document_title: Structure of the Earth

question_text: when was the structure of the earth discovered

text: Structure of the Earth

text: Mass[edit]

text: The force exerted by Earth's gravity can be used to calculate its mass. Astronomers can also calculate Earth's mass by observing the motion of orbiting satellites. Earth’s average density can be determined through gravimetric experiments, which have historically involved pendulums.

text: The mass of Earth is about 7024600000000000000♠6×1024 kg.[1]

text: Structure[edit]

text: The structure of Earth can be defined in two ways: by mechanical properties such as rheology, or chemically. Mechanically, it can be divided into lithosphere, asthenosphere, mesospheric mantle, outer core, and the inner core. Chemically, Earth can be divided into the crust, upper mantle, lower mantle, outer core, and inner core. The geologic component layers of Earth[3][not in citation given] are at the following depths below the surface:

text:
Depth

Layer

Kilometres

Miles

0–60

0–37

Lithosphere (locally varies between 5 and 200 km)

0–35

0–22

… Crust (locally varies between 5 and 70 km)

35–60

22–37

… Uppermost part of mantle

35–2,890

22–1,790

Mantle

210-270

130-168

… Upper mesosphere (upper mantle)

660–2,890

410–1,790

… Lower mesosphere (lower mantle)

2,890–5,150

1,790–3,160

Outer core

5,150–6,360

3,160–3,954

Inner core

text: The layering of Earth has been inferred indirectly using the time of travel of refracted and reflected seismic waves created by earthquakes.  The core does not allow shear waves to pass through it, while the speed of travel (seismic velocity) is different in other layers.  The changes in seismic velocity between different layers causes refraction owing to Snell's law, like light bending as it passes through a prism.  Likewise, reflections are caused by a large increase in seismic velocity and are similar to light reflecting from a mirror.

text: Crust[edit]

text: The Earth's  crust ranges from 5–70 kilometres (3.1–43.5 mi) in depth and is the outermost layer. The thin parts are the oceanic crust, which underlie the ocean basins (5–10 km) and are composed of dense  (mafic) iron magnesium silicate igneous rocks, like basalt. The thicker crust is continental crust, which is less dense and composed of (felsic) sodium potassium aluminium silicate rocks, like granite. The rocks of the crust fall into two major categories –  sial and sima (Suess,1831–1914). It is estimated that sima starts about 11 km below the Conrad discontinuity (a second order discontinuity). The uppermost mantle together with the crust constitutes the lithosphere. The crust-mantle boundary occurs as two physically different events. First, there is a discontinuity in the seismic velocity, which is most commonly known as the Mohorovičić discontinuity or Moho. The cause of the Moho is thought to be a change in rock composition from rocks containing plagioclase feldspar (above) to rocks that contain no feldspars (below). Second, in oceanic crust, there is a chemical discontinuity between ultramafic cumulates and tectonized harzburgites, which has been observed from deep parts of the oceanic crust that have been obducted onto the continental crust and preserved as ophiolite sequences.

text: Many rocks now making up Earth's crust formed less than 100 million (1×108) years ago; however, the oldest known mineral grains are about 4.4 billion (4.4×109) years old, indicating that Earth has had a solid crust for at least 4.4 billion years.[4]

text: Mantle[edit]

text: Earth's mantle extends to a depth of 2,890 km, making it the thickest layer of Earth. The mantle is divided into upper and lower mantle. The upper and lower mantle are separated by the transition zone. The lowest part of the mantle next to the core-mantle boundary is known as the D″ (pronounced dee-double-prime[5]) layer. The pressure at the bottom of the mantle is ≈140 GPa (1.4 Matm). The mantle is composed of silicate rocks that are rich in iron and magnesium relative to the overlying crust. Although solid,  the high temperatures within the mantle cause the silicate material to be sufficiently ductile that it can flow on very long timescales. Convection of the mantle is expressed at the surface through the motions of tectonic plates. As there is intense and increasing pressure as one travels deeper into the mantle, the lower part of the mantle flows less easily than does the upper mantle (chemical changes within the mantle may also be important). The viscosity of the mantle ranges between 1021 and 1024 Pa·s, depending on depth.[6] In comparison, the viscosity of water is approximately 10−3 Pa·s and that of pitch is 107 Pa·s. The source of heat that drives plate tectonics is the primordial heat left over from the planet’s formation as well as the radioactive decay of uranium, thorium, and potassium in Earth’s crust and mantle.[7]

text: Core[edit]

text:
The average density of Earth is
7000551499999999999♠5.515 g/cm3.[8] Because the average density of surface material is only around 7000300000000000000♠3.0 g/cm3, we must conclude that denser materials exist within Earth's core.
This result has been known since the Schiehallion experiment, performed in the 1770s.
Charles Hutton in his 1778 report concluded that the mean density of the Earth must be about

9
5

{\displaystyle {\tfrac {9}{5}}}

 that of surface rock, concluding that the interior of the Earth must be metallic. Hutton estimated  this metallic portion to occupy some 65% of the diameter of the Earth.[9]
Hutton's estimate on the mean density of the Earth was still about 20% too low, at 7000450000000000000♠4.5 g/cm3
Henry Cavendish in his torsion balance experiment of 1798 found a value of 7000545000000000000♠5.45 g/cm3, within 1% of the modern value.[10]
Seismic measurements show that the core is divided into two parts, a "solid" inner core with a radius of ≈1,220 km[11] and a liquid outer core extending beyond it to a radius of ≈3,400 km. The densities are between 9,900 and 12,200 kg/m3 in the outer core and 12,600–13,000 kg/m3 in the inner core.[12]

text: The inner core was discovered in 1936 by Inge Lehmann and is generally believed to be composed primarily of iron and some nickel. Since this layer is able to transmit shear waves (transverse seismic waves), it must be solid.  Experimental evidence has at times been critical of crystal models of the core.[13]  Other experimental studies show a discrepancy under high pressure: diamond anvil (static) studies at core pressures yield melting temperatures that are approximately 2000 K below those from shock laser (dynamic) studies.[14][15]  The laser studies create plasma,[16] and the results are suggestive that constraining inner core conditions will depend on whether the inner core is a solid or is a plasma with the density of a solid.  This is an area of active research.

text: In early stages of Earth's formation about 4.6 billion years ago, melting would have caused denser substances to sink toward the center in a process called planetary differentiation (see also the iron catastrophe), while less-dense materials would have migrated to the crust. The core is thus believed to largely be composed of iron (80%), along with nickel and one or more light elements, whereas other dense elements, such as lead and uranium, either are too rare to be significant or tend to bind to lighter elements and thus remain in the crust (see felsic materials). Some have argued that the inner core may be in the form of a single iron crystal.[17][18]

text: Under laboratory conditions a sample of iron–nickel alloy was subjected to the corelike pressures by gripping it in a vise between 2 diamond tips (diamond anvil cell), and then heating to approximately 4000 K. The sample was observed with x-rays, and strongly supported the theory that Earth's inner core was made of giant crystals running north to south.[19][20]

text: The liquid outer core surrounds the inner core and is believed to be composed of iron mixed with nickel and trace amounts of lighter elements.

text: Recent speculation suggests that the innermost part of the core is enriched in gold, platinum and other siderophile elements.[21]

text: The matter that comprises Earth is connected in fundamental ways to matter of certain chondrite meteorites, and to matter of outer portion of the Sun.[22][23] There is good reason to believe that Earth is, in the main, like a chondrite meteorite. Beginning as early as 1940, scientists, including Francis Birch, built geophysics upon the premise that Earth is like ordinary chondrites, the most common type of meteorite observed impacting Earth, while totally ignoring another, albeit less abundant type, called enstatite chondrites. The principal difference between the two meteorite types is that enstatite chondrites formed under circumstances of extremely limited available oxygen, leading to certain normally oxyphile elements existing either partially or wholly in the alloy portion that corresponds to the core of Earth.

text: Dynamo theory suggests that convection in the outer core, combined with the Coriolis effect, gives rise to Earth's magnetic field. The solid inner core is too hot to hold a permanent magnetic field (see Curie temperature) but probably acts to stabilize the magnetic field generated by the liquid outer core. The average magnetic field strength in Earth's outer core is estimated to be 25 Gauss (2.5 mT), 50 times stronger than the magnetic field at the surface.[24][25]

text: Recent evidence has suggested that the inner core of Earth may rotate slightly faster than the rest of the planet;[26] however, more recent studies in 2011[which?] found this hypothesis to be inconclusive. Options remain for the core which may be oscillatory in nature or a chaotic system.[citation needed] In August 2005 a team of geophysicists announced in the journal Science that, according to their estimates, Earth's inner core rotates approximately 0.3 to 0.5 degrees per year faster relative to the rotation of the surface.[27][28]

text: The current scientific explanation for Earth's temperature gradient is a combination of heat left over from the planet's initial formation, decay of radioactive elements, and freezing of the inner core.


document_title: Smallville (season 7)

question_text: when does lana come back in season 7

question_tokens: when does lana come back in season 7

root

text: Smallville (season 7)

text: Episodes[edit]

text: In Canada, all season seven episodes originally aired one day earlier than their normal United States airings.[3]

tag: ul

text:
No. in
series
No. in
season
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
Prod.
code
U.S. viewers
(million)

133
1
"Bizarro"
Michael Rohl
Brian Peterson & Kelly Souders
September 27, 2007 (2007-09-27)
3T6301
5.18[4]

Clark confronts a bizarre version of himself and the ensuing fight causes Reeves Dam to burst. Lex, who was arrested for Lana's murder, is caught in the flood of water. Before he can drown, Lex is saved by an unknown girl who he later believes to be an angel giving him a second chance at redemption. Lionel's body is taken by an unknown person. Chloe is pronounced dead at the hospital, but she resurrects herself in the morgue. Clark discovers his doppelgänger's weakness, the yellow sun, and exploits it with the help of John Jones (Phil Morris). Lana is revealed to be alive and living in Shanghai, China.

