AGT Season 19 is broken down into four rounds: Auditions, Live Quarterfinals, Live Semifinals, and a two-week Finale event. This year there were eight different two-hour Audition episodes, which began airing on Tuesday, May 28 at 8/7c. Following an Act’s performance they had to earn at least three “Yes” votes from the Judges (Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, and Sofia Vergara) so they could avoid elimination in order to be considered for the Live Shows.
If an Act received more than one red X vote, they were eliminated. And if a Judge awarded an Act with a Golden Buzzer, they were automatically sent directly to Lives. The Top 44 Acts competing in the Quarterfinals were then revealed.
In a new twist for this season, the Top 44 will compete in four weeks of Live Quarterfinal rounds, with 11 Acts competing each week. Upping the stakes even more, a Live Show Golden Buzzer will also be introduced this season. Fans will remember that this summer also marked the first time in AGT history each Judge had the ability to award two Golden Buzzers during Auditions. Host Terry Crews still had just one to give out.
Now, during each week of the Quarterfinals, one Judge will have the ability to award a Live Show Golden Buzzer to the Act of their choice, which automatically advances that Act to the Finals. America’s Vote will determine three more Acts to advance to the Live Semifinal.
During the Live Semifinal round 12 Acts will compete for six Fan Votes, advancing them to the Final with the four Live Show Golden Buzzers and into the Top 10. They’ll all compete for the $1 million price in an extended two-week Finale event.
It’s one of the most-watched automotive competitions each year: Executives and leaders wait in angst to learn if their newest models, on which they spent billions of dollars in development and marketing, make the World Car Awards finalist list for the best new cars of the year. The list is the result of a survey taken among top automotive journalists from around the world who also serve as jurors for the awards, and it’s the run-up to the top awards, which will be announced on March 27th.
Then, there’s the handicapping: Will Hyundai sweep the awards for a third year in a row? Will one of the many eligible Chinese brands finally rise to the top as a finalist — or winner? Will an electric car take the World Performance Car award again this year, making it three of the last four?
The awards not only illustrate rising trends and marketplace changes, but also anticipate demand, desire and of course, sales.
After designating the finalists for World Car Awards, the body’s jurors will further weigh in as they vote on the winners in February. They consider driving dynamics, innovation, technology, performance, marketplace importance and value. (In full disclosure, I serve as a World Car Awards juror.)
