Has “America’s Got Talent” found its most likeable guest judge yet? “I am going to be the kind of judge that you would like to have a beer with,” declares Ellie Kemper in her pre-show interview with NBC (watch above). This two-time Emmy nominee for “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” (2016-17) adds that she hopes to be the kind of judge that acts “would like to be friends with and who’s really, really cool.” Kemper joins regular panelists Simon Cowell, Julianne Hough, Gabrielle Union and Howie Mandel for the third Judge Cuts episode of “AGT,” which airs Tuesday, July 30.
Kemper follows in the footsteps of fellow guest judges Brad Paisley and Dwyane Wade. Just like those two, Kemper will get to anoint one of Tuesday’s 18 performers with her Golden Buzzer, which will send the act straight through to the live shows at the Dolby Theatre. “For my Golden Buzzer, I am looking for an act that will wow the crowd, that will wow me and move me emotionally,” she announces. Hey all you “AGT” acts, are you paying attention?!
“Fierce, funny and fabulous” are the three words that Union uses to describe the kind of guest judge that Kemper will be, while Hough has a feeling that she’ll be “really fun.”
Mandel concedes, “I think she’s gonna be good … funny … witty … honest.” The show’s resident stand-up comedian then adds, “I think she’s gonna do something that’ll surprise you.”
Host Terry Crews reminds viewers that he appeared in “Bridesmaids” with Kemper, so he knows her quite well. “[She will be] really, really sympathetic to a lot of the acts,” he predicts. “We know how you have to go to a whole other level to make a big giant hit and a bit giant success.”
Kemper admits that she’s a bit “nervous” to sit at the judges’ table with Cowell because she’s never met him in person. “I hope I don’t do anything wrong,” she grimaces.
This week’s 18 acts that will perform in front of the judges are acrobats Andrei & Alexander, Duo Maintenant and Edson & Leon, dancers Revolution, rat trainer Melissa Arleth, neon dance act Light Balance Kids, tambourinist Gonzo, knife throwers Nick and Lindsay, guitarist Marcin Patrzalek, pianist Patrizio Ratto, magician Nicholas Wallace, impressionist Greg Morton, dog act Ray Underwood & Magic and singers Ansley Burns, Carmen Carter, MacKenzie, Jacob Norton and Stephanie’s Child.
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