America's Got Talent season 3

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Contents

America's Got Talent
Season 3
ShowrunnerJason Raff [1]
Hosted by Jerry Springer
Judges
Winner Neal E. Boyd
Runner-up
  • Eli Mattson
No. of episodes20
Release
Original network NBC
Original releaseJune 17 (2008-06-17) 
October 1, 2008 (2008-10-01)
Season chronology
 Previous
Season 2
Next 
Season 4
Judges and Host for America's Got Talent Season 3

The third season of American talent show competition series America's Got Talent was broadcast on NBC from June 17 to October 1, 2008. After the conclusion of the second season, changes to the program included the creation of additional audition episodes in the broadcast schedule, the involvement of quarter-finals in the competition, and doubling the number of participants that advanced from the boot camp stage. Between August 7–26, the show had a planned break to avoid clashing with the network's live coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics.

The third season was won by opera singer Neal E. Boyd, [2] with singer and pianist Eli Mattson finishing in second place, and violinists Nuttin' But Stringz placing third. During its broadcast, the season averaged roughly over 10.75 million viewers.

Season overview

Following the previous season, auditions took place in five major cities: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Atlanta. Additional rounds of auditions were made online via Myspace and Facebook. Changes to the schedule of live episodes were due to the 2008 Summer Olympics, since the event received live coverage on NBC. The program was on hiatus between August 7–26, in order to avoid it clashing with the network's schedule of the sporting event.

The third season had a number of additional changes put into place with the program's format, following the second season, two of which brought it along a similar arrangement used for Britain's Got Talent . Editing of filmed auditions for their respective episodes were conducted in a similar manner to the British edition, with footage in each episode consisting of a montage chosen from each major city whose venue featured audition sessions. For example, a collection of auditions (both minor and notable from Dallas), preceded those from another major city following a commercial break. Participants in live rounds were determined by two separate votes, while the public decided the first four to advance, and the judges chose the fifth participant to join them (from those who placed 5th and 6th respectively in the public vote). The remaining changes included an expanded number of participants for the "Las Vegas Callback" stage of auditions, along with cosmetic updates to the program. Alongside a new title card, the judges' table and the red "Xs" were re-styled to match the design of those used in Britain's Got Talent.

Results episodes for this season were arranged on a sporadic schedule alongside live episodes, rather than a pre-ordained arrangement after the last two seasons. Quarter-finals had their results announced on the same day. Semi-finals and the knockout final among the top ten were done the day after the performance episode had been broadcast. The grand-finale's results were aired a week after the performance episode.

Forty of the participants who auditioned for this season secured a place in the live quarter-finals, with ten quarterfinalists performing in each show. About twenty from these rounds advanced and were split between the two semi-finals, with around ten semi-finalists securing a place in the final, and five finalists securing a place in the season's grand-finale. These are the results of each participant's overall performance during the season:

