America's Got Talent (season 3)

America's Got Talent
Season 3
Broadcast from	June 17 – October 1, 2008
Judges	David Hasselhoff Piers Morgan Sharon Osbourne
Host(s)	Jerry Springer
Broadcaster	NBC
Website	www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/
Winner
Neal E. Boyd
Neal E. Boyd
Origin	Sikeston, Missouri
Genre(s)	Opera
Runner-up
Eli Mattson

The third season of America's Got Talent, an American television reality show talent competition, premiered on NBC on June 17, 2008. Opera singer Neal E. Boyd was named the winner on October 1, 2008.

Preliminary auditions were held in New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, and MySpace from January to April. David Hasselhoff, Piers Morgan and Sharon Osbourne returned as judges. Jerry Springer also returned as host.

It premiered in the United Kingdom on the channel ITV2, 7 months after the United States premiere. It premiered in Singapore on Channel 5 in September 2008, and in Hong Kong on channel TVB Pearl on May 23, 2009.

This season, the audition stage became different. This season, the X on the stages (above) and judges table matched the ones from Britain's Got Talent. After this season, Jerry Springer stepped down as host.

Selection process

Season three is similar to Season two in the audition process, except that the auditions were held in large theaters, there were three more audition episodes, and two more audition sites. The season also carried over the Las Vegas boot camp, but acts were divided into more groups, such as ventriloquists, male singers, female singers, opera, instrumental music, bands, and other variety acts. There were forty acts that passed through, instead of twenty. The semi-final process consisted of shows on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Ten of the top forty acts performed each of the shows for four weeks. Five were eliminated each show by public vote during the "Top 40" episodes. However, the contestants that come in fifth and sixth place faced the judges' decision. The panel was able to eliminate the act they wished not to put through. Afterward, the Top 40 was narrowed down to a Top 20.

Following the Top 20, the American viewing audience was given the chance to eliminate ten acts from this group, creating a Top 10. The Top 10 then trimmed to a Top 5 after the American viewing audience voted. Afterward, The Top Five performed in a two-part, two-week finale, that concluded the season.

In Season 3, when all three judges pressed their X's to terminate a performance in the semi-finals, the act was allowed to continue, but must end early.

Preliminary auditions

Week 1

Aired on June 17, 2008, 2 hours. Auditions from New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles were shown.^[1][2][3]

Acts that were eliminated include:

• Serious Mysterious Bill Curlee sang and danced to "It's Not Unusual" by Tom Jones.^[4]
• Nick Afanasiev, a teenager with a flexible tongue
• Lady “J” Huston, a dancer/trumpeter
• The Quiddlers, a puppet act with puppets that look like dwarfs or little people
• Ed Jacques, a guy who hummed on his hand^[5]
• Adam Ace, a comedian who put a shower cap over his face.^[5]
• Mary Bly, 80-year-old tap dancer^[6]
• Chay Vang, Siamese electric guitar player^[7]
• Terry Christiansen, songwriter
• Singing Santa Claus, a Santa-singer
• Stumblebum Brass, a jazz/punk street trio
• Dallas Dance Company, group of dance teachers
• The Renegades, dance group performed to Michael Jackson's "Thriller"
• Daniel Burton, a hip hop dancer
• The M&M Twinz, a pair of twin dancers
• Daisy Taste, an elderly woman on roller skates

Week 2

Aired on June 24, 2008, 2 hours. Auditions from New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles were shown.^[8][9][10]

Acts that were eliminated include:

• Victoria, the Singing Fairy sang "When You Wish Upon a Star"^[11]
• Daniel Avila - singer/songwriter
• Ken Butler - one man band
• Polina Nikiforova - played cymbals and trombone while in a Groucho mask.
• Michael Droll, the "Ozzman", Ozzy Osbourne impersonator sang "Crazy Train"^[12]
• Drumtasia - cacophonous drum act^[13]
• Johnny Olshavsky - magician^[14]
• Dan "the Magic Man" Stapleton - magician^[15]
• Dorian - magician^[15]
• Dennis Keith - self "levitating" magician^[15]
• Becky Blaney - magician^[15]
• Bizarro - flame throwing magician^[15]
• Rob Caudill - Rod Stewart impersonator
• CJ King - Cyndi Lauper impersonator
• John Morgan - George W. Bush impersonator
• Steve Richards - Elton John impersonator
• Tasha Long - Dionne Warwick impersonator

Week 3

Aired on July 1, 2008, 2 Hours. Auditions from Dallas, Chicago and Atlanta.^[16][17][18]

Acts that were eliminated include:

• Corky Duke - line dancer danced to "Cotton-Eyed Joe"^[19]
• The Rodeo Rhythm Kings - bluegrass trio, Morgan commented that the violinist "Should be charged with possession of an offensive weapon"
• Nolan Leach - trick roping on a horse
• Juli Blue - singer and banjo player
• Jacque Kendall - hoop dancing
• Smithfield - painting pot-bellied pig^[20]
• Diana Ross and Twinkle - dancing lady and dog
• Sean Paul & Julianne - trained monkey act
• The Busy Bee Dogs - trained dog act, left a dog on-stage after being X'd out by the judges.
• Zane & Stephanie - married singers, sang "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers^[21]
• Alistair McQueen - male burlesque dancer^[22]
• Coburn Hartsell - stripper
• Gravity Plays Favorites - pole dancers
• Scandalesque - burlesque fire dance
• The Hollywood Men - strippers
• Busty Heart - crushed things with her breasts

Week 4

Aired on July 8, 2008, 1 hour. Auditions from Atlanta, and New York.^[23][24][25]

Acts that were eliminated include:

• Billy Dodson - countertenor that was told to "sing like a man"^[26]
• Polka Today - polka dancers that performed a number set to "Walking on Sunshine", which was described by Hasselhoff as "dancing in a blender", Sharon saying it was silly dancing, and Piers noting that "there was nothing today about what you were doing. It was like polka 50 years ago." ^[27]
• Philip Weiner - singer^[28]
• Peter McIntosh - ventriloquist who did not close his mouth.^[28]
• Ursula Knudson - singer
• Rachel Star - read poetry while standing barefoot on broken glass
• Debra Weiner - singer. She did not stop singing when X'ed by all three judges, and had to be escorted off the stage by Hasselhoff.

