Variety acts in ‘America’s Got Talent’ seen as fit for Las Vegas

The way Howard Stern sees it, Las Vegas is the perfect city for “America’s Got Talent.”

“Just looking around Vegas, out of all the markets that watch this show in the United States, Vegas more than anything understands this show because we have that variety aspect,” the second-term “AGT” judge says. “It’s like, looking at every billboard in Vegas, you see a magician, you see a musical act, you see this, that and the other thing. We’re the only show that offers these types of people entree into a big audience of millions of people.”

He has a point. “America’s Got Talent” may be the bane of grammarians, but it’s been a boon to Las Vegas.

Over the years, the reality competition has been littered with local acts, and numerous contestants have passed through the city’s variety shows, including two attempts at giving “America’s Got Talent” a permanent presence on the Strip.

Season five winner Michael Grimm still performs around town.

And alumni ranging from animal trainer Gregory Popovich to junk-bangers Recycled Percussion to magicians Nathan Burton, Murray Sawchuck and Seth Grabel have their own shows alongside the contest’s most successful winner, Terry Fator.

Yet somehow Las Vegas ranks only 12th in the nation in average “AGT” viewership, tied with Orlando, Fla., and that bastion of variety acts, Jacksonville, Fla.

Still, the series has far more ties to the city than its annual “boot camp” episodes that can be seen at 9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday on KSNV-TV, Channel 3.

“America’s Got Talent’s” Vegas week offered a homecoming of sorts for new judge Mel B. The former Spice Girl originated the role of Peep Diva in “Peepshow” at Planet Hollywood Resort, home base for the episodes that were taped in early June. And she says she wouldn’t mind rejoining the ranks of Strip performers, either by herself or with her fellow girl-power enthusiasts.

“I’m constantly saying, ‘Let’s go to Vegas and set up shop,’ just like Boyz II Men have done,” she says of a potential Spice Girls residency. “It’s a great place. It’s a great venue. It’s a great stomping ground for me. The other girls love it, too, Vegas.”

“If it was up to me,” she says, just around the corner from the “Peepshow” theater, “we’d be here already.”

Howie Mandel has a long history in Las Vegas, even though he’s not performing here as much.

“I’m not performing anywhere as much,” the fourth-year judge says. “I’m doing more producing. So, I used to do, like, 300 nights a year. Now I do a hundred nights.”

He’s also gotten out of the local gas station business, having given up his stake in 11 City Stop convenience stores.

“I sold them this year. Did very well,” he says, as his fellow judges react with a mixture of awe and bewilderment upon learning of his entrepreneurship.

And Stern was somewhat of a Vegas regular, having famously brought his day job to town for a series of debauched radio shows that would have horrified many of his newfound “AGT” fans. The last trip, in May of 2004, made headlines when KLAS-TV, Channel 8, was duped into reporting that Stern’s then-sidekick Artie Lange had died at the Hard Rock Hotel.

As the 10th anniversary of that bacchanalia nears, Stern says he recently met with his SiriusXM bosses about flying in the cast and crew of “The Howard Stern Show” for another Las Vegas adventure.

“Those were some really fun times,” he recalls. “We had great crowds. Brought a lot of business into Vegas. ... We used to have so much fun.”

And the city is still very much on Stern’s mind.

Even before he was affiliated with “AGT,” he’d take to the airwaves to rant about how it was the judges’ responsibility to discover an act that would lure people away from the craps tables. Is that still his philosophy?

“Absolutely,” he affirms. “I said we’re looking for an international superstar. I meant it. I was committed to it. It was the only reason I did the show. I do take it very seriously. I’d love to see somebody get a big career out of this. ... And I believe you can find big talent on shows like this.”

Up until last season, that somebody would have had to have been a singer.

For all the oddball acts that have given “AGT” a sort of nouveau-“Gong Show” appeal, the first six winners sang. And, with seemingly as many televised singing competitions as there are singers, viewers began grumbling that it was time for a variety act to win. Then last season, the canine competitors Olate Dogs took home the show’s million-dollar grand prize and, as Stern admits, “everyone freaked.”

So, does the singers-vs.-variety debate put the judges in a no-win situation?

“No, I think we won. We did get a variety act,” Mandel says. “That wasn’t my choice of variety act. I wish that Earth Harp would’ve won. I didn’t think the dog act was the best act. But you know what? Who are we to say what the people at home should vote for?”

“But I think you have to be fair,” Heidi Klum, this season’s other new judge, interjects. “If there’s an amazing singer on the stage, what are you going to do? Say, ‘You’re not talented?’ You know, it’s a variety talent show, and singing is part of it. So I feel like if someone is there and they’re good, you have to push them forward.”

Mel B, who previously judged two seasons of Australia’s “The X Factor,” doesn’t particularly care what type of act wins as long as it’s an exciting one.

“I wanna look at somebody and go, ‘I would actually pay (for) a ticket so I could see that show with my friends, my girlfriends, my family.’ ”

And while they’re all well past the point in their careers where they’d have to open their wallets to see a show, all four judges agree they’ve found several such acts so far this year.

“This season, I’m really excited about the groups, the musical acts,” Stern reveals, as well as “five or seven really top-notch comedians — like, off the charts.”

“And the danger acts are even more dangerous than they’ve ever been,” Mandel adds.

All this was leading up to some difficult decisions as the judges began the four-day process of winnowing the hundreds of acts — the good, the strange and the ugly — who received at least three of their votes during the regional auditions down to the 60 who’ll perform during the live shows that begin next week.

“There are more people that could possibly win, at this point in the competition,” Mandel says, “than there has ever been before.

“This is gonna be the hardest cut we’ve ever had to make.”

Contact Christopher Lawrence at
clawrence@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4567.