document_title: Jaime Lannister

question_text: what was the mad kings name in got

question_tokens: what was the mad kings name in got

text: Jaime Lannister

text: Character[edit]

text: Description[edit]

text: Jaime was born shortly after the birth of his twin sister Cersei. The two were inseparable as children, and at an early age began an incestuous affair that continued into adulthood and even after Cersei's marriage to Robert Baratheon. At the age of fifteen he participated in the battle against the Kingswood Brotherhood, squiring for Lord Sumner Crakehall, and was subsequently knighted by Ser Arthur Dayne. While returning to Casterly Rock, he visited Cersei at King's Landing, who persuaded him to join the Kingsguard in order to be close to her. Jaime was accepted into the Kingsguard, but Tywin resigned as Hand of the King, taking Cersei with him back to Casterly Rock. Jaime quickly realises that Aerys named him to the Kingsguard solely to strip Tywin of his heir. Jaime becomes further disillusioned after witnessing Aerys burn Rickard and Brandon Stark alive and overhearing him raping his sister-wife Rhaella. When Tywin begins sacking King's Landing at the climax of Robert's Rebellion, Jaime realises that Aerys intends to burn King's Landing with wildfire and kills him, almost immediately being discovered by Tywin's men. Robert Baratheon later pardons Jaime for breaking his vows and names him to his own Kingsguard. Although Jaime considers his assassination of Aerys as his greatest act, his motives for killing him remain unknown to the rest of the realm and he is given the insulting moniker "Kingslayer".

text: Several years later, he and Tyrion rescue a young woman, Tysha, from outlaws, and Tyrion secretly marries her. When Tywin finds out he orders Jaime to tell Tyrion that he staged the incident in order for Tyrion to lose his virginity. Though it is unknown if Jaime was aware that Tywin subsequently forced Tyrion to watch Tysha be gang-raped by his guards, Jaime carries a great amount of guilt for his unkindness to Tyrion in his later years.

text: In A Game of Thrones (1996), Jaime is introduced as one of the Kingsguard, the royal security detail, and the son of wealthy and powerful Tywin Lannister, the former Hand of the King. Jaime's twin is Cersei, the Queen of Westeros by virtue of her marriage to King Robert Baratheon. Perhaps the greatest swordsman in the kingdom, Jaime is sometimes derisively called "the Kingslayer" because he killed the "Mad King" Aerys Targaryen in the coup that put Robert on the Iron Throne.[1]

text: Eric Dodds of Time described Jaime as "handsome, an incomparably skilled fighter and disarmingly witty",[2] with The New Yorker calling the Lannisters "a crowd of high-cheekboned beauties ... who form a family constellation so twisted, charismatic, and cruel that it rivals Flowers in the Attic for blond dysfunction".[3] Lev Grossman wrote for Time that while Jaime and Cersei's younger brother Tyrion is a grotesque dwarf, "the rest of the Lannisters are stunted too, but on the inside."[4] The Los Angeles Times called Jaime "handsome and unscrupulous",[5] though Dodds noted in 2014:

text: Sure, he's done some of the most despicable things on a show full of despicable things—including but not limited to fathering children by incest, attempting to murder a boy who discovered said incest, and the cold-blooded murder of one of his own cousins—but despite all that, the Kingslayer remains one of Game of Thrones' most popular characters.[2]

text: Development[edit]

text: Darren Franich of Entertainment Weekly noted that in the novels, "[Jaime is] a vaguely villainous minor character in Game of Thrones, then is basically absent from Clash of Kings, and suddenly he becomes a tragic hero in Storm of Swords."[6] In A Game of Thrones, Jaime is not only carrying on an incestuous affair with his twin sister, but he pushes a young Bran Stark out a high window to his likely death after the boy witnesses them in the act.[7][8] Jaime admits these crimes to Catelyn Stark in A Clash of Kings (1998), and tells her a horrific story of Aerys Targaryen's cruelty.[9] In A Storm of Swords (2000), Jaime initially loathes the female warrior Brienne of Tarth, but both his honor and his reluctant respect for Brienne compel him to lie to their captors to prevent her from being raped.[8][10] He later explains to Brienne that he killed Aerys because the king had planned to incinerate all of King's Landing and its inhabitants rather than let it fall into Robert's hands.[11] When Jaime is released to be sent back to King's Landing in deference to his father, he first saves Brienne, who has been thrown into a bear pit for the mercenaries' amusement.[12] Martin told Rolling Stone in 2014:

text: One of the things I wanted to explore with Jaime, and with so many of the characters, is the whole issue of redemption. When can we be redeemed? Is redemption even possible? ... When do we forgive people? ... Our society is full of people who have fallen in one way or another ... How many good acts make up for a bad act? ... I don't know the answer, but these are questions worth thinking about. I want there to be a possibility of redemption for us, because we all do terrible things. We should be able to be forgiven. Because if there is no possibility of redemption, what's the answer then?[8]

text: Specifically addressing Jaime's attempted murder of Bran, Martin said:

text: [What] Jaime did [to Bran] is interesting ... Remember, Jaime isn't just trying to kill Bran because he's an annoying little kid. Bran has seen something that is basically a death sentence for Jaime, for Cersei, and their children ... So I've asked people who do have children, "Well, what would you do in Jaime's situation?" They say, "Well, I'm not a bad guy—I wouldn't kill." Are you sure? Never? If Bran tells King Robert, he's going to kill you and your sister-lover, and your three children ... Then many of them hesitate. Probably more people than not would say, "Yeah, I would kill someone else's child to save my own child, even if that other child was innocent." These are the difficult decisions people make, and they're worth examining.[8]

text: Storylines[edit]

text: A Game of Thrones[edit]

text: Jaime Lannister accompanies the royal family to Winterfell, where King Robert Baratheon hopes to persuade his old friend Ned Stark to serve as Hand of the King. During the visit, Ned's young son Bran inadvertently spies Jaime and Cersei having sex in a remote tower,[7] at which point Jaime pushes the boy out a window, intending to kill Bran to keep their relationship secret.[8] Bran managed to survive, though crippled, and when an assassin later tries to kill Bran, Catelyn Stark accuses and arrests Tyrion.[1] In revenge, Jaime instigates a brawl with Ned and his men in the streets of King's Landing, killing many on both sides. Ned later discovers that Robert's three children are actually the products of Jaime and Cersei's affair, but is executed by the oldest child, Joffrey Baratheon, upon the latter's ascension as king. Jaime then rides for the Riverlands to aid Tywin in his campaign against the Riverlands, taking command of half the Lannister host. He captures the Riverlands' capital of Riverrun, but his army is waylaid by Robb Stark's army in the Battle of the Whispering Wood. Jaime is taken prisoner and incarcerated in Riverrun. Despite his capture Joffrey names Jaime as commander of his Kingsguard.