Week 5

Aired on July 15, 2008, 1 hour. Auditions from Atlanta, and Dallas.^[29][30][31]

Acts that were eliminated include:

• Michelle Wallace - sang "All by Myself" by Celine Dion.^[32]
• Barry Collier - barnyard animal noises^[33]
• Nance Upchurch - singer
• The Freak Show - dance troupe
• Music Makes the World Go Round - accordion duo. Morgan commented that the only thing worse than one accordion is two accordions.
• Mac Jay - dancer
• Fancy Ray McCloney - Little Richard impersonator

Week 6

Aired on July 22, 2008, 1 hour. Auditions from New York, and Los Angeles.^[34][35][36]

Acts that were eliminated include:

• Perry Zanett - Read Shakespeare; insulted Hasselhoff off stage after his audition^[37]
• The Inflatable Theater - stunts in an inflatable costume
• Sweet-Lou Fusco - sang "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" by Michael Jackson
• The Power Team' - fire and ice stunts
• Seed & Feed Marching Abominable - huge, cacophonous group
• Anita Aloha - twirler
• The Snake Kissers - Robert & Daryl Ackerman, snake charmers, performed the "Kiss of Death"^[38]

Week 7

Aired on July 29, 2008, 1 hour. Auditions from Myspace And Facebook .^[39][40][41]

Acts that were eliminated include:

• Michael Trixx - rock and roll magician performed tricks such as turning a feather into a wand, making a handkerchief and an umbrella appear out of thin air, using flames to make two bandanas appear, and then using those bandanas to make a candle disappear to "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" by Judas Priest.^[42]
• Diva Boy and the Sexplosion Dancers - glam-rock dancers^[43]
• Eloy Rendon - motivational speaker.^[44]
• Del Hampton - nine-time "cluck-off" champion. Chicken impersonator. Morgan told him to "cluck-off".
• David Deeble - Said he would set off fireworks in his pants. He was X'ed out before he even began his performance.
• Suzy Trunquist - rock singer.
• Cary Trivanovich - funny faces.
• Sweetones - mother/daughter whistling duo.^[45]

Second round

Las Vegas callbacks

Part 1 of the Las Vegas callbacks was broadcast on August 5, 2008 as a 2-hour episode.^[46][47][48]

Part 2 of the Las Vegas callbacks was broadcast on August 7, 2008 as a 90-minute episode.^[49][50][51]

A total of 113 acts made it to the Las Vegas callbacks. 19 of these acts were eliminated without even being given a chance to perform. The remaining 94 acts were trimmed down to a short list of 60 acts in the first of the two callback episodes, and the remaining acts were further trimmed to a Top 40 group in the second episode.

First cut

Acts that were eliminated without being given a second performance:

• Chellena Black-Harris
  • Preliminaries, Week 2: singer, sang "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke.^[8][52]
• Tropidanza
  • Preliminaries, Week 5: salsa dance troupe^[29]

Second cut

Acts that did not make it to the top 60:

• Lynn Ruth Miller
  • Preliminaries: Passed Through. Comedian. Was one of the top 4 comedians who auditioned, only shown briefly in a montage.^[1]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Did 90 seconds of one-liners about the senior condition, her message was that "truth is often funnier than fiction."
• David Martin
  • Preliminaries, Week 1: an illusionist^[1]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performed the Shadow Vision illusion. Martin appeared to make several mistakes during his performance. He claimed they were intentional, and that he was playing mind games with the judges, but the judges did not appear to be convinced.
• Cafidia Stuart
  • Preliminaries, Week 1: 15-year-old sang Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing"^[1]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not shown, but was shown being eliminated.
• Kevin "Big K" Taylor
  • Preliminaries, Week 2: martial arts brick breaking act. Broke 100 flaming cement bricks in less than 20 seconds with his fists. At one point in the performance, his hand was caught on fire.^[8][53]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Broke more bricks, including breaking several stacks with his head.
• Holly Hardin
  • Preliminaries, Week 3: sang "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" by Jessica Simpson^[16]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Sang "When God-Fearin' Women Get the Blues" by Martina McBride.
• Shakes
  • Preliminaries, Week 6: 10-year-old dancer^[34]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Danced to "U Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer.
• Mia Boostrom(Also seen in season 4)
  • Preliminaries, Shown in clip form: Sang "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green Passed Through
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Sang "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys while playing the piano.
• Cat Williams
  • Preliminaries, Not Shown: Passed Through
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Sang "Let The Good Times Roll" by Ray Charles.
• Randy Hanson
  • Preliminaries, Week 7: Ozzy Osbourne impersonator. Sharon commented that the only way she could tell him from her husband was if he "dropped his trousers so she could take a look at the goods." Sang "Paranoid".^[39]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Only shown briefly in a montage.

Third cut

Acts that made it to the top 60, but not the top 40:

• Sheila-Sheila of The Jungle, Salsa Singer (Sheila Korsi)
  • Preliminaries, Week 1: sang "Cucala" by Celia Cruz, only shown briefly in a montage.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): sang "I Will Survive," Salsa style, by Gloria Gaynor.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Eliminated after making it to the top 60. Piers Morgan told her that "she was a lot of fun."
• David Militello
  • Preliminaries, Week 3: 9-year-old sang "Ben" by Michael Jackson^[16][54]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): sang "If We Hold On Together" by Diana Ross Passed through.^[55]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Eliminated
• The Southern Belles
  • Preliminaries, Week 3: cloggersPerformed to "Are you gonna be my girl" by Jet.^[16][56]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not shown. Only shown briefly in a montage.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Eliminated
• Holly Stone
  • Preliminaries, Week 7: sang "A Broken Wing" by Martina McBride.^[39][57]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not shown. Passed through.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Eliminated
• Sterling Silver
  • Preliminaries, Week 1: clog dancing troupe^[1]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not shown.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Eliminated.
• Russian Bar Trio
  • Preliminaries, Week 2: acrobatic act, with a lady performing aerial acrobatics on a 4-inch-wide (100 mm) Russian Bar held by the other two members.^[8][58]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Only shown briefly in a montage. Passed through.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Passed through to the Top 40, but were forced to resign from the competition due to injury. This opened up a Wild Card slot in the Top 40.

