America's Got Talent s05e09 Episode Script
Chicago auditions
- it's the final week of auditions.
We've seen the great The not-so-great And the downright strange, But there's still a chance to go to vegas.
- your dream? - not wait tables.
- who are you? - I'm your worst nightmare.
- this is america's got talent.
- howie mandel hasn't made a good thing Since, uh, little monsters.
- maybe have to take my coat off And go out there and whup some ass.
- welcome to america's got talent, Where the auditions continue across the nation.
We got one question for you.
Does chicago got talent? Yeah! - chicago's got talent! - chicago! - chicago's home to wrigley field, The navy pier, And, of course, deep dish pizza.
The judges are just arriving in the windy city And are hoping for great talent.
- I'm excited.
- I'm looking forward to getting started.
Make haste.
- does chicago have talent? I'll be the judge of that.
- chicago's - got - talent! The people in the heartland of america Are lining up around the block For their shot to win A cool million bucks And a prize that money can't buy-- A headline show in las vegas.
Chi-town, are you guys ready to meet your judges? Piers morgan! Mrs.
Sharon osbourne! Now our last judge-- last but not least-- - last but not least nick said.
Ready? Where do I go? Thank god there's a map.
- he hates germs, but he loves people.
Just give him a nice fist bump, And he'll show you some love.
Howie mandel! You guys ready to start the show? Let's do this, chicago! As our germaphobic judge takes his seat, The chicago hopefuls backstage Are ready to start the auditions.
And first to take the stage is auto detailer zach carty.
- my name is zach carty, and I'm 20 years old.
I'm from bucks county, pennsylvania.
Today, I will be doing a very unique act That will surprise, astound, And disgust the audience.
I sneeze with my eyes open.
Using a q-tip, I get myself to sneeze.
- I heard your eyeballs pop out If you sneeze with your eyes open.
- that's a myth.
I'm here today because I want to show america my talent.
- what is your name? - my name is zach.
- and what do you do, zach? - my talent is I will see how many times I can sneeze With my eyes open.
- you're gonna sneeze at howie? - are you being serious? That is your talent? - that is my talent.
- you're gonna sneeze? - howie does not like this.
- I don't want to, uh, be part of this.
- I've been known to reach like 50 feet.
- 50 feet? Your germs can spray - it's not a talent.
- he's leaving! - you've gotta stay.
You've gotta stay.
- no, you guys stay.
- howie's leaving.
- I don't want to see it.
- howie! - no, no, you can see two out of three.
- start! Start! Quick, start! - start right now? - start! - I'm gonna need some help with nick real quick.
He's gotta time me.
- howie, where you goin'? - get on with it! - all right, let's see what you got.
What are you doing? What are you doing now? Is he gonna hawk a loogie? - I don't think it's gonna work, buddy.
I'm trying.
I'm diggin' deep.
- what are you doing? Press the "X"! "X"! "X"! "X"! - don't be so hard on me.
- I don't want to see this.
Aw, come on.
- take your time.
- everybody, for your own health, Turn this way! Everybody turn around! Turn around! Turn around! Everybody, turn around! - off! Off! Off! - all right! - another q-tip maybe, I don't know.
- got the "X.
" Just give me a little bit.
- get him! Get him! - ain't gonna happen, I'm sorry.
- could I just say something? And I know this is gonna sound corny.
That's snot talent.
- that's not talent? Come on! - h1n1.
Get out! Get out.
- I gotta leave? Take care, guys! - finished.
I gotta go call my family.
- didn't go according to plan, man.
- didn't even get one sneeze.
- I was sneezing back here.
I couldn't sneeze on stage.
You got like 600 people booing at you, You know, it's hard.
- stage fright? - nose fright.
Nostril fright.
I don't know what you call it.
- I have never been more disgusted in my life.
I have never been-- I'm being ser-- - I was looking forward to the attempted murder Of howie mandel.
- I was in therapy.
- germ warfare.
- I go to therapy.
I am a germaphobe.
Airborne illnesses, people.
- howie, howie - this is not a talent.
It is-- it is flu season.
This is not how you welcome a new judge To america's got talent.
- can I see the tattoo? - she makin' him get naked on stage? - can I get everybody to give me a 1, 2, 3? - 1, 2, 3! - welcome back to america's got talent, Where the auditions have blown into the windy city, And as you can see, It's raining! The weather may have taken a turn for the worse - aw, damn! But backstage, the hopefuls Are not letting that dampen their spirits.
Next to hit the stage is a dance group Made up of eight roommates, Strikers all stars.
So what you guys gonna do for us? - we got a little step and hip-hop mix that we bop.
- okay, all right.
- we are a eight-man stepping crew, Hailing from tallahassee, florida.
And we are The strikers all stars.
- we all met as students at florida a & m university, And it's a million and one things to do-- Partying, pools, girls, everything like that, But in order to be the best, You have to practice, practice, practice.
You know, these great bodies don't just come, You know what I'm sayin'? - this is a million-dollar act? - come on! - a million-dollar act.
When we go out there on that stage today, We're gonna show america that we are the best, And that we always say - oh, they do it! - hey! - hello, gentlemen.
- hello, hello.
- how are you? - we're great.
- good.
The name? - we are the strikers all stars.
- tell me something interesting about you.
- well, we all have been dancing together since 2002.
We're all dancing together in college.
- okay, great.
We're giving you the stage.
- thank you.
I SAID, MY BROTHERS! All: YEAH! - break it down! Uhh! "A"! "G"! "T"! Strike it now! Aww! Ohh! - all right! That was big.
