Fall TV Blog

America’s Got Talent fans fell in love with former chicken-catcher Kevin Skinner — a country boy with voice to match. He crooned his way to a $1 million prize and a headlining gig in Las Vegas. The Kentucky native chatted with PEOPLE from the airport about his new jet-setting lifestyle and revealed five things you ought to know. – Rennie Dyball

1. Catching chickens is harder than it sounds: “It’s really hot, exhausting work. It’s 100 degrees outside and there’s 30,000 chickens in the barn also putting off body heat. You’re moving fast, your skin is rubbing raw. There’s six guys catching eight chickens at a time until you’re done. It separates the men from the boys real fast!”

2. He honed his chops while on the job: “I’d always find myself passing the time by singing. I would concentrate on some lines of my own to write, and sometimes I’d sing cover tunes, like Hank Williams Jr.’s ‘The Blues Man.’”

3. The Hoff and Conan O’Brien left him starstruck: “I watched David [Hasselhoff] every week in Knight Rider as a kid. And Conan [O’Brien] was awesome. He’s more down to earth when the cameras aren’t rolling.” (more…)

Part of the celebration of Kevin Skinner’s win on America’s Got Talent Wednesday night was the American musical debut of Britain’s Got Talent sensation Susan Boyle. The singer, 48, sang “I Dreamed a Dream” earlier this year when she auditioned for the British version of the show and video of the performance went viral, making Boyle famous around the world.

In a performance that was taped Tuesday night in Los Angeles, Boyle sang the Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses” for the AGT finale. Watch a clip.

Like Boyle, Skinner had an a huge Internet following after his audition, when he proved to be more than just a chicken catcher from Kentucky. On Wednesday, he won $1 million as well as a contract for a Las Vegas show. –Nicholas White

Tell us: What did you think of Susan Boyle’s performance on America’s Got Talent?

No more chicken catching for Kentucky’s Kevin Skinner!

The unemployed farmhand — and longtime musician — was named the winner of NBC’s America’s Got Talent Wednessday when he beat out golden-voiced opera singer Barbara Padilla, his final competitor after almost 100,000 hopefuls auditioned for the fourth season of the talent show.

“My heart was pounding, almost to the point that I thought it was going to come out of my chest,” Skinner told PEOPLE after winning the $1 million prize and a contract for a Vegas show. “I had never experienced anything like that and probably never will again, I would say, that dramatic. It’s just the greatest feeling. I’m 35, so I have been chasing the dream for the while, and it hasn’t come true. Now it’s more than words can explain.”

Said judge Sharon Osbourne to PEOPLE of Skinner’s win: “Apparently, it was a really huge win, too. It’s just such a feel-good story that people just want him to win because he’s the everyman. He’s the underdog. All his life he’s been the underdog … He’s so genuine, what you see is what you get. He’s not contrived, and so many people that come on this show kind of get sophisticated and they know how to play the game.” (more…)

America’s Got Talent’s final performances went off superbly Monday in Hollywood with nearly all of the 10 remaining acts exceeding expectations. “Biggest array of talent we have had in a season finale yet,” Piers Morgan told PEOPLE moments after the show. “Hardly a bad performance … Tough decision for America.”

Morgan attributed the fine lineup to the success of Britain’s Got Talent icon Susan Boyle, who will, incidentally, be making her American musical debut on the live results show Wednesday on NBC (8 p.m. EST). “The Susan Boyle effect was massive,” he says. “We saw thousands more people coming out to audition that wouldn’t have done so. They saw the effect the show can have globally if you take a chance.”

Keep reading for Monday’s highlights: (more…)

Minutes after the America’s Got Talent finalists were named on Wednesday’s show, the lucky five (not four, as were intended) spoke with PEOPLE about the competition. The lineup includes a trio of singing singers from New York, a country singer from Kentucky, a quintet of dancing moms, a grandma stand-up comic, and a trio of Texan opera/country crooners. The disappointed eliminated acts went home in tears (at least Drew Thomas’s daughter did) and long-faced (Acrodunk). Only four acts were supposed to go through, but the judges couldn’t make up their minds and elected to send both Voices of Glory and Fab Five to the finals. Softies. –Nicholas White (more…)

First things first: we learned Tuesday that last season’s America’s Got Talent’s former host Jerry Springer would be back to host the live Vegas version of the show, which premieres at Planet Hollywood Hotel in October.