text: Hillary Busis of Entertainment Weekly called the twist of Jaime and Cersei in the tower "lurid and shocking, exactly what I needed to jolt me awake and make me start paying closer attention ... By the end of the chapter — 'The things I do for love' — I was totally hooked on Thrones".[7] Mikal Gilmore of Rolling Stone noted in 2014 that the moment in which Jaime pushes Bran to his likely death "grabs you by the throat".[8] Martin commented in the interview:

text: I've had a million people tell me that was the moment that hooked them, where they said, "Well, this is just not the same story I read a million times before."[8]

text: A Clash of Kings[edit]

text: Tyrion makes several attempts to free Jaime, first by having disguised Lannister guards attempt to break him out and then by offering to swap Arya and Sansa Stark for Jaime. After hearing of the supposed deaths of Bran and Rickon Stark, Catelyn interrogates Jaime. Jaime admits to pushing Bran out the tower window, to his incest with Cersei and to fathering her children. Jaime then mocks Ned for having tarnished his own honour by fathering a bastard, prompting Catelyn to call her bodyguard Brienne of Tarth for her sword.[9][13]

text: A Storm of Swords[edit]

text: Jaime is freed by Catelyn and sent to King's Landing to exchange for Sansa and Arya, escorted by Brienne of Tarth and Jaime's cousin Ser Cleos Frey. Cleos is killed by bandits and Jaime and Brienne are captured by the Brave Companions, who were formerly in service to Tywin but have defected to Roose Bolton. Their leader, Vargo Hoat, cuts off Jaime's sword hand in the hope that Tywin will blame Roose and prevent the Boltons defecting to the Lannisters.[10][12] While held captive at Harrenhal, Jaime reveals to Brienne the circumstances surrounding his murder of King Aerys.[11][12] Roose Bolton releases Jaime but keeps Brienne hostage. While returning to King's Landing, Jaime has a dream about Brienne and decides to return to Harrenhal to rescue her from Hoat.

text: Jaime returns to King's Landing to discover that Joffrey has been poisoned and Tyrion on trial for the murder, though Jaime refuses to believe Tyrion is guilty. He gifts Brienne a Valyrian steel sword forged from House Stark's ancestral sword Ice and tasks her with finding and protecting the fugitive Sansa Stark. He then forces Varys into helping Tyrion escape, confessing to Tyrion that he owed him a debt for his role in Tysha's fare. Outraged, Tyrion spitefully reveals to Jaime Cersei's affairs during his imprisonment, and lies that he did indeed kill Joffrey, before killing Tywin.[12]

text: A Feast for Crows[edit]

text: Cersei orders Jaime to go to Riverrun and oust Ser Brynden "Blackfish" Tully. Before his departure, Jaime has an armorer forge him a prosthetic hand. He takes the tongueless Ser Ilyn Payne with him to teach him to spar with his left hand, using the lessons to confess to his numerous crimes. During the march, he encounters his cousin Lancel, who admits to his affair with Cersei. Jaime persuades Edmure Tully to force the Blackfish's surrender by threatening to sack the castle and kill Edmure's child when it is born. Jaime later receives a letter from Cersei, who has been imprisoned by the High Sparrow and is awaiting trial and begs Jaime to be her champion in her trial by combat, but Jaime has the letter burned without reply.[14]

text: A Dance with Dragons[edit]

text: Jaime travels to Raventree Hall and manages to have Lord Tytos Blackwood surrender, officially ending House Stark's insurrection. In the aftermath, he is approached by Brienne, who claims that Sansa is in danger from Sandor "The Hound" Clegane.[15] It is unknown how much of this is true, as Brienne was previously seen as a prisoner of a reanimated Catelyn Stark and the anti-Lannister Brotherhood Without Banners.

text: Family tree of House Lannister[edit]

text:
[hide]

v
t
e

Descendants of Tytos Lannister

Tytos [a]

Jeyne
Marbrand [b]

Joanna[c]

Tywin[c]

Emmon
Frey[c]

Genna[c]

Kevan[c]

Dorna
Swyft[c]

Tygett[c]

Darlessa
Marbrand [c]

Gerion[c]

Briony [d]

Robert
Baratheon[c]

Cersei[c]

Jaime
"The Kingslayer" [c]

Tysha[e]

Tyrion
"The Imp" [c]

Sansa
Stark[f]

Amerei
Frey[g]

Lancel[c]

Martyn[c]

Willem [c]

Janei[c]

Tyrek[c]

Ermesande
Hayford [h]

Joy
Hill[c]

Joffrey
Baratheon[i][j]

Myrcella
Baratheon[i][j]

Margaery
Tyrell [k][l]

Tommen
Baratheon[i][j]

Tion
Frey[c]

"Red" Walder
Frey[m]

Jeyne
Darry[n]

Cleos
Frey[c]

Lyonel
Frey[m]

Melesa Crakehall

Tywin
Frey[n]

Willem
Frey[n]

References and notes:

^ Jump up to: a b Martin, George R. R. (1996). "Chapter 56: Tyrion". A Game of Thrones. p. 593. ISBN 978-0-553-89784-5.
^ Jump up to: a b Martin, George R. R.; García Jr., Elio M.; Antonsson, Linda (2014). The World of Ice & Fire. ISBN 978-0-553-80544-4.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Martin. "Appendix: House Lannister". A Game of Thrones. pp. 787–788.
Jump up ^ Martin; García Jr.; Antonsson. "Appendix: Lannister Lineage". The World of Ice & Fire.
Jump up ^ Tyrion's first wife was a peasant girl named Tysha. The marriage was later annulled by Lord Tywin's order.
Jump up ^ Martin, George R. R. (2000). "Chapter 28: Sansa". A Storm of Swords. pp. 382–393. ISBN 978-0-553-89787-6.
Jump up ^ Martin, George R. R. (2005). "Chapter 30: Jaime". A Feast for Crows. pp. 501–518. ISBN 978-0-553-90032-3.
Jump up ^ Martin. "Appendix: The King on the Iron Throne". A Storm of Swords. p. 1131.
^ Jump up to: a b c Martin. "Appendix: House Baratheon". A Game of Thrones. p. 783.
^ Jump up to: a b c Though officially Robert's children, Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen are the products of an incestuous affair between Cersei and Jaime.
Jump up ^ Martin. "Appendix: The Queen Regent". A Feast for Crows. p. 782.
Jump up ^ Martin, George R. R. (2011). "Appendix: The Boy King". A Dance with Dragons. p. 1055. ISBN 978-0-553-90565-6.  [m] [n]
^ Jump up to: a b Martin, George R. R. (2000). "Appendix: House Lannister". A Storm of Swords. ISBN 0-553-10663-5.
^ Jump up to: a b c Martin, George R. R. (2011). "Appendix: House Lannister". A Dance with Dragons. ISBN 978-0553801477.