They were serious.
- vegas! Vegas! Vegas! Vegas! Vegas! Vegas! That was good.
- thank you.
- I, uh I do not agree with sharon.
I think that was great.
It was dynamic, it was energetic, Uh, and I think it was crowd-pleasing.
And I would love to see you go far with this.
- you've got the looks, You've got the sex appeal for the girls.
You've got You've got the whole thing.
- we're gonna vote.
- I loved it.
Yes.
- a yes from me.
- and it is a yes from me.
We'll see you in vegas.
- y'all goin' to vegas! How it feel? - oh, they do it! Hey! - strikers all stars are headed to vegas, And chicago is off to a great start.
- what's your name? - we are the gentlemen of nuco.
- where are you from? - um, we all met in college just outside chicago.
Our dream is to break the stereotype Of classical music.
- when you're ready.
- ?Since you been gone ? - chicago is turning out to be a very talented city.
I'm gonna say yes.
- yes.
- that's three yeses.
You're goin' to vegas.
- thank you.
- and you are? - we are nu covenant.
We're a gospel group, And we perform in churches.
- show us what you can do.
?Lord, you make me want to shout ? ?Put your hands together and shout ? ?Come on now, shout ? ?Hey-ey-ey-ey-ey ? - ?Hey-ey-ey-ey-ey ? - ?Hey-ey yeah yeah yeah ? - ?Hey-ey yeah yeah yeah ? - ?Hey-ey-ey hey-ey-ey ? - ?Hey-ey-ey hey-ey-ey ? - ?Oh ooh-ooh-ooh ? ?Don't you make me want to shout ? - you make me want to go to church.
- thank you so much.
- you realize, sharon, if you go to church, You have to pray for forgiveness for your sins, don't you? - I'd be in there all day.
- it could be a few weeks.
- you're goin' to vegas.
What's your name? - naishon.
- what do you do, naishon? - I dance.
- show us what you got, naishon.
- vegas! Vegas! Vegas! - I like your comfort, I like your style, I like what you did.
I think you're wow.
- can I see the tattoo? - she makin' him get naked on stage? - fabulous.
- that's three yeses.
You're goin' to vegas.
- chicago is everything I hoped for and more.
- couldn't have said it better myself.
- thank you.
What's poppin', america? male announcer: CHECK OUT WHAT'S POPPIN' At the america's got talent auditions.
- yay! - I love you.
I don't know why you are, I don't know what you do.
You are my soul mate.
There's still plenty more to come - oh, my goodness! Grab a bowl of popcorn, And we'll be right back.
- that's amazing.
- why do they like risking my life on this show? - you'll be fine.
- no! - welcome back to america's got talent, The chicago auditions, Where everyone backstage is hoping for their chance At the prize of a lifetime: $1 million and a headlines show In las vegas.
- america, we've got talent.
- and next to take the stage is 50-year-old magician, The spellbinder.
- I am the spellbinder.
-what's goin' on, player? - what's goin' on, man? - look like a man of my own kind.
Boy, you're clean.
- I'm 50 years old.
I'm a professional illusionist.
I'm from chicago, illinois.
- now, what you gonna do for us today? - I'm-a do a little magic and illusion for you.
- really? - yeah.
I'm here at america's got talent To introduce the spellbinder To the world.
I've had the blessing to open up For great entertainers like jennifer hudson, The temptations, Sinbad.
I have a feeling that this is my time.
The judges are gonna love me Because they're gonna see A different style to the art of magic and illusion.
They're gonna see cool, They're gonna see some wow.
They're gonna be spellbound.
- is the spellbinder ready to give it to 'em? - ready, man.
- go ahead on, spellbinder.
- hello.
- well, all right.
- hello.
- all right.
- what's your name? -they call me the spellbinder, Hailing from chicago, illinois.
- what are you gonna do for us today? - gonna do a little magic and illusion for you.
- oh! Say no more, spellbinder.
- this reminds me of a joke.
How do you make a tissue dance? Put a little boogie in it.
- all right.
- you know, the thing is that on this show You have 90 seconds to dazzle us, And the fact that you were dancing with a handkerchief, You lost us.
I think you--oh! Piers, I'm spellbound.
I can't-- I can't say no more.
- it's three nos.
Thank you.
- so the judges weren't exactly touched By the spellbinder's performance, And their buzzers are about to get quite a workout.
- what's your name? - tom zemke.
- what is your big ambition? - to make music videos that turn people on.
Not just entertain, but turn people on! - right.
Whenever you're ready.
- ?I'm not braggin', babe, so don't put me down ? ?But I got the fastest set of wheels in town ? ?My little deuce coupe ? - chicago.
- ?Just a little deuce coupe ? ?With a flathead-- ? ?You don't know what I got ? - three nos, tom.
Thank you very much.
- shh.
- it's like a gas leak.
- you're gonna pass out, sir.
- take it easy, tom.
- oh! I love you.
I don't know who you are, I don't know what you do.
You are my soul mate.
No pun intended, but that's how I roll.
- anyway, let's see what you can do.
- good thing is She can't hear any of the boos.
Wow, even howie buzzed the little girl in the bubble.
- I think we're about ti burst your bubble.
- ohh! - it's a no from me.
- and a no from me.
Thank you.
- hi, there.
Welcome to america's got talent.
What's your name? - buddy holly cheesehead, And I'm singing a cheese song that I wrote.
- okay.
Good luck.