Now on with the show: Judge Piers Morgan called “chicken catcher” Kevin Skinner the competition’s top dog. The country crooner may have the Internet buzz behind him, but is he sensational enough to deserve his name in lights? Sharon Osbourne assured Skinner he would be back in the top four, which will be announced on Wednesday’s results show — and asked him to smile. He may be a crowd favorite, even if he’s not entirely outgoing.

(more…)

It’s a comeback even previously announced performer — and AGT judge — David Hasselhoff would love.

PEOPLE has learned that The Muppets’ Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy will perform on America’s Got Talent’s live results show on Wednesday.

Adding to the night of oinking and croaking will be Statler and Waldorf, who could probably give judges Piers Morgan and Sharon Osbourne a run for their money in the heckling department.

The Muppets are celebrating a banner year, the 40th anniversary celebration for Sesame Street notwithstanding. Miss Piggy has returned as a fashion muse for designers like Marc Jacobs, and Kermit himself has been an inspiration for fashion-forward singer Lady Gaga, who recently wore a signature Kermit coat and hat for an appearance on a German talk show.

Alas, America’s Got Talent winner, ventriloquist Terry Fator, won’t be, um, on hand for the festivities.

AGT airs Tuesday and Wednesday (9 p.m. EST) on NBC.

Alan Greth/ZUMA

Defeat can be so bitter, especially for unlucky Mia Boostrom, who, despite a strong performance Tuesday, was eliminated for the second year in a row on Wednesday’s results show for America’s Got Talent. She waged a campaign of not knowing when to quit, but the disappointment showed on her face when the tough call of the night went in favor of Erik and Rickie, a pair of mini professional dancers, who were too cute for words. Whether it was this week’s matador number or something simpler, they bring a cool seriousness to the stage.

Another standout act came from kids, the bright and shiny EriAm Sisters. They were pulled in right away for a showdown with honky-tonk dark horse Drew Stevyns. Both strong contenders — EriAm with their cute rainbow socks and Drew with his Varsity Blues buzz-cut — and neither would be easy to let go.

That’s when Nick Cannon pulled a fast one. The girls and Stevyns were catapulted into the semifinals, and it didn’t take long for Stevyns and Piers Morgan to jump on Cannon for the trick. (Cannon said it wasn’t his idea.)

The next round of eliminations was particularly brutal as three weak acts were sent home in one fell swoop. An overwhelmed Pam and her dog scurried from the stage. The African High Flyers looked shaken up but tried to put their best face forward. And Bollywood dancers Isharaa finished behind Recycled Percussion, and were sent packing.

Tell us: Did America and the judges make the right decision?

When Nick Cannon showed up in a pink-accented jacket, we knew Tuesday’s round of competition on America’s Got Talent was going to be special. The field was strong with only a few obvious duds — judge Piers Morgan wasn’t afraid to use his buzzer on hokey Coney Island Chris and stagnant African High Flyers.

Highlights of the night included past AGT reject Mia Boostrom, who was validated for giving it another go after being told she was not good enough last season. Bollywood dance troupe Ishaara also rose to the occasion, as did a maintenance worker singer who did a heartful and “hungry” song, according to Morgan.

But two acts stood out from the standouts:

(more…)

Although the competition is far from over on NBC’s summer hit America’s Got Talent, one person guaranteed to wow a crowd is Reba McEntire.

PEOPLE confirms the country star will perform on an episode airing Aug. 26.

McEntire will sing her new song “Consider Me Gone” on the live show. It is the second track from her 31st studio album, Keep On Loving You, out now.

Along with McEntire’s performance, five more talent acts will join the top 20 on the show. –Cynthia Wang

Michael Becker/FOX(2)