition on his own. He returned to sing "Treat Her Like a Lady" with little preparation time and was passed through by the judges.^[9]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Sang "Superstar".^[10]
• Christian Atayde Stoinev
  • Chicago auditions: The Big Apple Circus performer was only shown briefly in a montage and was not thoroughly named at that point. Acrobatic balancing act with his chihuahua.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Scooby, the dog, had been injured a few days earlier by a bite from a larger dog, and was unable to perform, forcing Stoniev to perform his balancing act solo.^[10]
• Cinda Ramseur
  • L.A. auditions: sang "One Night Only" from Dreamgirls.^[7][12]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): sang Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You".^[10]
• Diana Augone
  • L.A. auditions: 75-year-old who sang and danced to "Last Dance" by Donna Summer.^[7]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not televised.
• Granny Pearl
  • L.A. auditions: standup comedian.^[7]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Made jokes about what she would do with the million dollars if she won. The jokes fell flat with the judges, who commented about it being the "same shtick".^[10]
• The Great Throwdini
  • New York auditions: A knife throwing act performed by a reverend and his assistant.^[9]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Only shown briefly in a montage. One of his knives did not stick in the backboard (as was the case in his New York audition), and the judges were unimpressed that the act was essentially the same as the first time.^[10]
• Ivan the "Urban Action Figure"
  • L.A. auditions: acrobatic dancing.^[7]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Attempted to jump a series of chairs, but tripped and crashed to the floor, knocking himself out. After a bit of time and medical attention, he got back up, dazed but otherwise apparently OK. He was taken to the hospital as a precaution.^[10]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Returned to try again but got officially eliminated. The judges noted he was welcome to return and try again next year.^[11]
• JabbaWockeeZ
  • Dallas auditions: a group of male hip hop dancers.^[6]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Only shown dancing briefly in a montage.^[10]
• John Mitchell
  • Chicago auditions: baton twirler.^[8]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Morgan referred to him as the most improved act from the first round.^[13]
• Jordan & Nasko
  • Dallas auditions: father and son hand-to-hand balancing act.^[6]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not televised.
• Liang Patti
  • L.A. auditions: Chinese acrobat, balanced eight spinning plates on sticks throughout her act. Morgan buzzed her to see whether she would react but she didn't drop any plates during her performance. She began crying on stage when he gave compliments on her training; then Hasselhoff went on stage to hug her.^[7][14]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not televised.
• The Magic of Eli Kerr
  • L.A. auditions: a magic and illusion act featuring fire eating and girls disappearing and appearing.^[7]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Only shown briefly in a montage. He had prop malfunctions while producing his assistant from a shadow box.^[10]
• Meghan Miller
  • Dallas auditions: ventriloquist, sang "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" with her boy and girl puppets. While her act was deemed as being more appropriate for children by Morgan and Osbourne, she still advanced.^[6]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Sang "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" with one of her puppets.^[10]
• Nicholas Marks
  • Dallas auditions: flamenco guitar player who advanced to the second round as a solo performer one year after his performance with wife Ari was rejected by the judges.^[6][15]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not televised.
• Philadelphia T. Plowden
  • New York auditions: standup comedian.^[9][16]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not televised.
• Rhythm Extreme
  • New York auditions: a Stomp style percussive group.^[9]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not televised.
• Rubberboy (Daniel Browning Smith)
  • New York auditions: A contortionist from Santa Monica, California.^[9]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not televised.
• The Westminster Chorus
  • Chicago auditions: a men's a cappella chorus, chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, and composed almost entirely of men under the age of 30.^[8]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not televised.

