# America's Got Talent season 4

The fourth season of American talent show competition series America's Got Talent was broadcast on NBC from June 23 to September 16, 2009. Following the previous season, Jerry Springer left the show due to other commitments, and was replaced as host by Nick Cannon. A number of changes were also made to the program before filming commenced, which included replacing the "boot camp" stage with a round similar in format to that used by Britain's Got Talent, and changing the buzzer format to match that being used by the Got Talent franchise. In addition, the episodes for results in each live round of the competition were also modified. They were broadcast over a one-hour period, and would feature performances by guest stars.
The fourth season was won by country singer Kevin Skinner, with opera singer Bárbara Padilla finishing in second, and percussion group Recycled Percussion placing third. During its broadcast, the season averaged around over 11.9 million viewers, and was the first in the program's history to be aired in high definition.

## Season overview

Auditions for the fourth season's competition took place across Winter until mid-Spring 2009, with auditions expanding to more cities. Filming for the audition episodes focused on those held in the cities of New York, Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Tacoma, and Seattle. Auditions were also held in Boston, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C. but were not included in the televised episodes. Prior to auditions taking place, Jerry Springer announced he was unable to continue hosting AGT due to his talk show schedule, in addition to summer theater commitments he had. As a result, the network recruited Nick Cannon to be his successor.
The format for the second stage of auditions changed by removing the "boot camp" portion that had been used in the previous two seasons, in favor of using the selection process from Britain's Got Talent, under the title of "Vegas Verdicts". Instead, judges reviewed the tapes of participants who had made successful auditions, to determine who would advance into the live rounds. This stage would continue to divide participants into groups, allowing the judges to debate among themselves about which group of participants should earn a place in the live rounds, before bringing back each group to inform them of their decision about their progress in the competition. In some cases, participants were required to do a second performance to help the judges make their final decisions. The format for the buzzers in the live rounds was also altered to match that of the format across the Got Talent franchise, in that participants receiving buzzes from all the judges had to stop immediately, rather than being given a little more time to perform.
Two issues arose during this season during the competition. The first was the intervention of executive producer Simon Cowell, who felt "too much talent" had been eliminated during the new "Vegas Verdicts" stage. The judges decided to bring back several of the eliminated acts as Wildcards for the quarter-finals. The second was the judges' inability to determine which two acts they favored and would advance beyond the first semi-final. Eventually they opted to put both through without a vote in the second semi-final.
Forty-eight of the participants who auditioned for the season secured a place in the live quarter-finals (including those originally eliminated in the Vegas Verdicts stage before Cowell's intervention), with twelve quarter-finalists performing in each show. About twenty of these advanced and were split between the two semi-finals, with ten semi-finalists securing a place in the live final, which was a single stage rather than multiple rounds in previous seasons. Here are the results of each participant's overall performance during the season:
    Winner | Runner-up | Third place | Finalist | Semi-finalist
    Quarter-finalist | Judges' Wildcard Quarter-Finalist
| Participant | Age(s) | Genre | Act | From | Quarter-Final | Result |
| African High Flyers | 24-35 | Acrobatics | Acrobatic Group | Orlando | 4 | Eliminated |
| Alizma | 23 | Singing / Music | Violin Trio | Las Vegas | 2 | Eliminated |