134
2
"Kara"
James Conway
Todd Slavkin & Darren Swimmer
October 4, 2007 (2007-10-04)
3T6302
4.59[5]

Clark discovers he has a cousin, Kara, who was stuck in suspended animation for eighteen years. After a rocky first meeting, where Clark and Kara fight, the two soon band together to find Kara's stolen ship. Together they find her ship, which was taken by the Department of Domestic Security, but it is in self-destruct mode. Kara absorbs the explosion before it can kill anyone. Later, Kara reveals that a Kryptonian crystal, hidden inside the ship, was stolen before the ship exploded. Lex finds Lana, who used a LuthorCorp clone of herself to help fake her own death, in China. Lex returns to Smallville, determined to find the girl—Kara—who saved his life.

135
3
"Fierce"
Whitney Ransick
Holly Harold
October 11, 2007 (2007-10-11)
3T6303
4.82[6]

Kara decides she wants to join the Miss Sweet Corn Pageant. Clark tries to teach Kara to control her abilities, so she does not expose their secrets, but gets frustrated with her lack of concentration. Lana returns to Smallville, with all legal charges dropped against her, and reunites with Clark. Tyler and Tempest, two meteor-infected pageant contestants who witness Kara using her abilities, convince Kara to help them steal some buried treasure. The treasure turns out to be an SOS alert from another Kryptonian on Earth. Lex confronts Kara and promises to find out the truth of her abilities.

136
4
"Cure"
Rick Rosenthal
Al Septien & Turi Meyer
October 18, 2007 (2007-10-18)
3T6304
5.18[7]

Chloe learns that Dr. Curtis Knox (Dean Cain) has a surgical cure for those affected by kryptonite, so she sets up an appointment, knowing a side effect could be memory loss. Knox turns out to be an immortal serial killer, and also turns out to be Jack the Ripper. John Jones shows up at the Kent home and warns Clark that he cannot trust Kara. John explains that her father, Zor-El, attempted to assassinate Clark's father. Clark is told to find Kara's crystal before she does, but he is side-tracked fighting Knox, who is attempting to take Chloe's heart and transplant it into the woman he loves. Lana uses the $10 million she stole from Lex to buy surveillance equipment to spy on him.

137
5
"Action"
Mairzee Almas
Caroline Dries
October 25, 2007 (2007-10-25)
3T6306
4.65[8]

While filming takes place on the Warrior Angel movie on the Kent farm, Clark saves lead actress Rachel Davenport (Christina Milian) from a car crash. After some researching by Chloe, it is discovered that someone is trying to kill Rachel, because they believe her character should die, like she does in the comics. Clark's secret is uncovered by the attacker when he is witnessed stopping a bullet intended for Rachel; he attempts to kill Lana in hopes that her death will make Clark see his true destiny as Earth's savior. Lana is revealed to be the one who kidnapped Lionel Luthor, and when he is finally freed, Lionel informs Lana that he knows she kidnapped him.

138
6
"Lara"
James Conway
Don Whitehead & Holly Henderson
November 1, 2007 (2007-11-01)
3T6305
4.31[9]

Clark learns that Kara is in Washington, D.C. looking for the crystal from her ship. Kara learns the exact location of the crystal, but it is not there when she arrives. Clark confronts her in a club, but she flies away. With Jimmy's help, Kara follows a path to Lex's mansion, but Agent Carter is waiting. Using kryptonite handcuffs, Carter takes Kara back to Virginia. Using a kryptonite truth serum, Carter attempts to learn about Krypton, but Clark interrupts him and saves Kara with Lionel's help. Clark shows Lana that he has Kara's crystal, which contains his birth mother's DNA.

139
7
"Wrath"
Charles Beeson
Kelly Souders & Brian Peterson
November 8, 2007 (2007-11-08)
3T6307
4.64[10]

Lightning strikes a windmill on the Kent farm while Clark is weakened by nearby kryptonite; the bolt travels through him and Lana, transferring a portion of his powers to her. After sharing their first intimate moment in two years, Clark begins to worry about Lana's use of the powers after remembering what happened to Eric Summers and Jonathan Kent when they were imbued with Clark's powers. Lana becomes more aggressive with the powers, stealing confidential files from Lex—which show that Lex has been keeping what remains of Milton Fine's ship—and later attacking him. After a battle with Clark, Lana's powers are reabsorbed when Clark uses a high voltage shock and kryptonite to take the powers back; during the fight, Fine's remains are released.

140
8
"Blue"
Glen Winter
Todd Slavkin & Darren Swimmer
November 15, 2007 (2007-11-15)
3T6308
4.51[11]

Clark uses Kara's crystal to resurrect his mother Lara, but unknowingly brings Zor-El back. Lara unwittingly gives Clark a blue kryptonite ring that strips his powers, while Zor-El tries to take over the world. Lois and Grant's romantic relationship is discovered by Lex and Chloe. Grant and Lex are revealed to be working together, and Grant is revealed to be Lex's younger brother Julian Luthor. Clark gets to the Fortress and shatters the crystal, which destroys Zor-El and Lara. Kara is transported to Detroit, Michigan, with no memory of who she is, and Jor-El informs Clark there will be consequences for his repeated defiance.

141
9
"Gemini"
Whitney Ransick
Caroline Dries
December 13, 2007 (2007-12-13)
3T6309
3.71[12]

Clark and Lana team up to take down Lex. Clark and Lana discover, through an Isis Foundation patient, that Milton Fine is still alive. Adrian, one of Lex's experimental patients, plants a bomb on Chloe, threatening to kill her if Lois does not get Lex to admit that he is cloning humans. Lois confronts Lex, and, after Lois is knocked unconscious by Lex, it's revealed that the patient is a failed clone of Lex's brother Julian. Adrian also reveals that "Grant Gabriel" is the successful clone. Chloe, fearing that she will die, confesses to Jimmy that she was infected by the meteor rocks. In the end, it is revealed that Bizarro has been posing as Clark the entire time, unknown to anyone else, with Clark trapped at the Fortress of Solitude.

142
10
"Persona"
Todd Slavkin
Don Whitehead & Holly Henderson
January 31, 2008 (2008-01-31)
3T6310
3.81[13]

Lana is unaware that Bizarro is impersonating Clark, who is still frozen at the Fortress of Solitude, and reveals information about Milton Fine to him. Bizarro tracks down Fine in the hope that he will help him combat his yellow sun weakness. Fine directs Bizarro to Dax-Ur, a Kryptonian scientist who came to Earth years earlier. Jor-El releases Clark from his imprisonment so he can defeat Bizarro. Clark receives blue kryptonite from Dax-Ur and uses it to destroy Bizarro. Clark unwittingly leads Fine to Dax-Ur, who uses Dax-Ur to restore his powers. After Grant reveals his true identity to Lionel, Lex has him killed.

143
11
"Siren"
Kevin G. Fair
Kelly Souders & Brian Peterson
February 7, 2008 (2008-02-07)
3T6311
4.01[14]

Chloe intercepts confidential information from Lex, but the Black Canary shows up and steals the information back for Lex. When Lex learns the Green Arrow was involved, he sends Black Canary after him. Black Canary attacks Oliver, believing him to be a terrorist, and in the process reveals his secret identity to Lois. Clark confronts the Canary, and convinces her of the truth. Oliver offers Black Canary a spot on his team and she accepts, while Clark and Lana try to reconcile their relationship.