- ?I'm eating cheese ? ?I'm eating cheese ? ?I don't want to sneeze ? ?I'm eating ? ?Some real good cheese ? - what is your obsession about cheese? - it tastes good.
- it tastes good? - please.
- keep goin'! - ?Cheese and ham ? - tell 'em 'bout the cheese, player! - ?And beef jerky ? Thank you.
Have a good one.
- he's completely mad.
- ?Mothers are nice things ? - things aren't goin' so well here in chicago.
- ?They give you good advice ? - we'll be back with more america's got talent.
- ?Make you cookies ? - I believe that your life Is about to change right now.
- I'm the strong man.
- show us the strength.
Let piers unroll it.
Welcome back to america's got talent And the chicago auditions.
It's the show that can take ordinary people with talent And change their lives forever.
So many of the acts have traveled a long way For their big shot.
- I've traveled 7 1/2 hours to be here.
- I had to hitchhike through two states And a blizzard just to get here.
- we traveled from felton, minnesota, And lanesboro, minnesota, All the way, six hours, to get here for America's got talent.
- it's a journey they all hope will be worth it, Especially for our next act, Carlos aponte, Who has traveled all the way from puerto rico.
- how you doin'? - fine.
- what's your name? - carlos aponte.
- carlos, what you gonna do for us today? - well, I will sing.
I'm carlos aponte.
I am from puerto rico.
I'm 24 years old, And I will sing.
I think that I have a good voice.
It's nice And sweet.
I think in sometime of my life, I will have the opportunity To be famous like frank sinatra.
- are you nervous? - of course.
But, well, I'm trying to be calm.
- just be calm.
- yes.
Oh, god.
- all right, carlos.
Got get 'em.
Relax, carlos! - okay, uh, what's your name, please? - I'm carlos aponte.
- carlos.
And where are you from, carlos? - from puerto rico.
- really? It's obviously quite a long way to get here From puerto rico.
How are you feeling? - nervous.
- yeah? - exciting at the same time.
Uh, also because I'm still, uh Studying english, And, well, very funny to be here With chicago.
- what have you come to do? - well, I will sing il mare calmo della sera.
- let's hear you.
- okay.
?La ragione del mio canto ? ?Che resistere no puo ? ?Ad un cosi dolce pianto ? ?Che muto ? ?L'amore mio ? ?Se dento l'anima mio ? ?Allora si ? - where'd that come from, carlos? ?Che udir potrei ? ?Il mare calmo ? ?Della seee ? ?Raaa ? - go ahead on, carlos! ?Nel mio silenzio ? ?Il mare calmo ? ?Della se-ra ? - wow! - this is my first year on the show, And I thought it would be great To be part of, like, one of those moments, One of those unexpected, fantastic moments, you know? And we've been seeing a lot of people, But this is one of these unexpected, fantastic moments.
woman in audience: WE LOVE CARLOS! - I was not expecting to hear that huge voice Come out of that little body.
It was stunning.
And you have a really rich, beautiful tone in your voice, And it's so powerful.
You don't need the microphone to sing.
- oh, my god, thank you.
- carlos, you don't look Like the normal big, tall, powerful opera singer, And then you began to sing, And I felt goosebumps immediately You began to sing.
Do you know what goosebumps are? - I don't understand you a lot, But I know that is a good comment.
- so, howie, yes or no? - I believe that your life is about to change right now.
Do you know that? I vote yes.
- sharon, yes or no? - yes.
- carlos aponte, you've got three yeses.
We'll see you in las vegas.
- thank you.
Thank you.
- go get him, nick.
- carlos.
Carlos, do you want to say something before you go? - thank you.
- so how'd you feel, man? - oh, nervous.
- that was amazing.
- amazing.
- that was so surprising.
- you're still a little nervous? - yes, but I'm a little more calm.
That big place, very exciting with me, And wow.
It's a wonderful night.
- welcome back to america's got talent, Where the biggest city in the midwest Has something to prove! Chicago's got talent! - as the auditions continue, The girls are pullin' out all the stops In an effort to impress the judges.
America, we've got talent! - and on stage, 24-year-old polina volchek Is no exception.
- wow! That's talent.
- vegas! Vegas! Vegas! - think that's the most excited I've ever been About hula-hooping.
- I have been to hooters, and it-- - howie.
- no, I mean, seriously.
- stop it! - no, I'm being serious.
You know, they have the hula-hoops.
Sometimes the girls do the hula-hoops.
You are like hooters on steroids.
Yes for me.
- I'm gonna say yes.
- it's a yes from me.
- she's magnificent.
She was absolutely magnificent.
- so we'll see you out there.
All right, take care.
She was diggin' me.
See how she looked at me? Still got it.
America's got talent is open to anyone, Any age, any talent.
And someone who hopes He's got what the judges are looking for Is 43-year-old registered nurse john beatty.
- what we go here? That is a 290-pound ball of concrete.
- oh, yeah! Yeah, that ain't movin'.
Ha! Yeah! I lift weights.
That's not moving.
See, I didn't try the roll up.
That's what that-- he rolled it up.
See, I got it next time.
- hi there.
- just put that anywhere.
Uh, you are? - I'm john beatty.
I'm the strong man.
- is this what you do for a living? - no, I'm a registered nurse.
I work in an operating room in a Thank you.
- he got me feelin' a little weak right now.
- show us the strength.
- all right.
Well, first up, folks, I'm gonna take A regular frying pan here Roll it up into a little tube.
- get out of here.
- I dare you to buzz him, piers.
I double dog dare you.
