PASADENA, CALIFORNIA: The highly anticipated Season 18 of 'America's Got Talent' kicked off with a thrilling two-hour premiere on May 30, 2023, captivating the audience from start to finish. The judges' panel remained unchanged, featuring the visionary executive producer Simon Cowell and the seasoned judge Howie Mandel positioned at opposite ends of the table. Making a triumphant return, Heidi Klum brought her charismatic presence, while Sofia Vergara rejoined the panel after a brief hiatus during the airing of 'All-Stars' earlier this year. Leading the proceedings with his boundless energy, Terry Crews resumed his role as the vivacious host, adding an extra dose of excitement to the show.
In the audition phase of 'AGT', the fate of each act hangs in the balance as they strive to impress the esteemed panel of judges and earn at least three "yes" votes to progress to the next round. However, if two or more judges decide to buzz an act, their journey abruptly ends. Each judge, along with Terry, holds the power to unleash the coveted Golden Buzzer, a unique opportunity to catapult an act directly into the live performances, bypassing all other hurdles. In this particular episode, the golden buzzer moment belonged to Putri Ariani. Nevertheless, some fans believe that Ariani's Golden Buzzer moment was orchestrated and may not have lived up to their expectations.
Putri Ariani gets Golden Buzzer
Putri is a 17-year-old aspiring blind musician from Indonesia, who possesses a remarkable talent despite being blind. Currently in high school, her ultimate dream is to secure a spot at Juilliard, the prestigious performing arts school. Assisted by the supportive stage crew, she confidently finds her way to the grand piano and positions her microphone. When she begins singing her original composition, her voice captivates the audience with its exquisite beauty and maturity. Simon clearly expresses his admiration for her talent. While she may not hit the whistle note flawlessly, her impressive vocal range shines through in her middle voice. Recognizing her exceptional potential, Simon requests a second performance, and she delivers an emotionally charged rendition of Elton John's 'Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word'.
Overwhelmed with emotions after her performance, Putri receives heartfelt praise from the judges and the audience. Sofia describes her as an "angel," while Howie refers to her as a "superstar". Heidi expresses her admiration for Putri's original song. The enthusiastic response from the crowd further amplifies the atmosphere of appreciation. Simon, deeply moved by her distinct voice, commends her unique glow. With no surprise to anyone, he rises from his seat and slams the Golden Buzzer, a powerful endorsement that reserves a spot for Putri as one of the greatest singers ever to grace the show.
'More sob stories'
Some fans hold the belief that Putri's Golden Buzzer moment was orchestrated solely for television purposes. Despite her undeniable talent and the judges' positive remarks, these fans remain skeptical about the authenticity of the entire scenario.
Fans think Putri's Golden Buzzer moment was superficial and orchestrated only for TV. One tweeted, "Look how they place cameras in the audience & the reaction of the audience. Was she good? Sure. But once again a sob story with PC reaction." Another said, "Sob story and singing fastest way to get a golden buzzer."
Another exclaimed, "I hope every single American contestant sues AGT for allowing non American's to compete ! These people are flying in from Japan and everywhere else to compete in a show that call's itself America's Got Talent ! It is not America's Got Talent ! It is the world has Talent!"
Another commented, "Ik. And it’s either a singer or a kid with a sob story." Another Twitter user said, "I am not a cynic. But I am not a pushover either. I love a good cute kid and a good overcoming adversity stories but they have to be good."
One Redditor said, "This is such Simon golden buzzer bait. saw a list of the contestants before this episode aired and already knew it was 100% gonna be her."
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