144
12
"Fracture"
James Marshall
Teleplay by: Caroline Dries
Story by: Al Septien & Turi Meyer
February 14, 2008 (2008-02-14)
3T6312
3.67[15]

Lois discovers that Lex has found Kara, who is suffering from amnesia, and follows him to Detroit after her. The busboy at the diner that Kara works is obsessed with her, and when Lex arrives, the busboy shoots him, fearing that he will take Kara away. He then holds Kara and Lois hostage. Clark, in efforts to find them, enters Lex's mind using experimental LuthorCorp technology; here he discovers Lex's good side, child Alexander, is still alive. Chloe uses her powers to bring Lex back from the dead, leading to a personal struggle with the moral aspect of her powers.

145
13
"Hero"
Michael Rohl
Aaron & Todd Helbing
March 13, 2008 (2008-03-13)
3T6313
3.80[16]

Pete Ross (Sam Jones III) chews some kryptonite-laced gum and develops the ability to stretch his body to extreme lengths, which he uses to save Kara's life from a falling speaker at a OneRepublic concert in an abandoned warehouse. Pete arrives at the Kent farm and gets up to speed on who knows Clark's secret, before revealing his own power to Clark. Pete decides to reveal his ability to the world, against Clark and Chloe's advice, but Lex blackmails him into stealing Kara's bracelet from Lionel's safe. When Pete does not deliver, Lex tortures him; Clark arrives and saves Pete. Kara, no longer trusting Clark and Lana, stays with Lex, while Clark secretly hides the bracelet.

146
14
"Traveler"
Glen Winter
Teleplay by: Don Whitehead & Holly Henderson
Story by: Al Septien & Turi Meyer
March 20, 2008 (2008-03-20)
3T6314
3.44[17]

Lionel hires a group of men to kidnap Clark, using kryptonite tazers to subdue him, and lock him in a kryptonite-lined cell. Patricia Swann (Gina Holden), Dr. Virgil Swann's daughter, comes looking for the "Last Son of Krypton" and accuses Lionel of taking the "Last Son" for himself, and having a hand in the deaths of her father, the Teagues and the Queens – three families who came together with Lionel, under a secret societal name of "Veritas", to welcome the "Last Son" to Earth. Chloe and Lana discover Lionel's actions, so they take Kara to Jor-El, who restores her memory; with her powers returned, Kara saves Clark. Patricia Swann gives Clark her father's journal; later, Lex has Patricia killed and a pendant she was wearing—which depicted the Veritas symbol—delivered to him.

147
15
"Veritas"
James Marshall
Kelly Souders & Brian Peterson
March 27, 2008 (2008-03-27)
3T6315
3.86[18]

Brainiac propositions Kara at the farm, but she refuses; Brainiac warns Kara, and Clark, that not working with him will cause people to get hurt. Jimmy and Lois work together to uncover the truth behind Patricia Swann's murder. Lex begins searching for the secret of Veritas with a key he found in Patricia's pendant. Kara attempts to teach Clark to fly, but he is more focused on finding Brainiac, who attacks Lana at the Isis Foundation. In order to save Lana's life, Kara agrees to help Brainiac. Lana is placed in a clinic, stuck in a catatonic state, while Clark and Chloe have no leads as to where Brainiac and Kara are.

148
16
"Descent"
Ken Horton
Don Whitehead & Holly Henderson
April 17, 2008 (2008-04-17)
3T6316
3.61[19]

Lex takes Lionel's locket, which holds the second key to the deposit box in Zürich, and then throws him out the LuthorCorp window to his death. Lex soon discovers the key is not where he thought, and heads to the Daily Planet to find it; he also begins having hallucinations of his younger self. Lex finds the key in Chloe's desk, and then fires her. Jimmy and Lois discover that Lionel was murdered. Clark confronts Lex at the mansion, informing him that he has proof Lex murdered Lionel. Lex's assistant destroys the evidence, and discovers Clark's secret. Before she can tell Lex everything, a mysterious stranger kills her.

149
17
"Sleeper"
Whitney Ransick
Caroline Dries
April 24, 2008 (2008-04-24)
3T6317
3.62[20]

In order to locate Brainiac and Kara, Clark has Chloe hack into government satellites. The Department of Domestic Security has been monitoring Chloe's activity and, convinced she is a terrorist, convince Jimmy to work with them to bring her down. Clark decides to head to the Fortress to find a way to save Lana, where he learns that Kara is at Krypton trying to warn Clark that Brainiac intends to kill the infant version of Kal-El. The Feds have Jimmy accompany Chloe to a club, which is a front for a security building, to find out who her target is. The Feds catch Chloe stealing satellite images and begin interrogating her. Jimmy shows up and saves her life, and agrees to do whatever Lex wants in exchange for clearing Chloe's name with the government.

150
18
"Apocalypse"
Tom Welling
Al Septien & Turi Meyer
May 1, 2008 (2008-05-01)
3T6318
3.81[21]

Jor-El sends Clark to an alternate reality to show him what the world would be like if he never arrived on Earth. Here, the Kents have a natural-born son, Chloe is engaged, Lana married a French philanthropist, Lois is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist, Kara is the head of the Department of Domestic Security (DDS) using the alias Linda Danvers, and Lex is the President of the United States. In this reality, Clark is unable to prevent Brainiac and Lex from detonating the country's nuclear missiles. After learning the world needs him, Clark is sent to Krypton to prevent Brainiac from killing him as an infant. After stopping Brainiac, Clark and Kara both return to present day Earth.

151
19
"Quest"
Kenneth Biller
Holly Harold
May 8, 2008 (2008-05-08)
3T6319
3.99[22]

The bank teller from Zurich attacks Lex, carving the Kryptonian symbols for "Traveler", "Savior", and "Sanctuary" into his chest. After seeing the symbols, Clark travels to Montreal, Quebec, where he finds Edward Teague (Robert Picardo), Jason Teague's father, the only surviving member of Veritas. Edward deems that Clark is no savior and attempts to kill him so that Lex cannot control him. Chloe saves Clark, who in turn saves Edward from Lex, who arrived looking for more clues to controlling the Traveler. Lex returns home and discovers an orb hidden inside the mantle above the fireplace. The orb gives the location of the Fortress of Solitude.

152
20
"Arctic"
Todd Slavkin
Don Whitehead & Holly Henderson
May 15, 2008 (2008-05-15)
3T6320
3.85[23]

Kara informs Lex that he will defeat the Traveler, who is really destined to destroy mankind, and sends him to the Fortress of Solitude. Clark learns that Brainiac has been impersonating Kara, who is actually stuck in the Phantom Zone, and destroys him to finally free Lana from her comatose state. Lana leaves Clark a DVD stating that she is holding Clark back, and the only way for him to help the world is if the two of them are not together. The DDS arrest Chloe just as Jimmy is about to propose marriage; Jimmy goes to Clark and tells him about the deal he made with Lex, also informing him that Lex is headed to the Arctic. Clark arrives at the Fortress just as Lex, who now knows Clark's secret, places the orb onto the crystal control panel, bringing the Fortress down around him and Clark.

tag: table

text: Production[edit]

text: Writer's strike[edit]

text: On November 5, 2007, a strike began between the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE), Writers Guild of America, west (WGAw) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). A prolonged strike would have forced television shows to end their seasons early, because no scripts could be written until a settlement had been reached.[24] The strike pushed back Smallville's scheduling, as the episode "Siren", which was originally intended to be aired on January 10, 2008,[25] was moved to a February 7 airdate.[26] According to Gough and Millar, "We were able to complete scripts for 15 episodes [...] To the best of [our] knowledge, the studio plans to produce all of them." They also explained that the fifteenth episode would have had a cliffhanger ending.[27] The shortened schedule also meant Allison Mack would not see her directorial debut for the season's 20th episode as was originally planned.[2] On February 12, 2008, after a 48-hour vote by the guild members, the strike came to an end.[28] This allowed the shooting of five new episodes that began airing on April 17, 2008. This was in addition to the episodes that had already been filmed, leaving the season total at twenty episodes.[29][30]

tag: p

text: Characters[edit]

text: For season seven, the Smallville team would bring in two new regular cast members, Jimmy Olsen, who first appeared as a recurring guest in season six, and Kara Zor-El, Clark's biological cousin.[31] On July 11, 2007, Canadian actress Laura Vandervoort was officially announced to be portraying Kara.[32] According to Gough and Millar, her backstory is that she was sent to look after Kal-El (Clark), but was stuck in suspended animation for eighteen years. When the dam broke in the season six finale "Phantom" she was set free. She will have all of Clark's abilities, as well as the ability to fly.[31] Gough iterated that Kara will not wear any version of the Supergirl costume.[33] On July 6, 2007, it was announced that Michael Cassidy was cast as the new editor of the Daily Planet, Grant Gabriel. Cassidy's Grant Gabriel is designed to be Lois' new love interest; he appeared in seven episodes this season.[34]