Unknown cut

Acts that were eliminated at an unknown stage of the Las Vegas callbacks:

• Scott Land
  • Preliminaries, Week 1: a puppeteer that created an unusual marionette, an uncooked chicken, that danced, laid an egg and picked up a flag. The act is named "The Amazing Sal Monella"^[1]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not shown.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Not shown, but did not make the Top 40, so presumed eliminated by the judges.
• Jazmin
  • Preliminaries, Week 1: quartet of female singers^[1]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not shown.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Not shown, but did not make the Top 40, so presumed eliminated by the judges.
• Polina Volchek(Also seen in Season 5)
  • Preliminaries, Week 1: woman hula-hooper^[1]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not shown.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Not shown, but did not make the Top 40, so presumed eliminated by the judges.
• Next II None (N2N)
  • Preliminaries, Week 2: family boy band performed "Bye Bye Bye" by 'N Sync^[8][59]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not shown.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Not shown, but did not make the Top 40, so presumed eliminated by the judges.
• The Pendragons
  • Preliminaries, Week 2: 54-year-old husband and wife magicians. Performed their Guinness world record holding version of the metamorphosis illusion.^[8][60]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not shown.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Not shown, but did not make the Top 40, so presumed eliminated by the judges.
• Duo Genesis
  • Preliminaries, Week 3: hand balancers^[16]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not shown.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Not shown, but did not make the Top 40, so presumed eliminated by the judges.
• Shaolin Warriors of Chinatown
  • Preliminaries, Week 3: martial arts performers^[16]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not shown.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Not shown, but did not make the Top 40, so presumed eliminated by the judges.
• Paul West and Tucker
  • Preliminaries, Week 3: Frisbee catching dog act^[16][61]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not shown.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Not shown, but did not make the Top 40, so presumed eliminated by the judges.
• Nichole
  • Preliminaries, Week 4: Pole dancer^[23]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not shown.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Not shown, but did not make the Top 40, so presumed eliminated by the judges.
• Giwayen Mata
  • Preliminaries, Week 4: African dancers^[23]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not shown.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Not shown, but did not make the Top 40, so presumed eliminated by the judges.
• SQ Entertainment (Also in the season 4)
  • Preliminaries, Week 4: family hip-hop dance troop^[23][62]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not shown.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Not shown, but did not make the Top 40, so presumed eliminated by the judges.
• Fast Wally
  • Preliminaries, Week 5: juggler^[29]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not shown.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Not shown, but did not make the Top 40, so presumed eliminated by the judges.
• Fun with Hand Shadows
  • Preliminaries, Week 6: hand shadows of various historical figures^[34][63]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Only shown briefly in a montage. They did not know why they should win, when asked by Morgan.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Not shown, but did not make the Top 40, so presumed eliminated by the judges.
• XL (Xavier Lewis)
  • Preliminaries, Week 6: 25-year-old Xavier Lewis sang "Ordinary People" by John Legend^[34][64]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not shown.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Not shown, but did not make the Top 40, so presumed eliminated by the judges.
• The Awakening
  • Preliminaries, Week 6: dance troupe^[34]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not shown.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Not shown, but did not make the Top 40, so presumed eliminated by the judges.
• Georgia Force
  • Preliminaries, Week 6: Dance team for the Georgia Force Arena Football team^[34]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not shown.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Not shown, but did not make the Top 40, so presumed eliminated by the judges.
• Michael Harrison
  • Preliminaries, Week 6: ventriloquist, used an audience member as a human puppet.^[34][65]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not shown.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Not shown, but did not make the Top 40, so presumed eliminated by the judges.
• The Lasalle Brothers
  • Preliminaries, Week 7: jugglers^[39]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not shown.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Not shown, but did not make the Top 40, so presumed eliminated by the judges.
• Plastic Musik
  • Preliminaries, Week 1: Stomp-like performers with trash cans and colorful batons^[1]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not shown.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Not shown, but did make it to the top 40.
• Lewis Warren, Jr.
  • Preliminaries, Week 3: 11-year-old pianist^[16]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not shown.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Not shown, but did not make the Top 40, so presumed eliminated by the judges.
• By My Side
  • Preliminaries, week 3: Mother and daughter duo singers.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not shown.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Not shown, but did not make the Top 40, so presumed eliminated by the judges.

Wild Card acts

After the filming of the callbacks, one of the members of the Russian Bar Trio named Kristine was seriously injured. This opened up a slot in the Top 40 group. The judges selected eight acts, all of which had been eliminated during the callbacks. Viewers voted from among the eight, and selected Donald Braswell II to return to the competition, leaving the remaining seven acts eliminated.

• Miss Pussykatt
  • Preliminaries, Week 2: grinding act, pressed an angle grinder onto metal plates that had been affixed to various parts of her clothing to send sparks flying.^[8][66]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Only shown briefly in a montage. Performed her grinding act while sitting in an aerial hoop. Passed through.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Eliminated (Judges Wild Card)
  • Semifinals (Part 1): Eliminated again, did not get the Wildcard slot.^[67]
• Junior & Emily
  • Preliminaries, Week 3: brother-and-sister salsa dance duo^[16][68]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not shown. Passed through.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Eliminated (Judges Wild Card)
  • Semifinals (Part 1): Eliminated again, did not get the Wildcard slot.^[67]
• Dan Meyer
  • Preliminaries, Week 3: sword swallower, swallowed a medium sword, a long sword, 7 swords at once, and threw a sword into the floor.^[16][69]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Swallowed a flaming sword, a curved sword, and juggled 6 clubs while a sword was whipped from his mouth with a whip. Passed through.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Eliminated (Judges Wild Card)
  • Semifinals (Part 1): Eliminated again, did not get the Wildcard slot.^[67]
• Kyle Rifkin
  • Preliminaries, Week 4: R&B singer. Sang "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" by The Temptations^[23][70]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): sang Boyz II Men's "I'll Make Love To You" Passed through.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Eliminated (Judges Wild Card)
  • Semifinals (Part 1): Eliminated again, did not get the Wildcard slot.^[67]
• Lil Countrie and Page 1ne
  • Preliminaries, Week 2: street dancers/tumblers^[8][71]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Performance was not shown.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Eliminated (Judges Wild Card)
  • Semifinals (Part 1): Eliminated again, did not get the Wildcard slot.^[67]
• Xclusive - Kenneth Parrio
  • Preliminaries, Week 5: robotic miming to a self-mixed sound effect track.^[29][72]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): Danced to the theme of Inspector Gadget. Passed Through.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 2): Eliminated (Judges Wild card)
  • Semifinals (Part 1): Eliminated again, did not get the Wildcard slot.^[67]
• Victoria Jacoby
  • Preliminaries, Week 4: 11-year-old contortionist^[23][73]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks (Part 1): More contortionism, this time on a slowly spinning horizontal bar. Eliminated. (Judges Wild Card)^[74]
  • Semifinals (Part 1): Eliminated again, did not get the Wildcard slot.^[67]

Top 40

The Top 40 acts performed in four episodes over four weeks. In the next episode following each performance episode, the results were revealed. First, the acts were presented in pairs, one from the top four of the previous episode, one from the bottom four. It was then revealed which of the pair had been eliminated, and which of them remained in the competition. After the top four and the bottom four were fully revealed, the acts in fifth and sixth place were all that remained. At this point these remaining two acts were put to the judges to decide which of them would remain, and which would be eliminated.