text: TV adaptation[edit]

text: Jaime is portrayed by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in the HBO adaptation Game of Thrones.[5] His casting was announced on August 20, 2009.[16]

text: In October 2014, Coster-Waldau and several other key cast members, all contracted for six seasons of the series, renegotiated their deals to include a potential seventh season and salary increases for seasons five, six, and seven.[17][18] The Hollywood Reporter called the raises "huge", noting that the deal would make the performers "among the highest-paid actors on cable TV".[17] Deadline.com put the number for season five at "close to $300,000 an episode" for each actor,[18] and The Hollywood Reporter wrote in June 2016 that the performers would each be paid "upward of $500,000 per episode" for seasons seven and the potential eight.[19] In 2017, He became one of the highest paid actor on television and will earn £2 million per episode for the show.[20][21]

text: Matt Fowler of IGN noted in 2013 that "the people who do seem to get redemption arcs on this show are the villains".[22] Over the course of the first three seasons, the series has transitioned Jaime from an obvious villain to an antihero of sorts.[23][24][25] Eric Dodds of Time wrote that Jaime had become "a complex, bizarrely likable character".[2] Andrew Romano of The Daily Beast explained:

text: But Jaime wasn't a black-and-white baddie for long. In fact, GoT spent the next three seasons transforming him into a pretty sympathetic character. The turning point was when Jaime was captured and chained up by the Starks—an ordeal that humbled him, humanized him, and eventually left him without a sword hand, struggling to find a new, post-Kingslayer identity for himself. Sure, Jaime could still slaughter his own cousin to escape captivity. But he could also rescue his sidekick Brienne of Tarth from a bear. And pledge to return the Stark girls to their mother, Catelyn. And refuse to kill his brother Tyrion on Cersei's behalf. And so on. He was a compromised, conflicted asshole—but he was basically trying to do the right thing.[26]

text: Fowler wrote that Jaime's adventure with Brienne was "the best storyline of the season" in Season 3, aside from the Red Wedding.[22]

text: Jaime's apparent rape of Cersei in the fourth season episode "Breaker of Chains" created controversy among fans and journalists, who debated the show's depiction of sexual violence against women as well as Jaime's character development.[23][27][28] The showrunners never commented on what their intention with the scene actually was. The cast members involved initially gave only vague comments, but after the fourth season was released on Blu-ray and the showrunners avoided making any comment about the scene in it (it is conspicuously the only episode which has no commentary track), both Coster-Waldau and Headey publicly stated that the scene was never intended to portray rape at all - they were given no instructions to this effect (such as in the script) nor did they play it that way, and apparently the scene was just edited very confusingly.

text: In the source novel A Storm of Swords, the sex between Jaime and Cersei in the equivalent scene is consensual.[23][26][29][30] Several critics argued that the TV series' change damaged Jaime's redemption arc.[24][25][26][31] Dodds noted that the episode "irreparably changes the way we see Jaime Lannister".[2] Alyssa Rosenberg of The Washington Post wrote:

text: What happens next dramatically complicates the work Game of Thrones has done to make Jaime a more explicable, even sympathetic character, given what we learned of his reasons for killing the king he was sworn to protect. Jaime has experienced profound losses over the last two seasons. His hand and his identity as a fighter have been taken from him. His son has been murdered. His father, a toxic, commanding man has returned to his life. And what Cersei is asking of Jaime is that he remove one of the few remaining things that gives him happiness, the little brother who makes him feel better about his hand, from existence. To assuage her pain and grief, Cersei is asking Jaime to inflict more pain on himself ... But his response is not to stop loving her, not to stop believing that he is victim to the gods. Instead, Jaime rapes his sister, passing that sense of unendurable pain on to her. He must know that this is the worst possible way that he could hurt her. Jaime knew that Robert raped Cersei ... Not only does raping Cersei remind his sister of her repeated, humiliating violation, Jaime is poisoning their own relationship, the thing that had been Cersei’s antidote to the miseries of her marriage. It is an exceptionally cruel thing for Jaime to do.[32]

text: Coster-Waldau said, "If you look closer there are those moments where she—well, I haven't seen the finished edit, of course—but we tried to have it where she goes into it then she pulls away, she goes in then she pulls away, but of course he is forcing himself."[33] Later he and his co-star Lena Headey (Cersei) spoke with Entertainment Weekly during the filming of season 5, admitting that they were never directed or intended to film a rape scene.[34] Headey stated:

text: It’s that terrible thing as a woman—talking about something as horrendous as rape and dismissing it, which I’m not. But we never discussed it as that. It was a woman in grief for her dead child, and the father of the child—who happens to be her brother—who never really acknowledged the children is standing with her. We’ve all experienced grief. There’s a moment of wanting to fill a void, and that is often very visceral, physical. That, for me, is where she was at. There was an emotional block, and [her brother] was just a bit of a drug for her.[34]

text: The Jaime-Cersei scene was subsequently ignored for the rest of Season 4 and the rest of the series. TheMarySue.com concluded that not really referring to the scene again, instead of as a long and developed subplot, trivializes rape—if, in fact, it was ever their actual intention to portray it as a rape scene. In real life a woman would be traumatized by being raped, not act as if nothing had happened immediately afterwards. TheMarySue.com was also critical that even if they didn't intend it as a rape scene, ignoring all questions about the scene and simply hoping they would go away over time was very insensitive to the audience.[35]

text: In 2016, Christopher Hooton wrote for The Independent:

text: Game of Thrones is full of characters who are very sure of themselves ... Except Jaime Lannister, who was given a considerable amount of screen time this week in order to establish a little more complexity in his character. Thus far in the show his character arc has gone from "massive jerk", to "still a massive jerk but admirable in how he withstands imprisonment" to "maybe he's starting to redeem himself". This third strand had waned a little in season 6 as he returned to Cersei's side, but showed glimpses of returning in episode 8 as he was reunited with Brienne, about the only character who can appeal to his sense of guilt and honour.[36]

text: Storylines[edit]

text: First season[edit]

text: Jaime's storyline in the first season remains, for the most part, identical to his book storyline, with only minor details altered. In the aftermath of Jaime's capture, he confesses to Catelyn that he tried to kill Bran, but refuses to reveal why.