text: Smallville also brought in more actors with previous connections to the Superman lore this season. Helen Slater, who portrayed Supergirl in the 1984 film of the same name, was cast as Lara, Clark's biological mother.[35] She made appearances in episodes six and eight, titled "Lara" and "Blue" respectively. During the 2007 Comic Con, it was revealed that Dean Cain, who played Clark Kent/Superman in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, would have a guest role as a "the evil Dr. Curtis Knox" in the fourth episode "Cure".[36] Marc McClure, who portrayed Jimmy Olsen in all of the Superman films as well as in Supergirl, was brought in to play a Kryptonian scientist named Dax-Ur for the episode "Persona".[37][38] James Marsters was brought back to reprise his role as Milton Fine/Brainiac in a four-episode arc slated for January 2008;[39] Marsters had not appeared on the show since the season five finale "Vessel". Another character from the DC Comics universe arriving on Smallville is the Black Canary. The character was intended to be featured in the January 10, 2008 episode "Siren", but the Writers' Strike pushed scheduling back to February 7. Black Canary was portrayed by Canadian actress Alaina Huffman, and the episode featured the return of Justin Hartley as the Green Arrow.[25] This season also saw the return of Sam Jones III as Pete Ross, after a four-year absence from the show.[40]

text: Tie-ins[edit]

text: In 2008 The CW entered into a partnership with the makers of Stride brand chewing-gum to give viewers the opportunity to create their own Smallville digital comic, titled Smallville: Visions. The writers and producers developed the comic's beginning and end, but allowed viewers to provide the middle. The CW began this tie-in campaign with the March 13, 2008 episode "Hero", where Pete develops superhuman elasticity after chewing some kryptonite-infused Stride gum. Going to The CW's website, viewers vote on one of two options—each adding four pages to the comic—every Tuesday and Thursday until the campaign ended on April 7, 2008.[41] For season seven, Smallville again worked with Sprint, bringing its customers "mobisodes" featuring Clark's cousin Kara, titled Smallville Legends: Kara and the Chronicles of Krypton.[42]

text: Reception[edit]

text: The season premiere, "Bizarro", was watched by 5.18 million viewers, marking an increase from the previous season finale, "Phantom", which was viewed by 4.14 million.[4][43] "Bizarro" and "Cure" were also the highest-rated episodes of the season, both being seen by 5.18 million viewers and scoring a 1.8 in the Nielsen rating in the 2 year old and up demographic.[4][7] Nielsen ratings are audience measurement systems that determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States. This means that the episodes were seen by 1.8 percent of all viewers in the United States watching television at the time of the episode's airing that were older than 2 years old. The season hit a low with the fourteenth episode, "Traveler", which was watched by only 3.44 million viewers.[17] The season finale, "Arctic", was viewed by 3.85, marking a decrease from both the season premiere, and the sixth season finale.[4][23][43] Smallville's season seven slipped in the ratings, averaging 3.7 million viewers weekly.[44][45] Smallville ranked as the 175th most-watched television series, out of 220, for the 2007–08 television year.[46]

text: Awards[edit]

text: "Bizarro" was nominated for a VES award in Outstanding Compositing in a Broadcast Program or Commercial, specifically for the flood scene;[47] it was also nominated for, and won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series.[48] In 2009, the season received five Teen Choice Awards nominations. The nominations include Choice TV Show: Action Adventure, Choice TV Actor: Action Adventure for Tom Welling, Choice TV Actress: Action Adventure for Kristen Kreuk, Choice TV: Villain for Michael Rosenbaum, and Choice TV: Sidekick for Allison Mack.[49]

text: Home media release[edit]

text: The complete seventh season of Smallville was released on September 9, 2008 in North America in both DVD and Blu-ray format.[50][51] The DVD and Blu-ray box set were also released in region 2 and region 4 on October 13, 2008 and March 3, 2009, respectively.[52][53][54][55] The box set included various special features, including episode commentary, a documentary on the Supergirl character, a featurette on the different actors to portray Jimmy Olsen, as well as mobisodes for Smallville Legends.[56]


document_title: America's Got Talent

question_text: when does season 12 of americas got talent end

question_tokens: when does season 12 of americas got talent end

text: America's Got Talent

text: Series overview[edit]

text:
Season
Duration
Winner's prize2
Finalists
Presenter
Judges

Premiere
Finale
Winner
Runner-up
Third place

1
June 21, 2006
August 17, 2006
$1,000,000
Bianca Ryan

All That & The Millers

Regis
Philbin
David Hasselhoff
Piers Morgan
Brandy Norwood
N/A1

2
June 5, 2007
August 21, 2007
Terry Fator
Cas Haley
Butterscotch
Jerry
Springer
Sharon Osbourne

3
June 17, 2008
October 1, 2008
Neal E. Boyd
Eli Mattson
Nuttin' But Stringz

4
June 23, 2009
September 16, 2009
Kevin Skinner
Bárbara Padilla
Recycled Percussion
Nick
Cannon

5
June 1, 2010
September 15, 2010
Michael Grimm
Jackie Evancho
Fighting Gravity
Howie Mandel

6
May 31, 2011
September 14, 2011
Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr.
Silhouettes
Team iLuminate

7
May 14, 2012
September 13, 2012
Olate Dogs
Tom Cotter
William Close
Howard Stern

8
June 4, 2013
September 18, 2013
Kenichi Ebina
Taylor Williamson
Jimmy Rose
Mel B
Heidi Klum

9
May 27, 2014
September 17, 2014
Mat Franco
Emily West
AcroArmy

10
May 26, 2015
September 16, 2015
Paul Zerdin
Drew Lynch
Oz Pearlman

11
May 31, 2016
September 14, 2016
Grace VanderWaal
The Clairvoyants
Jon Dorenbos
Simon Cowell

12
May 30, 2017
September 20, 2017
Darci Lynne Farmer
Angelica Hale
Light Balance
Tyra
Banks

text:
^ A fourth judge was added in season eight.
^ Beginning with season three, the prize includes the one million dollars, payable in a financial annuity over 40 years, and a chance to headline a show on the Las Vegas Strip. The length of the headlining stint has varied, with season four's prize including a 10-week schedule[6] and season eleven's lasting three days.[6]
A book was released in 2013 titled, Inside AGT: The Untold Stories of America's Got Talent. It describes the seasons, contestants, judges, and production techniques of the show and contains detailed interviews with contestants from all seasons.[7]

tag: ol

text: Guest judges[edit]

text: Starting with the tenth season, each of the main judges invited a guest judge to join the judging panel for one night during the Judge Cuts stage of the competition. The guest judges had the ability to employ the golden buzzer to bypass the other judges and advance an act to the live shows. The first guest judge, Neil Patrick Harris, appeared at the invitation of Howard Stern in episode eight of season ten, which aired on July 14, 2015. Michael Bublé appeared at the invitation of Heidi Klum in episode nine of season ten, which aired on July 21, 2015. Marlon Wayans appeared at the invitation of Howie Mandel in episode ten of season ten, which aired on July 28, 2015. Piers Morgan appeared at the invitation of Mel B in episode eleven of season ten, which aired on August 4, 2015.[8] Beginning with the eleventh season the guest judges were announced without any indication if they were invited by one of the regular judges.[9] This continued into the twelfth season when the guest judges were announced by NBC through various outlets.[10][11][12]

text:
Season
Guest Judge (in order of appearance)

10
Neil Patrick Harris
Michael Bublé
Marlon Wayans
Piers Morgan

11
Ne-Yo
Reba McEntire
George Lopez
Louis Tomlinson

12
Chris Hardwick[13]
DJ Khaled[14]
Laverne Cox[15]
Seal[16]

text: Selection process[edit]

text: This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

text: Producers' auditions[edit]

text: The general selection process of the show begins with separate producers' auditions held in various cities across the United States, some of which host only the producers' auditions, and some of which also host judges' auditions held in theaters. This round is held several months before the judges' audition. Acts that have made it through the producers' audition then audition in front of the judges and a live audience.[17]

text: Judges' Auditions[edit]

text: Following the producers' auditions, acts audition in front of (as of 2013) four celebrity judges. These auditions are held in theaters in various cities nationally and are later televised. Judges may individually register their disapproval of an act by pressing a red buzzer, which lights up their corresponding X above the stage. Any performer who receives X's (3 from season 1-7, or 4 from season 8-) from the judges must stop performing and is eliminated. Since season three (2008), large audiences have also been a factor in the judging process, as their reaction to an act's performance may swing or influence a judge's vote. If an act receives three or more "yes" votes, they advance to the next round of competition. However, in the majority of seasons, several acts do not perform in the second round and are immediately sent home by the judges without a second performance.