Top 40, Part 1

The first episode of the Top 40 performance semifinals was broadcast from Los Angeles, California on August 26, 2008, following a break for the 2008 Summer Olympics .^[67][75][76]

Acts that were eliminated include:

• Derrick Barry
  • General: Male Britney Spears impersonator
  • Preliminaries, Week 1: Performed to "Toxic".^[1][77]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Performed to "Gimme More."^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Performed to "...Baby One More Time", received an X from Morgan for not "wowing" him^[67][78] Eliminated^[79]
• Ronny B
  • General: Ron Belala, singer and dancer
  • Preliminaries, Week 6: Danced and sang to "All Night Long" by Lionel Richie. Hasselhoff disliked his performance, saying "This is a talent show, not a freak show."^[34][80]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Performance was not shown.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Performed "She Bangs" by Ricky Martin. Hasselhoff said in an interview he had "0" talent.^[67][81] Eliminated^[79]
• Shimshi
  • General: magician
  • Preliminaries, Week 7: Performed a clear box version of the classic "Sawing a woman in half" illusion.^[39]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Performance was not shown.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Performed a trick where he had an audience member pick a card from a deck of playing cards, ripping a corner out of that card, and then kicking a group of cards hanging eight feet so that the ripped card stuck to his foot. He was criticized by Hasselhoff and Morgan for not having a more elaborate trick.^[67][82] Eliminated^[79]
• The DC Cowboys
  • General: Cowboy-male dance troupe
  • Preliminaries, Week 2: danced to "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" by Big & Rich.^[8][83]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Performance was not shown.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Performed to "Footloose" by Kenny Loggins, received an X from Morgan for inability to be a successful dance group.^[67][84] Eliminated^[79]
• Elite
  • General: Alexandra Pyles, a 10-year-old martial artist
  • Preliminaries, Week 4: Beat up her dad.^[23][85]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Shown briefly in a montage fighting multiple opponents.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Performed a pirate themed martial arts exhibition, including a slow motion flip, a fight versus a pirate sword, and a short set with a spinning staff.^[67][86] Judges Choice, Eliminated in favor of The James Gang.^[79]

Elimination table, Week 1

Key	Buzz	Judges' choice	Advanced	Won the judges' vote.	Lost the judges' vote.

Order	Performer	Act Description	Buzzes and judges' choices
			Hasselhoff	Osbourne	Morgan
1	Extreme Dance FX	Contemporary Modern Clog Troupe
2	The James Gang	Hip-hop Rap Quartet	1
3	Derrick Barry	Britney Spears Impersonator
4	Elite	Martial Artist
5	Ronny B	Singer / Dancer
6	The Cadence	Percussion Group
7	Jessica Price	Singer/Musician
8	Shimshi	Magician
9	DC Cowboys	Dance Troupe
10	Neal E. Boyd	Opera Singer

^1 Because both Osbourne and Morgan voted for the James Gang, Hasselhoff's voting intention was not revealed.

Top 40, Part 2

The second episode of the Top 40 performance semifinals was broadcast from Los Angeles, California on August 27, 2008.^[79][87][88]

Acts that were eliminated include:

• Slippery Kittens
  • General: A burlesque dance group who are mothers.
  • Preliminaries, Week 1: Passed through^[1]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Performance was not shown.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Performed to "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" by The Andrews Sisters.^[79][89] Received an X from Morgan for strip teasing and unprofessional tattos. Eliminated.^[90]
• Jonathan Arons
  • General: Trombonist and dancer
  • Preliminaries, Week 1: Performed to "Bad Girls" by Donna Summer.^[1][91]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Performed to "Car Wash" by Rose Royce.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Danced and performed to "Let's Groove", "Boogie Wonderland", and "September" by Earth, Wind and Fire.^[79][92] Eliminated.^[90]
• George "the Giant" McArthur
  • General: 7' 3" carnival sideshow style performer.
  • Preliminaries, Week 3: Drank milk through a long bendy straw that went through his nasal passage and around an audience volunteer, and then set off firecrackers on his chest.^[16][93]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Only shown briefly in a montage. Lay on a bed of nails.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Human Pinata act. Escaped chains while being held upside down and children were beating him with baseball bats. At a point in the performance, he dropped candy onto the floor. He received an X from both Morgan and Osbourne. The judges felt this is not an act.^[79][94] Eliminated.^[90]
• Kazual
  • General: A cappella barbershop quartet style group
  • Preliminaries, Week 7: Passed through^[39]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Performance was not shown.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Sang "Can You Feel It" by The Jacksons. Received an X from Morgan. They were heavily criticized that, besides the main lead singer, the others did not have solo quality voices and the group should stick to the other three backing up and harmonizing with the lead singer.^[79][95] Eliminated.^[90]
• Beyond Belief Dance Company
  • General: 22 member dance troupe from Mesquite, Texas.
  • Preliminaries, Week 3: Danced to "Fashionista" by Jimmy James. Morgan said that the group's outfits and makeup were horrendous, but loved their performance.^[16][96]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Danced to "Don't Stop the Music" by Rihanna.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Performed to "When I Grow Up" by the Pussycat Dolls.^[79][97] Eliminated in favor of the ZOOperstars!. Morgan voted for BBDC, while Osbourne and Hasselhoff voted for the ZOOperstars!, with Hasselhoff saying that he had confidence that BBDC would go far.^[90]

Elimination table, Week 2

Italics indicate the act was a wild card. Order indicates when the act performed during the performance episode.

Key	Buzzed out	Judges' choice	Advanced to the Top 20.	Finished in either fifth or sixth place; Won the judges' vote.	Finished in either fifth or sixth place; Lost the judges' vote.