| Anthony & Matt | 24 & 22 | Singing / Dance | Singer & Tap Dancer | New York City | 4 | Eliminated |
| Arcadian Broad | 13 | Dance | Dancer | Orlando | 1 | Semi-finalist |
| Bárbara Padilla | 36 | Singing | Opera Singer | Houston | 4 | Runner-up |
| Beale Street Flippers | 20-26 | Acrobatics | Acrobat Group | Memphis, Tennessee | 2 | Eliminated |
| Breaksk8 | 21-30 | Dance | Dance Group | Kokomo, Indiana | 1 | Eliminated |
| BRI | 17 | Singing / Music | Singer & Pianist | Las Vegas | 3 | Eliminated |
| Carol Loo | 63 | Dance | Dancer | Jersey City, New Jersey | 2 | Eliminated |
| Charles DeWayne | 21 | Singing / Music | Singer & Pianist | La Verne, California | 2 | Eliminated |
| Coney Island Chris | 42 | Danger / Comedy | Sideshow Performer | Naugatuck, Connecticut | 4 | Eliminated |
| Dave Johnson | 30 | Singing / Comedy | Comedy Singer | Renton, Washington | 3 | Eliminated |
| Diva League | 20-44 | Dance | Dance Group | Washington, D.C. | 1 | Eliminated |
| Drew Stevyns | 26 | Singing / Music | Singer & Guitarist | Sykesville, Maryland | 4 | Finalist |
| Drew Thomas Magic & Illusion | 40 | Magic | Magician | Orlando | 1 | Semi-finalist |
| Eleisha Miller | 8 | Singing / Music | Singer & Pianist | Amarillo, Texas | 2 | Eliminated |
| EriAm Sisters | 11-16 | Singing | Vocal Trio | Seattle | 4 | Semi-finalist |
| Erik & Rickie | 8 | Dance | Ballroom Duo | Seattle | 4 | Semi-finalist |
| Fab Five | 24-35 | Dance | Clogging Group | Morgan, Utah | 2 | Finalist |
| FootworKINGz | 16-24 | Dance | Dance Group | Chicago | 3 | Semi-finalist |
| G Force | 8-11 | Singing / Music | Band | Amherst, Ohio | 3 | Eliminated |
| Grandma Lee | 75 | Comedy | Comedian | Jacksonville, Florida | 1 | Finalist |
| Hairo Torres | 23 | Dance / Acrobatics | Contortionist Dancer | Grants Pass, Oregon | 3 | Finalist |
| Ishaara | 18–23 | Dance | Dance Group | Berkeley, California | 4 | Eliminated |
| Jay Mattioli | 27 | Magic | Magician | Manassas, Virginia | 3 | Eliminated |
| Jeffrey Ou | 18 | Music | Pianist | Carrollton, Texas | 3 | Semi-finalist |
| Kevin Skinner | 35 | Singing / Music | Singer & Guitarist | Mayfield, Kentucky | 1 | Winner |
| Lake Houston Dance | 9-14 | Dance | Dance Group | Houston | 1 | Eliminated |
| Lawrence Beamen | 34 | Singing | Singer | Walnut Creek, California | 3 | Finalist |
| Manuela Horn | 36 | Music | Yodeller | Seattle | 1 | Eliminated |
| Marcus Terrell & The Serenades | 22-28 | Singing | Vocal Group | Kansas City, Missouri | 3 | Eliminated |
| Mario & Jenny | 34 & 33 | Variety | Juggling Duo | Las Vegas | 3 | Semi-finalist |
| Mia Boostrom | 16 | Singing / Music | Singer & Pianist | North Dighton, Massachusetts | 4 | Eliminated |
| Mosaic | 30-34 | Singing | A Cappella Group | Las Vegas | 1 | Eliminated |
| Pam Martin's Top Dog | 54 & 6 | Animal | Dog Act | Garland, Texas | 4 | Eliminated |
| Paradizo Dance | 29 & 37 | Acrobatics | Acrobatic Duo | New York City | 2 | Semi-finalist |
| Pete Peterkin | 54 | Comedy | Impressionist | New York City | 2 | Eliminated |
| Pixie Mystère | 9-11 | Dance / Acrobatics | Contortionist Dance Group | Cape May, New Jersey | 3 | Eliminated |
| Platt Brothers | 22-27 | Acrobatics | Acrobat Trio | San Diego, California | 1 | Eliminated |
| Recycled Percussion | 22-39 | Music | Percussion Group | Goffstown, New Hampshire | 4 | Third place |
| SQ Entertainment | 19-32 | Dance | Dance Group | Boston | 2 | Eliminated |
| Team Acrodunk | 23-45 | Acrobatics | Basketball Stunt Team | Houston | 1 | Semi-finalist |
| The Lollipop Girls | 24-40 | Dance | Dance Group | San Diego | 4 | Eliminated |
| The Texas Tenors | 34-44 | Singing | Vocal Trio | Houston | 2 | Finalist |
| The Voices of Glory | 9-16 | Singing | Vocal Trio | Highland, New York | 2 | Finalist |
| Thia Megia | 14 | Singing | Singer | Redwood City, California | 1 | Eliminated |
| Tony Hoard & Rory | 54 & 7 | Animal | Dog Act | New Castle, Indiana | 2 | Semi-finalist |
| U4ria Dance Crew | 16-23 | Dance | Dance Group | Coral Springs, Florida | 3 | Eliminated |
* ^1 Ages denoted for a participant(s), pertain to their final performance for this season.
* ^2 The ages of Drew Thomas' assistants and Marcus Terrell's backing group were not disclosed during the season's broadcast.

