Wild Card

The Wild Card is a concept that was introduced in Season 1 of America's Got Talent during the Semifinals. The judges can vote to send one of two acts, acts with the least amount of votes to be eligible for the next round, to the next round.

Seasons 1, 5, 6, and 7 devoted entire weeks to Wild Card acts. In Season 1, each act that came in 2nd place with the viewers during their Semifinals week was given a spot in the Wild Card week. Each judge selected two acts to join these four. In Seasons 5 through 7, each judge selected four acts to participate in the Wild Card week.

In Season 3, eight acts could be voted on by American viewers.

In Season 4, the judges initially sent 40 acts to the Quarterfinals. When producer Simon Cowell expressed disappointment with the judges' decisions, he asked them to select 8 more acts as Wild Cards to join them.

In Season 8 and Season 9, each judge had one choice to send to the Semifinals.

From Season 10 onwards, the judges collectively select two Wild Card acts for the Quarterfinals and one for the Semifinals.

Season 1
Each act that came in 2nd place with the viewers during their Semifinals week was given a spot in the Wild Card week. Each judge selected two acts to join these four.

Season 3
After a serious injury, Russian Bar Trio was forced to withdraw from the Quarterfinals. To fill the vacancy, the judges picked eight acts as Wild Card acts eligible for a single spot in the Quarterfinals. Voting was opened to America: Donald Braswell II would win the vote.

Season 4
The judges initially sent 40 acts to the Quarterfinals, bu when producer Simon Cowell expressed disappointment with the judges' decisions, he asked them to select 8 more acts as Wild Cards to join them.

Season 5
Each judge selected four acts to participate in the Wild Card week.

Season 8
After Red Panda withdrew from the Quarterfinals, Melody Caballero was brought back to replace her. Coincidentally, Red Panda was later brought back as a Wild Card herself in the Semifinals.

Season 10
After Duo Volta and Sila Sveta withdrew from the competition before the Quarterfinals, two acts eliminated during the Judge Cuts, Alondra Santos and DADitude! were brought back to the competition.

Trivia

 * No act that received a Wild Card has won a season.
 * Season 2 is the only season so far to lack a Wild Card aspect.