Acts that were advanced to the "short list" but not brought into the "Top 20" include:

• Ahmir
  • New York auditions: Four member boy band from Boston, Massachusetts that sang "In the Still of the Night" by The Five Satins a cappella.^[9][17]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not televised.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Eliminated by the judges.^[11]
• The Magic of Anthony Reed
  • New York auditions: a magician from Las Vegas, Nevada who worked with doves and combined them to make a duck.^[9]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performed the Aquarian Illusion.^[10]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Eliminated by the judges in favor of his mentor, Kevin James.^[11]
• Cocoa Brown
  • L.A. auditions: Standup comedian.^[7]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not televised.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Though they told her that she was "the funniest comic we saw," the judges eliminated her.^[11]
• Fallon Franklin
  • Dallas auditions: a 25-year-old singer who sang "Who Will Save Your Soul" by Jewel and played guitar.^[6]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1):^[18]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Eliminated by the judges.^[11]
• Illmatic Styles with Lazy Legz (Luca)
  • New York auditions: Consists of acrobatic dancers from Montreal, Quebec who want to inspire people. Luca was born with a condition called arthrogryposis: he has very little muscles in his legs.^[9][19]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Only shown briefly in a montage.^[10]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Not shown, but did not make the Top 20, so presumed eliminated by the judges.^[11]
• Leonid the Magnificent
  • New York auditions: Performed with two girls dressed up like lions. Much like Boy Shakira, he was put through over the objections of Hasselhoff, who threatened to quit the show if the other two judges advanced him to the next round.^[9][20]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not televised.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Judges made the choice to "treat him as a performer rather than a joke," and eliminated him. Backstage Leonid vowed not to try again, saying "Enough is enough."^[11]
• Lil' C
  • L.A. auditions: An 11-year-old rapper/dancer. He was told that he should just stick to dancing by the judges, as his rapping needed work.^[7][21]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not televised.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Not shown, but did not make the Top 20, so presumed eliminated by the judges.^[11]
• Michael Strelo-Smith
  • L.A. auditions: an elementary school music teacher sang "This is the Moment" from Jekyll & Hyde, which, coincidentally, Hasselhoff once starred in, a cappella.^[7]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Sang "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban.^[10]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Commended by the judges for following his dream, but eliminated.^[11]
• Mr. Big "Who's the Guy" Beal
  • Dallas auditions: played "Pick Up the Pieces" by Average White Band on the saxophone while dancing.^[6][22]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not televised.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Not shown, but did not make the Top 20, so presumed eliminated by the judges.^[11]
• Odysy
  • New York auditions: Four member hip hop boy band that sang "Real Love" by Mary J. Blige.^[9]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not televised.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Not shown, but did not make the Top 20, so presumed eliminated by the judges.^[11]
• The Rascals (not to be confused with the '60s group)
  • Dallas auditions: A trio of teenage male rock singers.^[6]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Only shown briefly in a montage.^[10]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Told they had "bright futures" but were "not yet ready."^[10]
• Sage
  • New York auditions: Seven-year-old Sage and his grandfather from Novato, California. Sage sang while both played the piano to Cab Calloway's "St. James Infirmary Blues". They were put through by Osbourne and Hasselhoff, while Morgan said beforehand that they were nowhere near close to being a million dollar act. Criticism was harder on the grandfather, who remarked as he left the stage that Sage went on, but that he himself had been fired.^[9]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not televised, but from photos on the AGT web site, it was apparent that Sage is now competing solo, without his grandfather.^[23]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Told by the judges, "this isn't the end, it's the beginning." Eliminated.^[11]
• The 3 Redneck Tenors
  • New York auditions: A cappella close harmony singing, while dressed as rednecks, performed Beethoven's 5th Symphony.^[9]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not televised.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Eliminated even after being told they will be, "Very big one day."