- do you want a burrito, a hot dog, Anything like that will go right in.
Second thing up, got two boards here, License plate, and a nail.
Here's your hammer.
- no.
- no.
- can I get everybody to give me a 1, 2, 3? - don't try this at home.
That's amazing.
- what I'm gonna do is pick this up, Set it in my lap, Take one of these large size nails, Bend it while I'm holding the stone.
- I can do this stuff.
- and there's your nail.
And the stone.
- thank you.
Thanks very much.
- all right.
It's impressive.
Very impressive.
- I don't think it is that impressive, To be honest with you.
I think, you know, the frying pan, For all I know might have been a particularly weak Kind of frying pan.
And the ball, I've seen bigger.
- piers, you want your ass whupped, huh? That's what--you just asking for it Here in chicago.
- do you really think the frying pan was weak? - yeah.
- let piers unroll it.
Here.
- if you want to, absolutely.
- piers is gonna hurt himself.
If I straighten it out, doesn't it-- - there you go.
- all right.
- all right It's a little harder than it looks.
And just to clarify, Apparently it's a lot easier To screw up a frying pan than to unscrew it.
Apparently - can you unroll it? - let's see if he can unroll it.
That's a good point.
If you can't do it either, I'll feel better.
- oh, yes! Yes! - vegas! Vegas! Vegas! Vegas! Vegas! - he just made piers look like a wimp! - all right, so let's vote.
Let's vote.
I'm gonna vote yes.
- thank you.
- sharon? - yes.
- so you got two yeses.
Piers? - um Well, I'm gonna have to say yes now, aren't I? - thanks, everybody.
Thank you, guys.
- excuse me, can I-- excuse me.
Can you come back for a minute? No, no! - can you come back? No, I was kidding.
I was kidding.
That was pretty amazing.
He proved it to you, didn't he? - he did.
- he did, he did.
That was good.
- oh, my goodness.
Lord jesus.
Coming up, on america's got talent - let's see what you got.
- okay.
- welcome back to america's got talent.
As the chicago auditions continue, Every act is awaiting their chance To show off their talent.
And last to perform in front of the judges Is 21-year-old debra romer.
- my name is debra romer.
I'm 21 years old.
I am from kalamazoo, michigan, And I'm a full-time student, And I also wait tables.
- debra, what you gonna do for us today? - um, I'm gonna sing and play guitar.
When I was 17 years old, I ran away from home, And I haven't been back since.
I grew up with a younger brother and sister, And my whole life, Those were the only two people that have ever been constant.
My mom moved us around, then disappeared.
I was put into foster care when I was like 15 years old.
When we were in foster care, I started playing music, And music saved my life.
- you ready? - yeah.
- you sure? - I'm sure.
- all right, debra, go ahead.
- hi.
- hi.
How are you? - I'm doing well.
- good.
What's your name? - uh, my name's debra romer.
- debra? - mm-hmm.
- okay, where are you from? - uh, I'm from kalamazoo, michigan.
- okay.
So what do you do for a living? - um, I wait tables.
- good girl.
Okay.
And how old are you? - I'm 21 years old.
- your dream? - uh, my dream is to play music, Pay my bills, not wait tables.
- all right.
- okay.
?Spend all your time waiting ? ?For that second chance ? ?For a break that can make it okay ? ?There's always some reason ? ?To feel not good enough ? ?And it's hard at the end of the day ? ?I need some distractions ? ?Oh, beautiful release ? ?Memories seep from my veins ? ?Let me be empty ? ?Oh, and weightless ? ?And maybe I'll find some peace tonight ? ?You're in the arms of the angel ? ?May you find ? ?Some comfort here ? - vegas! Vegas! Vegas! Vegas! Vegas! Vegas! Vegas! Vegas! - she's good.
- well, to be honest with you, You have a lovely voice and a lovely look, And you certainly have talent, But my feeling is that I didn't sense that you-- That you owned your performance.
You know, when I-- It wasn't really strong.
I sensed your fear of performance.
- okay.
- okay? - well, I could not disagree more with howie.
Where he senses fear, I sense a certain kind of innocence and vulnerability, Which I found really appealing.
- debra, you do have a really beautiful voice, And I get what howie's saying, Because it's like you come up here And you're kind of afraid, At it makes us feel a bit nervous for you, So I get your style, But you do have to own it more.
You need to be stronger.
Hold your head up, smile, own it, what you do, And at the moment, you're not doing that.
So we're gonna vote, okay? - mm-hmm.
- vegas! Vegas! Vegas! Vegas! Vegas! - howie? - for now, it's no.
- piers? - no.
- I am a definite nailed-down yes.
- it's up to sharon.
- you know, this-- this contest Is about going to vegas at the end of the day, Putting on a huge show, And right now, I couldn't see you handling that.
- if that's what you want me to do, I'll do it.
- okay.
- pretty tense.
- well, debra I am going to give you the opportunity to do that.
- she's goin' to vegas.
- thank you.
- debra! You're goin' to vegas.
- I know.
- how's it feel? - it feels awesome.
- really? - yeah.
I've been wanting to do this forever, And, you know, you hardly get a chance to do it.
You hardly get a chance to stand out, And I finally did and they said yes and just I don't know.
It was really exciting.
- so it's on to vegas for debra, And that's the end of the auditions for chicago.
And what a city it's been.
- it's been my favorite day of auditions so far.
I thought chicago was magical today.
- chicago has been one of my favorite stops.
I loved today.
I absolutely loved today.
Night-night, chicago.