Order	Performer	Act Description	Buzzes and judges' choices
			Hasselhoff	Osbourne	Morgan
1	Beyond Belief Dance Company	Dance Troupe
2	Paul Salos	Frank Sinatra Impersonator
3	Kazual	Singing Group
4	ZOOperstars!	Mascot Dance Troupe
5	The Wright Kids	Bluegrass Trio
6	Jonathan Arons	Trombonist and Dancer
7	Daniel Jens	Singer/Musician
8	Slippery Kittens	Burlesque Dance Group
9	George the Giant	Carnival Side Show Performer
10	Queen Emily	Singer

Top 40, Part 3

The third episode of the Top 40 performance semifinals was broadcast from Los Angeles, California on September 2, 2008.^[90][98][99]

Acts that were eliminated include:

• Texas State Strutters
  • General: precision dance team from Texas State University.
  • Preliminaries, Week 6: Performed to "September" as made famous by Earth, Wind, and Fire.^[34][100]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Performance was not shown.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Performed to "Boogie Wonderland" by Earth, Wind & Fire. They were X'ed by all three judges, and was criticized for being boring, inability and amateur to make it to the Top 20, being out of sync, and for having the dance routine off-balanced.^[90][101] Eliminated^[102]
• Michael Strelo-Smith
  • General: Former professional opera singer who appeared on America's Got Talent, Season 2, however, was not passed through to the live shows for one reason, the judges felt he wasn't ready.
  • Preliminaries, Not Shown: Passed through.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: sang "Somewhere" from the musical West Side Story.^[46][103] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Sang "I Am What I Am". Was X'ed by Morgan and Osbourne for being, as Morgan put it, "karaoke" and Sharon put it, "music teacher.^[90][104] Judges' choice, eliminated in favor of Sick Step^[102]
• Bruce Block
  • General: Magician/general performer. Appeared in the previous season of the show as well, but was not passed through to the live shows.
  • Preliminaries, Week 5: Block lay on a bed of nails and held a board on top of himself for his assistant to dance on and sing "Anything Goes". Hasselhoff then asked to stand on Block as well, to establish that the bed of nails was indeed real.^[29][105]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: escaped from a straitjacket.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Performed an act where he transformed a divided pantomime horse into a small living pony, with around a half dozen little people around him as various additional characters in the act. He was criticized by Morgan for doing a version of the "oldest trick in the book", and by Hasselhoff for creating confusion with the large number of assistants he used.^[90][106] He did not attend the results show the next day due to illness. Eliminated^[102]
• Shequida Hall
  • General: Female impersonator and operatic singer. Able to sing both in a very low bass range and an extremely high tenor range, sounding both male and female in a single performance.
  • Preliminaries, Not Shown: Passed through.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Passed through.^[46][107] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Sang "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor, completely in falsetto.^[90][108] Eliminated^[102]
• Matthew Piazzi
  • General: impressionist
  • Preliminaries, Week 7: Passed through^[39]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Performance was not shown.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Did impressions of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jack Nicholson, Vince Vaughn, and George Clooney. Using the impressions, played the piano and sang a version of "Great Balls of Fire". He was criticized by Morgan for having poor material.^[90][109] Eliminated^[102]

Elimination table, Week 3

Italics indicate the act was a wild card. Order indicates when the act performed during the performance episode.

Key	Buzzed out	Judges' choice	Advanced to the Top 20.	Finished in either fifth or sixth place; Won the judges' vote.	Finished in either fifth or sixth place; Lost the judges' vote.

Order	Performer	Act Description	Buzzes and judges' choices
			Hasselhoff	Osbourne	Morgan
1	The Texas State Strutters	Precision Dance Team
2	Michael Strelo-Smith	Classical Crossover Singer
3	Bruce Block	Magician/General Performer
4	Shequida Hall	Female Impersonator/Opera Singer
5	Taubl Family	Family Musician Group
6	Jonathan Burkin	Baton Twirler
7	Sarah Lenore	Singer/Musician
8	SickStep	Hip-hop Dance Crew
9	Matthew Piazzi	Impressionist
10	Joseph Hall	"Young Elvis" Impersonator

Top 40, Part 4

The fourth episode of the Top 40 performance semifinals was broadcast from Los Angeles, California on September 3, 2008.^{[102][110][111]}

Acts that were eliminated include:

• Dallas Desperados Dancers
  • General: Cheerleading dance team of the Dallas Desperados Arena Football team.
  • Preliminaries, Week 5: Passed through^[29][112]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Performance was not shown.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Performed to "Lose Control" by Missy Elliott. Received X'es from Morgan and Osbourne.^[102][113] Eliminated^[114]
• Bryan Cheatham
  • General: Singer, a former Chippendale dancer and R&B singer
  • Preliminaries, Week 5: Sang "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith.^[29]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Sang "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Sang "You're the First, the Last, My Everything" by Barry White.^[102][115] Judges' choice, eliminated in favor of The Tapping Dads.^[114]
• Flambeaux
  • General: Fire breather
  • Preliminaries, Week 4: Passed through^[23][116]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Only shown briefly in a montage.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Performed an act which consisted of a robe he was wearing being enveloped in flames, fire spitting, and wearing an object lit on fire. Received 3 X's from the judges, who complained his act this time was boring, his timing was slow, and that in general his act was too scary.^[102][117] Eliminated^[114]
• Dorae Saunders
  • General: Tina Turner impersonator
  • Preliminaries, Week 5: Lip-synced and danced to "Proud Mary".^[29][118]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Performed to "The Best".^[46][119] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Performed to "Disco Inferno". After being criticized by Morgan for lip-syncing, Saunders responded that she was an actress and a dancer, not a singer.^[102][120] Eliminated^[114]
• Indiggo
  • General: Twin singing sisters Mihaela and Gabriela Modorcea
  • Preliminaries, Week 1: Sang "New York, New York" by Frank Sinatra^[1][121]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Montage shown singing "Viva Las Vegas".^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Sang an original song titled "I Don't Need No Georgie Clooney".^[102][122] Half of the audience were booing at Indiggo and Morgan called them "the worst dancers and the worst singers in the entire competition." Eliminated^[114]

Elimination table, Week 4

Italics indicate the act was a wild card. Order indicates when the act performed during the performance episode.

Key	Buzzed out	Judges' choice	Advanced to the Top 20.	Finished in either fifth or sixth place; Won the judges' vote.	Finished in either fifth or sixth place; Lost the judges' vote.

