CLEVELAND — You know it's the unofficial start of summer when America's Got Talent rolls back around, and season 15 will not disappoint featuring acts that are more incredible - and more dangerous - than ever, all while the AGT crew takes on the challenge of keeping the variety show running despite production shutdowns over COVID-19 concerns.
From his home in Los Angeles, comedian and long-time judge Howie Mandel shared a few hints about what viewers can expect ahead of Tuesday's premiere, including the unexpected winner of his "golden buzzer," how he felt during fellow judge Heidi Klum's COVID-19 scare, and what he'd like to see stay with us even after quarantine ends.
Mandel, who is notorious for being a self-described germophobe, said he's perfectly fine not shaking hands, but he has another idea for what we can do to greet each other.
"We don't even need to fist bump anymore," Mandel said. "I think what we should do is just spooning, that way you're not face to face."
Mandel mimed a demonstration over Zoom, pretending to hug someone from behind as he said:
"You go, 'Hey, I haven't seen ya in a week!' and ya just grab somebody and spoon 'em from behind! I hope people take that word of advice and that becomes the new normal."
While we wait to see if that catches on, the 11-year AGT veteran shared that the newest face on the judging panel, Modern Family star Sofia Vergara, has been an incredible addition to the team.
"[Sofia] fires on every cylinder. She's absolutely beautiful, so witty, so smart, so funny!" Mandel said. "I had no idea what to expect. I didn't know Sofia before, and she is just amazing and adds that special sauce to our show that we didn't know we needed and just took it to a whole new level."
Mandel also shared that his choice for the coveted fast track "golden buzzer" is something completely new to the show. (For those not in the know, during auditions, each judge is allowed to use the "golden buzzer" to send an act automatically into the live shows, regardless of the opinion of the other judges.)
"My golden buzzer is something that's never been seen on AGT before," he said, talking about how the category of the performer blew him away. "It's not a singer, it's not a comedian, it's not a magician. And this just proves that people will come from all over the world to grace the stage of America's Got Talent and blow us away."
As for Mandel's fellow returning judge, Klum, she's doing well after a COVID-19 scare in March (she eventually tested negative for COVID-19), during which time Mandel checked in on her every single day.
"Nobody likes getting ill, but then you get ill and the mystery begins and it's just so fearful," he said, talking about how so little was and still is known about the novel coronavirus.
"I was just really worried for her, and really worried about her," Mandel said of his close friend of more than a decade. "It is a scary time and we have to be there for each other, and apparently we're all in this together!"
AGT Creator and executive producer Simon Cowell is back at the star-studded judges’ table alongside Vergara, fan favorite Mandel and global fashion icon Klum. The dynamic Terry Crews returns as host.
With the show open to acts of all ages, America’s Got Talent continues to celebrate the variety format like no other show on television.
Year after year, America’s Got Talent features an impressive array of singers, dancers, comedians, contortionists, impressionists, magicians, ventriloquists and hopeful stars – all vying to win America’s hearts and a $1 million prize.
Watch the new season every Tuesday, beginning May 26, on NBC 3 at 8 p.m. Eastern.
