History of America's Got Talent in Timeline
America's Got Talent, a televised talent competition and part of Simon Cowell's global Got Talent franchise, premiered in 2006 on NBC. Produced by Fremantle USA and Syco Entertainment, the show airs during the summer schedule. Originally planned for British television in 2005, production was delayed due to a dispute with ITV but resumed in 2007 after the success of the American version. The show has seen various hosts throughout its run, with Terry Crews currently at the helm.
2002: Premiere episode of America's Got Talent
In 2002, more than 12 million viewers watched the premiere episode of America's Got Talent, making it one of the most-watched programs on U.S. television at that time. The judging panel consisted of David Hasselhoff, Brandy Norwood, and Piers Morgan. The first season was won by singer Bianca Ryan.
2005: Initial Concept and Pilot
In 2005, Simon Cowell conceived the idea for America's Got Talent, aiming to create a talent show grander than others. A pilot episode was produced for British television network ITV.
2005: Cowell Pitches AGT to ITV
Simon Cowell pitched his idea for a grand talent competition to ITV in 2005, and they agreed to produce a pilot episode.
May 2006: Promotion of the first season of America's Got Talent
In May 2006, the first season of America's Got Talent was promoted, eventually airing between June 21 and August 17. Initial advertisements implied that the winning act would headline a show in Las Vegas, but this was later changed to a cash prize of $1 million.
June 21, 2006: America's Got Talent Premieres
On June 21, 2006, America's Got Talent premiered on NBC, marking the beginning of its successful run.
2006: Dispute Halts British Production
A dispute between ITV and the planned host, Paul O'Grady, led to the suspension of the British edition of the show in 2006.
2006: America's Got Talent Finds Success and Expands
The first season of America's Got Talent was a success, leading NBC to renew it for additional seasons and prompting ITV to resume production on Britain's Got Talent.
August 21, 2007: Conclusion of America's Got Talent season two
On August 21, 2007, the second season of America's Got Talent concluded. This season saw Jerry Springer replace Regis Philbin as host, and Sharon Osbourne replace Brandy Norwood as a judge.
2007: British Version Premieres
After the success of the first season of America's Got Talent, production for Britain's Got Talent resumed and premiered in 2007.
2007: The Got Talent Franchise is Born
The success of both the American and British versions led Simon Cowell to create the Got Talent franchise, expanding the format internationally.
October 1, 2008: Conclusion of America's Got Talent season three
On October 1, 2008, the third season of America's Got Talent concluded. This season included a break in its broadcast to avoid conflict with NBC's live broadcasts of the 2008 Summer Olympics and saw an increase in the number of semi-finalists.
2008: MySpace Auditions Introduced
America's Got Talent introduced a separate audition episode for contestants who posted videos on MySpace in seasons 3 and 4 (2008-2009).
2008: Headlining Show Prize Introduced
From 2008 onwards, America's Got Talent winners received an additional prize of headlining a show, typically in Las Vegas, in addition to the cash prize.
September 19, 2009: Conclusion of America's Got Talent season four
On September 19, 2009, the fourth season of America's Got Talent concluded. This season was the first to be broadcast in high definition and saw Nick Cannon replace Jerry Springer as the host.
2009: MySpace Auditions Continued
America's Got Talent continued to feature a separate audition episode for contestants who posted videos on MySpace in season 4 (2009).
2009: America's Got Talent season five scheduling decision
In 2009, NBC initially intended to air season five of America's Got Talent in the fall schedule but later decided to keep it within the summer schedule for 2010.
2009: America's Got Talent Live in Las Vegas
In 2009, a 10-week post-show titled "America's Got Talent Live" debuted at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, featuring season four winner Kevin Skinner and other finalists, hosted by Jerry Springer.
2009: America's Got Talent Season 4 Ratings Success
Season four of America's Got Talent, airing in 2009, achieved the highest overall viewership to date.
July 2010: Piers Morgan's contract renewal
In July 2010, Piers Morgan signed a three-year contract with America's Got Talent, though he would later depart before the seventh season due to other commitments.
September 15, 2010: Conclusion of America's Got Talent season five
On September 15, 2010, the fifth season of America's Got Talent concluded. This season saw comedian Howie Mandel replace David Hasselhoff as a judge.
2010: Headlining Show Replaced with National Tour
Between 2010 and 2013, the headlining show prize for America's Got Talent winners was replaced with a national tour.
2010: America's Got Talent Live Hiatus
Following its 2010 run, the "America's Got Talent Live" show went on hiatus.