text: Second season[edit]

text: Robb brings a captive Jaime with his camp as they march through the Westerlands, as Robb fears Tywin may coerce one of his bannerman into freeing Jaime. At one point Jaime attempts to escape by beating his cousin and fellow inmate Alton Lannister to death and strangling his guard Torrhen Karstark when he comes to investigate; though unsuccessfully, the anger of Torrhen's father Rickard proves fatal for Robb's campaign in the coming months. After Jaime goads Catelyn by mentioning Ned's infidelity, she releases him and has Brienne of Tarth escort him to King's Landing to trade for Sansa and Arya.

text: Third season[edit]

text: Jaime and Brienne are captured by a squad of Bolton soldiers. Jaime manages to convince them not to rape Brienne, but their leader Locke takes umbrage when Jaime tries to use his status to secure his own release and chops off Jaime's sword hand. The two are taken to Harrenhal, where the former maester Qyburn treats Jaime's wound and Jaime reveals to Brienne why he killed Aerys. Roose Bolton lets Jaime return to King's Landing but insists on keeping Brienne prisoner for abetting treason, though Jaime ultimately returns to rescue Brienne from being killed by a bear for Locke's amusement. The two return to King's Landing and Jaime is reunited with Cersei.

text: Fourth season[edit]

text: Tywin gifts Jaime a sword forged from Ice and asks him to resign from the Kingsguard and rule Casterly Rock, disowning him when he refuses. Qyburn fits Jaime with a gilded steel hand and Tyrion arranges for Jaime to have sword lessons with his bodyguard Bronn. Cersei initially refuses to resume their relationship, but ultimately relents and has sex with Jaime in front of Joffrey's body, lying in state. Jaime gifts Brienne Tywin's sword and the services of Tyrion's squire Podrick Payne, asking her to find Arya and Sansa and take them to safety. With Tyrion accused of Joffrey's murder, Jaime convinces Tywin to spare Tyrion in return for leaving the Kingsguard, though Tyrion later chooses trial by combat. Tyrion loses the trial and is sentenced to death, but Jaime releases him from his cell and helps him escape to Essos.

text: Fifth season[edit]

text: Cersei guilts Jaime for releasing Tyrion, and Jaime later admits to Bronn that he will kill Tyrion the next time they meet. When a message arrives from the Martells subtly threatening Myrcella as revenge for Prince Oberyn Martell's death in Tyrion's trial by combat, Jaime and Bronn travel to Dorne in secret to retrieve her. As they make their escape they are accosted by Oberyn's bastard daughters, the Sand Snakes, and engage in a fight before all five are arrested by the Water Gardens' palace guards. Doran Martell realises that the message was sent by Oberyn's paramour Ellaria Sand and decides to send Myrcella and his own son Trystane back to King's Landing with Jaime. As the ship sets sail, Myrcella admits to Jaime that she knows and is happy that he is her father. The two share a brief embrace before Myrcella suddenly collapses and dies, having been poisoned by Ellaria.

text: Sixth season[edit]

text: Jaime returns to King's Landing with Myrcella's corpse. He orders Trystane to stay on the boat outside the city to protect him from Cersei's wrath, and sends word to Doran naming Ellaria as Myrcella's killer, though Ellaria promptly kills Doran, has Obara and Nymeria kill Trystane and seizes control of Dorne. At Myrcella's funeral, Jaime confronts the religious leader, the High Sparrow, for having forced Cersei to walk naked through the streets of King's Landing as punishment for adultery, but is forced to stand down at the arrival of the Faith Militant. Jaime enlists the Tyrell army to march on the Sept of Baelor to secure the release of Margaery and Loras Tyrell. However, they find that Margaery has seemingly become a follower of the High Sparrow and that Tommen has forged an alliance with the Faith Militant. As punishment for taking up arms against the Faith, Jaime is removed from the Kingsguard. He is sent to Riverrun with Bronn to assist House Frey in ousting Brynden "Blackfish" Tully and the occupying Tully forces. After a failed parlay, Brienne arrives and beseeches Jaime to end the siege without bloodshed, so the Tully rebels can help Sansa Stark retake Winterfell. Brienne also fails, so Jaime manipulates the captured Edmure Tully into thinking his infant son will be killed if Edmure does not order a surrender. Edmure is released and promptly opens the gates to the Lannisters. Jaime sees Brienne and Podrick fleeing by boat from the castle walls, but only waves a discreet farewell and does not alert his men.

text: After traveling to House Frey's fortress The Twins for a feast celebrating their victory, Jaime returns to King's Landing, and is horrified to discover that the Great Sept has been destroyed as a result of Cersei's plotting. He returns to the Red Keep in time to witness Cersei being crowned as Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, immediately realizing that Cersei essentially murdered the Faith Militant, the Tyrells, Grand Maester Pycelle and their uncle Kevan to acquire her new power.

text: Seventh season[edit]

text: Despite his discomfort at the circumstances leading to Cersei's coronation, Jaime remains loyal to his sister, with Daenerys Targaryen and her forces sailing on Westeros. Cersei agrees to marry Euron Greyjoy after the war against Daenerys is won, but continues her relationship with Jaime, no longer attempting to hide their intimacy to their servants. Jaime negotiates with Randyll Tarly to pledge allegiance to the Lannisters; with the help of House Tarly's forces he leads the Lannister army to defeat the Tyrell army at Highgarden, following Olenna Tyrell's defection to Daenerys following Cersei's role in the death of the other Tyrells. In the aftermath of the battle, Jaime allows Olenna to commit suicide by poisoning. Before she dies, Olenna reveals that she was responsible for poisoning Joffrey.

text: As the Lannister forces return to King's Landing, they are attacked by Daenerys, with her horde of Dothraki and her dragon Drogon. Although the Lannisters suffer heavy casualties, Daenerys is forced to dismount Drogon after Bronn wounds the dragon with a scorpion. Jaime attempts to kill Daenerys but is narrowly saved from being burned alive by Drogon by Bronn's intervention. Jaime and Bronn fall into the Blackwater Rush, and survive the battle by being carried downstream and away from the carnage. Jaime returns to King's Landing, where he warns Cersei that the Lannisters are doomed if Daenerys escalates the conflict further and tells her of Olenna's confession.

