America’s Got Talent Introduces First Judges Callbacks Round With Emma Bunton and Guest Stars
America’s Got Talent Introduces First Judges Callbacks will debut as part of the competition format for the first time in the show’s history, giving selected contestants another chance to impress the judges before the live shows start. The new round also sees celebrity guest stars getting involved in the decision-making process, with Emma Bunton reuniting with fellow Spice Girl Mel B as one of the headline guest judges.
Another Twist Before Live Shows
In Season 21, a new round called Judges Callbacks is added between the audition stage and the live performances. Judges will be inviting some of the acts to return and perform once more in a more intimate setting, instead of choosing finalists based only on footage from auditions.
Simon Cowell says the extra round allows the judges more time to get to know the contestants outside of their first auditions. The panel doesn’t just judge based on a few minutes on stage; they get to see performances after spending more time getting to know the acts and their stories. It is one of the biggest format changes the series has made in recent years.
Emma Bunton tops the celebrity guest list
One of the biggest talking points is the reunion of two of the Spice Girls, Mel B and Emma Bunton. Mel B’s Judges Callbacks will see Emma Bunton join her in deciding which performers make it through to the live competition.
Other celebrity guests are:
- Simon Cowell joins Normani and producer Poo Bear
- Howie Mandel with comedian Nikki Glaser
- Sofía Vergara gets help from Lele Pons and Sebastián Yatra
- Guest judges will also weigh in with their thoughts before the final selections are made.
Why This Round Matters
The Judges Callbacks follow a particularly competitive season of auditions. Some 100 acts got enough votes to stay in the competition but only 44 contestants can appear during the live shows. 10 acts have already qualified with Golden Buzzers and only 34 spots are left open.
Rather than making snap judgements, the judges will use the callback performances to compare contestants within categories, including singers, dancers, comedians, magicians and speciality acts. The format is expected to give deserving performers another chance to stand out before final eliminations.
How Long Do Judge Callbacks Take?
Judges Callbacks will take place over two weeks following the “Live Acts Revealed” special. The episodes will air on August 4 and August 11 on NBC, with the live competition kicking off later in August. Advancing contestants from these episodes will round out the live show lineup to compete for the show’s $1 million grand prise.
What Viewers Receive
Rather than being performed on a traditional stage, each judge hosts contestants in their own location. Simon Cowell is inviting performers to his Malibu home, Mel B is back in her hometown of Leeds, Sofía Vergara is meeting contestants in Beverly Hills and Howie Mandel is dividing his time between his podcast studio and the Laugh Factory.
The more intimate setting is intended to help the judges evaluate the talent differently than they do in the big-theater auditions, offering longtime fans of the competition a new way to view it.
Sources
NBC Insider – First-ever Judges Callbacks format, celebrity guest judges, filming locations and air dates of August 4 & 11 confirmed.
Entertainment Weekly—Said, “There were as many as 100 acts competing for 44 remaining live-show spots, with 10 Golden Buzzer acts already moving on.
People – BroadwayWorld Confirmed the list of celebrity guests, including Emma Bunton, Normani, Nikki Glaser, Lele Pons, Sebastián Yatra and Poo Bear, and the new competition format.
TV Insider – Background on how the new Judges Callbacks round fits into AGT Season 21 and why it was added.
