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 was also allowed to select 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 distaste with their 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.

Trivia

 * No act that received a Wild Card has won a season.