2010: America's Got Talent Season 5 Finale Sets Viewership Record
The season five finale of America's Got Talent, aired in 2010, became the most-watched episode ever, drawing in 16.41 million viewers.
September 14, 2011: Conclusion of America's Got Talent season six
On September 14, 2011, the sixth season of America's Got Talent concluded. Singer Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. won the season, with dance groups Silhouettes and Team iLuminate placing second and third, respectively.
October 2011: Auditions for America's Got Talent season seven
In October 2011, auditions for the seventh season of America's Got Talent began, taking place in multiple cities including New York, Washington, D.C., and Tampa.
2011: America's Got Talent Season 6 Achieves High Ratings
The premiere episode and a Las Vegas Week episode from season six of America's Got Talent, which aired in 2011, both earned a 4.6 rating among adults 18–49, marking the highest ratings in this demographic.
February 2012: Completion of America's Got Talent season seven auditions
In February 2012, the audition process for the seventh season of America's Got Talent concluded, with auditions held in various cities such as Charlotte, Austin, and San Francisco.
August 2012: Sharon Osbourne's departure from America's Got Talent
In August 2012, Sharon Osbourne left America's Got Talent following a lengthy dispute with NBC. Her departure led to the recruitment of Mel B and Heidi Klum as new judges for the following season.
August 2012: Sharon Osbourne Departs
Sharon Osbourne left America's Got Talent in August 2012 following a dispute with NBC.
September 13, 2012: Conclusion of America's Got Talent season seven
On September 13, 2012, the seventh season of America's Got Talent concluded. This season saw Piers Morgan depart as a judge before filming began due to other commitments.
2012: America's Got Talent Live Returns
"America's Got Talent Live" resumed in 2012 with a new host and performances from the seventh season's finalists, including Olate Dogs and Tom Cotter.
2012: "Golden Buzzer" Format Introduced
In 2012, America's Got Talent adopted the "Golden Buzzer" format, previously seen on Germany's Got Talent and Britain's Got Talent. This addition allowed judges to save an act from elimination during the audition phase.
February 2013: Mel B Joins Judging Panel
Mel B, former Spice Girls member, joined the America's Got Talent judging panel in February 2013, expanding it to four judges.
March 2013: Heidi Klum Joins Judging Panel
Supermodel Heidi Klum joined the America's Got Talent judging panel in March 2013 for the eighth season.
September 18, 2013: Conclusion of America's Got Talent season eight
On September 18, 2013, the eighth season of America's Got Talent concluded. This season featured the addition of Heidi Klum and Mel B as judges following Sharon Osbourne's departure in August 2012 due to a dispute with NBC.
2013: Return of the Headlining Show Prize
America's Got Talent brought back the headlining show prize for winners after a three-year hiatus, replacing the national tour.
2013: "Inside AGT" Book Release
In 2013, a book titled "Inside AGT: The Untold Stories of America's Got Talent" was released, offering behind-the-scenes insights into the show's production and featuring interviews with contestants.
2013: America's Got Talent Live Tour
In 2013, another "America's Got Talent Live" tour featured the best acts from the eighth season, such as Kenichi Ebina and Collins Key.
April 2014: Judge auditions for America's Got Talent season nine
In April 2014, judge auditions for the ninth season of America's Got Talent were completed, with the auditions taking place in cities such as Newark, New York, and Los Angeles.
September 17, 2014: Conclusion of America's Got Talent season nine
On September 17, 2014, the ninth season of America's Got Talent concluded. This season involved preliminary auditions held between October and December 2013 and introduced a unique audition process in collaboration with The Today Show.
2014: America's Got Talent Live Tour
A new "America's Got Talent Live" tour commenced in 2014, showcasing finalists from the ninth season, including Mat Franco and Emily West.
2014: Judges Receive Two "Golden Buzzers"
A notable change to the audition format in 2014 was the introduction of two "Golden Buzzers" for each judge, increasing their ability to advance acts to the next round.
2014: Auditions Held Across the Country
In preparation for the tenth season in 2015, producer auditions for America's Got Talent were held in various cities throughout late 2014 and early 2015, including Tampa, Nashville, Richmond, New York, Chicago, and more.
June 24, 2015: Howard Stern Announces Departure
On June 24, 2015, Howard Stern announced his departure from America's Got Talent on his TV program.
October 2015: Simon Cowell Replaces Howard Stern as Judge
Howard Stern was replaced by Simon Cowell as a judge on America's Got Talent for the eleventh season in October 2015.
2015: Season 10 Features Extreme Auditions
During the tenth season in 2015, America's Got Talent held special "extreme" auditions in Pomona, California. These auditions featured acts considered too dangerous for a typical indoor studio setting.