text: Golden Buzzer[edit]

text: Introduced in season nine, the "Golden Buzzer" is located on the center of the judges' desk and may be used once per season by each judge. In season 9, a judge could press the golden buzzer to save an act from elimination, regardless of the number of X's earned from the other judges. Starting in season 10 and onward, any act that receives a golden buzzer advances directly to the live show; and in season 11, the hosts also were given the power to use the golden buzzer. The golden buzzer is also used in the Judge Cuts format.

text:
Season
Nick Cannon
Howie Mandel
Mel B
Heidi Klum
Howard Stern

9
N/A
Emmanuel & Phillip Hudson
N/A
Dustin's Dojo

10
Drew Lynch
Sharon Irving
Arielle Baril
Freckled Sky

Season
Nick Cannon
Howie Mandel
Mel B
Heidi Klum
Simon Cowell

11
Dorothy Williams
Grace VanderWaal
Laura Bretan
Sal Valentinetti
Calysta Bevier

Season
Tyra Banks
Howie Mandel
Mel B
Heidi Klum
Simon Cowell

12
Light Balance
Christian Guardino
Darci Lynne Farmer
Angelina Green
Mandy Harvey

text: Judge cuts[edit]

text: From season two (2007) to season eight (2013), Las Vegas Week has been an intermediary televised taped round between the auditions and the live shows. This round takes place in a notable venue on the Las Vegas Strip. Names for this round in previous seasons have included "Las Vegas Callbacks" and "Vegas Verdicts". The Las Vegas round generally consists of acts performing a second time for the judges (except for season four in 2009), who then pick select acts to move on to the live shows. An act eliminated in Las Vegas Week is not completely excluded from the live show competition, as several seasons have featured contestants being brought back from this round as "wild card" acts.

text: Prior to the inclusion of this round, the judges would have a list containing a number of acts which advanced past the auditions during each live show. The judges would then pick ten acts from that group each week, leaving several acts without the chance to perform.

text: In season nine (2014), acts went to New York instead of Las Vegas to determine a place in the live shows.[18]

text: YouTube auditions[edit]

text: From season five (2010) to season seven (2012), acts who did not attend live auditions could instead submit a taped audition online via YouTube. Acts from the online auditions were then selected to compete in front of the judges and a live audience during the "live shows" part of the season, prior to the semi-finals. The most successful act of the YouTube auditions was Jackie Evancho, who went on to place second in season five.

text: Before the inclusion of this round, the show had a separate audition episode in seasons three and four (2008–2009) for contestants who posted videos on MySpace.[19]

text: Live shows[edit]

text: During the live shows, a group of acts ranging from only a Top 20 (season two), to as many as 60, compete for viewers' and judges' votes. In the first season, the judges could not end an act's performance, but could either "check" or "X" the performance during their critique. Since season two (2007), judges have been able to end an act's performance early, and the "check" was removed. Generally, acts each perform first in a live round consisting of a series of quarterfinals. In seasons with YouTube auditions, the round of live judging of YouTube finalists takes place then, as part of these quarterfinals. Then there may be additional shows for "Wild Card" acts—acts that one or more of the judges select to be given one more chance for audience vote despite previous elimination. From these shows, the existing group is narrowed through votes by the public and/or the judges (depending on the season). Acts then move on to a semifinal round, and even further rounds (such as a "Top 8" or a "Top 10", depending on the season) through a series of weekly shows, which trim the number of acts down each time based on a public vote. In the majority of seasons, judges have had no vote from the semifinals. All these rounds culminate in a live final, which has consisted of anywhere from four to ten acts throughout the seasons. The act with the most votes is declared the winner, given $1 million, and, since season three (2008), a chance to headline a show on the Las Vegas Strip.

text: During seasons one through six (2006–11), the live shows were filmed at Stage 36 of CBS Television City in Los Angeles. In season seven (2012), the live shows were held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. From seasons eight through ten (2013–15), live performances were held at Radio City Music Hall in New York. From season eleven (2016) onwards the live shows are being held at the Dolby Theatre.[20]

text: For seasons five through eight (2010–13), the show also made the winner the headline act of a national tour with runners up following the final show, stopping in 25 cities.[21][22] For season nine, however (2014), there was no tour; two shows were held in Las Vegas for the winner and some of the runner-up acts.[23] (See #America's Got Talent Live, below.)

text: Season synopses[edit]

text: Season 1 (2006)[edit]

text: In May 2006, NBC announced the new show. The audition tour took place in June. Auditions were held in the following locations: Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago. Some early ads for the show implied that the winning act would also headline a show at a casino, possibly in Las Vegas; however, this was replaced with a million dollars due to concerns of minors playing in Las Vegas, should one become a champion. More than 12 million viewers watched the series premiere (which is more than American Idol got during its premiere in 2002). The two-hour broadcast was the night's most-watched program on U.S. television and the highest-rated among viewers aged 18 to 49 (the prime-time audience that matters most to advertisers), Nielsen Media Research reported.[24]

text: On the season finale, there was an unaired segment that was scheduled to appear after Aly & AJ. The segment featured Tom Green dressing in a parrot costume and squawking with a live parrot to communicate telepathically. Green then proceeded to fly up above the audience, shooting confetti streamers out of his costume onto the crowd below.

text: In season one, the show was hosted by Regis Philbin and judged by actor David Hasselhoff, singer Brandy Norwood, and journalist Piers Morgan.

text: The winner of the season was 11-year-old singer Bianca Ryan, and the runners-up were clogging group All That and musical group The Millers.

text: Season 2 (2007)[edit]

text: After initially announcing in June 2006 that season two would premiere in January 2007 and would air at 8 pm on Sunday nights, with no separate results show, the network changed that, pushing the show back to the summer, where the first season had enjoyed great success. This move kept the show out of direct competition with American Idol, which had a similar premise and was more popular.

text: In AGT's place, another reality-based talent show, Grease: You're The One That I Want, began airing on Sunday nights in the same time slot on NBC beginning in January.[25] In March, NBC announced that Philbin would not return as host of the show, and that Jerry Springer would succeed him as host,[26] with Sharon Osbourne (formerly a judge on Cowell's UK show The X Factor) succeeding Brandy Norwood as a judge.

text: The season finale was shown Tuesday, August 21, with the winner being Terry Fator, a singing impressionist ventriloquist. The runner-up was singer Cas Haley.

text: Season 3 (2008)[edit]

text: Season three premiered on June 17, 2008. Auditions took place in Charlotte, Nashville, Orlando, New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Chicago from January to April. A televised MySpace audition also took place.

text: Season three differed from the previous two in many ways. Auditions were held in well-known theaters across the nation, and a new title card was introduced, featuring the American flag as background. The X's matched the ones on Britain's Got Talent as did the judges' table. Like the previous season, the Las Vegas callbacks continued, but there were forty acts selected to compete in the live rounds, instead of twenty. This season also contained several results episodes, but not on a regular basis. The show took a hiatus for two-and-a-half weeks for the 2008 Summer Olympics, but returned with the live rounds on August 26.

text: Neal E. Boyd, an opera singer, was named the winner on October 1. Eli Mattson, a singer and pianist, was runner-up.

text: Season 4 (2009)[edit]

text: Season four premiered on Tuesday, June 23, 2009. It was the first to be broadcast in high definition. Auditions for this season were held in more than nine major cities including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Miami, Tacoma, Boston, and Houston. Los Angeles auditions kicked off the January 29–31 tour at the Los Angeles Convention Center, followed by the February 7–8 Atlanta auditions. New York and Miami auditions were held during March. Tacoma auditions were held April 25 and 26. In addition to live auditions and the ability to send in a home audition tape, season four offered the opportunity for acts to upload their video direct to NBC.com/agt with their registration. This year's host was Nick Cannon. Jerry Springer said that he could not return as host due to other commitments.[27]

text: The audition process in season four was the same as the previous season, but the 'Las Vegas Callbacks' was renamed 'Vegas Verdicts'. This was the first season since season one where results episodes lasted one hour on a regular basis. The title card this year featured bands of the American flag and stars waving around the America's Got Talent logo.

text: On September 16, country music singer Kevin Skinner was named the season's winner. The grand prize was $1 million and a 10-week headline show at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. The runner-up was Bárbara Padilla, an opera singer.[28]

text: Season 5 (2010)[edit]

text: For season five, the network had considered moving the show to the fall, after rival series So You Think You Can Dance transferred from the summer to fall season in 2009.[29] NBC ultimately decided to keep Talent a summer show.

text: Open auditions were held in the winter to early spring of 2010 in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, and Portland (Oregon). Non-televised producers' auditions were also held in Atlanta and Philadelphia. For the first time, online auditions were also held via YouTube.

