AGT
America's Got Talent (AGT) is an American reality television series featuring a talent competition where performers from diverse fields such as singing, dancing, comedy, and novelty acts vie for a $1 million prize through auditions, judge evaluations, and audience voting.[1] Created by Simon Cowell as part of the international Got Talent franchise, the show premiered on NBC on June 21, 2006, and has aired annually since, reaching its 20th season in 2025.[2][3] The format emphasizes two-minute performances judged by a rotating panel of celebrities—currently including Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, and Sofia Vergara—alongside a host, with Terry Crews in the role since 2019—while public telephone and online votes determine advancement in live rounds.[4] Notable winners, such as ventriloquist Terry Fator in season 2, have leveraged victories for recording contracts and Las Vegas residencies, highlighting the show's role in launching entertainment careers despite its commercial structure prioritizing spectacle over sustained artistic development.[1] The series has expanded with spin-offs like AGT: The Champions, aggregating international acts, and maintains high production values through Fremantle and Syco Entertainment, though viewership has declined in recent years amid broader shifts in media consumption.[5] Criticisms have centered on repetitive emotional narratives in contestant backstories and perceptions of predetermined outcomes, though empirical evidence of rigging remains anecdotal and unverified in peer-reviewed analyses.[6]Entertainment and Media
America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent is a reality competition series created by Simon Cowell as the flagship production of the international Got Talent franchise, which has expanded to 194 territories worldwide.[7] The program premiered on NBC on June 21, 2006, featuring performers of all ages and talents—from singers and dancers to comedians, magicians, and novelty acts—auditioning before a panel of judges, with public voting advancing contestants through live shows.[8] The winner receives a $1 million prize, structured as a financial annuity of $25,000 annually over 40 years before taxes, or a discounted lump-sum equivalent.[9] The format emphasizes diverse acts without genre restrictions, incorporating judge critiques via buzzers to eliminate performers and, since season 9 in 2014, a "Golden Buzzer" allowing each judge and the host to send one act directly to live rounds once per season.[10] Early seasons hosted by Regis Philbin featured judges Piers Morgan, David Hasselhoff, and Brandy Norwood, who evaluated auditions in a carnival-like atmosphere.[11] The panel evolved with additions like Sharon Osbourne and Howie Mandel, and Simon Cowell joined full-time in season 11 (2016); as of season 20 in 2025, judges include Cowell, Mandel, Heidi Klum, and Sofia Vergara, with Terry Crews hosting since 2019 after Nick Cannon's long tenure.[12] By its 20th season concluding in September 2025, the series had crowned winners including 11-year-old singer Bianca Ryan in season 1 and returning contestant Jessica Sanchez, a season 1 semifinalist and American Idol runner-up, who won the $1 million prize.[8][13] AGT has maintained strong summer viewership, with the season 12 finale in 2017 attracting 15.6 million viewers and a 3.0 rating in the 18-49 demographic, though later seasons like 2019 saw around 10 million for finales amid broader cable declines.[14][15] The show's success has influenced reality TV by prioritizing spectacle and accessibility, generating spin-offs like AGT: The Champions and sustaining NBC's Tuesday dominance in key demos.[7]Australia's Got Talent
Australia's Got Talent is an Australian reality competition series in which performers of various skills, including singing, dancing, magic, and acrobatics, audition before a panel of judges and a live audience for a chance to win a cash prize.[16] The format follows the international Got Talent franchise, where judges can eliminate acts mid-performance using buzzers, and advancing contestants proceed to live semi-finals and finals determined by public telephone and online voting.[16] Initially offering a $250,000 top prize, later seasons reduced it to $100,000, with winners also gaining exposure for professional careers.[16] [17] The show premiered on the Seven Network on 18 February 2007, hosted by Grant Denyer, and ran for seven seasons until 2012, featuring rotating judges such as Dannii Minogue, Kyle Sandilands, and Brian McFadden.[16] It briefly moved to the Nine Network for a 2016 edition before Seven revived it in 2019, with seasons airing in 2019, 2022, and a planned 2021 installment postponed indefinitely due to Sydney's COVID-19 lockdowns that halted production after initial filming setup.[18] [19] The revival under Seven emphasized live-audience performances and introduced international judges in some cycles, though the series concluded after the 2022 season without further renewals announced.[16] [17] Judges and hosts evolved across runs, reflecting network shifts and talent trends; early panels included entertainment figures like Minogue for vocal critiques and Sandilands for controversial commentary, while later lineups featured comedian Shane Jacobson and singer Ricki-Lee Coulter as host for seasons 9 and 10.[19] [17] Notable acts included young singer Jack Vidgen, who won the 2011 season at age 14 with ballad performances that propelled his career, and dance crew Justice Crew, 2010 victors known for high-energy hip-hop routines.[20] Other standout moments featured contortionists like Canadian Troy James in 2019, whose eerie elastic performances divided judges but advanced via votes, and magicians such as Michael Webb, whose emotional illusions moved panels to tears.[21] [22]| Season | Year | Network | Winner | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2007 | Seven | Not widely documented in primary sources; early opera and variety acts competed | $250,000 |
| 4 | 2010 | Seven | Justice Crew (dance group) | $250,000[23] |
| 5 | 2011 | Seven | Jack Vidgen (singer) | $250,000[20] |
| 9 | 2019 | Seven | Fletcher Pilon (impressionist) | $100,000[24] |
| 10 | 2022 | Seven | Winner announced via live finale; focused on diverse acts like vocalists and magicians | $100,000[17][25] |