Season 3
America's Got Talent returns this summer with the hottest performers from across America ready to compete in the reality show's third season.
With the talent search open to acts of all ages, America's Got Talent, hosted by Jerry Springer and presided over by celebrity judges David Hasselhoff, Piers Morgan and Sharon Osbourne, has brought the variety format back to the forefront of American culture by showcasing performers from across the country.
Each week, the show features a colourful array of hopeful stars, including singers, dancers, comedians, contortionists, impressionists, jugglers, magicians and ventriloquists, all vying for their chance to strut and perform on stage in the hopes they'll win the viewing audiences' votes.
The third season kicks off with audition episodes shot on location in theatres across the nation, including a virtual audition city on MySpace, with the judges selecting the best acts who will advance to the Vegas Callbacks.
The acts that make it through the Vegas Callbacks will then move on to the live semi-final performance episodes where the American viewing audience will vote for their favourites each week.
The season culminates with a live finale where one act will walk away with a million-dollar prize.
Terry Fator, a ventriloquist from Dallas, Texas, had his life changed forever last season when he was crowned the second season champion.
Not only did he win the million-dollar grand prize, but his lifelong dream to headline on the Las Vegas strip came true when he signed a contract with the Las Vegas Hilton in a deal worth more than 1.5 million dollars.
The first season was hosted by talk show host Regis Philbin. He was replaced for Season 2 by Jerry Springer, who himself was replaced by Nick Cannon from Season 4 onwards.
In Season 2, Brandy was replaced by Sharon Osbourne as one of the judges. Howie Mandel replaced David Hasselhoff in Season 5 and Howard Stern replaced Piers Morgan in Season 7.
Osbourne left the show after Season 7 and was replaced by Mel B and Heidi Klum, who joined the juding panel for Season 8.
America's Got Talent is produced by FremantleMedia North America and Simon Cowell's SYCO Television. Simon Cowell, Cecile Frot-Coutaz, Jason Raff, Ken Warwick and Georgie Hurford-Jones are executive producers.
Broadcast Times
Episode 1: Auditions
14 November 2009
19h00 - 21h00
Episode 2: Auditions
21 November 2009
19h00 - 21h00
Episode 3: Auditions
28 November 2009
19h00 - 21h00
Episodes 4 & 5: Auditions
5 December 2009
19h00 - 21h00
Episodes 6 & 7: Auditions
12 December 2009
19h00 - 21h00
Episode 8: Boot Camp
19 December 2009
19h00 - 21h00
Episode 8B: Boot Camp
26 December 2009
19h00 - 20h30
Episode 9: Top 40 (1st group of 10)
2 January 2010
19h00 - 21h00
Episode 10: Top 40 (2nd group of 10)
9 January 2010
19h00 - 21h00
Episode 11: Top 40 (3rd group of 10)
16 January 2010
19h00 - 21h00
Episode 12: Top 40 (4th group of 10)
23 January 2010
19h00 - 21h00
Episode 13: Top 20 (1st group of 10)
30 January 2010
19h00 - 21h00
Episode 14 and Results: Top 20 (2nd group of 10)
6 February 2010
19h00 - 21h00
Episode 15: Top 10 Perform and Top 5 announced
13 February 2010
19h00 - 21h00
Episodes 16 and 17: Top 5 Performance and Live Finale
20 February 2010
19h00 - 21h00