text: David Hasselhoff left to host a new television show[30] and was replaced by comedian and game show host Howie Mandel. This made Piers Morgan the only original judge left in the show.[31] The show premiered Tuesday, June 1, 2010, at 8 pm ET. Afterward, Talent resumed the same time slot as the previous season.[32]

text: On September 15, singer Michael Grimm was named the winner. He won a $1 million prize and a chance to perform at the Caesars Palace Casino and Resort on the Las Vegas Strip, as well as headline the 25-city America's Got Talent Live Tour along with runner-up Jackie Evancho, Fighting Gravity, Prince Poppycock, and the other top ten finalists.[21][22]

text: Season 6 (2011)[edit]

text: Season six premiered on Tuesday, May 31, 2011, with a two-hour special. Piers Morgan and Sharon Osbourne continued as judges after taking jobs on Piers Morgan Tonight and The Talk, respectively. On The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on July 27, 2010, Morgan officially stated that he had signed a three-year contract to stay on Talent.[33]

text: The show held televised auditions in Los Angeles, New York, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Seattle, and Houston. Non-televised producers' auditions were also held in Denver and Chicago. Previews of auditions were shown during NBC's The Voice premiere on April 26. Online auditions via YouTube were also held for the second time in the show's run, beginning on May 4. Finalists for this audition circuit competed live on August 9.

text: On Wednesday, September 14, Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr., a Frank Sinatra-style singer, was named the winner. Dance group Silhouettes was runner-up.

text: Season 7 (2012)[edit]

text: Season seven premiered on May 14, 2012. The first round of auditions, which are judged by producers, were held in New York, Washington, D.C., Tampa, Charlotte, Austin, Anaheim, St. Louis, and San Francisco from October 2011 to February 2012.[34] The show began its live theater performances at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark on February 27.

text: Piers Morgan did not return as a judge for season seven, due to his work hosting CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight,[35] and he was replaced by Howard Stern. Since Stern hosts his SiriusXM radio show in New York City, the live rounds of the show were moved to nearby Newark, New Jersey.[36] In December 2011, Simon Cowell, the show's executive producer, announced that the show would be receiving a "top-to-bottom makeover", confirming that there would be new graphics, lighting, theme music, show intro, logo, and a larger live audience at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.[37] On July 2, at the first live performance show of the season, their new location and stage were unveiled in a two-and-a-half-hour live special. A new set was also unveiled with a revised judges' desk and a refreshed design of the "X".

text: On August 6, Sharon Osbourne announced that she would leave America's Got Talent after the current season, in response to allegations that her son Jack Osbourne was discriminated against by the producers of the upcoming NBC program Stars Earn Stripes.[38]

text: On September 13, Olate Dogs were announced the winner of the season, becoming the show's first completely non-singing act to win the competition and also the first non-solo act to win. Comedian Tom Cotter finished as the runner-up.

text: Season 8 (2013)[edit]

text: Season eight of AGT premiered on Tuesday, June 4, 2013.[39] The new season was announced in a promotional video shown during a commercial break for season seven's second live show. Sharon Osbourne initially stated that she would not return for the season,[40] but later said that she was staying with the show "for now."[41] Osbourne confirmed that she would be leaving the show after a feud with NBC on August 6, 2012.[42][43]

text: On February 20, 2013, it was announced that one of the Spice Girls members, Mel B (Melanie Brown), would replace Sharon Osbourne as the third judge. Entertainment Weekly also reported at the same time that NBC was looking at a possible fourth judge to be added.[44] On March 3, it was announced that supermodel Heidi Klum would be joining the show as the new fourth judge.[45]

text: An Audition Cities poll for the season was announced on July 11, 2012. The first batch of Audition Cities were announced as Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland (Oregon), New Orleans, Birmingham, Memphis, Nashville, Savannah, Raleigh, Norfolk, San Antonio, New York, Columbus (Ohio), and Chicago. This season, the auditions traveled to more cities than ever before.[46] America's Got Talent moved its live shows to Radio City Music Hall in New York for season eight.[47] Auditions in front of the judges and an audience began taping on March 4. The show traveled to New Orleans, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Antonio.[47]

text: On September 18, 2013, martial arts dancer/mime Kenichi Ebina was announced the winner of the season, the first dance act to win the competition. Stand-up comedian Taylor Williamson was the runner-up.

text: Season 9 (2014)[edit]

text: Season nine premiered on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, at 8 pm ET.[48] The producers' auditions began on October 26, 2013, in Miami. Other audition sites included Atlanta, Baltimore, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, and New York. Contestants could also submit a video of their audition online.[49] Auditions in front of the judges were held February 20–22 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, which also hosted the live shows during season seven. Judges' auditions were held in New York City at Madison Square Garden from April 3 to 6 and in Los Angeles at the Dolby Theatre from April 21 to 26.[50]

text: The live shows return to Radio City Music Hall on July 29. There was also a new twist in the show, where "Judgment Week" was held in New York City instead of Las Vegas. Judgment Week was originally intended to be held in front of a live studio audience, but after three acts performed, the producers scrapped the live audience concept.[18] This season also came with the addition of a "Golden Buzzer," which was unveiled on that same year's Britain's Got Talent. Each judge can press the buzzer only once each season that can save an act, typically used when there is a tie.[51]

text: For this season, contestants were invited to submit a video of their performance to The Today Show website throughout June, and the top three entrants performed their acts on The Today Show on July 23, 2014. The performer with the most votes, Cornell Bhangra, filled the 48th spot in the quarterfinals.

text: On September 17, magician Mat Franco was announced the winner of the season, the first magic act to win the competition. Singer Emily West was the runner-up.

text: Season 10 (2015)[edit]

text: Season ten premiered on May 26, 2015. Producer auditions began on November 2, 2014, in Tampa. Other audition sites included Nashville, Richmond (Virginia), New York, Chicago, St. Louis, San Antonio, Albuquerque, San Francisco, Seattle, Boise, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. Online submissions were also accepted.[52]

text: Howard Stern rumored on his radio show on October 1, 2014, that he might not return,[53] but announced on December 8 that he would return for the upcoming season. Nick Cannon returned for his seventh season as host.[54] On February 9, 2015, Howie Mandel said he would return for season ten[55] and Mel B announced the next day that she would be returning as well.[56] It was revealed on February 11 that Heidi Klum would also be returning.[57]

text: It was announced on December 4, 2014, that Cris Judd would be named as a dance scout.[58] He previously worked on the show as a choreographer behind the scenes, and on the New Zealand version of Got Talent as a judge.

text: Auditions in front of the judges began on March 2, 2015, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.[59][60] They continued at the Manhattan Center in New York City and the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. A special "extreme" audition session was held outside at the Fairplex in Pomona, California, where danger acts performed outside for the judges, who were seated at an outdoor stage.

text: During NBC's summer press tour, it was announced that America's Got Talent would be making their "Golden Buzzer" more like Britain's Got Talent where the contestant that gets the buzzer will be sent directly to the live shows.[61] An official trailer for the season was released, which showed that Dunkin Donuts was the show's official sponsor for the season, with their cups prominently placed on the judges' desk. Dunkin replaced Snapple, which sponsored the show since season seven.

text: On June 24, Howard Stern announced on The Howard Stern Show that season ten would be his last season as judge. Stern said, "In all seriousness, I’ve told you, I’m just too f*cking busy…something's got to give… NBC's already asked me what my intentions are for next year, whether or not I’d come back, I kind of have told them I think this is my last season. Not I think, this is my last season".[62]

text: On September 16, Paul Zerdin was announced the winner of the season, making him the second ventriloquist to win. Comedian Drew Lynch was runner-up, and magician mentalist Oz Pearlman was in Third Place.

text: Season 11 (2016)[edit]

text: America's Got Talent was renewed for an eleventh season on September 1, 2015.[63] The season will have preliminary open call auditions in Detroit, New York, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, San Jose, San Diego, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Orlando, and Dallas.[64] As in years past, hopeful contestants may also submit auditions online.[65]

text: On October 22, 2015, it was announced that creator Simon Cowell would replace Howard Stern as a judge for season 11.[3] On January 12, 2016, it was announced that Mel B, Heidi Klum, and Howie Mandel would all return as judges, with Nick Cannon returning as host. The live shows will also move from New York back to Los Angeles, due to Howard Stern's departure.[66] The live shows will be held at the Dolby Theatre.[67]

text: Auditions in front of the judges began on March 3, 2016 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California.[68] The season premiered on May 31, 2016.[69]

text: On September 14, 12-year-old singer-songwriter and ukulele player, Grace VanderWaal was announced as the winner making it the second time that a female act has won the show since Season 1, and the second child act to win the competition. Magician mentalists The Clairvoyants was runner-up, and magician Jon Dorenbos was in Third Place.