text: Bronn takes Jaime to the Red Keep cellars under the pretense of training him; however, this is a ruse to allow Tyrion (who is now Hand to Daenerys) to speak with Jaime. Tyrion suggests a ceasefire so that Westeros can fight the threat posed by the White Walkers instead and proposes a meeting between Daenerys and Cersei so Jon Snow can present evidence of their existence. Jaime is apparently convinced by Tyrion and relays the message to Cersei. Cersei is skeptical, but remains adamant that the Lannisters will prevail against any foe. She also reveals that she is pregnant with Jaime's child.

text: At the meeting, Jon and Daenerys present a wight, convincing the Lannisters of the White Walkers' existence. After some persuasion from Tyrion, Cersei declares that she will order the Lannister forces north to aid in the war against the army of the dead. However, when Jaime begins organising the march north, she reveals to him that she was lying and will not intervene until either of the two enemies - dead and living - are defeated. Outraged by Cersei's shortsightedness and selfishness, Jaime leaves Cersei's side and rides north alone.

text: Reception[edit]

text: Matt Roush wrote for TV Guide that Coster-Waldau plays "dastardly" Jaime "with malevolent charisma",[37] and Dodds noted that, despite the "despicable things" he has done, "the Kingslayer remains one of Game of Thrones' most popular characters".[2] Matthew Gilbert of The Boston Globe wrote:

text: The most riveting characters are the most self-serving, notably the queen, Cersei ... and her twin brother Jaime Lannister ... with whom she is having an incestuous affair. They have gorgeous, aristocratic features, but they are pure, compelling evil.[38]

text: Recognition and awards[edit]

text: Coster-Waldau has received several nominations for his portrayal of Jaime, including the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2013,[39] the Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film in 2013,[40] the Gold Derby TV Award for Best Drama Supporting Actor in 2013,[41] the People's Choice Award for Favorite TV Anti-Hero in 2014,[42] the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television in 2014,[43] and the Zulu Award for Best Actor in 2017.[44]


document_title: Premature rupture of membranes

question_text: risk for infection related to premature rupture of membrane

root

text: Premature rupture of membranes

text: Classification[edit]

text:
Premature rupture of membranes (PROM): when the fetal membranes rupture early, at least one hour before labor has started.[3]
Prolonged PROM: a case of premature rupture of membranes in which more than 24 hours has passed between the rupture and the onset of labor.[4]
Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM): premature rupture of membranes that occurs before 37 weeks.
Midtrimester PPROM or Pre-viable PPROM: premature rupture of membranes that occurs before 24 weeks' completed gestational age of the fetus. Before this age, the fetus cannot survive outside of the mother's womb.[5]

tag: ul

text: Signs and symptoms[edit]

text: Most women will experience a painless leakage of fluid out of the vagina. They may notice either a distinct "gush" or a steady flow of small amounts of watery fluid in the absence of steady labor contractions.[3] Loss of fluid may be associated with the fetus becoming easier to feel through the belly (due to the loss of the surrounding fluid), decreased uterine size, or meconium (fetal stool) seen in the fluid.[4]

tag: p

text: Risk factors[edit]

text: The cause of premature rupture of membranes (PROM) is not clearly understood, but the following are risk factors that have been shown to increase the chance of it happening. In many cases, however, no risk factor is identified.[6]

text:
Infections: urinary tract infection, sexually transmitted diseases, lower genital infections (e.g. bacterial vaginosis),[3] infections within the amniotic sac membranes[1]
Cigarette smoking during pregnancy[6]
Illicit drug use during pregnancy[1]
Having had PROM or preterm delivery in previous pregnancies[3]
Polyhydramnios: too much amniotic fluid [4]
Multiple gestation: being pregnant with two or more fetuses at one time[3]
Having had episodes of bleeding anytime during the pregnancy[3]
Invasive procedures (ex: amniocentesis)[4]
Nutritional deficits[6]
Cervical insufficiency: having a short or prematurely dilated cervix during pregnancy[4]
Low socioeconomic status[6]
Being underweight[6]

text: Pathophysiology[edit]

text: Weakened fetal membranes[edit]

text: Fetal membranes likely break because they become weak and fragile. This weakening is a normal process that typically happens at term as the body prepares for labor and delivery. But, this can be a problem when it occurs pre-term (before 37 weeks). The natural weakening of fetal membranes is thought to be due to one or a combination of the following. In premature rupture of membranes, these processes are activated too early:

text:
Cell death: when cells undergo programmed cell death, they release chemical markers that are detected in higher concentrations in cases of PPROM.
Poor assembly of collagen: collagen is a molecule that gives fetal membranes their strength. In cases of PPROM, proteins that bind and cross-link collagen to increase its tensile strength are altered.
Breakdown of collagen: collagen is broken down by enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are found at higher levels in PPROM amniotic fluid, this MMPs will break down the strength-bearing collagen, so Prostaglandin production will be synthesised in high amount to prompt the uterine contraction and cervical ripening . Matrix metalloproteinases are inhibited by tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) which are found at lower levels in PPROM amniotic fluid.[6]

text: Infection[edit]

text: Infection and inflammation likely explains why membranes break earlier than they are supposed to. In studies, bacteria have been found in the amniotic fluid from about one-third of cases of PROM. Often, testing of the amniotic fluid is normal, but a subclinical infection (too small to detect) or infection of maternal tissues next to the amniotic fluid, may still be contributing. In response to infection, the body creates inflammation by making chemicals (ex: cytokines) that weaken the fetal membranes and put them at risk for rupture.[6] Premature rupture of membranes is also a risk factor in the development of neonatal infection.

text: Genetics[edit]

text: Many genes play a role in inflammation and collagen production, therefore inherited genes may play a role in predisposing a person to PROM.[6]

text: Diagnosis[edit]

text: To know for sure if a woman has experienced premature rupture of membranes (PROM), a health care clinician must prove that (1) the fluid leaking from the vagina is amniotic fluid, and (2) that labor has not yet started. To do this, a health care clinician will take a medical history, do a gynecological exam using a sterile speculum, and ultrasound.[4]

text:
History: a person with PROM typically recalls a sudden gush of fluid loss from the vagina, or steady loss of small amounts of fluid.[4]
Sterile speculum exam: a health care clinician will insert a sterile speculum into the vagina in order to see inside and perform the following evaluations. Digital cervical exams, in which gloved fingers are inserted into the vagina to measure the cervix, are avoided until the women is in active labor to reduce the risk of infection.[5]