Semifinals

Part 1

The first episode of the live performance semifinals was broadcast on July 17, 2007. Ten of the remaining twenty acts performed, and audience votes selected five of the ten to continue.^[24]

Acts that performed, but were eliminated include:

• Johnny Lonestar
  • General: Western arts performer.
  • L.A. auditions: Trick roping act^[7]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Only shown briefly in a montage, but this time had a trick whip act.^[10]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Passed through.^[11]
  • Semifinals (Part 1): Trick roping to "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" by Big & Rich. The act culminated with Johnny up on the judge's table twirling a giant lasso around him and all 3 judges.^[24][25]
  • Semifinals (Part 2): Eliminated.^[26]

Kevin James with assistant Antonio Hoyos

• Kevin James
  • General: A veteran at creating acts for other magicians, He is now pursuing a career as an entertainer in his own right. He has previously appeared at "The World's Greatest Magic Show" in Las Vegas.
  • Chicago auditions: In his first routine, he turned a puppet of Charlie Chaplin alive.^[8]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): In plain view, cut an assistant in half, with the halves continuing to move about. He then put the assistant back in one piece.^[10]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Passed through.^[11]
  • Semifinals (Part 1):Performed a disembodied hand trick (Inspired by cult film Re-Animator.) that fell flat with the judges (Piers buzzed the act).^[24][27]
  • Semifinals (Part 2): Eliminated.^[26]
• Jonny Come Lately
  • General: A rockabilly band consisting of four 15-year-olds.
  • L.A. auditions: Performed "Hound Dog" by Elvis Presley.^[7][28]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performed "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley & His Comets.^[10]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Told, "We can only let acts in who are ready. So you're going through."^[11]
  • Semifinals (Part 1):Performed "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen.^[24][29]
  • Semifinals (Part 2): Eliminated.^[26]
• Mohammad Kashif
  • General: A "Bollywood-inspired" dancer from Pakistan.
  • Chicago auditions: Performed the dance from the song "Ek Pal Ka Jeena" from the movie Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai.^[8]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performed the dance from the song "Dil Ne Dil Ko Pukara" from the movie Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai.^[10]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Sharon liked that he 'brought his own culture" to the show, and he was passed through.^[11]
  • Semifinals (Part 1):Danced to "Say Shava Shava" from the movie Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.^[24][30]
  • Semifinals (Part 2): Eliminated.^[26]
• Manuel Romero
  • General: 18-year-old singer
  • L.A. auditions: Sang "My Cherie Amour" by Stevie Wonder.^[7]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not televised.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Passed through.^[11]
  • Semifinals (Part 1):Sang "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" by Bryan Adams.^[24][31]
  • Semifinals (Part 2): Eliminated.^[26]

Part 2

The second episode of the live performance semifinals was broadcast on July 24, 2007. The ten semifinalists who did not perform in the first part of the semifinals performed, and audience votes will select five of the ten to continue. Also, the results of the audience voting for the first semifinal group were announced.^[26]

Acts that performed, but were eliminated include:

• Luigi Padilla (performed under the stage names Boy Shakira and Boy Britney)
  • General: Female impersonator/dancer.
  • Chicago auditions: Boy Shakira, Shakira impersonation, Luigi was advanced to the second round over Hasselhoff's objections. Hasselhoff stormed off the stage in protest.^[8]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Hasselhoff describes his performance as the "longest three minutes of his life", but Morgan thinks he has improved.^[10][32]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Passed through, to Hasselhoff's apparent amazement.^[11]
  • Semifinals (Part 2): Boy Britney, Britney Spears impersonation, danced to "...Baby One More Time". Morgan said Luigi was becoming his guilty pleasure. Every time Morgan reached to buzz Luigi, he ended up laughing instead.^[26][33]
  • Top Ten episode: Eliminated.^[34]
• The Fault Line
  • General: Progressive vocal rock band.
  • Chicago auditions:, Sang "Some Kind of Wonderful" by Grand Funk Railroad.^[8]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Only shown briefly in a montage.^[10]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Passed through.^[11]
  • Semifinals (Part 2): Performed "The Way You Make Me Feel" by Michael Jackson. They were criticized for selecting the wrong kind of song for their group.^[26][35]
  • Top Ten episode: Eliminated.^[34]
• Gregory Popovich's Comedy Pet Theater
  • General: Trained animal act
  • L.A. auditions: trained cat act.^[7]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Only shown briefly in a montage. This time he did a trained dog act.^[10]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Passed through.^[11]
  • Semifinals (Part 2): Performed a skit titled "The Homeless Clown". Popovich was criticized by the judges for making the act more about himself, and less about the animals.^[26][36]
  • Top Ten episode: Eliminated.^[34]
• Second Story Guys
  • General: Dance group on stilts.
  • Chicago auditions:^[8]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Only shown briefly in a montage.^[10]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Passed through.^[11]
  • Semifinals (Part 2): Performed to "Turn the Beat Around by Gloria Estefan. They were generally praised by the judges, with Osbourne calling them "pure variety" and "infectious".^[26][37]
  • Top Ten episode: Eliminated.^[34]
• Southern Girl
  • General: Three female singers.
  • Dallas auditions:^[6][38]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not televised.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Passed through.^[11]
  • Semifinals (Part 2): Sang "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys. They were criticized by the judges for being a little flat, and for lacking an identifiable lead singer.^[26][39]
  • Top Ten episode: Eliminated.^[34]

