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'AGT' Season 18: NBC slammed over 'saddening' new format as fans demand 'less audition episodes'

Each Qualifier round sees 9 contestants being eliminated and only 2 go through to the finale

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA: Only 55 acts advanced to the live shows of 'America's Got Talent' after auditioning for Season 18 judges Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara, and Howie Mandel.

Fans are already voicing their displeasure with the new structure which, according to them, is forcing excellent artists out of the program before the conclusion.

The remaining acts were divided into 5 groups with 11 contestants competing weekly for the next month to determine the top 10 acts. The final act to qualify for the finale will be determined by an Instant Save on September 20 per Parade.

The Qualifier rounds of 'AGT' Season 18, which started the live airing of the show, debuted on August 22.

Each week, fans vote to select which two acts will advance to the finale. The winners are revealed on another episode the next day.

The top 11 talents will compete in the 'AGT' finale on September 26 and 27 for a chance to win $1 million and a Las Vegas performance.

Following the conclusion of Qualifiers 3, fans took to X to express their disappointment. One person noted, "I hope he DOESN'T go through! There are lots of WAY better acts that would be left out. (Seriously, there are so many excellent acts this season that only two a week is saddening.)"

Another person chimed in, "The most anger from #AGT from the show is the lack of live show rounds and acts advancing. 3 live rounds. 6 of 12 acts advancing. Less audition episodes. PLEASE UNDERSTAND!"

One user pleaded, "Please just tell NBCUniversal to go 3 live rounds and 6 of 12 acts advancing in next years #AGT . Live show episodes need more episodes and less audition episodes."

After the September 5 episode, one user tweeted, "Tonight’s show proves that the act tweaking and weeding out shows need a comeback as most of these acts should not be on a live stage."

One person further wrote, "Every time the judges say someone hasn’t stepped it up, let me remind you judge cuts used to exist to see if acts could do something different before they went to the live shows. BRING THEM BACK NOBODY WANTS 8 LIVE SHOWS."

One fan of the show also argued, "AGAIN judges should not be able to buzz during the live shows. These acts made it for a reason. They are probably the most improved act of the live shows! Stop being an a** hole."

How to vote for 'AGT' 2023?

Viewers may vote in two ways, according to the 'AGT' social media pages:

Through the 'AGT' app, which may be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. Online voting is available at NBC.com/agtvote.

Voting for the 11 acts featured on the September 5 edition of 'AGT' is now available and will conclude at 7 am ET on Wednesday. Fans can vote for up to ten acts using either method.

Who is the highest-paid judge on 'AGT'?

Simon is reportedly the highest-paid 'AGT' judge, receiving $45 million every season. Howie earns $1.75 million every season, while Sofia earns $10 million, per Daily Mail.

Heidi recently became a member of the 'AGT' judging panel. Since then, she has gained recognition and appreciation as a judge, earning $2.5 million a season.

When will 'AGT' Season 18 Qualifiers 4 air?

'AGT' Season 18 enters the fourth of five weeks of the Qualifiers phase. Brace yourselves because 'AGT' Season 18 Qualifiers 4 will air on September 12.

Each of the five weeks, eleven of the 55 performers will perform. Only two will be chosen by popular voting in the country. Who stays and who goes home will no longer be decided by the judges.

NBC airs 'AGT' LIVE performance shows on Tuesdays at 8 pm ET/PT. The hour-long result programs air on Wednesdays at 8 pm ET/PT.

Therefore, 'America's Got Talent' Season 18 now airs both Tuesdays and Wednesdays on NBC at 8 pm ET.