Howie Mandel is an ‘AGT’ superstar, playing Elvis’ theater

Las Vegas has become the graduate course for “America’s Got Talent.” It’s a tough assignment, and there is no Golden Buzzer.

As an example, the high caliber of the show’s alumni performing in Las Vegas helped thwart “AGT’s” own “America’s Got Talent Presents Superstars Live” at Luxor. That show, with its cast of “AGT” champs and finalists, closed in May after a 2½-year run.

It became quickly apparent that “AGT Superstars” was competing against performers the NBC show had made famous. Such “AGT” champions as Mat Franco, Shin Lim and Terry Fator have been Las Vegas theater headliners for years.

Comic great Howie Mandel has noticed this trend for nearly 15 years. The show’s longest-running judge, dating to June 2010, is returning to the Las Vegas stage himself on Saturday at Westgate’s International Theater, the room where an all-time superstar — Elvis — once held forth.

Mandel says he is excited the “Superstars” show took a shot on the Strip, he understands the “AGT” saturation in Las Vegas.

“You can see that ‘AGT’ is there, anyhow, without it being in one show,” Mandel says. “If you drive down the Strip, and we’ve talked about this before, and you look at every headliner, I promise you they have something to do with ‘AGT.’ They’ve either appeared, or tried to get on the show.”

And imagine assembling a roster of those Strip headliners, such as Franco, Lim, Fator, Piff the Magic Dragon, Tape Face and Jabbawockeez (yep, Season 2, 2007, the year Fator won), for a single “AGT Superstars” residency production. You would have a hit show that wouldn’t have to fight for tickets against other “AGT” stars.

Even without the “Superstars” show, Las Vegas is still a destination for “AGT” winners — though the first-place prize of a Vegas appearance is no longer part winnings.

“I can tell you, in doing ‘AGT’ this long, we ask, ‘What’s the dream?’” Mandel says. “And they go, ‘Well, to win the million dollars, but also to have our own headlining show in Las Vegas.’ My last Golden Buzzer was for a Japanese dance troupe that wants a room in Las Vegas.”

So watch for Airfootworks, which won the first season of “Japan’s Got Talent” last year.

Mandel’s own history in Las Vegas dates to the first major gig he ever performed as a stand-up, opening for Diana Ross at Caesars Palace’s Circus Maximus in 1981. Gene Simmons was involved in Ross’ life, as he would be in 1981. The two were dating. Simmons caught Mandel on “The Merv Griffin Show” and called the young comic, offering, “You’re funny. Would you mind opening up for my girlfriend in Las Vegas?”

“I didn’t even know what he really meant. I didn’t know he had a girlfriend,” Mandel says. “I was such a newbie. I said, ‘Who’s your girlfriend?’ It turned out it was Diana Ross.”

Mandel wasn’t an instant hit.

“The audience wasn’t thrilled with me,” he says with a laugh. “But throughout the years, they got to know me and like me and support me. I can’t think of a better place to spend Labor Day Weekend than in Vegas, doing stand-up.”

Carlos sidelined

Back issues have benched Carlos Santana for his upcoming run at House of Blues from Sept. 25-Oct. 6. Santana’s wife and drumming virtuoso, Cindy Blackman Santana, announced the cancellation on social media.

The guitar legend, who turned 77 last month, is undergoing a “corrective procedure” and is expected back Oct. 30.

Cool Hang Alert

A blanket endorsement for performances at Fat Cat at Downtown Grand. Finally made it there for Ted Sablay’s show Tuesday night, and the place delivers. A very cool music-club vibe initiated by Las Vegas native and proprietor Russell Gardner. The sound works well in a room that is in its second after-market design (it was the hotel’s comedy venue for a time). It manages an inventive menu (artichoke, olive and onion focaccia and the charcuterie plates are recommended), and specialty cocktails (available in mocktail form).

Just a $5 cover, so consume and tip to support the band, and know that Pepe Jimenez and Groove Culture are booked 9 p.m. Thursday.

John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His “PodKats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.