'America's Got Talent' on NBC: Who is Aiko Tanaka? Comedian was on 'Fast & Furious' but has bigger dreams
'America's Got Talent' has returned for Season 17, and you know what that means: auditions have begun. This year, viewers will be treated to a brand new set of incredibly entertaining acts, all fighting for the main prize of $1,000,000 and their own show in Las Vegas.
During the audition rounds, the contestants will demonstrate their incredible talent to impress the judges. They may perform illusions, magic, comedy, acrobatics, dance, singing, and acts belonging to other disciplines. The judges may opt to progress the act to the live performances, eliminate it, or grant it a "Golden Buzzer" after seeing it. Each week, we'll watch as Judges Sofia Vergara, Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, and Howie Mandel decide which acts will advance to the next round. This season will also include the "Golden Buzzer," in which the judges and presenter will have one chance to hit the buzzer and advance that particular artist straight to the live performances. Aiko Tanaka is one of the performers who will take part in the second leg of the auditions. She is a comedian based in Los Angeles with a mission to inspire people to pursue what they desire and to promote joy.
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Who is Aiko Tanaka?
Aiko is a stand-up comedian, actor, and TV personality from Tokyo, Japan. She made her cinematic debut in 'The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,' and she also participated in Justin Lin's mockumentary 'Finishing the Game,' about Bruce Lee's final film. Aiko has been on 'The Jim Jeffries Show,' 'The Howard Stern Show,' and 'Comedy Central Stand-Up Asia! Live.'
When Aiko Tanaka was born, her mother picked a simple first name that would be easy for non-Japanese to say. Call it a mother's instinct, but Tanaka had already left Tokyo at the age of 18 to experience the culture of America, which, she recalls, pervaded her tranquil Japanese existence in Mitaka, western Tokyo. "I was raised by a single mom," Aiko admitted in an interview, adding that she had wanderlust at a young age. “I think that makes you independent. It’s why I found it easy to leave and I had no fear.”
Aiko has three-quarters Japanese and one-fourth of Korean ancestry. Her mother was a former swimsuit model, while her father worked in sales and marketing. Aiko is a stand-up comedian who has been on the half-hour comedy series 'Laughs' multiple times. She has appeared in music videos for a wide range of groups and artists, including Destiny's Child and Afroman.
Aiko knew she wanted to be a celebrity from an early age. Her career began in elementary school as a catalog and commercial ad model. She moved to the United States to seek a career in performing, and studied theater and dance in college. She danced professionally before landing a role as a recurrent dancer on 'Soul Train' (1999). Aiko was invited to various auto exhibitions, expos, and other events as a model throughout her acting career. She featured on MTV's 'The Grind,' 'Malcolm & Eddie,' 'The Man Show,' 'My Wife and Kids,' and 'Howard Stern' all at the same time. She has lately performed stand-up comedy and is pursuing a career in cinema and television.
Season 17 of 'America's Got Talent' began on NBC on Tuesday, May 31, 2022, at 8 p.m. Following the launch, fresh episodes will air every Tuesday from 8 to 10 p.m. ET/PT. Viewers without cable may watch the episode on any of the following streaming services: YouTube TV, AT&T TV, Hulu With Live TV, fuboTV, or Sling TV.