America’s Got Talent pushed through its Season 21 Semifinals on September 15, and the judges finally got to see the top 12 acts perform live. Host Terry Crews told the crowd at the top of the episode that only six of those 12 would move on, and that the decision rested entirely with the viewers at home.
Tonight, you’re gonna see 12 acts going head-to-head for a spot in that ultimate showdown. Only six will make it tonight, and that is all down to you and your votes.
Simon Cowell was once again absent from the show while recovering from back surgery, leaving the judging duties to Howie Mandel, Mel B., and Sofía Vergara. Fans can vote for their favorites on NBC’s website, the AGT app, and the show’s official TikTok account. Voting closes Wednesday, September 16, at 7 a.m. ET, and the results will be announced during that night’s episode at 8/7c.
What Happened On Stage
The performances spanned every category the show offers. Here is how the recap breaks down the standout moments:
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Acro Canine Crew added a new puppy to their act, performing to Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want To Have Fun.” The dogs jumped and ran over their trainers while the judges praised the act. Mel B. called it “so different” from other dog acts, and Vergara said she could watch them “for days.” Mandel joked they were his “favorite” of the night.
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Kameron Marshall, the Toronto magician, got a tattoo before the show. His mom was in the audience as he made the judges imagine a playing card, and Vergara pulled the correct one from a bag. The card matched the tattoo, which included a drawing from an audience member. Mandel said Marshall proved the “most amazing people come from Toronto.” Mel B. called his act “brilliant.”
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Cesar Dias sang Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” while things went wrong. He experienced a faulty mic, ripped pants, faulty stairs, and his tie getting stuck on a cameraman before falling off a platform. Mandel said the novelty of Dias’ act was wearing thin, but Vergara found it priceless to watch her crack up. Mel B. said he could do “so much more” with the performance.
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Veronika Goroshkova performed to Olivia Rodrigo’s “Stupid Song,” spinning in the air above the judges’ desk and the audience. The judges were in awe. Vergara praised her for making her performances more challenging each time. Mel B. called her “elegant” and “effortless,” and Mandel was impressed by the speed and height.
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Luke Taleno became an official U.S. citizen the day before the show, taking his citizenship test on September 14. He performed an original song about his American Dream on the AGT stage. Mandel declared, “You are the American Dream. You are making your dream come true.” Mel B. said he performed his “brilliant” song with “so much passion and heart.” Vergara called him a “superstar.”
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Royal Lasers received messages from their dance students during rehearsals. They performed a video game-inspired routine full of colorful graphics and special effects. Mel B. gave them a standing ovation, calling their choreography “on point” and “precise.” Mandel noted that most people don’t realize how much goes into their performance. Vergara said it was her “favorite” of theirs so far.
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Olivia Befus performed an energetic routine to BTS’s “Dynamite,” incorporating sports equipment like tennis rackets, nets, and a jump rope. She felt the competition against the Acro Canine Crew, but she showed no nerves. Vergara said her “favorite thing” about Befus’ act is how much her dogs love her and how much fun they have on stage together. Mandel wished Befus performed on a different night so voters wouldn’t compare her to the other group. Mel B. said Befus should be proud of doing the act on her own.
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Young & Strange brought out a locked box prop for their act, bringing two young audience members on stage with one going inside the box and the other helping make the kid disappear.
The Oddities Of The Night
The semifinals were packed with strange moments, and the recap leans into them rather than smoothing them over. Marshall’s tattoo matching the card Vergara pulled is the kind of coincidence that lands as pure spectacle rather than craft. The fact that he got the tattoo before the show, with a drawing from an audience member included in it, makes it a stunt in the best sense of the word.
Then there is Dias, whose act depends on things going wrong. A faulty mic, ripped pants, stairs that fail, a tie caught on a cameraman, and a fall off a platform — the recap lists it all as comedy. Mandel said the novelty was wearing thin, but Vergara found it priceless to watch. Mel B. said he could do “so much more.” The act is a deliberate mess, and the judges’ reactions are part of the joke.
Goroshkova’s aerialist act was the opposite of chaos. She spent most of her time spinning in the air above the judges’ desk and the audience, and the judges were in awe of her talent. Vergara praised her for making her performances more challenging each time. Mel B. called her “elegant” and “effortless,” and Mandel was impressed by the speed and height.
Who Moves On
The results are not yet known. The votes from home decide who advances. The source does not say which six acts made it through, and it does not say which six did not.
The voting deadline is Wednesday, September 16, at 7 a.m. ET. The show’s official TikTok account is also a voting option, alongside NBC’s website and the AGT app. Once the results are announced at 8/7c on September 16, the six finalists will be set for the next round of competition.
The grand prize remains on the table: $1 million for the winner. The semifinals narrowed the field, and the finals will decide the rest.
The recap is a record of what happened on stage, not a verdict on who deserved it. That judgment belongs to the viewers, and they have until Wednesday morning to make it.
See the video the story is built around at Tvinsider.
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