See you next year.
- great, chicago.
Loved it.
We've seen the great The not-so-great And the downright strange, But there's still a chance to go to vegas.
- your dream? - not wait tables.
- who are you? - I'm your worst nightmare.
- this is america's got talent.
- howie mandel hasn't made a good thing Since, uh, little monsters.
- maybe have to take my coat off And go out there and whup some ass.
- welcome to america's got talent, Where the auditions continue across the nation.
We got one question for you.
Does chicago got talent? Yeah! - chicago's got talent! - chicago! - chicago's home to wrigley field, The navy pier, And, of course, deep dish pizza.
The judges are just arriving in the windy city And are hoping for great talent.
- I'm excited.
- I'm looking forward to getting started.
Make haste.
- does chicago have talent? I'll be the judge of that.
- chicago's - got - talent! The people in the heartland of america Are lining up around the block For their shot to win A cool million bucks And a prize that money can't buy-- A headline show in las vegas.
Chi-town, are you guys ready to meet your judges? Piers morgan! Mrs.
Sharon osbourne! Now our last judge-- last but not least-- - last but not least nick said.
Ready? Where do I go? Thank god there's a map.
- he hates germs, but he loves people.
Just give him a nice fist bump, And he'll show you some love.
Howie mandel! You guys ready to start the show? Let's do this, chicago! As our germaphobic judge takes his seat, The chicago hopefuls backstage Are ready to start the auditions.
And first to take the stage is auto detailer zach carty.
- my name is zach carty, and I'm 20 years old.
I'm from bucks county, pennsylvania.
Today, I will be doing a very unique act That will surprise, astound, And disgust the audience.
I sneeze with my eyes open.
Using a q-tip, I get myself to sneeze.
- I heard your eyeballs pop out If you sneeze with your eyes open.
- that's a myth.
I'm here today because I want to show america my talent.
- what is your name? - my name is zach.
- and what do you do, zach? - my talent is I will see how many times I can sneeze With my eyes open.
- you're gonna sneeze at howie? - are you being serious? That is your talent? - that is my talent.
- you're gonna sneeze? - howie does not like this.
- I don't want to, uh, be part of this.
- I've been known to reach like 50 feet.
- 50 feet? Your germs can spray - it's not a talent.
- he's leaving! - you've gotta stay.
You've gotta stay.
- no, you guys stay.
- howie's leaving.
- I don't want to see it.
- howie! - no, no, you can see two out of three.
- start! Start! Quick, start! - start right now? - start! - I'm gonna need some help with nick real quick.
He's gotta time me.
- howie, where you goin'? - get on with it! - all right, let's see what you got.
What are you doing? What are you doing now? Is he gonna hawk a loogie? - I don't think it's gonna work, buddy.
I'm trying.
I'm diggin' deep.
- what are you doing? Press the "X"! "X"! "X"! "X"! - don't be so hard on me.
- I don't want to see this.
Aw, come on.
- take your time.
- everybody, for your own health, Turn this way! Everybody turn around! Turn around! Turn around! Everybody, turn around! - off! Off! Off! - all right! - another q-tip maybe, I don't know.
- got the "X.
" Just give me a little bit.
- get him! Get him! - ain't gonna happen, I'm sorry.
- could I just say something? And I know this is gonna sound corny.
That's snot talent.
- that's not talent? Come on! - h1n1.
Get out! Get out.
- I gotta leave? Take care, guys! - finished.
I gotta go call my family.
- didn't go according to plan, man.
- didn't even get one sneeze.
- I was sneezing back here.
I couldn't sneeze on stage.
You got like 600 people booing at you, You know, it's hard.
- stage fright? - nose fright.
Nostril fright.
I don't know what you call it.
- I have never been more disgusted in my life.
I have never been-- I'm being ser-- - I was looking forward to the attempted murder Of howie mandel.
- I was in therapy.
- germ warfare.
- I go to therapy.
I am a germaphobe.
Airborne illnesses, people.
- howie, howie - this is not a talent.
It is-- it is flu season.
This is not how you welcome a new judge To america's got talent.
- can I see the tattoo? - she makin' him get naked on stage? - can I get everybody to give me a 1, 2, 3? - 1, 2, 3! - welcome back to america's got talent, Where the auditions have blown into the windy city, And as you can see, It's raining! The weather may have taken a turn for the worse - aw, damn! But backstage, the hopefuls Are not letting that dampen their spirits.
Next to hit the stage is a dance group Made up of eight roommates, Strikers all stars.
So what you guys gonna do for us? - we got a little step and hip-hop mix that we bop.
- okay, all right.
- we are a eight-man stepping crew, Hailing from tallahassee, florida.
And we are The strikers all stars.
- we all met as students at florida a & m university, And it's a million and one things to do-- Partying, pools, girls, everything like that, But in order to be the best, You have to practice, practice, practice.
You know, these great bodies don't just come, You know what I'm sayin'? - this is a million-dollar act? - come on! - a million-dollar act.
When we go out there on that stage today, We're gonna show america that we are the best, And that we always say - oh, they do it! - hey! - hello, gentlemen.
- hello, hello.
- how are you? - we're great.
- good.
The name? - we are the strikers all stars.
- tell me something interesting about you.
- well, we all have been dancing together since 2002.
We're all dancing together in college.
- okay, great.
We're giving you the stage.
- thank you.
I SAID, MY BROTHERS! All: YEAH! - break it down! Uhh! "A"! "G"! "T"! Strike it now! Aww! Ohh! - all right! That was big.