text: Season 12 (2017)[edit]

text: On August 2, 2016, it was announced that host Nick Cannon and all four judges would be returning for season 12.[70] Later that year, on October 4, Simon Cowell signed a contract to remain as a judge through to 2019 (Season 14).[71]

text: On February 13, 2017, Nick Cannon announced he would not return as host for the twelfth season, citing creative differences between him and executives at NBC. The resignation comes in the wake of news that the network considered firing Cannon after he made disparaging remarks about NBC in his recent Showtime comedy special, Stand Up, Don't Shoot.[72] Cannon, however, was technically under contract to host and could potentially have been sued by NBC for breach of contract, though this was ultimately considered unlikely. NBC executives did not accept his resignation and had expected Cannon to return, but ultimately began the search for a new host.[73][74]

text: NBC announced supermodel Tyra Banks as the new host on March 12, 2017 after Cannon's departure.[4]

text: The season premiered on Tuesday, May 30, 2017.[75]

text: On September 20, Darci Lynne Farmer won the twelfth season, becoming the third ventriloquist, third child act and the third female act to win the competition (second year in a row after VanderWaal's win in 2016). Child singer Angelica Hale was announced as the runner-up, Ukrainian dance act Light Balance finished in third place, deaf musician Mandy Harvey finished in fourth place and dog act Sara & Hero finished in fifth place.

text: Post-show[edit]

text: America's Got Talent Live[edit]

text: This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

text: America's Got Talent Live is a show on the Las Vegas Strip that features the winner of each season of America's Got Talent as the main performance.

text: In 2009, America's Got Talent Live appeared on the Las Vegas Strip appearing Wednesday through Sunday at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, in a limited ten-week run from October through January featuring winner Kevin Skinner, runner-up Barbara Padilla and fourth-place finisher The Texas Tenors. It featured the final ten acts which made it to the season four (2009) finale. Jerry Springer emceed, commuting weekly between Stamford, Connecticut, tapings of his self-named show and Las Vegas.[76]

text: In 2010, on the first live show of season five, the winner headlined America's Got Talent Live from Caesars Palace Casino and Resort on the Las Vegas Strip, which was part of a 25-city tour that featured the season's finalists. Jerry Springer returned as both host of the tour and the headline show.[77]

text: In 2012, the tour returned, featuring winners Olate Dogs, Spencer Horsman, Joe Castillo, Lightwire Theater, David Garibaldi and his CMYK's, Jarrett and Raja, Tom Cotter, and other fan favorites.

text: In 2013, after the success of the 2012 tour, another tour was scheduled, featuring season eight's winner, Kenichi Ebina, and finalists Collins Key, Jimmy Rose, Taylor Williamson, Cami Bradley, The KriStef Brothers, and Tone the Chiefrocca.[78] Tone hosted the tour.

text: In 2014, America's Got Talent Live announced that performances in Las Vegas on September 26 and 27 would feature Taylor Williamson, the season eight (2013) runner-up, and the top finalists for season nine: Mat Franco, Emily West, Quintavious Johnson, AcroArmy, Emil and Dariel, Miguel Dakota, and Sons of Serendip.[23]

text: In 2015, no tour was held. Instead, three shows were given at the Planet Hollywood Resort in Las Vegas featuring winner Paul Zerdin, runner-up Drew Lynch, and fan favorite Piff the Magic Dragon.

text: In 2016, four shows were given at the Planet Hollywood Resort in Las Vegas. They featured the top two finalists for season 11, Grace VanderWaal and The Clairvoyants, as well as finalist Tape Face.[79]

text: In 2017, four shows are planned at the Planet Hollywood Resort in Las Vegas. They will feature winner Darci Lynne, runner-up Angelica Hale, third-placed Light Balance, and finalist Preacher Lawson.[80]

text: Holiday Spectacular[edit]

text: NBC broadcast the two-hour America's Got Talent Holiday Spectacular on December 19, 2016, hosted by Cannon with performances by Grace VanderWaal, Jackie Evancho, Andra Day, Penn & Teller, Pentatonix, Terry Fator, Mat Franco, Piff the Magic Dragon, Olate Dogs, Professor Splash, Jon Dorenbos and others, and featuring the Season 11 judges, including Klum, who sang a duet with Season 11 finalist Sal Valentinetti.[81] The special drew 9.5 million viewers.[82]

text: Reception[edit]

text: U.S. television ratings[edit]

text: Since the show began, its ratings have been very high, ranging from 9 million viewers to as many as 16 million viewers, generally averaging around 11 million viewers. The show has also ranked high in the 18–49 demographic, usually rating anywhere from as low as 1.6 to as high as 4.6 throughout its run. Audition shows and performance shows rate higher on average than results shows.

text: Although the show's ratings have been high, the network usually keeps the show's run limited to before the official start of the next television season in the third week of September with some reductions or expansions depending on Olympic years, where finale ratings are usually lower due to returning programming on other networks.

text: The highest rated season in overall viewers to date is season four (2009). The most-watched episode has been the finale of season five (2010), with 16.41 million viewers. The series premiere and an episode featuring the first part of Las Vegas Week in season six (2011) have each tied for highest rating among adults 18–49, both having a 4.6 rating.

text:
Season
Premiered
Ended
TV season
Timeslot (ET)
Season
viewers
Season
ranking

Date
Viewers
(in millions)
Date
Viewers
(in millions)

1
June 21, 2006
12.41
Final Performances: August 16, 2006

2005–06
Wednesday 8:00 pm

1

Season Finale: August 17, 2006
12.05
Thursday 9:00 pm

1

2
June 5, 2007
12.93
Final Performances: August 20, 2007

2006–07
Tuesday 8:00 pm

1

Season Finale: August 21, 2007
13.87

3
June 17, 2008
12.80
Final Performances: September 30, 2008
10.23
2007–08
Tuesday 9:00 pm (June 17 – August 5)
Tuesday 8:00 pm (after August 26)

1

Season Finale: October 1, 2008
12.55
Wednesday 9:00 pm
(after August 27)

1

4[83][84][85]
June 23, 2009
11.30
Final Performances: September 15, 2009
13.84
2008–09
Tuesday 9:00 pm

1

Season Finale: September 16, 2009
15.53
Wednesday 9:00 pm

1

5[86][87]
June 1, 2010
12.35
Final Performances: September 14, 2010
14.60
2009–10
Tuesday 9:00 pm

1

Season Finale: September 15, 2010
16.41
Wednesday 9:00 pm

1

6[88][89][90]
May 31, 2011
15.28
Final Performances: September 13, 2011
13.67
2010–11
Tuesday 8:00 pm (May 31 – July 5)
Tuesday 9:00 pm (after July 5)
12.65
1

Season Finale: September 14, 2011
14.37
Wednesday 9:00 pm
(after June 22)
11.49[91]
1

7[92][93][94]
May 14, 2012
10.48
Final Performances: September 12, 2012
11.05
2011-12
Monday 8:00 pm (May 14 – July 3)
Tuesday 8:00 pm (after July 3)
10.48[95]
1

Season Finale: September 13, 2012
10.59
Tuesday 9:00 pm (May 14 – July 3)
Wednesday 9:00 pm (after July 3)
10.58[91]
1

8[96][97][98]
June 4, 2013
12.41
Final Performances: September 17, 2013
11.19
2012–13
Tuesday 8:00 pm
11.22[99]
1

Season Finale: September 18, 2013
11.49
Wednesday 8:00 pm
(after July 10)
10.34[100]
1

9[101][102][103]
May 27, 2014
12.00
Final Performances: September 16, 2014
11.46
2013–14
Tuesday 8:00 pm (May 27 – July 15)
Tuesday 9:00 pm (after July 22)
10.31[104]
1

Season Finale: September 17, 2014
12.21
Wednesday 9:00 pm
(after July 23)
10.37[105]
1

10[106][107][108]
May 26, 2015
11.09
Final Performances: September 15, 2015
11.33
2014–15
Tuesday 8:00 pm
10.70[109]
1

Season Finale: September 16, 2015
9.54
Wednesday 8:00 pm
(after August 12)
9.07[110]
1

11[111][112][113]
May 31, 2016
11.67
Final Performances: September 13, 2016
13.97
2015–16
Tuesday 8:00 pm
11.71[114]
1

Season Finale: September 14, 2016
14.41
Wednesday 8:00 pm
(after July 5)
10.97[115]
1

12[116][117][118]
May 30, 2017
12.37
Final Performances: September 19, 2017
14.70
2016–17
Tuesday 8:00 pm
TBA
TBA

Season Finale: September 20, 2017
15.64
Wednesday 8:00 pm
(after August 9)
TBA
TBA

text: Awards and nominations[edit]

text:
Year
Association
Category
Result
Ref.

