Michael Winslow's 'AGT' audition sparks outrage, fans ask 'why are celebs on the show'
Michael Winslow is a known name in the entertainment circuit. He has been part of the 'Police Academy' movie series that released in the 1980s. Over the decades, he has performed on stage and appeared on various television shows and films. For someone like him to audition on 'America's Got Talent' is not only surprising but a solid indicator of how fragile showbiz is. However, in the Early Release video on YouTube, Winslow shares the real reason why he quit acting.
'AGT' judges Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara, Howie Mandel, and host Terry Crews have awarded the golden buzzers at their disposal. There are a total of six recipients: Northwell Health Nurse Choir, Nightbirde aka Jane Marczewski, Jimmie Herrod, Léa Kyle, World Taekwando Demonstration Team, and Victory Brinker. Will 'The Man of 10,000 Sound Effects' make an exception and be the seventh and final on the list of buzzer awardees? Only time will tell.
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By his own admission, he was doing "pretty well." After 'Police Academy', he landed a string of voice roles, which catapulted him into the limelight. Some of his other works include 'Cheech and Chong's Next Movie', 'Alphabet City', 'Gremlins', 'Spaceballs', 'Far Out Man', 'The Biggest Fan', and 'RoboDoc'. However, at the peak of his career, Winslow quit everything after his wife died and he was left to raise his kids. At 62, he feels it is his time and 'AGT' is a platform that will help him show everyone that he still has "something to offer."
However, his appearance on 'AGT' has irked viewers. Some seem overly concerned with the fact that Winslow has a decent fan following outside of the show and people recognize his work from before.
"Nothing against him personally, but as he said “he did very well” and appears to still have a huge beloved fan base. He already has an amazing resume and big advantage in getting jobs. Why are professionals and now celebrities auditioning on this show?" a user asked on the show's official Facebook page, while another commented: "Absolutely agree!! There are so many talented unknown people that audition every season, I thought that’s what this show was about but I guess not."
"I thought this show was for amateurs!? Seems to be a lot of well-known talent 'auditioning' this season!?" a third pointed out.
Interestingly, the argument also tilts the other way. Some think that these performers were once famous and are now looking for their second chances. "Some of them haven't worked in years. Just because they were known in 1990 doesn't mean they can find work in 2021," a user argued, another posted: "It’s about getting those ratings…sponsors…more viewers…been a few sprinkles of non-amateurs thru out the years now..B list some C list …giving some of these old professionals a remember me spotlight."
Catch all the new episodes of 'America's Got Talent' Season 16 on NBC every Tuesday at 8/7c. For more information, check your local listings. If you don't have access to cable TV, subscribing to live TV streaming services is a good idea. AT&T TV, fuboTV, Hulu with Live TV, Sling TV and YouTube TV have good deals on offer. For those who are not in the United States, using a VPN will help your case.