### Quarter-finals summary

    Buzzed Out | Judges' choice | Advanced to Semi-finals
    Won Judges' Vote | Lost Judges' Vote

#### Quarter-final 1 (August 4)

Guest Performers, Results Show: Terry Fator and Mariah Carey
| Quarter-Finalist | Order | Buzzes and Judges' Vote | Buzzes and Judges' Vote | Buzzes and Judges' Vote | Result (August 5) |
| Quarter-Finalist | Order | Hasselhoff | Osbourne | Morgan | Result (August 5) |
| Breaksk8 | 1 | | | | Eliminated |
| Thia Megia | 2 | | | | Lost Judges' Vote |
| Platt Brothers | 3 | | | | Eliminated |
| Diva League | 4 | | | | Eliminated |
| Manuela Horn | 5 | | | | Eliminated |
| Grandma Lee | 6 | | | | Advanced |
| Mosaic | 7 | | | | Eliminated |
| Team Acrodunk | 8 | | | | Advanced |
| Arcadian Broad | 9 | | | | Won Judges' Vote |
| Drew Thomas Magic & Illusions | 10 | | | | Advanced |
| Kevin Skinner | 11 | | | | Advanced |
| Lake Houston Dance | 12 | | | | Eliminated |

#### Quarter-final 2 (August 11)

Guest Performers, Results Show: LMFAO and Penn and Teller.
| Quarter-Finalist | Order | Buzzes and Judges' Vote | Buzzes and Judges' Vote | Buzzes and Judges' Vote | Result (August 12) |
| Quarter-Finalist | Order | Hasselhoff | Osbourne | Morgan | Result (August 12) |
| Fab Five | 1 | | | | Advanced |
| Charles DeWayne | 2 | | | | Lost Judges' Vote |
| Carol Loo | 3 | | | | Eliminated |
| Tony Hoard & Rory | 4 | | | | Won Judges' Vote |
| Eleisha Miller | 5 | | | | Eliminated |
| Paradizo Dance | 6 | | | | Advanced |
| The Texas Tenors | 7 | | | | Advanced |
| SQ Entertainment | 8 | | | | Eliminated |
| Pete Peterkin | 9 | | | | Eliminated |
| Alizma | 10 | | | | Eliminated |
| Beale Street Flippers | 11 | | | | Eliminated |
| The Voices of Glory | 12 | | | | Advanced |

#### Quarter-final 3 (August 18)

Guest Performers, Results Show: Ashley Tisdale and Daughtry
| Quarter-Finalist | Order | Buzzes and Judges' Vote | Buzzes and Judges' Vote | Buzzes and Judges' Vote | Result (August 19) |
| Quarter-Finalist | Order | Hasselhoff | Osbourne | Morgan | Result (August 19) |
| FootworKINGz | 1 | | | | Won Judges' Vote |
| Marcus Terrell and the Serenades | 2 | | | | Eliminated |
| Pixie Mystère | 3 | | | | Lost Judges' Vote |
| Jay Mattioli | 4 | | | | Eliminated |
| BRI | 5 | | | | Eliminated |
| U4RIA Dance Crew | 6 | | | | Eliminated |
| David Johnson | 7 | | | | Eliminated |
| Hairo Torres | 8 | | | | Advanced |
| G-Force | 9 | | | | Eliminated |
| Jeffery Ou | 10 | | | | Advanced |
| Mario & Jenny | 11 | | | | Advanced |
| Lawrence Beamen | 12 | | | | Advanced |