Order	Performer	Act Description	Buzzes and judges' choices
			Hasselhoff	Osbourne	Morgan
1	Dallas Desperados Dancers	Cheerleading Dance Team
2	Bryan Cheatham	R&B Singer
3	Flambeaux	Fire Breather
4	Kaitlyn Maher	Singer
5	Dorae Saunders	Tina Turner Impersonator
6	Donald Braswell II	Singer
7	Indiggo	Twin Singers
8	The Tapping Dads	Tap Dancing Group
9	Eli Mattson	Singer/Pianist
10	Nuttin' But Stringz	Sibling Violinists

Top 20

Top 20, Part 1

The first episode of the Top 20 performance semifinals was broadcast from Los Angeles, California on September 9, 2008.^{[114][123][124]}

Terry Fator, the winner of the previous season, made a brief appearance to announce that he would perform the following night, and to announce that the Las Vegas headline show by the winner of the current season would be on October 17.

Acts that were eliminated include:

• The Cadence
  • General: Stomp-style percussion group made up mostly of college students.
  • Preliminaries, Week 7: Passed through^[39]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Performance was not shown.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Performed to "Beat It" as made famous by Michael Jackson.^[67][125] Passed through.^[79]
  • Top 20: Performed to "You Really Got Me" by The Kinks.^[114][126] Eliminated^[127]
• The James Gang
  • General: Dressed as newsies, this hip-hop rap quartet mixed lots of old fashioned style into their routine.
  • Preliminaries, Week 4: Passed through^[23][128]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Performance was not shown.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Performed in 1920s-style tuxedos, adding a few elements of magic to their act. They were criticized by the judges for trying to do too much.^[67][129] Judges Choice, chosen to remain in the competition in favor over Elite. The judges commented in passing them through that they felt that they had not seen the best of The James Gang.^[79]
  • Top 20: Performed "Hit the Road Jack" by Ray Charles.^[114][130] Eliminated^[127]
• Daniel Jens
  • General: Singer/guitarist who had just returned from active duty in Iraq.
  • Preliminaries, Week 7: Performed "I'll Be" by Edwin McCain.^[39][131]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: sang "Home" by Michael Bublé. Forgot his lyrics halfway through.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Sang "Every Breath You Take" by The Police.^[79][132] Passed through.^[90]
  • Top 20: Sang "I'm Already There" by Lonestar.^[114] Morgan buzzed him and thinking that Jens should go back and serve his country Iraq. Eliminated by judges who were in favor of Jessica Price.^[127]
• ZOOperstars!
  • General: Oversized animal mascot versions of various sports celebrities, already a popular pre-game and halftime act at various sporting events.
  • Preliminaries, Week 5: Performed to "Tootsee Roll".^[29][133]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Performance was not shown.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Performed to "Macho Man" and "Y.M.C.A." by The Village People, including having one of the members swallow a second performer into the costume. During the performance, one of the members accidentally fell off the stage.^[79][134] Morgan commented that he would like to take five arrows and harpoon them. Judges Choice (chosen instead of Beyond Belief Dance Company). Osbourne said that "this competition needs a bit of wackiness."^[90]
  • Top 20: Performed to "Gonna Make You Sweat" by C+C Music Factory. The routine consisted of feats such as members of the group pretending to sing, somersaults, dropping to the floor from the ceiling, and an attempt to walk a tightrope. Hasselhoff commented that the act didn't come together as a group.^[114][135] Eliminated^[127]
• Extreme Dance FX
  • General: Contemporary modern clog team from West Covina, California.
  • Preliminaries, Week 1: Passed through.^[1] Morgan disliked their outfits but he voted them through to the next round.
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Performance was not shown.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Performed to "Push It by Salt-n-Pepa".^[67][136] Passed through.^[79]
  • Top 20: Performed to "Let’s Get It Started" by The Black Eyed Peas.^[114][137] Eliminated^[127] Hasselhoff commented that their performance was "too cutsey".

Elimination table, Part 1

Key	Buzzed out	Judges' choice	Advanced to the Top 10.	Finished in either fifth or sixth place; Won the judges' vote.	Finished in either fifth or sixth place; Lost the judges' vote.

Italics indicate the act was a wild card. Order indicates when the act performed during the performance episode.

Order	Performer	Act Description	Buzzes and judges' choices
			Hasselhoff	Osbourne	Morgan
1	The Cadence	Percussion Group
2	Queen Emily	Singer
3	The Wright Kids	Bluegrass Trio
4	The James Gang	Hip-hop Rap Quartet
5	Daniel Jens	Singer
6	ZOOperstars!	Mascot Dance Troupe
7	Neal E. Boyd	Opera Singer
8	Jessica Price	Singer/Musician
9	Extreme Dance FX	Contemporary Modern Clog Troupe
10	Paul Salos	Frank Sinatra Impersonator

Top 20, Part 2

The second episode of the Top 20 performance semifinals was broadcast from Los Angeles, California on September 10, 2008.^{[138][139][140]}

The episode included a special guest performance from Terry Fator, the winner of the previous season. Fator had Winston the Turtle sing "Let's Get It On", and Elvis impersonator Maynard Thompkins sing "Viva Las Vegas".

Acts that were eliminated include:

• SickStep
  • General: hip hop dance crew.
  • Preliminaries, Week 1: Passed through^[1]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Performance was not shown.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Performed to "Get Up Offa That Thing" by James Brown.Hasselhoff commented that they were "sick".^[90][141] Judges' choice, passed through (chosen over Michael Strelo-Smith).^[102]
  • Top 20: Performed to "Blame It on the Boogie" as made famous by The Jackson 5.^[138][142] They were criticized by Morgan and Osbourne that they have to be better in order to be ready for a headline show at Vegas. Eliminated^[127]
• The Taubl Family
  • General: Family performing group. Singers and miscellaneous instruments
  • Preliminaries, Week 2: Performed "The Sound of Music" from the musical "The Sound of Music".^[8][143]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Performance was not shown.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Sang and performed to "Umbrella" by Rihanna.^[90][144] Passed through^[102]
  • Top 20: Performed "When You Believe" by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.^[138][145] Eliminated^[127]
• Sarah Lenore
  • General: 19-year-old singer and musician
  • Preliminaries, Week 4: Sang "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood^[23][146]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Sang "Teardrops On My Guitar" by Taylor Swift.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Sang "Not Ready to Make Nice" by the Dixie Chicks.^[90][147] Passed through^[102]
  • Top 20: Sang "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis.^[138][148] Eliminated^[127]
• The Tapping Dads
  • General: A large group of tap dancing dads.
  • Preliminaries, Week 7: Passed through^[39]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Performance was not shown.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Performed to "Puttin' on the Ritz" by Rufus Wainwright.^[102][149] Judges' choice, passed through (chosen over Bryan Cheatham)^[114]
  • Top 20: Performed to "Sing Sing Sing" by the Benny Goodman Orchestra.^[138][150] Eliminated^[127]
• Jonathan Burkin
  • General: Baton twirler
  • Preliminaries, Week 1: Passed through^[1][151]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Only shown briefly in a montage.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Performed to "I'm Still Standing" by Elton John. His performance included large amounts of flames, a sequence with him spinning flaming batons around his neck, and a more traditional juggling sequence with the batons.^[90][152] Passed through^[102]
  • Top 20: Performed to "Pinball Wizard" by The Who.^[138][153] Eliminated by judges who were in favor of Joseph Hall for feeling that Burkin couldn't perform any better than he already had.^[127]

