I was fortunate to attend a live taping of America's Got Talent auditions this past week in Pasadena. Being fairly new as a show audience attendee it never occurred to me how much of the show is meticulously edited together from rehearsed audience shots and orchestrated reactions. We started off the taping with one coordinator directing the audience in various reaction shots (from a laughing reaction to a standing ovation). I was lucky enough to see all the celebrity judges, Simon Cowell, Mel B, Heidi Klum, and Howie Mandel and the new host, the fierce Ms. Tyra Banks herself. While watching the abundant mix of class acts it was interesting to see the judges so freely banter off one another's wit. It got be wondering that if all the audience reaction shots are pre-recorded and orchestrated could much of the judge's dialogue be also scripted? There was one narrative the judges loved to play on and that was the idea that Mel B was "jealous" of anyone who showed affection for Simon since she, herself had a crush on Simon. The judges played on this story which kept the audience fairly entertained and engaged all the while Howie never failed to interject with his comedic jabs. It was also interesting to see how the judges could be easily swayed based on the audience's reactions. Within the first 2 hours of the taping the audience had managed to send every contestant through onto the next level, earning us a title as the "fifth judge" according to our coordinator. The entire experience was very entertaining and interesting and it was nice to see the judges seated amongst the audience, interacting with them as well, making them appear all the more down to earth like regular human beings. If anyone is interested America's Got Talent still has a vast majority of seats open for live tapings all through the end of this week and next.
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