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'AGT' makers slammed for allowing animated band Noodle & Bun to audition: 'This CGI AI act is why actors are on strike'

Four 'AGT' judges said yes to Noodle & Bun and an animated dog's audition

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA: Evidently, even a fake cat can make an impression in front of a sizable audience. Noodle, a cartoon participant on this season of 'America's Got Talent', demonstrated his fictitious presence while displaying tremendous talent on stage.

Noodle, who was six years old when he auditioned for 'Britain's Got Talent' Season 16, is an unexpected candidate for the competition. Nonetheless, he made an immediate and profound impression when he sang a pre-recorded performance of Nina Simone's 'Feeling Good.' He claimed before his audition that he wanted to be the first cat to ever perform for the Royal family. His identity was not revealed until the semi-finals when he sang 'Live and Let Die' by Paul McCartney.

Simon Cowell breaks out laughing at the animated dog

Simon Cowell was initially perplexed because "dog" originally appeared animated on a screen. But technology would make him seem on stage as though he were genuine. The judges were laughing at a CGI animated act auditioning right now. Simon tried to ask the band a question but instead burst out laughing in the middle of his sentence.

The performance was incredibly charming, like something out of a Disney movie. Suddenly, his animated bandmates appeared with him. They sang a rendition of 'I Don't Want to Miss a Thing'. The singing was excellent and sounded quite familiar. Simon has witnessed this performance previously. Noodle first appeared on 'BGT' in 2023 (Season 16), where it was later discovered that the character was portrayed by Tom Ball, a Season 15 3rd place finisher and 'AGT: All Stars' candidate.

Simon referred to it as the finest singing dog they'd ever had. Howie Mandel described it as "amazing." Heidi Klum adored a singing animal that could sing. The cartoon band, fronted by an animated dog, received four yes votes. The CGI Act has advanced to the next round of competition.

'This is like watching The Sims'

Fans took to Twitter to share their disappointment, "WTH more cgi? This is like watching The Sims." Another user complained, "WHATTTT in the 2000s cgi animation is happening." One user noted, "This cgi ai act is why actors are on strike now. Hollywood studios wants to replace supporting actors including animal actors with cgi ai." They added, "Please no cgi acts. Cgi acts will lead to ai acts & soon it #AGT will become AI Gots Talent."

One user also commented, "Honestly didn’t care for this one." Another person wrote, "If they are holograms, it was great. If not, it was horrible." Some complained, "Stupid waste of time." Another person wrote, "I have just watched Noodle _and _bun, I didn't like it."

'America's Got Talent' Season 18 airs every Tuesday on NBC at 8 PM ET.