2015: America's Got Talent Live Residency
In 2015, "America's Got Talent Live" shifted from a tour to a series of shows at Planet Hollywood Resort in Las Vegas, featuring acts like Paul Zerdin and Piff the Magic Dragon.
2015: Introduction of guest judges for Judge Cuts
In 2015, America's Got Talent introduced guest judges as part of the revamp of the format's boot camp stage, known as the 'Judge Cuts'.
March 2016: Judges' Auditions Filmed in Pasadena
Filming for the judges' auditions for the eleventh season took place in March 2016 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Los Angeles.
May 31, 2016: Season 11 Premieres
The eleventh season of America's Got Talent premiered on May 31, 2016.
October 4, 2016: Simon Cowell Signs Contract Extension
On October 4, 2016, Simon Cowell signed a contract to remain a judge on America's Got Talent until 2019.
December 19, 2016: America's Got Talent Holiday Spectacular
On December 19, 2016, NBC aired "America's Got Talent Holiday Spectacular," a two-hour special hosted by Nick Cannon, featuring performances from past contestants and guests.
2016: America's Got Talent Live Residency
Four more "America's Got Talent Live" shows took place at Planet Hollywood in 2016, with performances from Grace VanderWaal and The Clairvoyants.
2016: Open Auditions Held Across the US
Open auditions for the twelfth season of America's Got Talent were held in various cities across the United States in late 2016 and early 2017.
February 13, 2017: Nick Cannon Resigns as Host
Following a dispute with NBC, Nick Cannon resigned from hosting America's Got Talent on February 13, 2017. The dispute stemmed from remarks he made during his Showtime comedy special, "Stand Up, Don't Shoot".
March 2017: Judges' Auditions Held in Los Angeles
The judges' auditions for the twelfth season were filmed in March 2017 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Los Angeles.
June 11, 2017: Contestant Brandon Rogers Passes Away
Tragically, contestant Brandon Rogers, who had secured a place on the show, passed away in a car accident on June 11, 2017. His audition was later aired as a tribute to his memory.
2017: Open Auditions Held Nationwide
Open auditions for the thirteenth season were held in various cities across the United States, from late 2017 to early 2018.
2017: America's Got Talent Live Residency
Planet Hollywood hosted another four "America's Got Talent Live" shows in 2017, featuring Darci Lynne and Angelica Hale, among others.
March 2018: Judges' Auditions Take Place
Judges' auditions for the thirteenth season of America's Got Talent were filmed in March 2018 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Los Angeles.
May 2018: America's Got Talent: The Champions Commissioned
NBC commissioned Simon Cowell to produce "America's Got Talent: The Champions" in May 2018, an all-star spin-off featuring past contestants from the Got Talent franchise.
December 2018: Tyra Banks Announces Departure
Tyra Banks announced her departure from America's Got Talent in December 2018, after hosting the previous season.
2018: America's Got Talent Live Residency
Three new "America's Got Talent Live" shows were scheduled at a new Las Vegas venue in 2018, showcasing Shin Lim and Samuel J. Comroe.
January 2019: America's Got Talent: The Champions Premieres
"America's Got Talent: The Champions" premiered in January 2019.
February 11, 2019: NBC announces changes to America's Got Talent host and judges
On February 11, 2019, NBC announced significant changes to America's Got Talent's host and judging panel. Tyra Banks decided to move on to other projects and was replaced by Terry Crews. Judges Klum and Mel B also left, and Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough joined the panel alongside Mandel and Cowell.
February 2019: New Judges Announced
In February 2019, Terry Crews, Julianne Hough, and Gabrielle Union were announced as the new judges for the upcoming fourteenth season of America's Got Talent.
March 3, 2019: Auditions and Filming Commence
Auditions and filming for the fourteenth season of America's Got Talent began on March 3, 2019.
November 2019: Union and Hough Depart, Klum and Vergara Join
Following the departures of Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough, Heidi Klum returned, and Sofía Vergara joined as a new judge for the fifteenth season of America's Got Talent.
November 22, 2019: Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough leave America's Got Talent
On November 22, 2019, it was announced that Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough would not return to America's Got Talent after participating in only one season.
2019: Launch of "America's Got Talent: The Champions"
America's Got Talent: The Champions, a spin-off competition featuring past winners and standout acts, premiered in 2019 and ran for two seasons.
2019: Mel B's Return to AGT
Mel B returned to the AGT franchise as a judge for "AGT: Fantasy League," her last appearance being in the first season of "America's Got Talent: The Champions" in 2019.
