Simon Cowell broke the rules and hit his Golden Buzzer twice on Tuesday’s episode of America’s Got Talent on NBC.
The 64-year-old judge, executive producer and franchise creator first slammed down his Golden Buzzer after being stunned by singer Liv Warfield’s electrifying performance and later hit it again for an outdoor drone show as season 19 auditions continued.
Simon, 64, told Liv after she took the stage with her band and sang and danced her high energy song that he didn’t think her song was long enough.
‘It was like being in a good way, getting punched in the face by your energy, the band, all these years of frustration,’ Simon said. ‘I’m sorry. I can’t give you a yes. I’ve got to give you one of these.’
Simon got up and slammed down his Golden Buzzer. Liv started crying as golden confetti fell around her. Simon walked up to the stage and hugged her.
Simon Cowell broke the rules and hit his Golden Buzzer twice on Tuesday’s episode of America’s Got Talent on NBC
‘I’m overwhelmed,’ Liz said. ‘I’m so grateful. We all do it because we love it so much. We live in the music.’
‘Great things are going to happen after this,’ Simon said. ‘You just made our show great. Thank you!’
During the final moments of the two-hour show, Simon was so moved by Sky Elements, a six-man, 1,000-drone group from Dallas, that he impulsively slammed down the buzzer for a second time.
Sky Elements had to put on their epic drone show outside and the judges moved outside to watch. The drones light up the sky in different colors and then formed the shape of a rocket launching.
The drone rocket then sailed through the sky past drones that formed the shape of clouds and then of Simon as an astronaut holding an American flag.
‘That’s Simon in the sky,’ host Terry Crews, 55, said.
The drones also spelled out AGT.
‘Absolutely brilliant!’ Terry said.
The 64-year-old judge, executive producer and franchise creator summoned a producer after breaking the rules and hitting his Golden Buzzer again for a drone show
During the final moments of the two-hour show, Simon was so moved by Sky Elements, a six-man, 1,000-drone group from Dallas, that he impulsively slammed down the buzzer for a second time
Sky Elements put on an outdoors drone show that featured a likeness of Simon
The show used 1,000 drones and spelled out AGT in the night sky
‘That was unbelievable!’ Simon said.
The crowd chanted ‘Golden Buzzer!’
‘That was one small step for man and a huge step for AGT,’ Howie Mandel, 68, said.
‘I loved it too,’ Heidi Klum, 51, said.
‘Breathtaking!’ Sofia Vergara, 51, said.
‘It was really patriotic,’ Simon said. ‘ Whether you are three years old, whether you are 100 years old, I think you are going to absolutely love that audition. I’m obsessed with space and that landing on the moon. For every one of you,I want to say Bravo.’
The crowd chanted ‘Golden Buzzer!’
‘You know we keep talking about the rules, there is no rule book,’ Simon said. ‘Which means I’m going to do this. Liftoff!’
Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara and Simon gave the drone show a standing ovation
Simon then slammed down his Golden Buzzer for the second time in the night.
Chaos broke out though as Howie pointed out that Simon already used his Golden Buzzer and a producer approaced Simon.
‘Simon, what are you doing?’ the producer asked.
‘I just thought why not?’ Simon said. ‘There’s nothing in the rules that says we can’t.’
‘Well, there is,’ the producer said. ‘If you do it then everyone else gets a second.’
‘If I have two, you can have two,’ Simon said.
‘Two Golden Buzzers!’ Sofia said.
‘New Season, new rules,’ Howie said.
Five-year-old Chrisyius Whitehead from Sopchoppy, Florida, opened the show with a drum solo.
‘Simon, what are you doing?’ the producer asked after Simon hit his Golden Buzzer again
‘I just thought why not?,’ Simon said
Simon then told the other judges that they also would get two Golden Buzzers this season
Five-year-old Chrisyius Whitehead from Sopchoppy, Florida, opened the show with a drum solo.
Chrisyius said he would buy 200 bags of slime and squishy toys and help the poor if he won the show’s $1 million grand prize. Simon said that his son also played the drums. The audience gave Chrisyius a standing ovation when he finished.
‘You did great!’ Howie said.
‘I can’t believe you are only five years old. Do you train every day to be that good?’ Heidi said.
‘Yes, ma’am,’ Chrisyius said.
Chrisyius got four yeses and moved on in the competition.
A singing trio from Asheville, North Carolina, called Ashes & Arrows, made up of Ben, Ciaran and Jonathan, went next and sang their original song called Born To Love. The crowd applauded when they finished.
‘The audience loves you,’ Howie said. ‘You have great voices and harmony.’
Howie didn’t think they were great, though. Sofia disagreed and Simon agreed with her.
