America’s Got Talent (AGT) Season 17 premiered a new episode on NBC on Tuesday, August 9, 2022, at 8 p.m. ET. The first set of acts in the quarterfinals round took place over the course of two hours. The quarterfinals will run five weeks, with each week featuring 11 performers, two of whom will advance to the final round based on America’s votes.
Ben Lapidus returned to the stage with a rock rendition of the Parmesan Cheese act, which caused an uproar among the judges and crowd. While the judges were once again taken aback by the music, spectators had varied feelings about his performance. Some applauded him, while others chastised the program for sending him through while leaving other outstanding applicants out.
Fan favorites Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara, Howie Mandel, and Heidi Klum returned to the judging panel, entertaining the crowd with their eccentric personalities. Together with the audience, they picked 54 acts and a wild card participant, comedian Jordon Conley, to go to the quarterfinals, from which 10 will compete in the final round.
Ben Lapidus, an AGT participant, dazzles the crowd with his performance
Ben sang his Parmesan Cheese song during the audition round and earned the X buzzer from each of the AGT judges one by one. As a consequence, his adventure in the reality talent show would have come to an end. What happened next, though, was one of the best moments in franchise history. The live crowd clapped for him and began shouting “parmesan” as soon as the judges underlined their displeasure and the candidate was set to depart. This provided Ben with a much-needed second opportunity. Except for Howie, the judges noticed that viewers had become major supporters of the contestant and withdrew their X buzzers.
The song has gone viral, and the complete studio version is now accessible to stream. Grad School, Call Your Mom, and Never Mine to Lose are among his most recent hits. Doylestown, Pennsylvania, is where the singer grew up. He told NBC that growing up in Pennsylvania helped him appreciate music even more.
“I grew up entirely steeped in Pennsylvania’s pop-punk, emo, hardcore-punk culture.” So, from a songwriting standpoint, it was my bread and butter. So everything I do that seems to be a parody comes from a place of tremendous love and respect for this music, which has affected my whole existence.”
The AGT contestant is also a podcast sound designer who hosts the Who Killed Avril Lavigne? time-traveling narrative comedy podcast.
Fans had varied feelings about AGT participant Ben Lapidus.
Ben’s performance in the quarterfinal round elicited mixed reactions from viewers back home. While some thought his performance was much superior to those of the other performers on the program, others were not convinced by his premise or delivery.
Season 17 of America’s Got Talent (AGT) has been a huge success with viewers, living up to its reputation as one of the most viewed talent contests in the nation. So far, the episode has included a diverse range of talents, including magicians, acrobats, dancers, singers, and a variety of various acts that have gone on to become household names in the country and are well-known internationally. Saxophonist Avery Dixon, comedian Don McMillan, singer Ava Swiss, acrobat combo Stefanny and Yeeremy, and animal performer Veranica were among those that performed in the first round of the quarterfinals. Watch an all-new edition of AGT tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET on NBC to find out which two acts have advanced to the finals.
I’m voting for Parmesan Guy @benlapidusmusic . You know why? Because performing is all about reaching your audience, and he does that. The audience adores him even when the judges do not. He is performing for US not himself.
#AGT— Catherine King (@Cking613) August 10, 2022
We wouldn’t expect anything less from @benlapidusmusic!! 🎶 #AGT pic.twitter.com/GlEYP2eyqp
— America’s Got Talent (@AGT) August 10, 2022