Elimination table, Part 2

Key	Buzzed out	Judges' choice	Advanced to the Top 10.	Finished in either fifth or sixth place; Won the judges' vote.	Finished in either fifth or sixth place; Lost the judges' vote.

Italics indicate the act was a wild card. Order indicates when the act performed during the performance episode.

Order	Performer	Act Description	Buzzes and judges' choices
			Hasselhoff	Osbourne	Morgan
1	SickStep	Hip-hop Dance Crew
2	Donald Braswell II	Singer
3	Joseph Hall	"Young Elvis" Impersonator
4	Taubl Family	Family Musician Group
5	Sarah Lenore	Singer
6	Nuttin' But Stringz	Sibling Violinists
7	Kaitlyn Maher	Singer
8	The Tapping Dads	Tap Dancing Group
9	Eli Mattson	Singer/Pianist
10	Jonathan Burkin	Baton Twirler

Top 20, Results Show

The results show for the Top 20 performances was broadcast from Los Angeles, California on September 11, 2008.^{[127][154][155]}

Top 10

Top 10 Performance Show

The Top 10 episode was broadcast from Los Angeles, California on September 17, 2008.^{[156][157][158]}

Acts that were eliminated include:

• Paul Salos
  • General: Frank Sinatra style singer/performer.^[159]
  • Preliminaries, Week 3: Sang "Fly Me to the Moon"^[16][160]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Performance was not shown.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Sang "My Way".^[79][161] Passed through.^[90]
  • Top 20: Sang "Come Fly With Me".^[114][162] Passed through.^[127]
  • Top 10: Sang "New York, New York".^[156][163] Buzzed by Piers, because he thought he wasn't a million dollar act. Eliminated.^[164]
• Kaitlyn Maher
  • General: four-year-old singer.^[165]
  • Preliminaries, Week 1: Sang "Somewhere Out There" by Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram^[1][166]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Sang "When You Wish Upon A Star" from Pinocchio.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Sang "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong.^[102][167] Passed through^[114]
  • Top 20: Sang "Beauty and the Beast" from Beauty and the Beast.^[138][168] Passed through.^[127]
  • Top 10: Sang "I'll Be There" by The Jackson 5.^[156][169] Eliminated.^[164]
• Jessica Price
  • General: 24-year-old singer.^[170]
  • Preliminaries, Week 3: Sang "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt^[16][171]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Sang "Teardrops On My Guitar" by Taylor Swift.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Sang "Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper.^[67][172] Passed through.^[79]
  • Top 20: Sang "Bubbly" by Colbie Caillat.^[114][173] Passed through in judges favor over Daniel Jens^[127]
  • Top 10: Sang "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan.^[156][174] Eliminated.^[164]
• Joseph Hall
  • General: "young Elvis" impersonator.^[175]
  • Preliminaries, Week 2: Sang "Hound Dog".^[8][176]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Sang "Heartbreak Hotel"^[46][177] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Sang "Jailhouse Rock" with the video dropping into black and white several times.^[90][178] Passed through^[102]
  • Top 20: Sang "Suspicious Minds".^[138][179] Passed through in judges favor over Jonathan Burkin^[127]
  • Top 10: Sang "A Little Less Conversation".^[156][180] Eliminated.^[164]
• The Wright Kids
  • General: Bluegrass trio made up of three siblings. Twelve-year-old Sage plays mandolin, nine-year-old Baruch plays guitar and is usually the lead singer, and six-year-old Levi plays the upright bass.^[181]
  • Preliminaries: Performance was not televised
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Only shown briefly in a montage.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Sang "Daydream Believer" by The Monkees.^[79][182] Passed through.^[90]
  • Top 20: Sang "Rockin Robin" by Bobby Day.^[114][183] Passed through.^[127]
  • Top 10: Sang "ABC" by The Jackson 5.^[156][184] Eliminated.^[164]

Top 10

Key	Buzzed out	Advanced to the finals.

Italics indicate the act was a wild card. Order indicates when the act performed during the performance episode.

Order	Performer	Act Description	Buzzes
			Hasselhoff	Osbourne	Morgan
1	Paul Salos	Frank Sinatra Impersonator
2	Kaitlyn Maher	Singer
3	Donald Braswell II	Singer
4	Jessica Price	Singer/Musician
5	Joseph Hall	"Young Elvis" Impersonator
6	Neal E. Boyd	Opera Singer
7	The Wright Kids	Bluegrass Trio
8	Queen Emily	Singer
9	Nuttin' But Stringz	Sibling Violinists
10	Eli Mattson	Singer/Pianist

Top 10, Results Show

The results show for the Top 10 performances was broadcast from Los Angeles, California on September 18, 2008.

The episode included a guest performance by Natasha Bedingfield of her new song "Angel". This time there were no more "Judges Choice" eliminations, and all acts that were eliminated or continued through did so on the audience vote totals.

Top 5

The Top 5 performance episode was broadcast from Los Angeles, California on September 24, 2008.

The finale was broadcast from Los Angeles, California on October 1, 2008.