‘I think people are going to really like you,’ Simon said.
They got three yeses and moved through.
Chrisyius said he would buy 200 bags of slime and squishy toys and help the poor if he won the show’s $1 million grand prize
A singing trio from Asheville, North Carolina, called Ashes & Arrows, made up of Ben, Ciaran and Jonathan, went next and sang their original song called Born To Love
Sofia and Heidi flashed their smiles during the two-hour show
The German-born beauty wore a sleeveless blue dress
Sofia sizzled in a yellow dress
Hakuna Matata, an acrobatic act from Tanzania, took the stage ready to wow the judges. They balanced themselves on a moving platform and performed handstands and flips off each other.
The judges and the audience were stunned.
‘I was on the edge of my seat,’ Heidi said. ‘I was so nervous for the four of you. You had to hold everyone. It was incredible to watch.’
‘It’s acts like this that give me one word – unbelievable,’ Howie said.
The judges gave them four yeses.
Hakuna Matata, an acrobatic act from Tanzania, took the stage ready to wow the judges
They balanced themselves on a moving platform and performed handstands and flips off each other
Alex Zinger, a financial advisor and aspiring dancer from Brooklyn, took the stage. He danced to The Weeknd’s song Blinding Light and Simon almost immediately hit his buzzer in disapproval and then so did the rest of the judges.
‘You danced like a financial advisor,’ Howie said.
Nelson, Gavin and Taylor, a trio of musicians who called themselves The Otama Collective, went next. They played strange instruments and all the judges hit their buzzers.
‘Thank you for giving us something different,’ Simon said.
NiNi, who played a traditional Chinese instrument took the stage and played an original song for the judges. She shocked everyone when one of her instruments sounded like an electric guitar.
‘That was unexpected and spectacular!’ Sofia said.
‘That was absolute, as you would say in England, bloody brilliant,’ Simon said.
The judges voted her on.
Alex Zinger, a financial advisor and aspiring dancer from Brooklyn, took the stage and danced to The Weeknd’s song Blinding Light
Nelson, Gavin and Taylor, a trio of musicians who called themselves The Otama Collective, went next
NiNi, who played a traditional Chinese instrument took the stage and played an original song for the judges
She shocked everyone when one of her instruments sounded like an electric guitar
Cata and Jay, an acrobatic duo from Brazil took the stage but Simon and Sofia hit their buzzers moments into their act unimpressed. Sofia told them to come back another season.
A 17-member female dance group from Japan called Sabrina wowed the judges with their synchronized dance moves. The judges gave them a standing ovation.
‘God knows how many months you spent getting that together it was like a machine, literally,’ Simon said. ‘You’ve got a real shot at winning after that.’
‘It was original,’ Howie said.
‘My favorite act so far of the night,’ Heidi said.
The judges gave them four yeses.
Self-taught baton twirler Phil Lewis, 27, from Statesboro, Georgia, went next. He was nervous before he took the stage about dropping a baton on stage. He said he eats a glazed donut before each performance.
‘You are like a one man parade!’ Howie said.
‘Your showmanship is off the charts,’ Simon said.
Phil got four yeses.
Liv Warfield impressed Simon so much with her singing performance that he hit his Golden Buzzer
Cata and Jay, an acrobatic duo from Brazil took the stage but Simon and Sofia hit their buzzers moments into their act unimpressed
A 17-member female dance group from Japan called Sabrina wowed the judges with their synchronized dance moves
Self-taught baton twirler Phil Lewis, 27, from Statesboro, Georgia, earned four yes votes
Sword swallower Bao Cuong, 45, from Vietnam, put knives down his throat and the audience groaned. He also put clips in his eyes and used giant scissors for his routine.
‘Aye no please,’ Sofia said.
Sofia covered her eyes and stopped watching. The crowd cheered when he finished.
‘No one has ever put giant scissors in his neck as well as you on any year of this show,’ Simon said. ‘One of my favorite acts tonight.’
‘I hope that your mother never sees you doing this,’ Sofia said.
The judges gave him four yeses.
America’s Got Talent will return next Tuesday on NBC.
Sword swallower Bao Cuong, 45, from Vietnam, put knives down his throat and the audience groaned
He also put clips in his eyes and used giant scissors for his routine
It was previously revealed that the judges would have two Golden Buzzers for the season, but the reason was not revealed until Tuesday’s episode.
Auditions for season 19 were filmed in March and April at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
Season 18 of America’s Got Talent was won by dog act Adrian Stoica and Hurricane last September with magician Anna DeGuzman finishing second, and dance group Murmuration coming in third place.
America’s Got Talent first premiered on NBC in June 2006 and its first season was won by singer Bianca Ryan, 29.
