The Judge Cuts of Season 12 of America's Got Talent aired from from July 18, 2017 to August 8, 2017. A total of 80 acts performed. 28 acts, along with 5 Golden Buzzer acts from the auditions, proceeded to the Quarterfinals, and 52 acts were rejected.
Process
The Judge Cuts round returned for its third year.
Serving as the middle round between the auditions and the live shows, 80 acts were pulled from the 100+ acts that were accepted by the judges in the Auditions. The Judge Cuts took place over four days; every day, 20 acts performed with only 7 moving on to the Quarterfinals.
Joining the main judging panel were four guest judges While each regular judge was given a normal buzzer, each guest had only a Golden Buzzer he or she could press to send an act to the live shows without further deliberation as one of the 7 acts.
Guest Judges
| Chris Hardwick | DJ Khaled | Laverne Cox | Seal |
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Week 1
Main article: Episode 1207
Television host Chris Hardwick served as a guest judge. 20 acts participated, and 7 acts moved on.
Moved On:
- 1. Sara and Hero, Dog Act
- 4. The Masqueraders, Vocal Trio
- 9. Eric Jones, Magician
- 10. Angelica Hale, Singer (Chris Hardwick's Golden Buzzer)
- 17. Just Jerk, Dance Group
- 19. The Singing Trump, Singer
- 20. Demian Aditya, Escape Artist
Eliminated:
- 2. The Baker Family, Bluegrass Band
- 3. Mariachi Nuevo Santander, Mariachi Band
- 5. Eric Jennifer, Comedian
- 6. Harrison Greenbaum, Comedian
- 7. Dancing Pumpkin Man, Dancer
- 8. Tom London, Magician
- 11. Danylo and Oskar, Acrobat Duo
- 12. Lera and Nika Tomanova, Aerial Duo
- 13. Yosein Chi, Hand Balancer
- 14. Darcy Callus, Singer and Keyboardist
- 15. Carlos De Antonis, Opera Singer
- 16. Canion Shijirbat, Multimedia Dancer
- 18. Maw Kitty, Singer
Week 2
Main article: Episode 1208
DJ and record producer DJ Khaled served as a guest judge. 20 acts participated, and 7 acts moved on.
Moved On:
- 6. Junior and Emily, Salsa Duo
- 9. Chase Goehring, Singer and Guitarist (DJ Khaled's Golden Buzzer)
- 13. Mirror Image, Vocal Duo
- 14. Evie Clair, Singer
- 17. Colin Cloud, Mentalist
- 19. Puddles Pity Party, Singing Clown
- 20. Yoli Mayor, Singer
Eliminated:
- 1. Sammulous, Singer
- 2. Steven Scott, Comedian
- 3. The Quiddlers, Puppeteer Group
- 4. Str8jacket, Dance Group
- 5. Solto & T Dot, Dance Duo
- 7. Jokgu and Aichan, Chicken Act (Buzzed out)
- 8. Dakota Striplin, Singer and Guitarist
- 10. Azeri Brothers, Danger Duo
- 11. The Godfathers, Acrobatic Group
- 12. Tulga, Strongman
- 15. Kyle Eschen, Magician
- 16. Xavier Mortimer, Magician
- 18. Pelican212, Family Band
Week 3
Main article: Episode 1209
Actress Laverne Cox served as a guest judge. 20 acts participated, and 7 acts moved on. Bello Nock and Final Draft were picked as a wildcard to go through to the Quarterfinals.
