To some people, the most enjoyable part of shows like “American Idol” or “The Voice” is watching the primary auditions; it’s entertaining seeing people either make complete fools of themselves or blow away the judges with their undeniable raw talent. Many St. Louisians got to see such auditions when “America’s Got Talent” came to the Fox Theatre March 8 to March 10.
The hit NBC show had five different tapings at the Fox where over 75 contenders stepped in front of the three celebrity judges, Howie Mandel, Sharon Osbourne and Howard Stern at a chance to showcase their talent and make it to the next round in Las Vegas, Nev. Scenes from these auditions will be aired over the summer when the show’s seventh season premieres May 14.
At the 5 p.m. March 9 taping, people were lined up all around Grand Center in the cold just to get seats that were on a first come first serve basis as admission was free. At the door, clothing was checked in accordance with the strict dress code and cell phones were taken to prevent illegal videotaping.
Inside, The Fox was set up just as the auditions are seen on the show: the judging table, the “America’s Got Talent” sign in the back of the stage, the notorious giant “X’s” that light up in red whenever a judge decides to stop a performance, and host Nick Cannon backstage, encouraging the anxious contestants.
At this particular taping, the contestants varied immensely from puppeteers to a reptile trainer to a “strong lady” who could rip open beer cans with her bare hands. Out of the 19 who auditioned, only six made it to the next round.
The March 9 taping had many highlights, from Nick Cannon’s impromptu performance to the sight of the contestant and popular Ladue bar and bat mitzvah entertainer Reggie VanDerson, who, unfortunately, didn’t make it to the next round.
Overall, the “America’s Got Talent” gang excited St. Louis and even claimed us “the best audience in ‘AGT’ history.” The show will continue with auditions in Austin, Texas and St. Petersburg, Fla. before wrapping up in New York next month. #