  Winner |   Runner-up |   Third place |   Finalist
  Semi-finalist |   Quarter-finalist
ParticipantGenreActQuarter-finalResult
Beyond Belief Dance CompanyDanceDance Group2Eliminated
Bruce Block MagicMagician3Eliminated
Bryan CheathamSingingSinger4Eliminated
Dallas Desperados DancersDance / AcrobaticsCheerleading Group4Eliminated
Daniel JensSinging / MusicSinger & Guitarist2Semi-finalist
DC CowboysDanceDance Group1Eliminated
Derrick Barry VarietyBritney Spears Impersonator1Eliminated
Donald Braswell II 1 SingingSinger4Grand-finalist
Dorae SaundersVarietyTina Turner Impersonator4Eliminated
Eli MattsonSinging / MusicSinger & Pianist4Runner-up
EliteAcrobaticsMartial Artist1Eliminated
Extreme Dance FXDanceClogging Group1Semi-finalist
Flambeaux DangerFire Breather4Eliminated
George the GiantDangerSideshow Performer2Eliminated
Indiggo SingingVocal Duo4Eliminated
Jessica PriceSinging / MusicSinger & Guitarist1Finalist
Jonathan AronsMusicTrombonist2Eliminated
Jonathan BurkinVarietyBaton Twirler3Semi-finalist
Joseph HallSingingElvis Impersonator3Finalist
Kaitlyn Maher SingingSinger4Finalist
KazualSingingVocal Group2Eliminated
Matthew PiazziComedyImpressionist3Eliminated
Michael Strelo-SmithSingingSinger3Eliminated
Neal E. Boyd SingingOpera Singer1Winner
Nuttin' But Stringz MusicViolin Duo4Third place
Paul SalosSingingFrank Sinatra Impersonator2Finalist
Queen EmilySingingSinger2Grand-finalist
Ronny BSinging / DanceSinger & Dancer1Eliminated
Sarah LenoreSinging / MusicSinger & Guitarist3Semi-finalist
Shequida Hall SingingOpera Singer3Eliminated
ShimshiMagicMagician1Eliminated
Sick StepDanceDance Group3Semi-finalist
Slippery KittensDanceDance Group2Eliminated
Taubl FamilyMusicOrchestra3Semi-finalist
The CadenceMusicPercussion Group1Semi-finalist
The James GangSingingVocal Group1Semi-finalist
The Tapping DadsDanceTap Dance Group4Semi-finalist
The Texas State StruttersDanceDance Group3Eliminated
The Wright KidsMusicBluegrass Band2Finalist
ZOOperstars! DanceDance Group2Semi-finalist

Quarter-final summary

Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Buzzed Out | Crystal Clear app clean.svg Judges' choice |   Advanced to Semi-finals
  Won Judges' Vote |   Lost Judges' Vote

Quarter-final 1 (August 26)

Quarter-FinalistOrderBuzzes and Judges' VoteResult
HasselhoffOsbourneMorgan
Extreme Dance FX1Advanced
The James Gang2 2 Crystal Clear app clean.svg Crystal Clear app clean.svg Won Judges' Vote
Derrick Barry3 Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Eliminated
Elite4 2 Lost Judges' Vote
Ronny B5 Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Eliminated
The Cadence6Advanced
Jessica Price7Advanced
Shimshi8Eliminated
DC Cowboys9 Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Eliminated
Neal E. Boyd10Advanced
  • ^2 Because of the majority vote for The James Gang, Hasselhoff's voting intention was not disclosed as a result.

Quarter-final 2 (August 27)

Quarter-FinalistOrderBuzzes and Judges' VoteResult
HasselhoffOsbourneMorgan
Beyond Belief Dance Company1 Crystal Clear app clean.svg Lost Judges' Vote
Paul Salos2Advanced
Kazual3 Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Eliminated
ZOOperstars!4 Crystal Clear app clean.svg Crystal Clear app clean.svg Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Won Judges' Vote
The Wright Kids5Advanced
Jonathan Arons6Eliminated
Daniel Jens7Advanced
Slippery Kittens8 Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Eliminated
George the Giant9 Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Eliminated
Queen Emily10Advanced

Quarter-final 3 (September 2)

Quarter-FinalistOrderBuzzes and Judges' VoteResult
HasselhoffOsbourneMorgan
The Texas State Strutters1 Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Eliminated
Michael Strelo-Smith2 Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Lost Judges' Vote
Bruce Block3 Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Eliminated
Shequida Hall4 Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Eliminated
Taubl Family5Advanced
Jonathan Burkin6Advanced
Sarah Lenore7Advanced
SickStep8 Crystal Clear app clean.svg Crystal Clear app clean.svg Crystal Clear app clean.svg Won Judges' Vote
Matthew Piazzi9 Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Eliminated
Joseph Hall10Advanced

Quarter-final 4 (September 3)