Pooling test: Pooling is when a collection of amniotic fluid can be seen in the back of the vagina (vaginal fornix). Sometimes leakage of fluid from the cervical opening can be seen when the person coughs or does a valsalva maneuver.[4]
Nitrazine test: A sterile cotton swab is used to collect fluid from the vagina and place it on nitrazine (phenaphthazine) paper. Amniotic fluid is mildly basic (pH 7.1–7.3) compared to normal vaginal secretions which are acidic (pH 4.5–6).[6] Basic fluid, like amniotic fluid, will turn the nitrazine paper from orange to dark blue.[4]
Fern test: A sterile cotton swab is used to collect fluid from the vagina and place it on a microscope slide. After drying, amniotic fluid will form a crystallization pattern called arborization[1] which resembles leaves of a fern plant when viewed under a microscope.[3]
Fibronectin and alpha-fetoprotein

text: Extra tests[edit]

text: The following tests should only be used if the diagnosis is still unclear after the standard tests above.

text:
Ultrasound: Ultrasound can measure the amount of fluid still in the uterus surrounding the fetus. If the fluid levels are low, PROM is more likely.[3] This is helpful in cases when the diagnosis is not certain, but is not, by itself, definitive.[1]
Immune-chromatological tests are helpful if negative to rule out PROM, but are not that helpful if positive because the false-positive rate is 19–30%.[1]
Indigo carmine dye test: In this test, a needle is used to inject indigo carmine dye (blue) into the amniotic fluid that remains in the uterus through the abdominal wall. In the case of PROM, blue dye can be seen on a stained tampon or pad after about 15–30 minutes.[4] This method can be used to definitively make a diagnosis, but is rarely done because it is invasive and increases risk of infection. But, can be helpful if the diagnosis is still unclear after the above evaluations have been done.[4]

text: It is unclear if different methods of assessing the fetus in a woman with PPROM affects outcomes.[7]

text: False positives[edit]

text: Like amniotic fluid, blood, semen, vaginal infections,[4] antiseptics,[6] basic urine, and cervical mucus[3] also have a basic pH and can also turn nitrazine paper blue.[4] Cervical mucus can also make a pattern similar to ferning on a microscope slide, but it is usually patchy[4] and with less branching.[3]

text: Differential diagnosis[edit]

text: Other things to keep in mind that may present similarly to premature rupture of membranes are the following:[3]

text:
Urinary incontinence: leakage of small amounts of urine is common in the last part of pregnancy
Normal vaginal secretions of pregnancy
Increased sweat or moisture around the perineum
Increased cervical discharge: this can happen when there is a genital tract infection
Semen
Douching
Vesicovaginal fistula: an abnormal connection between the bladder and the vagina
Loss of the mucus plug

text: Prevention[edit]

text: Women who have had premature rupture of membranes (PROM) are more likely to experience it in future pregnancies.[1] There is not enough data to recommend a way to specifically prevent future PROM. However, any woman that has had a history of preterm delivery, because of PROM or not, is recommended to take progesterone supplementation to prevent preterm birth recurrence.[1][4]

text: Management[edit]

text:
Summary by fetal age[1]

Fetal age

Management

Term

> 37 weeks

Induction of labor
Antibiotics if needed to prevent GBS transmission

Late Pre-term

34–36 weeks

Same as for term

Preterm

24–33 weeks

Watchful waiting (expectant management)
Tocolytics to prevent the beginning of labor
Magnesium sulfate infusion for 24–48 hours to allow maximum efficacy of steroids for fetal lungs (tocolytic) and also confer benefit to fetal brain and gut before delivery
One time dose of corticosteroids (2 separate administrations, 12–24 hours apart) before 34 weeks
Antibiotics if needed to prevent GBS transmission

Pre-viable

< 24 weeks

Discussion of watchful waiting or induction of labor
No latency antibiotics, corticosteroids, tocolysis, or MgSO4

tag: table

text: The management of PROM remains controversial, and depends largely on the gestational age of the fetus and other complicating factors. The risks of quick delivery (induction of labor) vs. watchful waiting in each case is carefully considered before deciding on a course of action.[1]

text: As of 2012, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists advised, based on expert opinion and not clinical evidence, that attempted delivery during maternal instability, increases the rates of both fetal death and maternal death, unless the source of instability is an intrauterine infection.[8]

text: In all women with PROM, the age of the fetus, its position in the uterus, and its wellbeing should be evaluated. This can be done with ultrasound, electronic fetal heart rate monitoring, and uterine activity monitoring. This will also show whether or not uterine contractions are happening which may be a sign that labor is starting. Signs and symptoms of infection should be closely monitored, and, if not already done, a group B streptococcus (GBS) culture should be collected.

text: At any age, if the fetal well-being appears to be compromised, or if intrauterine infection is suspected, the baby should be delivered quickly by artificially stimulating labor (induction of labor).[1][5]

text: PROM at term[edit]

text: Both expectant management (watchful waiting) and an induction of labor (artificially stimulating labor) are considered in this case. 90% of women start labor on their own within 24 hours, and therefore it is reasonable to wait for 12–24 hours as long as there is no risk of infection.[5] However, if labor does not begin soon after the rupture of membranes, an induction of labor is recommended because it reduces rates of infections, decreases the chances that the baby will require a stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and does not increase the rate of cesarean sections.[1] If a woman strongly does not want to be induced, watchful waiting is an acceptable option as long as there is no sign of infection, the fetus is not in distress, and she is aware and accepts the risks of prolonged PROM.[1] There is not enough data to show that the use of prophylactic antibiotics (to prevent infection) is beneficial for mothers or babies at or near term. Because of the potential side effects and development of antibiotic resistance, the use of antibiotics without the presence of infection is not recommended in this case.[9]

text: PPROM greater than 34 weeks[edit]

text: When the fetus is premature (< 37 weeks), the risk of being born prematurely must be weighed against the risk of prolonged membrane rupture. As long as the fetus is 34 weeks or greater, delivery is recommended as if the baby was term (see above).[1][3]

text: PPROM less than 34 weeks[edit]

text: Before 34 weeks, the fetus is at a much higher risk of the complications of prematurity. Therefore, as long as the fetus is doing well, and there are no signs of infection or placental abruption, watchful waiting (expectant management) is recommended.[1] The younger the fetus, the longer it takes for labor to start on its own,[4] but most women will deliver within a week.[6] Waiting usually requires a woman to stay in the hospital so that health care providers can watch her carefully for infection, placental abruption, umbilical cord compression, or any other fetal emergency that would require quick delivery by induction of labor.[1]