#### Quarter-final 4 (August 25)

Guest Performer, Results Show: Reba McEntire
| Quarter-Finalist | Order | Buzzes and Judges' Vote | Buzzes and Judges' Vote | Buzzes and Judges' Vote | Result (August 26) |
| Quarter-Finalist | Order | Hasselhoff | Osbourne | Morgan | Result (August 26) |
| Ishaara | 1 | | | | Eliminated |
| Bárbara Padilla | 2 | | | | Advanced |
| Pam Martin's Top Dogs | 3 | | | | Eliminated |
| African High Flyers | 4 | | | | Eliminated |
| Mia Boostrom | 5 | | | | Lost Judges' Vote |
| Erik & Rickie | 6 | | | | Won Judges' Vote |
| Coney Island Chris | 7 | | | | Eliminated |
| Matt & Anthony | 8 | | | | Eliminated |
| The Lollipop Girls | 9 | | | | Eliminated |
| Drew Stevyns | 10 | | | | Advanced |
| Recycled Percussion | 11 | | | | Advanced |
| EriAm Sisters | 12 | | | | Advanced |

### Semi-finals summary

    Buzzed out | Advanced

#### Semi-final 1 (September 1)

Guest Performers, Result Show: Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog, and David Hasselhoff
| Semi-Finalist | Order | Buzzes | Buzzes | Buzzes | Result (September 2) |
| Semi-Finalist | Order | Hasselhoff | Osbourne | Morgan | Result (September 2) |
| Team Acrodunk | 1 | | | | Eliminated |
| The Texas Tenors | 2 | | | | Advanced |
| Paradizo Dance | 3 | | | | Eliminated |
| Drew Thomas Magic & Illusions | 4 | | | | Eliminated |
| Tony Hoard and Rory | 5 | | | | Eliminated |
| The Voices of Glory | 6 | | | | Advanced |
| The Fab Five | 7 | | | | Advanced |
| Grandma Lee | 8 | | | | Advanced |
| Arcadian Broad | 9 | | | | Eliminated |
| Kevin Skinner | 10 | | | | Advanced |
* Both acts were advanced into the next stage, after the judges could not decide on who to vote for advancing further in the competition. This decision meant no Judges' Vote was held in the next semi-final.

#### Semi-final 2 (September 8)

Guest Performer, Results Show: Cast of musical Jersey Boys.
| Semi-Finalist | Order | Buzzes | Buzzes | Buzzes | Result (September 9) |
| Semi-Finalist | Order | Hasselhoff | Osbourne | Morgan | Result (September 9) |
| Recycled Percussion | 1 | | | | Advanced |
| Lawrence Beamen | 2 | | | | Advanced |
| Erik and Rickie | 3 | | | | Eliminated |
| Jeffrey Ou | 4 | | | | Eliminated |
| Hairo Torres | 5 | | | | Advanced |
| EriAm Sisters | 6 | | | | Eliminated |
| Mario and Jenny | 7 | | | | Eliminated |
| Drew Stevyns | 8 | | | | Advanced |
| FootworKINGz | 9 | | | | Eliminated |
| Bárbara Padilla | 10 | | | | Advanced |