They were serious.
- vegas! Vegas! Vegas! Vegas! Vegas! Vegas! That was good.
- thank you.
- I, uh I do not agree with sharon.
I think that was great.
It was dynamic, it was energetic, Uh, and I think it was crowd-pleasing.
And I would love to see you go far with this.
- you've got the looks, You've got the sex appeal for the girls.
You've got You've got the whole thing.
- we're gonna vote.
- I loved it.
Yes.
- a yes from me.
- and it is a yes from me.
We'll see you in vegas.
- y'all goin' to vegas! How it feel? - oh, they do it! Hey! - strikers all stars are headed to vegas, And chicago is off to a great start.
- what's your name? - we are the gentlemen of nuco.
- where are you from? - um, we all met in college just outside chicago.
Our dream is to break the stereotype Of classical music.
- when you're ready.
- ?Since you been gone ? - chicago is turning out to be a very talented city.
I'm gonna say yes.
- yes.
- that's three yeses.
You're goin' to vegas.
- thank you.
- and you are? - we are nu covenant.
We're a gospel group, And we perform in churches.
- show us what you can do.
?Lord, you make me want to shout ? ?Put your hands together and shout ? ?Come on now, shout ? ?Hey-ey-ey-ey-ey ? - ?Hey-ey-ey-ey-ey ? - ?Hey-ey yeah yeah yeah ? - ?Hey-ey yeah yeah yeah ? - ?Hey-ey-ey hey-ey-ey ? - ?Hey-ey-ey hey-ey-ey ? - ?Oh ooh-ooh-ooh ? ?Don't you make me want to shout ? - you make me want to go to church.
- thank you so much.
- you realize, sharon, if you go to church, You have to pray for forgiveness for your sins, don't you? - I'd be in there all day.
- it could be a few weeks.
- you're goin' to vegas.
What's your name? - naishon.
- what do you do, naishon? - I dance.
- show us what you got, naishon.
- vegas! Vegas! Vegas! - I like your comfort, I like your style, I like what you did.
I think you're wow.
- can I see the tattoo? - she makin' him get naked on stage? - fabulous.
- that's three yeses.
You're goin' to vegas.
- chicago is everything I hoped for and more.
- couldn't have said it better myself.
- thank you.
What's poppin', america? male announcer: CHECK OUT WHAT'S POPPIN' At the america's got talent auditions.
- yay! - I love you.
I don't know why you are, I don't know what you do.
You are my soul mate.
There's still plenty more to come - oh, my goodness! Grab a bowl of popcorn, And we'll be right back.
- that's amazing.
- why do they like risking my life on this show? - you'll be fine.
- no! - welcome back to america's got talent, The chicago auditions, Where everyone backstage is hoping for their chance At the prize of a lifetime: $1 million and a headlines show In las vegas.
- america, we've got talent.
- and next to take the stage is 50-year-old magician, The spellbinder.
- I am the spellbinder.
-what's goin' on, player? - what's goin' on, man? - look like a man of my own kind.
Boy, you're clean.
- I'm 50 years old.
I'm a professional illusionist.
I'm from chicago, illinois.
- now, what you gonna do for us today? - I'm-a do a little magic and illusion for you.
- really? - yeah.
I'm here at america's got talent To introduce the spellbinder To the world.
I've had the blessing to open up For great entertainers like jennifer hudson, The temptations, Sinbad.
I have a feeling that this is my time.
The judges are gonna love me Because they're gonna see A different style to the art of magic and illusion.
They're gonna see cool, They're gonna see some wow.
They're gonna be spellbound.
- is the spellbinder ready to give it to 'em? - ready, man.
- go ahead on, spellbinder.
- hello.
- well, all right.
- hello.
- all right.
- what's your name? -they call me the spellbinder, Hailing from chicago, illinois.
- what are you gonna do for us today? - gonna do a little magic and illusion for you.
- oh! Say no more, spellbinder.
- this reminds me of a joke.
How do you make a tissue dance? Put a little boogie in it.
- all right.
- you know, the thing is that on this show You have 90 seconds to dazzle us, And the fact that you were dancing with a handkerchief, You lost us.
I think you--oh! Piers, I'm spellbound.
I can't-- I can't say no more.
- it's three nos.
Thank you.
- so the judges weren't exactly touched By the spellbinder's performance, And their buzzers are about to get quite a workout.
- what's your name? - tom zemke.
- what is your big ambition? - to make music videos that turn people on.
Not just entertain, but turn people on! - right.
Whenever you're ready.
- ?I'm not braggin', babe, so don't put me down ? ?But I got the fastest set of wheels in town ? ?My little deuce coupe ? - chicago.
- ?Just a little deuce coupe ? ?With a flathead-- ? ?You don't know what I got ? - three nos, tom.
Thank you very much.
- shh.
- it's like a gas leak.
- you're gonna pass out, sir.
- take it easy, tom.
- oh! I love you.
I don't know who you are, I don't know what you do.
You are my soul mate.
No pun intended, but that's how I roll.
- anyway, let's see what you can do.
- good thing is She can't hear any of the boos.
Wow, even howie buzzed the little girl in the bubble.
- I think we're about ti burst your bubble.
- ohh! - it's a no from me.
- and a no from me.
Thank you.
- hi, there.
Welcome to america's got talent.
What's your name? - buddy holly cheesehead, And I'm singing a cheese song that I wrote.
- okay.
Good luck.