text: In 2017, a review of watchful waiting vs the early birth strategy was conducted to ascertain which was associated with a lower overall risk. Focusing on the 24–37-week range, the review analysed twelve randomised controlled trials from the "Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth's Trials Register", concluding that "In women with PPROM before 37 weeks' gestation with no contraindications to continuing the pregnancy, a policy of expectant management with careful monitoring was associated with better outcomes for the mother and baby".[10] There is believed to be a correlation between volume of amniotic fluid retained and neonatal outcomes before 26 weeks' gestation.[6] Amniotic fluid levels are an important consideration when debating expectant management vs clinical intervention, as low levels, or oligohydramnios, can result in lung and limb abnormalities.[6] Additionally, labor and infection are less likely to occur when there are sufficient levels of amniotic fluid remaining in the uterus.[3]

text: Recommended[edit]

text:
Monitoring for infection: signs of infection include a fever in the mother, fetal tachycardia (fast heart rate of the fetus, > 160 beats per minute), or tachycardia in the mother (> 100 beats per minute). White blood cell (WBC) counts are not helpful in this case because WBC's are normally high in late pregnancy.[1]
Steroids before birth: corticosteroids (betamethasone) given to the mother of a baby at risk of being born prematurely can speed up fetal lung development and reduce the risk of death of the infant, respiratory distress syndrome, brain bleeds, and bowel death.[1] It is recommended that mothers receive one course of corticosteroids between 24 and 34 weeks when there is a risk of preterm delivery. In cases of PPROM these medications do not increase the risk of infection even though steroids are known to suppress the immune system. More than two courses is not recommended because three or more can lead to small birth weight and small head circumference.[1] In pregnancies between 32 and 34 weeks (right around the time that fetal lungs mature) vaginal fluid can be tested to determine fetal lung maturity using chemical markers which can help to decide if corticosteroids should be given.[4]
Magnesium sulfate: Intravenous magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) is given to the mother in cases when there is a risk of pre-term birth before 32 weeks. This has been shown to protect the fetal brain and reduce the risk of cerebral palsy.[1]
Latency Antibiotics: The time from rupture of membranes to labor is termed the latency period, and there is an inverse relationship between gestational age and the length of latency, meaning that the earlier the rupture, the longer it will take for labor to begin naturally.[3] As expected, antibiotics given to mothers that experience PPROM serve to protect against infections during this lengthened latency period. Additionally, antibiotics increase the time that babies stay in the womb. Antibiotics don't seem to prevent death or make a difference in the long-term (years after the baby is born). But, because of the short-term benefits, routine use of antibiotics in PPROM is still recommended.[11] The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends a seven-day course of intravenous ampicillin and erythromycin followed by oral amoxicillin and erythromycin if watchful waiting is attempted before 34 weeks.[1] Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid increases the risk of fetal bowel death (necrotizing enterocolitis) and should be avoided in pregnancy.[1]
Prophylactic Antibiotics: If a woman is colonized with group B strep, than the typical use of antibiotics during labor is recommended to prevent transmission of this bacteria to the fetus, regardless of earlier treatments.[1]

text: Controversial or not recommended[edit]

text:
Preventative tocolysis (medications to prevent contractions): the use of tocolytic medications to prevent labor contractions is controversial. On the one hand, this can delay delivery and allow the fetus more time to develop and benefit from antenatal corticosteroid medication, on the other hand it increases the risk of infection/chorioamnionitis. The use of tocolysis has not shown to benefit mom or baby and currently there is not enough data to recommend or discourage its use in the case of preterm PROM.[1][2]
Therapeutic tocolysis (medications to stop contractions): Once labor has started, using tocolysis to stop labor has not been shown to help, and is not recommended.[1]
Amnioinfusion: This treatment attempts to replace the lost amniotic fluid from the uterus by infusing normal saline fluid into the uterine cavity. This can be done through the vagina and cervix (transcervical amnioinfusion) or by passing a needle through the abdominal wall (transabdominal amnioinfusion). Current data suggests that this treatment prevents infection, lung problems, and fetal death. However, there have not been enough trials to recommend its routine use in all cases of PPROM.[12]
Home care: Typically women with PPROM are managed in the hospital, but, occasionally they opt to go home if watchful waiting is attempted. Since labor usually starts soon after PPROM, and infection, umbilical cord compression, and other fetal emergencies can happen very suddenly, it is recommended that women stay in the hospital in cases of PPROM after 24 weeks.[1] Currently, there is not enough evidence to determine meaningful differences in safety, cost, and women's views between management at home vs. the hospital.[13]
Sealing membranes after rupture: Infection is the major risk associated with PROM and PPROM.[14] By closing the ruptured membranes, it is hoped that there would be a decrease in infection, as well as encouraging the re-accumulation of amniotic fluid in the uterus to protect the fetus and allow for further lung development. When compared to the current standard of care, both mechanical sealing and stimulating the mother's immune system to repair the membranes (immunological sealing) fail to provide strong evidence of improved maternal or neonatal outcomes.[15]

text: Pre-viable PPROM[edit]

text: Before 24 weeks, a fetus is not viable meaning it cannot live outside the mother. In this case, either watchful waiting at home or an induction of labor done.[1]

text: Because the risk of infection is so high, the mother should check her temperature often and return to the hospital if she develops any signs or symptoms of infection, labor, or vaginal bleeding. These women are typically admitted to the hospital once their fetus reaches 24 weeks and then managed the same as women with PPROM before 34 weeks (discussed above). When possible, these deliveries should take place in a hospital that has expertise in the management of the potential maternal and neonatal complications, and has the necessary infrastructure in place to support the care of these patients (ie. neonatal intensive care unit).[16] Antenatal corticosteroids, latency antibiotics, magnesium sulfate, and tocolytic medications are not recommended until the fetus reaches viability (24 weeks).[1] In cases of pre-viable PPROM, chance of survival of the fetus is between 15–50%, and the risk of chorioamnionitis is about 30%.[4]

text: Chorioamnionitis[edit]

