PLOT

America's Got Talent (also known as AGT) is an American reality television series on the NBC television network, and part of the global British Got Talent series. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of US$1 million. The show debuted in June 2006 for the summer television season. Starting in the third season, the Talent top prize included US$1 million, payable in a financial annuity over forty years (or the present cash value of such annuity), and a show as the headliner on the Las Vegas Strip.

Among its significant features were that it gave an opportunity to talented amateurs or unknown performers, with the results decided by an audience vote. The format is a popular one and has often been reworked for television in the United States and the United Kingdom.

The current incarnation was created by Simon Cowell, and was originally due to be a 2005 British series called Paul O'Grady's Got Talent but was postponed due to O'Grady's acrimonious split with broadcaster ITV. As such, the American version became the first full series of the Got Talent franchise.

Despite being heavily involved in the show's production, Simon Cowell does not appear as a judge. This is due to the conditions of his contract with Fox Network.

HOST

Nick Cannon(2009 - Present)

JUDGES

Piers Morgan(2006 - Present)
Sharon Osbourne (2007 - Present)
Howie Mandel (2010 - Present)

PRE-AUDITION PROCESS

Beginning with Season 3, before the auditions in front of the judges are held, there are separate untelevised producers' auditions which come to various cities across the United States, some which will host the auditions held in theaters, and some which usually only host the producers' auditions. This round is held several months before the judges' audition in cities that would also host the televised second round. Acts that have made it through the producers' audition will then audition in front of the judges and a live audience.

SEASON 6

NBC announced that the show has been renewed for a sixth season and premiered on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 for a two-hour special. Piers Morgan and Sharon Osbourne will continue to judge after taking jobs on Piers Morgan Tonight and The Talk, respectively. On The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on July 27, 2010, Morgan officially stated that he has signed a three year contract to stay on Talent. The network has stated that it expects Howie Mandel to return as a judge, and Nick Cannon to return as host. The show will be auditioning people in Denver, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York City, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Seattle, and Houston. Previews of auditions were shown during NBC's The Voice premier on April 26, 2011.

On 4 May 2011, YouTube announced that they're once again teaming up with AGT and that there will be another YouTube auditions episode included for this season just like the previous season. However, other varieties (such as a "Second Chance" episode) is not yet known.