- ?I'm eating cheese ? ?I'm eating cheese ? ?I don't want to sneeze ? ?I'm eating ? ?Some real good cheese ? - what is your obsession about cheese? - it tastes good.
- it tastes good? - please.
- keep goin'! - ?Cheese and ham ? - tell 'em 'bout the cheese, player! - ?And beef jerky ? Thank you.
Have a good one.
- he's completely mad.
- ?Mothers are nice things ? - things aren't goin' so well here in chicago.
- ?They give you good advice ? - we'll be back with more america's got talent.
- ?Make you cookies ? - I believe that your life Is about to change right now.
- I'm the strong man.
- show us the strength.
Let piers unroll it.
Welcome back to america's got talent And the chicago auditions.
It's the show that can take ordinary people with talent And change their lives forever.
So many of the acts have traveled a long way For their big shot.
- I've traveled 7 1/2 hours to be here.
- I had to hitchhike through two states And a blizzard just to get here.
- we traveled from felton, minnesota, And lanesboro, minnesota, All the way, six hours, to get here for America's got talent.
- it's a journey they all hope will be worth it, Especially for our next act, Carlos aponte, Who has traveled all the way from puerto rico.
- how you doin'? - fine.
- what's your name? - carlos aponte.
- carlos, what you gonna do for us today? - well, I will sing.
I'm carlos aponte.
I am from puerto rico.
I'm 24 years old, And I will sing.
I think that I have a good voice.
It's nice And sweet.
I think in sometime of my life, I will have the opportunity To be famous like frank sinatra.
- are you nervous? - of course.
But, well, I'm trying to be calm.
- just be calm.
- yes.
Oh, god.
- all right, carlos.
Got get 'em.
Relax, carlos! - okay, uh, what's your name, please? - I'm carlos aponte.
- carlos.
And where are you from, carlos? - from puerto rico.
- really? It's obviously quite a long way to get here From puerto rico.
How are you feeling? - nervous.
- yeah? - exciting at the same time.
Uh, also because I'm still, uh Studying english, And, well, very funny to be here With chicago.
- what have you come to do? - well, I will sing il mare calmo della sera.
- let's hear you.
- okay.
?La ragione del mio canto ? ?Che resistere no puo ? ?Ad un cosi dolce pianto ? ?Che muto ? ?L'amore mio ? ?Se dento l'anima mio ? ?Allora si ? - where'd that come from, carlos? ?Che udir potrei ? ?Il mare calmo ? ?Della seee ? ?Raaa ? - go ahead on, carlos! ?Nel mio silenzio ? ?Il mare calmo ? ?Della se-ra ? - wow! - this is my first year on the show, And I thought it would be great To be part of, like, one of those moments, One of those unexpected, fantastic moments, you know? And we've been seeing a lot of people, But this is one of these unexpected, fantastic moments.
woman in audience: WE LOVE CARLOS! - I was not expecting to hear that huge voice Come out of that little body.
It was stunning.
And you have a really rich, beautiful tone in your voice, And it's so powerful.
You don't need the microphone to sing.
- oh, my god, thank you.
- carlos, you don't look Like the normal big, tall, powerful opera singer, And then you began to sing, And I felt goosebumps immediately You began to sing.
Do you know what goosebumps are? - I don't understand you a lot, But I know that is a good comment.
- so, howie, yes or no? - I believe that your life is about to change right now.
Do you know that? I vote yes.
- sharon, yes or no? - yes.
- carlos aponte, you've got three yeses.
We'll see you in las vegas.
- thank you.
Thank you.
- go get him, nick.
- carlos.
Carlos, do you want to say something before you go? - thank you.
- so how'd you feel, man? - oh, nervous.
- that was amazing.
- amazing.
- that was so surprising.
- you're still a little nervous? - yes, but I'm a little more calm.
That big place, very exciting with me, And wow.
It's a wonderful night.
- welcome back to america's got talent, Where the biggest city in the midwest Has something to prove! Chicago's got talent! - as the auditions continue, The girls are pullin' out all the stops In an effort to impress the judges.
America, we've got talent! - and on stage, 24-year-old polina volchek Is no exception.
- wow! That's talent.
- vegas! Vegas! Vegas! - think that's the most excited I've ever been About hula-hooping.
- I have been to hooters, and it-- - howie.
- no, I mean, seriously.
- stop it! - no, I'm being serious.
You know, they have the hula-hoops.
Sometimes the girls do the hula-hoops.
You are like hooters on steroids.
Yes for me.
- I'm gonna say yes.
- it's a yes from me.
- she's magnificent.
She was absolutely magnificent.
- so we'll see you out there.
All right, take care.
She was diggin' me.
See how she looked at me? Still got it.
America's got talent is open to anyone, Any age, any talent.
And someone who hopes He's got what the judges are looking for Is 43-year-old registered nurse john beatty.
- what we go here? That is a 290-pound ball of concrete.
- oh, yeah! Yeah, that ain't movin'.
Ha! Yeah! I lift weights.
That's not moving.
See, I didn't try the roll up.
That's what that-- he rolled it up.
See, I got it next time.
- hi there.
- just put that anywhere.
Uh, you are? - I'm john beatty.
I'm the strong man.
- is this what you do for a living? - no, I'm a registered nurse.
I work in an operating room in a Thank you.
- he got me feelin' a little weak right now.
- show us the strength.
- all right.
Well, first up, folks, I'm gonna take A regular frying pan here Roll it up into a little tube.
- get out of here.
- I dare you to buzz him, piers.
I double dog dare you.
- do you want a burrito, a hot dog, Anything like that will go right in.