Finals

Top ten

The top ten episode of the live performance finals was broadcast on July 31, 2007. The results of the previous week's voting were announced, revealing the remaining five slots in the top ten. Audience votes narrowed the contestants down to the top eight.^[34]

• Calypso Tumblers
  • General: Reggae-inspired dance group from Saint Kitts.^[40]
  • Chicago auditions:^[8]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Only shown briefly in a montage.^[10]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Passed through.^[11]
  • Semifinals (Part 2): Performed to "Hot Hot Hot" by Arrow. They were lightly criticized for having less tumbling in their act this time, but otherwise were generally praised by the judges.^[26][41]
  • Top Ten episode: Performed to "Conga" by Gloria Estefan^[34][42]
  • The Final Eight: Eliminated.^[43]
• The Duttons
  • General: A family country band of nine adults, with five children joining the group near the end of the performance.^[44]
  • Dallas auditions: Morgan voted "no" because he thought they couldn't afford to bring in every single member of the family, as he put it, but Hasselhoff and Osbourne put them through.^[6][45]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Only shown briefly in a montage, though they appear to have taken Morgan's advice and left out the youngest family members.^[10]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Passed through.^[11]
  • Semifinals (Part 2): Performed "La Bamba" by Ritchie Valens. They were strongly criticized for selecting the wrong song, and for putting too much emphasis on everyone getting solo moments, making the performance a "bit frantic".^[26][46]
  • Top Ten episode: Performed "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by the Charlie Daniels Band.^[34][47]
  • The Final Eight: Eliminated.^[43]

Final eight

The "final eight" episode of the live performance finals aired on August 7, 2007. Audience votes narrowed the contestants down to the top four.^[43]

