Howie Mandel has made a surprising admission as America’s Got Talent enters its Live Shows: for perhaps the first time in years, he does not have a clear idea of who will ultimately win the competition.
Mandel has been a judge on AGT since 2010 and says he usually has a strong sense of which act could take home the $1 million prize. He estimates that his track record for predicting the eventual winner has been around 80 percent.
This season, however, the veteran judge says the competition feels completely different. With 44 acts advancing to the Live Shows, Mandel believes there are several contestants capable of making a serious run at the top prize.
One of the performers who has particularly caught his attention is 16-year-old Nene Royal. The young singer and guitarist has generated enormous online interest following her appearances on the show.
Mandel specifically pointed to Nene as a standout performer, noting that her Callback appearance helped turn her into a global online sensation. According to Mandel, her performance had already generated more than 40 million views globally after its first night.
Another act Mandel singled out is Hundred Fingers, the innovative magic group that received his Golden Buzzer earlier in the season. He praised their approach to magic as something he had never seen performed quite the same way before.
Interestingly, Mandel also admitted that his personal preference could influence who he roots for. As a comedian himself, he has a particular soft spot for the comedians still competing, including Cris Sosa, Daniel Alvarez, and comedic singer Cesar Dias.
But Mandel emphasized that reaching the Live Shows changes everything. The performers now have to handle the pressure of performing live, knowing that the competition is significantly tougher and that the audience will ultimately have an important say in who advances.
The first Live Shows have already demonstrated just how unpredictable the competition can be. Eleven acts performed in the opening quarterfinal, while Hundred Fingers received another major boost after Mandel used his Golden Buzzer on the magic group.
With so many different types of performers still in contention, Mandel’s unusual uncertainty could be a sign that Season 21 is heading toward an especially unpredictable finish. Nene Royal, Hundred Fingers, the comedians, singers, magicians, aerialists, and other remaining acts all have another opportunity to change the race.
For now, even one of the show’s most experienced judges is refusing to name a definite winner. The $1 million prize remains up for grabs, and according to Mandel, the contestants will have to prove themselves when the pressure is at its highest.
**Compiled from various sources.**