### Final (September 14)

Guest Performers, Results Show: Thelma Houston, Shakira, Rascal Flatts, cast members of Cirque Du Soleil, Leona Lewis, and Susan Boyle.
    Winner | Runner-up | 3rd place
| Finalist | Order | Result (September 16) |
| Finalist | Order | Result (September 16) | The Voices of Glory | 1 | 5th |
| Hairo Torres | 2 | 8th |
| Lawrence Beamen | 3 | 9th |
| Bárbara Padilla | 4 | 2nd |
| Fab Five | 5 | 6th |
| The Texas Tenors | 6 | 4th |
| Drew Stevyns | 7 | 10th |
| Grandma Lee | 8 | 7th |
| Kevin Skinner | 9 | 1st |
| Recycled Percussion | 10 | 3rd |

## Ratings

| Order | Episode | Rating | Share | Rating/Share (18–49) | Viewers (millions) | Rank (night) (viewers) | Rank (week) (viewers) |
| 1 | "Auditions Episode 1" | 6.8 | 12 | 3.3/10 | 11.30 | #1 | #1 |
| 2 | "Auditions Episode 2" | 6.2 | 11 | 3.1/9 | 10.39 | #1 | #3 |
| 3 | "Auditions Episode 3" | 7.5 | 13 | 3.7/11 | 12.91 | #1 | #1 |
| 4 | "Auditions Episode 4" | 6.8 | 12 | 2.9/9 | 11.30 | #2 | #3 |
| 5 | "Auditions Episode 5" | 6.2 | 10 | 3/9 | 10.43 | #1 | #2 |
| 6 | "Auditions Episode 6" | 6.9 | 12 | 3.3/10 | 11.69 | #1 | #1 |
| 7 | "Auditions Episode 7" | 8 | 13 | 3.6/10 | 13.17 | #2 | #2 |
| 8 | "Auditions Episode 8" | 6.9 | 12 | 2.9/9 | 11.38 | #1 | #4 |
| 9 | "Auditions Episode 9" | 8.2 | 14 | 3.4/10 | 13.75 | #1 | #1 |
| 10 | "Auditions Episode 10 Susan Boyle Interview" | 6.6 | 11 | 2.5/7 | 11.26 | #1 | #2 |
| 11 | "Vegas Verdicts (Part 1)" | 7.7 | 13 | 3.4/10 | 12.76 | #1 | #1 |
| 12 | "Vegas Verdicts (Part 2)" | 6.4 | 11 | 2.8/8 | 10.90 | #1 | #2 |
| 13 | "Quarterfinals, Group 1" | 7.7 | 14 | 3.6/11 | 12.97 | #1 | #1 |
| 14 | "Quarterfinals, Group 1 Results" | 6 | 10 | 2.9/9 | 10.68 | #1 | #2 |
| 15 | "Quarterfinals, Group 2" | 7.6 | 13 | 3.4/10 | 12.48 | #1 | #1 |
| 16 | "Quarterfinals, Group 2 Results" | 6.9 | 12 | 2.9/9 | 11.42 | #1 | #4 |
| 17 | "Quarterfinals, Group 3" | 7 | 12 | 2.9/9 | 11.59 | #1 | #2 |
| 18 | "Quarterfinals, Group 3 Results" | 6.4 | 11 | 2.4/7 | 10.29 | #1 | #4 |
| 19 | "Quarterfinals, Group 4" | 6.9 | 12 | 3/8 | 11.42 | #1 | #1 |
| 20 | "Quarterfinals, Group 4 Results" | 6.7 | 11 | 2.9/8 | 10.87 | #1 | #2 |
| 21 | "Semifinals, Group 1" | 7.5 | 13 | 3.2/9 | 12.81 | #1 | #1 |
| 22 | "Semifinals, Group 1 Results" | 7.4 | 12 | 2.6/8 | 12.39 | #1 | #2 |
| 23 | "Semifinals, Group 2 " | 7.1 | 12 | 2.9/8 | 12.03 | #1 | #5 |
| 24 | "Semifinals, Group 2 Results" | 6 | 9 | 2.1/5 | 10.06 | #1 | #10 |
| 25 | "Finals, Performances" | 8.5 | 13 | 3.3/9 | 13.84 | #2 | #3 |
| 26 | "Finale" | 9.5 | 16 | 3.5/10 | 15.53 | #1 | #2 |