^[185][186]

Fifth place

• Queen Emily
  • General: Emily David, singer from Stockton, California.^[187]
  • Preliminaries, Week 6: Sang "Chain of Fools" by Aretha Franklin^[34][188]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Sang "I'm Every Woman" by Chaka Khan.^[46][189] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Sang "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Diana Ross.^[79][190] Passed through.^[90]
  • Top 20: Sang "Hero" by Mariah Carey.^[114][191] Passed through.^[127]
  • Top 10: Sang "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" by Jennifer Holliday.^[156][192] Passed through.^[164]
  • Top 5: Sang "One Moment in Time," as performed by Whitney Houston.^[193][194]

Fourth place

• Donald Braswell II
  • General: Former professional opera singer from San Antonio, Texas; he suffered severe damage to the soft tissues of his throat in 1995. He was told by doctors he might never speak normally again, let alone sing.^{[195][196][197]}
  • Preliminaries, Week 5: sang "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban. The first half was booed by the audience, but in the end, they loved it.^[29][198]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Sang "Lost" by Michael Bublé. Eliminated but was in the Judges wildcard
  • Semifinals (Part 1): Won the Wildcard slot and returned to the competition.^[67]
  • Top 40: Sang "Impossible Dream" from Man of La Mancha. Morgan said that America was right for bringing Braswell back. Osbourne compared Braswell to Robert Goulet, but wondered if there was a place for someone like Goulet in today's industry.^[102][199] Passed through^[114]
  • Top 20: Sang "The Music of the Night" from The Phantom of the Opera.^[138][200] Passed through.^[127]
  • Top 10: Sang "To Where You Are" by Josh Groban.^[156][201] Passed through.^[164]
  • Top 5: Sang "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban again, this time with choral accompaniment.^[193][202]

Third place

• Nuttin' But Stringz
  • General: Sibling violinists Tourie and Damien Escobar. They combine classical music with hip-hop. All the songs that they have performed are their own original compositions, many from their 2006 album Struggle from the Subway to the Charts.^[203]
  • Preliminaries, Week 1: Performed "Thunder". Passed through^[1][204]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Performance was not shown.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Performed "Broken Sorrow". Their performance earned a standing ovation, including the judges.^[102][205] Passed through^[114]
  • Top 20: Performed "Thunder Remix"^[138][206] Passed through.^[127]
  • Top 10: Performed an original piece titled "Winner".^[156][207] Passed through.^[164]
  • Top 5: Performed "Thunder" again. Morgan said that they are the most likely act to win the competition.^[193][208]

Second place

• Eli Mattson
  • General: Singer and pianist.^[209]
  • Preliminaries, Week 2: Performed "Walking in Memphis" by Marc Cohn.^[8][210]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Sang "Your Song" by Elton John.^[46] Passed Through.^[49]
  • Top 40: Sang "Nobody Knows" by Tony Rich. Osbourne commented "No dancers, no fire, no backing tracks, just talent."^[102][211] Passed through^[114]
  • Top 20: Sang "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys.^[138][212] Passed through.^[127]
  • Top 10: Sang "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" by Elton John.^[156][213] Passed through.^[164]
  • Top 5: Sang "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" by Phil Collins.^[193][214]

Winner

• Neal E. Boyd
  • General: 32-year-old insurance salesman and opera singer.^[215]
  • Preliminaries, Week 1: Sang "Nessun dorma" from the opera Turandot.^[1][216]
  • Las Vegas Callbacks: Sang "Unchained Melody" in Italian.^[46] Passed through^[49]
  • Top 40: Sang "Somewhere" from the musical West Side Story. He was declared the "Michael Phelps" of the competition, and the man to beat.^[67][217] Passed through.^[79]
  • Top 20: Sang "Mama" by Il Divo.^[114][218] Passed through.^[127]
  • Top 10: Sang "All by Myself" by Eric Carmen.^[156][219] Passed through.^[164]
  • Top 5: Sang "Nessun dorma" from the opera Turandot again.^[193][220]

Finals

Key	Winner	Runner-up	3rd Place

Finals, October 1–2, 2008
Order	Contestant	Performance Description	Result
1	Nuttin' But Stringz	Sibling Violinists; performed Thunder	3rd Place
2	Donald Braswell II	Singer; performed You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban	4th Place
3	Neal E Boyd	Opera Singer; performed Nessun dorma from the opera Turandot	Winner
4	Eli Mattson	Singer/Pianist; Against All Odds by Phil Collins	Runner's Up
5	Queen Emily	Singer; One Moment in Time by Whitney Houston	5th Place

Elimination chart

Key

Winner	Runner-Up	Judges' Choice	Eliminated

Stage:		Top 20	Top 10	Finals
Place	Contestant	Result
1	Neal E. Boyd	Safe	Safe	Winner
2	Eli Mattson	Safe	Safe	Runner-Up
3	Nuttin' But Stringz	Safe	Safe	Eliminated
4	Donald Braswell II	Safe	Safe	Eliminated
5	Queen Emily	Safe	Safe	Eliminated
6-10	Jessica Price	Judges' Choice	Eliminated
	Paul Salos	Safe	Eliminated
	Kaitlyn Maher	Safe	Eliminated
	Joseph Hall	Judges' Choice	Eliminated
	The Wright Kids	Safe	Eliminated
11-20	Jonathan Burkin	Eliminated in Judges' Choice
	Tapping Dads	Eliminated
	Sarah Lenore	Eliminated
	The Taubl Family	Eliminated
	SickStep	Eliminated
	Extreme Dance FX	Eliminated
	The Cadence	Eliminated
	The James Gang	Eliminated
	Daniel Jens	Eliminated in Judges' Choice
	ZOOperstars!	Eliminated

Contestants who appeared on other seasons

• Michael Strelo-Smith competed in season 2 but didn't make it past judgment week.

U.S. Nielsen ratings

Show	Rating	Rating/Share (18-49)	Viewers (millions)
1	7.8	3.8/10[221]	12.80
2	7	3.1/9	11.51
3	7.5	3.2/10	11.98
4	7.6	3.3/9	12.40
5	7.8	3.1/9	12.53
6	7.8	3.3/10	N/A
7	7.9	3.6/10	13.61
8	7.8	3.5/10	12.42
9	N/A	2.7/8	8.57
10	N/A	3.1/9	10.96
11	N/A	2.7/8	10.13
12	N/A	6.5/10	10.58
13	N/A	2.7/7	10.15
14	7.1	2.6/10	11.60
15	N/A	2.5/8	11.49
16	N/A	2.3/8	9.64
17	N/A	3.1/9	12.05
18	N/A	2.3/7	9.83
19	6.6	2.7/7	10.23
20	7.7	3.3/8	12.55

References

External links

• Official NBC America's Got Talent website
• "America's Got Talent" at the Internet Movie Database
• America's Got Talent (Season 3) at TV.com

Preceded by Season 2 (2007)	America's Got Talent Season 3 (2008)	Succeeded by Season 4 (2009)