• Robert Hatcher
  • General: Sewer worker from Cincinnati, Ohio. Singer.^[48]
  • New York auditions: Only shown briefly in a montage.^[9]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Only shown briefly in a montage.^[10]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Passed through.^[11]
  • Semifinals (Part 1):Sang "Run to You" by Whitney Houston.^[24][49]
  • Semifinals (Part 2): Passed through.^[26]
  • Top Ten episode: Sang "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion.^[34][50]
  • The Final Eight: Sang "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green.^[43][51]
  • The Final Four: Eliminated.^[52]
• Sideswipe
  • General: A martial arts dance act. They made it to the second round in 2006, but had to withdraw because of a foot injury to one of the group's members.^[53]
  • Chicago auditions:^[8][54]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not televised.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Was encouraged to add more dance to their act and passed through.^[11]
  • Semifinals (Part 1): They seemed to follow the judge's advice and put more dance into the act.^[24][55]
  • Semifinals (Part 2): Passed through.^[26]
  • Top Ten episode: Performed to the can-can. Midway through the performance they added several of their students to the performance. Morgan harshly criticized them for this choice (at which point Osbourne told him "not to start with the children"), saying that bringing out the kids will likely cost the group its chance at the million dollars.^[34][56]
  • The Final Eight: Performed a "swashbuckling" pirate skit.^[43][57]
  • The Final Four: Eliminated.^[52]
• The Glamazons
  • General: Four plus-sized ladies from Astoria, New York who sing and burlesque dance.^[58] (Not to be confused with the drag act of the same name.)
  • New York auditions: Performed "Lady Marmalade" by Patti LaBelle.^[9][59]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performed "Big Spender" by Peggy Lee.^[10]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Passed through.^[11]
  • Semifinals (Part 1):Sang and danced to "Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer.^[24][60]
  • Semifinals (Part 2): Passed through.^[26]
  • Top Ten episode: Performed "Fever" by Peggy Lee.^[34][61]
  • The Final Eight: Performed "It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls.^[43][62]
  • The Final Four: Eliminated.^[52]
• Jason Pritchett
  • General: Singer/guitar player from Independence, Missouri. Cruise ship performer.^[63]
  • Chicago auditions: Performed the song "Live Like You Were Dying" by Tim McGraw.^[8][64]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Only shown briefly in a montage.^[10]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Unable to appear for the show, he was phoned by Sharon Osbourne, who told him he made it to the Top 20.^[11]
  • Semifinals (Part 2): Sang "Life is a Highway" by Tom Cochrane without his guitar. Morgan criticized him for selecting the wrong song and "pretending to be Bon Jovi", but Osbourne liked the performance.^[26][65]
  • Top Ten episode: Sang "When You Say Nothing at All" by Keith Whitley.^[34][66]
  • The Final Eight: Sang "If Tomorrow Never Comes" by Garth Brooks.^[43][67]
  • The Final Four: Eliminated.^[52]

Final four

The final four episode of the live performance finals aired on August 14, 2007. Audience votes decided the season's winner. The final four acts performed twice: once with their own act, and once with a performance chosen by the judges.^[52]

In the live results finale, broadcast on August 21, 2007, all four finalists performed duets with a celebrity guest. There were also special performances by Quick Change, Stomp Out Loud, and David Hasselhoff.^[68]

Fourth place

• Julienne Irwin
  • General: 14-year-old country singer from Bel Air, Maryland.^[69]
  • New York auditions: Sang "How Do I Live" by LeAnn Rimes.^[9]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Only shown briefly in a montage, but she sang "At Last" by Etta James.^[10]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Passed through.^[11]
  • Semifinals (Part 1): Sang "Bless the Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts.^[24][70]
  • Semifinals (Part 2): Passed through.^[26]
  • Top Ten episode: Sang "Til I Can Make It On My Own" by Tammy Wynette. She was told by all the judges that it was not her best performance, and to pick an easier song next time.^[34][71]
  • The Final Eight: Sang "Crazy" by Patsy Cline.^[43][72]
  • The Final Four - Judge's Choice: Sang "What Hurts the Most" by Rascal Flats.^[52][73]
  • The Final Four - Contestant's Choice: Sang "Over the Rainbow" by Judy Garland.^[52][74]
  • The Season Finale - Celebrity Duet: Sang "Teardrops on My Guitar" with Taylor Swift.^[68]

Third place

• Butterscotch
  • General: Antoinette Clinton, stagename Butterscotch, is a beatboxer and singer from Davis, California.^[75]
  • L.A. auditions: Performed "Love to Love You Baby" by Donna Summer.^[8][76]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Began by singing while also playing the piano. Midway through her performance, she switched vocally to beatboxing, but continued to play the piano as well.^[10]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Told that she had to "act like a star" and passed through.^[11]
  • Semifinals (Part 1): Performed "Summertime" by Ella Fitzgerald.^[24][77]
  • Semifinals (Part 2): Passed through.^[26]
  • Top Ten episode: Performed "It's Your Thing" by The Isley Brothers.^[34][78]
  • The Final Eight: Performed "My Funny Valentine" from Babes in Arms, again adding piano playing to her beatboxing and singing.^[43][79]
  • The Final Four - Judge's Choice: Sang "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye.^[52][80]
  • The Final Four - Contestant's Choice: Beatboxed "Dance to the Music" by Sly & the Family Stone.^[52][81]
  • The Season Finale - Celebrity Duet: Sang "Beautiful Girls" with Sean Kingston^[68]

