It looks like the additions of actresses Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough to the judges panel of America’s Got Talent is a “one and done”. Deadline reports that both ladies are not being asked back to the summer smash reality show after their inaugural season this past summer. The reason behind it is unknown currently.
One possible solution for next season being floated is to take the judges from the second season of America’s Got Talent: The Champions, the returning Heidi Klum and Alesha Dixon, and have them simply move over to the original version of the show for Summer of 2020. There had been rumblings already of a cast shakeup coming; Dixon and Klum were revealed as as AGT: The Champions Season 2 judges alongside Simon Cowell and Howie Mandel (host Terry Crews is returning to the show next season).
Many times, competition shows like AGT use their judges panel as a way to freshen up the format of the show and keep it interesting by bringing in new and inventive judges. While AGT has had interesting and newsworthy judges (bringing Howard Stern to the table for several seasons was a stroke of genius), they have not had a judge that represents the LGBT community as of yet. One ideal candidate who would change that: Laverne Cox. The actress/dancer has a proven ability to command the stage (if you ever saw her performances at NYC famed haunt Lucky Cheng’s, you know this fact to be true) and she herself is a representation of demonstrating how hard work and tenacity can truly pay off. Releasing her own single killer “Beat For The Gods’ also provides she has the chops to judge fellow musical and performance acts with firsthand knowledge.
The AGT stage has seen it’s share of LGBT contestants, from dynamic drag trio Stephanie’s Child to pop singer Brian Justin Crumm, who has found success post-AGT with his own musical journey. Isn’t it time for some LGBT representation on the judges panel as well?
Check out Laverne Cox channeling Beyonce in this clip from Lip Sync Battle, giving arguably one of the best performances ever by a celebrity on the show and try not to “lose your breath”….
America’s Got Talent-The Champions Premieres In 2020 on NBC
Art Courtesy-NBC