Host(s) Nick Cannon Origin Japan | Broadcaster NBC Genre(s) Mime | |
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Broadcast from June 4 – September 18, 2013 Judges Howie Mandel
Howard Stern
Mel B
Heidi Klum | ||
Season eight of the reality competition series America's Got Talent premiered on June 4, 2013, and ended on September 18, 2013. Judges Howie Mandel and Howard Stern returned for their respective fourth and second season. Sharon Osbourne was replaced by Mel B following her departure after six seasons on the show, while Heidi Klum became the fourth judge.
Contents
- Season changes
- Preliminary auditions
- Las Vegas Week
- Standby acts
- Unknown decision
- Live rounds
- Quarterfinals week 1 July 2324
- Quarterfinals week 2 July 3031
- Quarterfinals week 3 August 67
- Quarterfinals week 4 August 1314
- Quarterfinals week 5 August 2021
- Semifinals week 1 August 2728
- Semifinals week 2 September 34
- Top 12 September 1011
- Finale
- US Nielsen ratings
- References
Snapple continues to be the official beverage sponsor of America's Got Talent and their products are featured on the show throughout the season, along with their cups on the judges' desk.
America's Got Talent shot their live shows from Radio City Music Hall in New York, after moving from the New Jersey Performing Arts Center last year. The 2013 winner was Kenichi Ebina, the first mime to win the competition. The runner-up was comedian Taylor Williamson and singer/guitarist Jimmy Rose announced in third place.
Season changes
Sharon Osbourne initially stated that she would not return for season eight, but later said that she was staying with the show "for now." Osbourne confirmed that she would be leaving the show after a feud with NBC on August 6, 2012. Following her departure, Osbourne returned to The X Factor judging panel after Tulisa Contostavlos announced she would not return. It was reported that Simon Cowell had wanted Carmen Electra to replace Osbourne. On November 29, 2012, Nick Cannon officially signed on with the network to host the show once again. On December 3, 2012, Howard Stern announced on his radio show that he would be returning for season eight. On February 12, 2013, Howie Mandel announced on Access Hollywood that he would be returning for another season on the show.
On February 20, 2013, it was announced that former Spice Girls member Mel B would replace Osbourne as the third judge. Entertainment Weekly also reported at the same time that NBC was looking at a possible fourth judge to be added. On March 3, 2013, it was announced that supermodel Heidi Klum would be joining the show as the new fourth judge.
The season also had a few changes with the use of the reformatted "X" that was used in the live rounds in season 7.
Preliminary auditions
An audition cities poll for season eight was announced on July 11, 2012. The cities where auditions in front of the producers were held in Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland (Oregon), New Orleans, Birmingham, Memphis, Nashville, Savannah, Raleigh, Norfolk, San Antonio, New York, Columbus, and Chicago. This season, the auditions traveled to more cities than ever before.
Live theater auditions were held throughout March, April, and May in New Orleans, San Antonio, New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Howie Mandel was absent for personal reasons on the first day of Los Angeles auditions.
According to TV Guide, AGT would be following the format of Britain's Got Talent, where multiple cities would be shown in each episode.
July 10's episode was the last episode of the audition rounds and featured a montage of different acts from all the audition sites.
Las Vegas Week
The second round of competition, held in Las Vegas, aired from July 16–17, 2013, in a two-night special. The round was held at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. Eighty-six (televised) acts passed through from the audition rounds to Las Vegas Week and competed for 60 slots in the live shows. The judges split the acts into three groups. The first group of 30 acts were sent through to the live show without performing. A second group of acts were sent home without a second chance. The final group, called Standby Acts, performed for the remaining spots.
Standby acts
The standby acts were deemed less likely to advance by the judges, and performed later for the remaining spots not already taken by those who received an immediate decision. 30 acts made it through to the live shows from this group.
Unknown decision
A number of acts that had been promoted in the initial round were not shown in the Vegas Week episodes, either because they withdrew from the competition or were edited out of the episode. However, they were presumed to have been eliminated from the competition.
Live rounds
The Quarterfinals began on Tuesday, July 23, 2013. This round included the Top 60 acts that had passed through Las Vegas Week. These shows were aired live from Radio City Music Hall in New York City. There was no YouTube special this season, with a fifth group of 12 regular quarter-finalists in its place instead. During the fifth quarterfinal week, Brown and Klum each chose one act as a wild card to go straight to the semifinals. Mandel and Stern each chose one act during the first semifinal week. This replaced the wild card round. Since Klum and Brown joined the judging panel, the show has had fewer buzzes.
Quarterfinals, week 1 (July 23–24)
Guests: The Rockettes, Labrinth, Emeli Sandé
Quarterfinals, week 2 (July 30–31)
Guests: Robin Thicke, Brad Paisley
This was the first live show to not have any buzzes.
Quarterfinals, week 3 (August 6–7)
Guests: Marion Ross, Jason Derulo
Quarterfinals, week 4 (August 13–14)
Guests: Backstreet Boys, Al Harris (Prop Comedian that didn't make it past the AGT auditions)
Quarterfinals, week 5 (August 20–21)
Guests: Tom Cotter, Train, and Ashley Monroe
There were no buzzes during any of these performances.
Semifinals, week 1 (August 27–28)
Guests: One Direction, Cassadee Pope
Semifinals, week 2 (September 3–4)
Guests: Fall Out Boy, Team iLuminate
There were no buzzes during any of these performances.
Top 12 (September 10–11)
Guests: Terry Fator, Olate Dogs
There was no judges' choice this week.
Finale
Each act performed twice; their first performance was an update of a performance from earlier in the competition, and their second performance was new.