Second place

• Cas Haley
  • General: A stay-at-home dad from Arlington, Texas. Singer/guitar player.^[82]
  • Chicago auditions: Performed the reggae-inspired song "Walking on the Moon" by Sting.^[8][83]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performed "Living for the City" by Stevie Wonder.^[10][84]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Passed through.^[11]
  • Semifinals (Part 2): Performed "Higher and Higher" by Jackie Wilson. Morgan called it the best performance that he had seen so far.^[26][85]
  • Top Ten episode: Performed "Bring it on Home to Me" by Sam Cooke. Was told by Morgan to stick to his reggae-type songs, as the blues was not his "thing".^[34][86]
  • The Final Eight: Sang a reggae-styled version of "Easy" by The Commodores.^[43][87]
  • The Final Four - Judge's Choice: Sang "Can't Help Falling in Love" by UB40.^[52][88]
  • The Final Four - Contestant's Choice: Sang "Sir Duke" by Stevie Wonder.^[52][89]
  • The Season Finale - Celebrity Duet: Sang "Red Red Wine" with UB40^[68]

Winner

Terry Fator with his puppet Winston the Impersonating Turtle.

• Terry Fator
  • General: ventriloquist/impressionist from Dallas, Texas.^[90]
  • Chicago auditions: His puppet Emma Taylor sang "At Last" impersonating Etta James.^[8]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not televised.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Passed through.^[11]
  • Semifinals (Part 2): Performed "What a Wonderful World" with his turtle puppet Winston impersonating Kermit the Frog, and doing Louis Armstrong himself.^[26][91]
  • Top Ten episode: Performed "Unforgettable" by Nat King Cole as a duet between himself and his puppet Emma Taylor impersonating Natalie Cole.^[34][92]
  • The Final Eight: His puppet Johnny Vegas sang "That's Amore" impersonating Dean Martin and "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" impersonating Tony Bennett.^[43][93]
  • The Final Four - Judge's Choice: His puppet Walter T Airdale sang "Friends in Low Places" impersonating Garth Brooks.^[52][94]
  • The Final Four - Contestant's Choice: His turtle puppet Winston sang "Crying" impersonating Roy Orbison. Piers gave him a standing ovation.^[52][95]
  • Season Finale - Celebrity Duet: With guest Kermit the Frog (and four Muppet chickens), his puppet Johnny Vegas sang "You've Got a Friend" impersonating James Taylor.^[68]

Semi Finals 1

Performance: July 17, 2007

Result: July 24, 2007

Key	Buzzed	Advanced

Order	Performer	Act Description	Buzzes			Result
			David	Sharon	Piers
1	Johnny Lonestar	Western Arts Performer				Eliminated
2	Julienne Irwin	Singer				Advanced
3	Kevin James	Magician				Eliminated
4	Robert Hatcher	Singer				Advanced
5	Jonny Come Lately	Rockabilly Band				Eliminated
6	Kashif	Dancer				Eliminated
7	Butterscotch	Beatboxer/Singer				Advanced
8	Sideswipe	Martial Arts Dance Group				Advanced
9	Manuel Romero	Singer				Eliminated
10	The Glamazons	Burlesque Vocal Group				Advanced

Semi Finals 2

Performance: July 24, 2007

Result: July 31, 2007

Key	Buzzed	Advanced

Order	Performer	Act Description	Buzzes			Result
			David	Sharon	Piers
1	The 2nd Story Guys	Stilt Dance Group				Eliminated
2	Southern Girl	Vocal Group				Eliminated
3	Popovich Comedy Pet Theater	Animal Act				Eliminated
4	Cas Haley	Singer/Gutiarist				Advanced
5	Terry Fator	Ventriloquist/Singing Impressionist				Advanced
6	The Fault Line	Rock Vocal Group				Eliminated
7	Boy Britney	Impersonator/Dancer	^1			Eliminated
8	Jason Pritchett	Singer/Guitarist				Advanced
9	The Calypso Tumblers	Tumblers/Acrobatic Group				Advanced
10	The Duttons	Family Country Band				Advanced

^1 Hasselhoff jokingly pressed his buzzer after Boy Britney's performance.