2019: Simon Cowell to Remain Judge
Simon Cowell's contract secured his position as a judge on America's Got Talent until 2019.
February 2020: America's Got Talent: The Champions Two Seasons Aired
By February 2020, "America's Got Talent: The Champions" had aired for two seasons.
February 27, 2020: Heidi Klum returns to America's Got Talent
On February 27, 2020, NBC confirmed that Heidi Klum would return as a judge for the next season of America's Got Talent, and announced Sofía Vergara as the fourth judge.
2020: Judge Cuts Modified Due to Pandemic
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Judge Cuts round in season 15 of America's Got Talent was condensed into a single episode without a guest judge.
2020: Season 15 Impacted by Pandemic
The fifteenth season of America's Got Talent, airing in 2020, faced production delays and the discontinuation of live audiences due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
February 2021: Season 16 Announced
NBC announced the sixteenth season of America's Got Talent in late February 2021, confirming the return of the host and judges, including Simon Cowell.
March 9, 2021: Season 16 Premiere Announced
On March 9, 2021, NBC announced that the sixteenth season of America's Got Talent would premiere on June 1.
May 14, 2021: America's Got Talent: Extreme Announced
NBC announced "America's Got Talent: Extreme," a daredevil-focused spin-off, on May 14, 2021, with Simon Cowell as executive producer and judge.
September 2021: Terry Crews announces the 'end of an era'
In September 2021, host Terry Crews announced the 'end of an era' following the season sixteen finale of America's Got Talent and the series finale of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, marking the end of his deal with NBC, though he continued his hosting duties in subsequent seasons.
October 1, 2021: America's Got Talent: Extreme Host and Judges Announced
Terry Crews was announced as host, with Nikki Bella and Travis Pastrana joining Simon Cowell as judges for "America's Got Talent: Extreme" on October 1, 2021.
October 20, 2021: America's Got Talent: Extreme Filming
Filming for "America's Got Talent: Extreme" took place at the Atlanta Motor Speedway between September 27 and October 20, 2021.
January 2022: America's Got Talent: Extreme Filming Wrapped
Filming for "America's Got Talent: Extreme" concluded in early January 2022.
February 21, 2022: America's Got Talent: Extreme Premieres
"America's Got Talent: Extreme" premiered on February 21, 2022.
March 31, 2022: Season 17 Announced
The seventeenth season of America's Got Talent was announced on March 31, 2022, featuring the same judging panel and host from the previous two seasons.
May 31, 2022: Season 17 Premieres
The seventeenth season of America's Got Talent premiered on May 31, 2022.
October 7, 2022: America's Got Talent: All-Stars Announced
NBC announced its third spin-off, "America's Got Talent: All-Stars," on October 7, 2022, featuring former winners, finalists, and fan favorites.
October 2022: America's Got Talent: All-Stars Production
Production for "America's Got Talent: All-Stars" began in October 2022.
2022: Premiere of "AGT: Extreme"
AGT: Extreme, a spin-off featuring daredevil and stunt acts, premiered in 2022.
January 2, 2023: America's Got Talent: All-Stars Premieres
"America's Got Talent: All-Stars," with judges Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, and host Terry Crews, premiered on January 2, 2023.
March 3, 2023: Season 18 Cast Revealed
The cast for the eighteenth season of America's Got Talent was revealed on March 3, 2023, with the return of the judging panel and host from the previous three seasons.
May 30, 2023: Season 18 Premieres
The eighteenth season of America's Got Talent premiered on May 30, 2023.
September 2023: AGT Season 18 Concludes
The eighteenth season of America's Got Talent aired from May to September 2023.
September 21, 2023: AGT: Fantasy League Announced
On September 21, 2023, "AGT: Fantasy League" was announced, featuring judges competing in a fantasy sports draft-like competition.
September 27, 2023: Season 19 Renewed
During the season eighteen finale on September 27, 2023, America's Got Talent was renewed for a nineteenth season, set to air in the summer of 2024.
November 15, 2023: AGT: Fantasy League Premiere Date Announced
The premiere date for "AGT: Fantasy League" was announced as January 1, 2024, on November 15, 2023.
January 1, 2024: AGT: Fantasy League Premieres
"AGT: Fantasy League" is set to premiere on January 1, 2024.
March 18, 2024: Season 19 Premiere Date Announced
On March 18, 2024, it was announced that the nineteenth season of America's Got Talent would premiere on May 28.
2024: Upcoming Premiere of "America's Got Talent: Fantasy League"
A new spin-off, America's Got Talent: Fantasy League, is scheduled to premiere in 2024.