2011
People's Choice Awards
Favorite Competition Show
Nominated
[119]

Kids' Choice Awards
Favorite Reality Show
Nominated
[120]

Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Hairstyling For A Multi-Camera Series Or Special
Nominated
[121]

2012
Kids' Choice Awards
Favorite Reality Show
Nominated
[122]

Teen Choice Awards
Choice Summer TV Show
Nominated
[123]

Choice Male TV Personality: Nick Cannon
Nominated
[124]

2013
Kids' Choice Awards
Favorite Reality Show
Nominated
[125]

2014
People's Choice Awards
Favorite TV Competition Show
Nominated
[126]

Kids' Choice Awards
Favorite Reality Show
Nominated
[127]

2015
People's Choice Awards
Favorite TV Competition Show
Nominated
[128]

Kids' Choice Awards
Favorite Talent Competition Show
Nominated
[129]

2016
People's Choice Awards
Favorite TV Competition Show
Won
[130]

Kids' Choice Awards
Favorite Talent Competition Show
Nominated
[131]

2017
People's Choice Awards
Favorite TV Competition Show
Nominated
[130]

Kids' Choice Awards
Favorite Reality Show
Won

text: Top-selling albums by former contestants[edit]

text: Sales numbers and rankings are U.S. sales only.

text:
Rank
Former contestant
Total US sales
Albums

1
Jackie Evancho
(season 5, runner-up)
3,000,000+[132]

Prelude to a Dream (2009) #121[133]
O Holy Night (2010) #2 (Platinum certification)[134]
Dream with Me (2011) #2 (Gold certification)[134][135]
Heavenly Christmas (2011) #11[134][136]
Songs from the Silver Screen (2012) #7[137]
Awakening (2014) #17[138][139]
Someday at Christmas (2016) #93[140]
Two Hearts (2017) #100[141] (Evancho's 7th consecutive #1 ranking on the Classical Albums Chart)[142]

2
Lindsey Stirling
(season 5 quarterfinalist)
856,000+[143]

Lindsey Stirling (2012) #23
Shatter Me (2014) #2
Brave Enough (2016) #5

3
The Texas Tenors
(season 4, 4th place)
500,000+[144]

The Texas Tenors (album)|Country Roots, Classical Sound (2009) did not chart
The Texas Tenors (album)|Country Roots, Classical Sound: Remastered Special Edition (2011) did not chart
O Night Divine (2013) did not chart on Billboard 200; #22 Classical Albums chart[145]
You Should Dream (2013) did not chart on Billboard 200; #5 Classical Albums chart[146]
First 5 Years Live (2014) did not chart on Billboard 200; #11 Classical Albums chart[147]
Rise (2017) #111; #1 Classical Albums Chart, #5 Country Album Sales Chart, #22 Top Current Albums Chart[148]

4
Grace VanderWaal
(season 11 winner)
200,000+[149]

Perfectly Imperfect (2016) #4

5
Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr.
(season 6 winner)
156,000+[150]

That's Life (2011) #34[151]
Christmas Made for Two (2013) did not chart

6
Bianca Ryan
(season 1 winner)
150,000+[152]

Bianca Ryan (2006) #57
Christmas Everyday (2007) did not chart
The True Meaning of Christmas (2009) did not chart

7
Cas Haley
(season 2 runner-up)
40,000+[153][154]

Cas Haley (2008) #8
Connection (2010) did not chart
La Si Dah (2013) did not chart

8
Michael Grimm
(season 5 winner)
22,000+[155]

Michael Grimm Live (2007) did not chart
I Am Michael Grimm (2009) did not chart
Leave Your Hat On (2010) #101
Michael Grimm (2011) #13

9
Neal E. Boyd
(season 3 winner)
6,000+[156]

My American Dream (2009) #195

text: Contestants who have competed on other reality shows[edit]

text: This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

text: Many acts which have competed on America's Got Talent, but were ultimately eliminated before the final round, have either previously competed on or went on to compete in a number of other reality shows, most notably American Idol and America's Best Dance Crew.

text: The following America's Got Talent (AGT) contestants also appeared on American Idol (AI):

text:
AGT
Season
Year
Contestant
AI
Season
Year
Outcome

1
2006
Jessica Sanchez
11
2012
Runner-up

3
2008
Holli Harden
9
2010
Appeared

4
2009
Thia Megia
10
2011
Finished in the Top 11

4, 9
2009, 2014
Kelli Glover
1
2002
Appeared

6
2011
Shevonne Phillidor
15
2016
Appeared

9
2014
Nick Fradiani, member of Beach Avenue
14
2015
Winner

10
2015
Jenna Renae
15
2016
Top 24

11
2016
Sal Valentinetti
14
2015
Appeared

text: The following America's Got Talent (AGT) contestants also appeared on America's Best Dance Crew (ABDC):

text:
AGT
Season
Year
Contestant
ABDC
Season
Year
Outcome

2
2007
Jabbawockeez
1
2008
Champions

3
2008
Extreme Dance FX
5
2010
Competed as Blended Projekt

3, 4
2008, 2009
SQ Entertainment
1
2008
Runner-up

4
2009
BreakSk8
1
2008
Finished in fourth place

4
2009
FootworKINGz
6
2011
Competed

5
2010
Rated Next Generation (RNG)
7
2012
Finished in Top Four

5
2010
Strikers All-Stars
3
2009
Finished in Top Four

7
2012
787 Crew
6
2011
Competed

9
2014
Flight Crew Jump Rope
5
2010
Finished in fifth place, and competed as Saltare

text: The following America's Got Talent (AGT) contestants also appeared on these other shows:

text:
AGT
Season
Year
Contestant
Show
Season
Year
Network
Outcome

1
2006
Tonya Kay, member of Trey Knight's Stilt World
Who Wants to Be a Superhero?
1
2006
SyFy
5th Place

2
2007
Tammie Brown
RuPaul's Drag Race
1
2009
Logo
8th Place

2
2007
Tika "Sweetie" Rainn
Flavor of Love
1
2006
VH1
8th Place

3
2008
Derrick Barry
RuPaul's Drag Race
8
2016
Logo
5th Place

5
2010
Justin Hopkins
The Voice
2
2012
NBC
Advanced to Battle Rounds

5
2010
Murray SawChuck
Celebracadabra
1
2008
VH1
Appeared

5
2010
Alice Tan Ridley
30 Seconds to Fame
Pilot
2002
Fox
Winner

6
2011
Dani Shay
The Glee Project
2
2012
Oxygen
Appeared

7
2012
Trisha Paytas
Who Wants to Be a Superhero?
2
2007
SyFy
7th Place

7
2012
Horse
American Ninja Warrior
4
2012
G4 and NBC
Competed

7
2012
Bria Kelly
The Voice
6
2014
NBC
Advanced to Top 10 on Team Usher

7
2012
Academy of Villains
Fake Off
2
2015
TruTV
Appeared

7
2012
Lightwire Theatre
Fake Off
1
2014
TruTV
Winners

7, 8
2012, 2013
D'Angelo and Amanda
Live to Dance
1
2011
CBS
Winners

7
2015
Ben Blaque
Britain's Got Talent
10
2010
ITV
Advanced to the semi-finals

8
2015
Alexandr Magala
Britain's Got Talent
10
2010
ITV
9th place

8
2013
Kennedy Davenport
RuPaul's Drag Race
7
2015
Logo
4th Place

8
2013
Tummy Talk
The Gong Show
1
2017
ABC
Appeared

8
2013
Angela Hoover
First Impressions
1
2016
USA Network
Appeared

8
2013
KriStef Brothers
Fake Off
1
2014
TruTV
7th Place

8
2013
Taylor Williamson
Last Comic Standing
7
2010
NBC
Semifinalist

9
2014
Adrian Romoff
Child Genius
2
2016
Lifetime
Winner

10
2015
Leroy Patterson
Solitary
2
2007
Fox Reality
7th Place

10
2015
Myq Kaplan
Last Comic Standing
7
2010
NBC
Finalist

10
2015
Freelusion Dance Company
Fake Off
1
2014
TruTV
Fourth place, appeared as Freelusion USA

10
2015
Piff the Magic Dragon
Penn & Teller: Fool Us
1
2011
2014
ITV (U.K.)
The CW (U.S.)
Appeared

10
2015
Stevie Starr
Britain's Got Talent
4
2010
ITV
Advanced to the semi-finals[157]

11
2016
Cory Kahaney
Last Comic Standing
1
2003
NBC
Finalist

11
2016
Laura Bretan
Romania's Got Talent
6
2016
Pro TV
Winner[158]

text: International broadcasts[edit]

text: In Indonesia, the eleventh season has currently been broadcast by NET. since October 22, 2016 every Saturday and Sunday at 10.00 PM WIB.[159] But, since Monday, October 31, in addition to the weekend slot, the show has also been broadcast every Monday to Friday at 5.00 PM WIB as the replacement of the currently concluded TV drama, the second season of Kesempurnaan Cinta, which was concluded on Friday, October 28, 2016.[160]