Second thing up, got two boards here, License plate, and a nail.
Here's your hammer.
- no.
- no.
- can I get everybody to give me a 1, 2, 3? - don't try this at home.
That's amazing.
- what I'm gonna do is pick this up, Set it in my lap, Take one of these large size nails, Bend it while I'm holding the stone.
- I can do this stuff.
- and there's your nail.
And the stone.
- thank you.
Thanks very much.
- all right.
It's impressive.
Very impressive.
- I don't think it is that impressive, To be honest with you.
I think, you know, the frying pan, For all I know might have been a particularly weak Kind of frying pan.
And the ball, I've seen bigger.
- piers, you want your ass whupped, huh? That's what--you just asking for it Here in chicago.
- do you really think the frying pan was weak? - yeah.
- let piers unroll it.
Here.
- if you want to, absolutely.
- piers is gonna hurt himself.
If I straighten it out, doesn't it-- - there you go.
- all right.
- all right It's a little harder than it looks.
And just to clarify, Apparently it's a lot easier To screw up a frying pan than to unscrew it.
Apparently - can you unroll it? - let's see if he can unroll it.
That's a good point.
If you can't do it either, I'll feel better.
- oh, yes! Yes! - vegas! Vegas! Vegas! Vegas! Vegas! - he just made piers look like a wimp! - all right, so let's vote.
Let's vote.
I'm gonna vote yes.
- thank you.
- sharon? - yes.
- so you got two yeses.
Piers? - um Well, I'm gonna have to say yes now, aren't I? - thanks, everybody.
Thank you, guys.
- excuse me, can I-- excuse me.
Can you come back for a minute? No, no! - can you come back? No, I was kidding.
I was kidding.
That was pretty amazing.
He proved it to you, didn't he? - he did.
- he did, he did.
That was good.
- oh, my goodness.
Lord jesus.
Coming up, on america's got talent - let's see what you got.
- okay.
- welcome back to america's got talent.
As the chicago auditions continue, Every act is awaiting their chance To show off their talent.
And last to perform in front of the judges Is 21-year-old debra romer.
- my name is debra romer.
I'm 21 years old.
I am from kalamazoo, michigan, And I'm a full-time student, And I also wait tables.
- debra, what you gonna do for us today? - um, I'm gonna sing and play guitar.
When I was 17 years old, I ran away from home, And I haven't been back since.
I grew up with a younger brother and sister, And my whole life, Those were the only two people that have ever been constant.
My mom moved us around, then disappeared.
I was put into foster care when I was like 15 years old.
When we were in foster care, I started playing music, And music saved my life.
- you ready? - yeah.
- you sure? - I'm sure.
- all right, debra, go ahead.
- hi.
- hi.
How are you? - I'm doing well.
- good.
What's your name? - uh, my name's debra romer.
- debra? - mm-hmm.
- okay, where are you from? - uh, I'm from kalamazoo, michigan.
- okay.
So what do you do for a living? - um, I wait tables.
- good girl.
Okay.
And how old are you? - I'm 21 years old.
- your dream? - uh, my dream is to play music, Pay my bills, not wait tables.
- all right.
- okay.
?Spend all your time waiting ? ?For that second chance ? ?For a break that can make it okay ? ?There's always some reason ? ?To feel not good enough ? ?And it's hard at the end of the day ? ?I need some distractions ? ?Oh, beautiful release ? ?Memories seep from my veins ? ?Let me be empty ? ?Oh, and weightless ? ?And maybe I'll find some peace tonight ? ?You're in the arms of the angel ? ?May you find ? ?Some comfort here ? - vegas! Vegas! Vegas! Vegas! Vegas! Vegas! Vegas! Vegas! - she's good.
- well, to be honest with you, You have a lovely voice and a lovely look, And you certainly have talent, But my feeling is that I didn't sense that you-- That you owned your performance.
You know, when I-- It wasn't really strong.
I sensed your fear of performance.
- okay.
- okay? - well, I could not disagree more with howie.
Where he senses fear, I sense a certain kind of innocence and vulnerability, Which I found really appealing.
- debra, you do have a really beautiful voice, And I get what howie's saying, Because it's like you come up here And you're kind of afraid, At it makes us feel a bit nervous for you, So I get your style, But you do have to own it more.
You need to be stronger.
Hold your head up, smile, own it, what you do, And at the moment, you're not doing that.
So we're gonna vote, okay? - mm-hmm.
- vegas! Vegas! Vegas! Vegas! Vegas! - howie? - for now, it's no.
- piers? - no.
- I am a definite nailed-down yes.
- it's up to sharon.
- you know, this-- this contest Is about going to vegas at the end of the day, Putting on a huge show, And right now, I couldn't see you handling that.
- if that's what you want me to do, I'll do it.
- okay.
- pretty tense.
- well, debra I am going to give you the opportunity to do that.
- she's goin' to vegas.
- thank you.
- debra! You're goin' to vegas.
- I know.
- how's it feel? - it feels awesome.
- really? - yeah.
I've been wanting to do this forever, And, you know, you hardly get a chance to do it.
You hardly get a chance to stand out, And I finally did and they said yes and just I don't know.
It was really exciting.
- so it's on to vegas for debra, And that's the end of the auditions for chicago.
And what a city it's been.
- it's been my favorite day of auditions so far.
I thought chicago was magical today.
- chicago has been one of my favorite stops.
I loved today.
I absolutely loved today.
Night-night, chicago.
See you next year.
- great, chicago.
Loved it.