Moved On:
- 1. Oscar Hernandez, Dancer
- 6. Mike Yung, Singer
- 9. Brobots & Mandroidz, Dance Group
- 11. Celine Tam, Singer (Laverne Cox's Golden Buzzer)
- 15. Diavolo, Acrobatic Group
- 19. Preacher Lawson, Comedian
- 20. Billy & Emily England, Rollerblade Duo
Eliminated:
- 2. Tony and Jordan, Magicians
- 3. The Naked Magicians, Magicians
- 4. Jeki Yoo, Magician
- 5. Herbie Russ, Singer and Saxophonist
- 7. 5 Alive, Boy Band
- 8. Final Draft, Vocal Group
- 10. Marisa McKaye, Singer and Guitarist
- 12. Aileen George, Pole Dancer
- 13. Shemika Charles, Limbo Dancer
- 14. Jay Jay Phillips, Keyboardist
- 16. Jonathan Rinny, Balancing Acrobat
- 17. Bello Nock, Daredevil
- 18. Daniel Ferguson, Singing Impressionist
Week 4
Main article: Episode 1210
Singer-songwriter Seal served as a guest judge. 20 acts participated, and 7 acts moved on.
Moved On:
- 1. Artyon & Paige, Dance Duo
- 3. In The Stairwell, A Cappella Group
- 11. DaNell Daymon & Greater Works, Gospel Choir
- 12. Pompeyo Family Dogs, Dog Act
- 13. Johnny Manuel, Singer (Seal's Golden Buzzer)
- 18. Merrick Hanna, Dancer
- 19. Kechi, Singer
Eliminated:
- 2. Britt Saasen, Singer
- 4. Will Tsai, Magician
- 5. Henry Richardson, Magician
- 6. Elena and Sasha, Acrobat Duo
- 7. Lost Legends, Dance Group
- 8. Nick Uhas, Scientist
- 9. Veronica Gonzalez, Foot Puppeteer
- 10. Sirqus Alfon, Digital Comedy Trio
- 14. Maria Popazova, Aerialist
- 15. Maxim Popazov, Hand Balancer
- 16. German Cornejo Dance Company, Dance Group
- 17. The Honeybee-z Plus, Dance Group
Brandon Rogers did compete on this episode before he passed away, but he was edited out of the episode, explaining why only 19 acts are listed. [1] Despite not appearing in the episode, it is known that he was eliminated.
Did Not Appear
The following acts were not seen in the competition after their auditions. Some acts were cut before the Judge Cuts, some had only intended to perform once for the judges, and others withdrew for personal reasons.
- Conrad the Unicorn, Novelty Act
- Sofiane & Nathalie, Dance Duo
- Karen & Ricardo, Dance Duo
- Jorge Barani, Ballet Dancer
- Joan Colee, Singer
- Maral, Contortionist
- Tatiana, Slackwire Acrobat
- Menestrelli Dog Show, Dog Act
- Tsatsral & Ariunaa, Contortion Duo
- Men with Pans, Novelty Act
- Cecil the Sad Clown, Clown
- Brae Cruz, Singer and Guitarist
- Vinny Grosso, Magician
- Nico Maffey, Aerialist
- Clark Jacques, Hand Balancer
- Inka Tiitto, Indoor Skydiver
Did Not Make The Top 80
These acts replied on social media confirming that they got cut from the competition.
- Michael Brook, Trampolinist
- Edna & Mia Moore, Dog Act
Withdrawn
The following acts had to withdraw from the competition for personal reasons before the Judge Cuts were filmed: as such, they did not perform.
- Sven & Vanessa, Acrobat Duo
Wild Card
The following acts were eliminated in the Judge Cuts, but returned as Wild Card acts for the Quarterfinals.
- Bello Nock, Daredevil
- Final Draft, Vocal Group
Also Moving On
The following act wasn't seen in the Judge Cuts, but progessed through to the Quarterfinals anyway.
- Oskar and Gaspar, Videomapping Act
Audition Golden Buzzer Acts
The following acts were given the Golden Buzzer during the audition round; as a result they were allowed to skip the Judge Cuts and advance straight to the Quarterfinals.
Moved On:
- Darci Lynne Farmer, Singing Ventriloquist (Mel B's Golden Buzzer)
- Mandy Harvey, Singer and Ukulelist (Simon Cowell's Golden Buzzer)
- Christian Guardino, Singer (Howie Mandel's Golden Buzzer)
- Light Balance, Light-Up Dance Group (Tyra Banks' Golden Buzzer)
- Angelina Green, Singer (Heidi Klum's Golden Buzzer)
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