On America’s Got Talent, the Golden Buzzer used to be something special. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that only a few people received, but now fans think it has lost all meaning as the judges have already given away multiple within the first two episodes of the season.
The Golden Buzzer is a big gold button in the middle of the judges’ table. It allows the judges to send one act straight through to the live shows instead of the multiple rounds of auditions, if they really think the act is worthy.
Typically, the judges — Howie Mandel, Mel B., Sofia Vergara, and Simon Cowell — would get one each per season. Then, in later seasons, host Terry Crews was allowed to have one.
When Season 20 rolled around, each judge and host was given two Golden Buzzers, allowing more acts to bypass the audition rounds. Usually, a Golden Buzzer acts wins of makes it to the finals, but it is not always guaranteed, as that voting is up to America and out of the judges’ hands.
In episode one of Season 21, Cowell, Mandel, and Crews all hit their Golden Buzzers. Then, in episode two, Vergara beat Mandel to his second one when she hit the buzzer first. Later on in the episode, Mandel made his second selection and sent another Golden Buzzer act through. He even leaped across the table to make sure he could get to it first. Crews wanted to hit the button, but it was too late.
Even though it’s early in the season, Mandel has given out all of his Golden Buzzers so far, as everyone gets two. Fans reacted to the early Golden Buzzers on Reddit. They also complained about how early in an episode they give them out when there are acts later that they think are deserving of them.
“The Golden Buzzer has lost all meaning. It’s become extremely overused now to where they press it multiple times an episode, and I guess they got rid of the one-per-judge-per-season limit cause now they rack up like five each every episode,” the original poster said. “It used to be a special thing, and has now lost all meaning. At this point, they either need to get rid of it or regulate it back to the original rules.”
Many fans agreed with them. “I completely agree with this. It’s just not special anymore like it used to be. And they are getting them so early in the show, rather than the last act, which was the best act of the episode,” another said.
“Couldn’t agree more! I posted the same last night. And who they give it to is just puzzling,” a fan commented.
“I agree entirely. They should only use it for acts that are outstanding. So some episodes could have zero golden buzzers,” a fourth wrote.
“Yup. I said the same thing last week. Golden Buzzer doesn’t mean anything anymore,” a Reddit user said.
One fan suggested that there should be no Golden Buzzers during auditions. They want the acts to make it through, and then, in later rounds, they can be given the Golden Buzzer.
“Completely agree, it used to feel so special, but it’s so anticlimactic now. 10 golden buzzers + 4 more in the lives are way too much. I don’t mind one per judge, but having 3 in one episode is crazy,” another fan said.
“And it’s pointless anyway. If the act was that good, they were going to make it to the live show anyway,” another commented.
“It used to be so simple!” one last fan said.
What do you think of the Golden Buzzers being given out early? Let us know in the comments.
America’s Got Talent, Season 21, Tuesdays, 8/7c, NBC, stream next day on Peacock