When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Trae Patton/NBC)
Another season of America’s Got Talent has come to an end, with competition as stiff as ever heading into the Season 19 finale in the 2024 TV schedule. After four months of auditions, applause, and even more golden buzzers than usual, host Terry Crews announced the winner of the $1 million grand prize: elementary school janitor-turned-singer Richard Goodall! There was a lot to celebrate, but also something that I wish had been different.
I for one couldn’t be happier with the result, despite the fact that singers usually aren’t my top picks on AGT and the Top 5 – comprised of comedian Learnmore Jonasi, human/dog dance duo Roni Sagi & Rhythm, drone light show team Sky Elements, and quick change magician Solange Kardinaly as well as Richard Goodall – was full of worthy competitors. Between his story and his singing, Goodall was just my favorite of Season 19.
Plus, he just got married, which made it all the sweeter to see him win, and he got to team up with Neal Schon and members of Journey for one last incredible performance of “Don’t Stop Believin'” early in the finale.
Indeed, Richard Goodall winning isn’t at all what I’d like to see change in the wake of the Season 19 finale. In fact, what I’d like to see different isn’t even something that AGT did for the first time this season. For some reason, it just hit me harder this time that the finale spent almost two full hours killing time before announcing the winner, and then only giving the winner moments of the episode at the very end. It’s not new, but dang it, Goodall was so overcome by emotion that I would have loved to hear more from him after he had a few seconds to take a breath.
I did want to fact check myself before I got too annoyed, though, so I went to the video and discovered that the length of Terry Crews’ pause was a full 40 seconds before announcing whether Goodall or Roni Sagi & Rhythm had won. Then, the golden confetti rained, judge Heidi Klum ran up on stage to give him a hug… and another 40 seconds passed before Crews handed the mic to Klum and then closed out the episode. Take a look for yourself:
AGT 2024 WINNER Announcement! | Finale | AGT 2024 – YouTube
Watch On
To be clear – I’m not blaming Terry Crews or Heidi Klum for Richard Goodall not getting much screentime in his own AGT victory. This has been the America’s Got Talent formula for about as long as I’ve been watching, but something about the look on Goodall’s face as the host began wrapping up the finale really made me wish the end had gone a bit differently. It really begs the question: does AGT really need about one hour and 57 minutes of finale to kill time before announcing the winner?
Honestly, even just another minute or two would be welcome, or some of those 40 seconds of delay before Terry Crews announced the winner. And sure, the performances over that one hour and 57 minutes were fun. I would just love if America’s Got Talent tweaked the finale formula for future seasons to allot more time to the winner before the final credits rolled. All it would take is a very minor change, and it could make all the difference.
News
VIDEO| Kelly Clarkson took the stage at the 2013 Grammy Awards and delivered a tribute for the ages, honoring legends Patti Page and Carole King
At the 2013 GRAMMY Awards, Kelly Clarkson’s heartfelt performance honoring music legends Patti Page and Carole King became a standout moment of the evening. Taking the stage in a timeless black dress, Clarkson began with a soulful rendition of Page’s…
VIDEO| Country legends Kenny Rogers and Reba McEntire delivered a jaw-dropping performance of Rogers’ classic “Don’t Fall In Love With a Dreamer”
In 1998, country music icons Kenny Rogers and Reba McEntire delivered a truly unforgettable performance of Rogers’ hit “Don’t Fall In Love With a Dreamer” during their Australian tour. Originally recorded as a duet with Kim Carnes in 1980, this…
VIDEO| Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton took the stage at the NASH BASH event in Nashville, delivering a deeply moving performance of “Over You” that left the crowd breathless
On February 18, 2013, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton delivered a heartfelt performance of “Over You” during the NASH BASH event, which took place in Nashville, Tennessee. This song, co-written by the couple, has a deep emotional resonance as it…
VIDEO| Kelly Clarkson wowed fans with a stunning cover of Reba McEntire’s hit, showcasing her powerful vocals and emotional depth.
Kelly Clarkson might be the sweetest ex-daughter-in-law of all time covering Reba McEntire’s “Till You Love Me” on her talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, in her fan favorite “Kellyoke” segment, which led to a response from Reba herself! Watch the powerful ballad below….
VIDEO| Kelly Clarkson and My Band Y’all took the stage and delivered an electrifying cover of The Beatles’ classic “Come Together” that had the audience on their feet!
Kelly Clarkson’s cover of “Come Together” by The Beatles in her Kellyoke segment is a powerful testament to her vocal talent and ability to reinterpret iconic songs. This particular performance, which aired on her show, showcases her energetic and soulful style, breathing…
Blake Shelton and Ashley Monroe lit up the stage with their captivating duet of “Lonely Tonight,” showcasing their incredible vocal chemistry and emotional connection.
As the lights dimmed and the crowd’s anticipation grew, Blake Shelton and Ashley Monroe took to the stage, bringing a warm energy that enveloped the venue. The chemistry between the two artists was palpable, and as they began to sing…
End of content
No more pages to load