The Jesse White Tumbling Team’s journey on Season 21 of “America’s Got Talent” ended on Wednesday night as the Chicago troupe did not advance to the semifinal rounds of the hit reality/competition series. The outcome was revealed during the show’s first results round telecast.
The team’s disappointment was palpable as their hopeful smiles dissolved into heartbreak as the news was announced.
Viewer votes, based on the previous night’s live quarterfinals performances, determined the three acts (out of 11) that would advance to the next phase of competition — the semifinals scheduled for Sept. 15.
Earlier in the evening, the Tumblers were among the top five vote-getting acts overall, which also included Olivia Befus and her trained dog act; rapper Luke Taleno; light-up dance trio Royal Lasers; and comedian Cris Sosa. Befus, Taleno and Royal Lasers earned the round’s three spots in the semifinals based on viewer vote totals.
Four additional “golden buzzer” acts — one from each of the four quarterfinal rounds, and determined by judges Simon Cowell, Mel B, Sofia Vergara and Howie Mandel — are automatically propelled to the show’s finals on Sept. 22. South Korean magic act Hundred Fingers earned the coveted buzzer on Tuesday night from Mandel.
The tumblers exhibited their time-tested winning form during their quarterfinals set on Tuesday night, performing to the pulsating rhythms of Jamiroquai’s “Canned Heat.”
Utilizing two across-stage runs of gymnastic mats, the team flew in and out at a frenetic pace — rolling, jumping, somersaulting and flying through the air, at one point even towering up and over the organization’s 92-year-old founder, Jesse White.
Cowell praised the performance, commenting: “Well, I loved your first audition, and then I was thinking, Can they make it better on the live shows? Can I be honest? It was better.”
South Korean K-pop boy band NCT 127 opened the results show on Wednesday night ahead of the group’s upcoming album, “BLINGY,” releasing Aug. 24.
Vergara later took a moment during the telecast to remind viewers of the recent devastating earthquake in Colombia, asking viewers to support UNICEF and World Central Kitchen in their ongoing aid efforts in the region.
“AGT” fans will be voting for additional semifinalists from three more live quarterfinal rounds airing at 7 p.m. Aug. 25, Sept. 1 and Sept. 8 on NBC.
Miriam Di Nunzio is the former Features Editor of the Chicago Sun-Times.