Top 10

Performance: July 31, 2007

Result: August 7, 2007

Key	Buzzed	Advanced

Order	Performer	Act Description	Buzzes			Result
			David	Sharon	Piers
1	The Duttons	Family Country Band				Eliminated
2	Robert Hatcher	Singer				Advanced
3	The Calypso Tumblers	Tumblers/Acrobatic Group				Eliminated
4	Jason Pritchett	Singer/Guitarist				Advanced
5	Butterscotch	Beatboxer/Singer				Advanced
6	The Glamazons	Burlesque Vocal Group				Advanced
7	Cas Haley	Singer/Guitarist				Advanced
8	Terry Fator	Ventriloquist/Singing Impressionist				Advanced
9	Julienne Irwin	Singer				Advanced
10	Sideswipe	Martial Arts Dance Group				Advanced

Top 8

Performance: August 7, 2007

Result: August 14, 2007

Key	Buzzed	Advanced

Order	Performer	Act Description	Buzzes			Result
			David	Sharon	Piers
1	Robert Hatcher	Singer				Eliminated
2	Julienne Irwin	Singer				Advanced
3	Terry Fator	Ventriloquist/Singing Impressionist				Advanced
4	Cas Haley	Singer/Guitarist				Advanced
5	Jason Pritchett	Singer/Guitarist				Eliminated
6	The Glamazons	Burlesque Vocal Group				Eliminated
7	Butterscotch	Beatboxer/Singer				Advanced
8	Sideswipe	Martial Arts Dance Group				Eliminated

Final 4

Performance: August 14, 2007

Result: August 21, 2007

Key	Winner	Runner Up	Third Place

Order	Performer	Act Description	Result
1	Cas Haley	Singer/Guitarist	Runner Up
2	Butterscotch	Beatboxer/Singer	Third Place
3	Terry Fator	Ventriloquist/Singing Impressionist	Winner
4	Julienne Irwin	Singer	Fourth Place

Contestants who appeared on other seasons

• Leonid the Magnificent competed in season 1 and season 6.
• Sideswipe competed in season 1, but withdrawal as one member had an ankle injury.
• Michael Strelo-Smith competed in season 3 finishing in the quarterfinals.
• Popovich Comedy Pet Theater competed in season 9, but was eliminated in judgment week.
• Christian Stoinev competed in season 9, finishing in the final 12.

Notes

References

1. NBC press release (March 5, 2007): "Popular Television Talk-Show Host Jerry Springer Named Host of NBC's 'America's Got Talent' when Hit Variety-Talent Competition Series Returns this Summer", Retrieved on 2007-03-05
2. NBC ANNOUNCES DAVID HASSELHOFF, PIERS MORGAN AND SHARON OSBOURNE AS TRIO OF JUDGES FOR SECOND SEASON OF NBC'S HIT TALENT COMPETITION SERIES 'AMERICA'S GOT TALENT' PREMIERING MAY 29
3. "Brandy Says She's Leaving 'America's Got Talent'". Associated Press. 2007-04-20. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
4. Rocchio, Christopher (2007-04-20). "Sharon Osbourne replacing Brandy as 'America's Got Talent' judge". Reality TV World. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
5. The Fulton Critic: NBC hit 'America's Got Talent' announces upcoming auditions and surprising twists for season two, Retrieved on 2007-03-05
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8. "Chicago auditions". America's Got Talent. Season 2. Episode 3. 2007-06-19.
9. "New York auditions". America's Got Talent. Season 2. Episode 4. 2007-06-26.
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External links

• Official NBC America's Got Talent website
• America's Got Talent (Season 2) at the Internet Movie Database
• America's Got Talent (Season 2) at TV.com