Quarter-FinalistOrderBuzzes and Judges' VoteResult
HasselhoffOsbourneMorgan
Dallas Desperados Dancers1 Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Eliminated
Bryan Cheatham2 Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg / Crystal Clear app clean.svg Lost Judges' Vote
Flambeaux3 Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Eliminated
Kaitlyn Maher4Advanced
Dorae Saunders5 Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Eliminated
Donald Braswell II6Advanced
Indiggo7 Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Eliminated
The Tapping Dads8 Crystal Clear app clean.svg Crystal Clear app clean.svg Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Won Judges' Vote
Eli Mattson9Advanced
Nuttin' But Stringz10Advanced

Semi-final summary

Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Buzzed Out | Crystal Clear app clean.svg Judges' choice |   Advanced to Finals
  Won Judges' Vote |   Lost Judges' Vote

Semi-final 1 (September 9)

Semi-FinalistOrderBuzzes and Judges' VoteResult
(September 11)
HasselhoffOsbourneMorgan
The Cadence1Eliminated
Queen Emily2Advanced
The Wright Kids3Advanced
The James Gang4Eliminated
Daniel Jens5 Crystal Clear app clean.svg Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Lost Judges' Vote
ZOOperstars!6 Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Eliminated
Neal E. Boyd7Advanced
Jessica Price8 Crystal Clear app clean.svg Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg / Crystal Clear app clean.svg Won Judges' Vote
Extreme Dance FX9Eliminated
Paul Salos10Advanced

Semi-final 2 (September 10)

Semi-FinalistOrderBuzzes and Judges' VoteResult
(September 11)
HasselhoffOsbourneMorgan
SickStep1 Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Eliminated
Donald Braswell II2Advanced
Joseph Hall3 Crystal Clear app clean.svg Crystal Clear app clean.svg Won Judges' Vote
Taubl Family4 Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Eliminated
Sarah Lenore5Eliminated
Nuttin' But Stringz6Advanced
Kaitlyn Maher7Advanced
The Tapping Dads8Eliminated
Eli Mattson9Advanced
Jonathan Burkin10 Crystal Clear app clean.svg Lost Judges' Vote

Finals summary

  Winner (Top 5 Final Only) |   Runner-up (Top 5 Final Only) |   3rd place (Top 5 Final Only)
  Advanced (Top 10 Finals only) |   Eliminated | Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Buzzed Out (Top 10 Finals only)

Final - Top 10 (September 17)

Top 10 FinalistOrderBuzzesResult
(September 18)
HasselhoffOsbourneMorgan
Paul Salos1 Crystal Clear action button cancel.svg Eliminated
Kaitlyn Maher2Eliminated
Donald Braswell II3Advanced
Jessica Price4Eliminated
Joseph Hall5Eliminated
Neal E. Boyd6Advanced
The Wright Kids7Eliminated
Queen Emily8Advanced
Nuttin' But Stringz9Advanced
Eli Mattson10Advanced

Grand-finale (September 24)

Grand-finalistOrderResult
(October 1)
Nuttin' But Stringz13rd
Donald Braswell II24th
Neal E. Boyd31st
Eli Mattson42nd
Queen Emily55th

Ratings

ShowRating Rating/Share
(18-49)
Viewers
(millions)
17.83.8/10 [3] 12.80
273.1/911.51
37.53.2/1011.98
47.63.3/912.40
57.83.1/912.53
67.83.3/10N/A
77.93.6/1013.61
87.83.5/1012.42
9N/A2.7/88.57
10N/A3.1/910.96
11N/A2.7/810.13
12N/A6.5/1010.58
13N/A2.7/710.15
147.12.6/1011.60
15N/A2.5/811.49
16N/A2.3/89.64
17N/A3.1/912.05
18N/A2.3/79.83
196.62.7/710.23
207.73.3/812.55

References

  1. Hailu, Selome (October 28, 2024). "'America's Got Talent': Jason Raff Out as Showrunner After 19 Seasons Due to Budget Cuts". Variety . Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  2. "Who Won America's Got Talent — and Where Are They Now?". NBC Insider Official Site. September 15, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  3. "Tuesday 6/17/08". June 18, 2008. Archived from the original on June 22, 2008. Retrieved June 18, 2008.