text: Chorioamnionitis is a bacterial infection of the fetal membranes, which can be life-threatening to both mother and fetus. Women with PROM at any age are at high risk of infection because the membranes are open and allow bacteria to enter. Women are checked often (usually every 4 hours) for signs of infection: fever ( > 38 °C/100.5 °F), uterine pain, fast maternal heart rate (>100 beats per minute), fast fetal heart rate (>160 beats per minute), or foul-smelling amniotic fluid.[6] Elevated white blood cells are not a good way to predict infection because they are normally high in labor.[4] If infection is suspected, artificial induction of labor is started at any gestational age and broad antibiotics are given. Caesarean section should not be automatically done in cases of infection, and should only be reserved for the usual fetal emergencies.[4]

text: Outcomes[edit]

text: The consequences of PROM depend on the gestational age of the fetus.[3] When PROM occurs at term (after 37 weeks), it is typically followed soon thereafter by the start of labor and delivery. About half of women will give birth within 5 hours, and 95% will give birth within 28 hours without any intervention.[1] The younger the fetus, the longer the latency period (time between membrane rupture and start of labor). Rarely, in cases of preterm PROM, amniotic fluid will stop leaking and the amniotic fluid volume will return to normal.[1]

text: Infection (any age)[edit]

text: At any gestational age, an opening in the fetal membranes provides a route for bacteria to enter the womb. This can lead to chorioamnionitis (an infection of the fetal membranes and amniotic fluid) which can be life-threatening to both the mother and fetus.[3] The risk of infection increases the longer the membranes remain open and baby undelivered.[1] Women with preterm PROM will develop an intramniotic infection 15–25% of the time, and the chances of infection increase at earlier gestational ages.[1]

text: Pre-term birth (before 37 weeks)[edit]

text: PROM occurring before 37 weeks (PPROM) is one of the leading causes of preterm birth. Thirty to 35% of all preterm births are caused by PPROM.[6] This puts the fetus at risk for the many complications associated with prematurity such as respiratory distress, brain bleeds, infection, necrotizing enterocolitis (death of the fetal bowels), brain injury, muscle dysfunction, and death.[3] Prematurity from any cause leads to 75% of perinatal mortality and about 50% of all long-term morbidity.[17] PROM is responsible for 20% of all fetal deaths between 24 and 34 weeks' gestation.[6]

text: Fetal development (before 24 weeks)[edit]

text: Before 24 weeks the fetus is still developing its organs, and the amniotic fluid is important for protecting the fetus against infection, physical impact, and for preventing the umbilical cord from becoming compressed. It also allows for fetal movement and breathing that is necessary for the development of the lungs, chest, and bones.[3] Low levels of amniotic fluid due to mid-trimester or previable PPROM (before 24 weeks) can result in fetal deformity (ex: Potter-like facies), limb contractures, pulmonary hypoplasia (underdeveloped lungs),[1] infection (especially if the mother is colonized by group B streptococcus or bacterial vaginosis), prolapsed umbilical cord or compression, and placental abruption.[4]

text: PROM after second-trimester amniocentesis[edit]

text: Most cases of PROM occur spontaneously, but the risk of PROM in women undergoing a second trimester amniocentesis for prenatal diagnosis of genetic disorders is 1%. Although, no studies are known to account for all cases of PROM that stem from amniocentesis. This case, the chances of the membranes healing on their own and the amniotic fluid returning to normal levels is much higher than spontaneous PROM. Compared to spontaneous PROM, about 70% of women will have normal amniotic fluid levels within one month, and about 90% of babies will survive.[1]

text: Epidemiology[edit]

text: PROM occurs in about 10–12% of all births in the United States.[1][3][4] Of all term pregnancies (> 37 weeks) about 8% are complicated by PROM,[6] 20% of these become prolonged PROM.[4] About 30% of all preterm deliveries (before 37 weeks) are complicated by PPROM, and rupture of membranes before viability (before 24 weeks) occurs in less than 1% of all pregnancies.[1] Since there are significantly fewer preterm deliveries than term deliveries, the number of PPROM cases make up only about 5% of all cases of PROM.[4]


document_title: America's Got Talent

question_text: when do americas got talent episodes come out

question_tokens: when do americas got talent episodes come out

text: America's Got Talent

text: Format[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. (July 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

text: Auditions[edit]

text: The general selection process of each season is begun by the production team with open auditions held in various cities across the United States. Dubbed "Producers' Auditions", they are held months before the main stage of auditions are held.[7] Those that make it through the initial stage, become participants in the "Judges' Auditions", which are held in select cities across the country, and attended by the judges. Each participant is held offstage and awaits their turn to perform before the judges, whereupon they are given 90 seconds to demonstrate their act, with a live audience present for all performances. At the end of a performance, the judges give constructive criticism and feedback about what they saw, whereupon they each give a vote - a participant who receives a majority vote approving their performance, moves on to the next stage, otherwise they are eliminated from the programme at that stage. Each judge is given a buzzer, and may use it during a performance if they are unimpressed, hate what is being performed, or feel the act is a waste of their time; if a participant is buzzed by all judges, their performance is automatically over and they are eliminated without being given a vote. Many acts that move on may be cut by producers and may forfeit due to the limited slots available for the second performance. Filming for each season always takes place when the Judges' Auditions are taking place, with the show's presenter standing in the wings of each venue's stage to interview and give personal commentary on a participant's performance.

text: Between the fifth and seventh season, 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. Before the inclusion of this round, the show had a separate audition episode in Seasons 3 and 4 (2008–2009) for contestants who posted videos on MySpace.[10]

text: In the ninth season, the show added a new format to the auditions in the form of the "Golden Buzzer", which began to make appearances within the Got Talent franchise, since it was first introduced on Germany's Got Talent. During auditions, each judge is allowed to use the Golden Buzzer to send an act automatically into the live shows, regardless of the opinion of the other judges; when it was initially used, the buzzer simply saved an act from elimination. The only rule to the buzzer was that a judge could use it only once per season; the host was later allowed to use the Golden Buzzer for an act from the eleventh season.

text: Judge Cuts[edit]

text: Following auditions, successful entries take part in a second stage of the talent competition, in which they are separated out into a number of groups. Over the course of several weeks, each group performs per week, at a fixed venue, in which that group's participants each attempt to secure a place in the live show by performing a new variation of their act for the judges. Of these acts, the judges chose around 10 from each group to perform in the live shows; in some seasons, participants eliminated at this stage were given a chance to still appear in the live shows by being selected as a "wildcard" act. The judges have access to their buzzers and if an act is buzzed by all of them, they are immediately eliminated from the competition. Until the second season, acts did not have to perform a second time, instead moving on into the live shows, with the judges given a list of the acts who would appear in each live episode. From the second season to the eighth, this stage was dubbed as the "Las Vegas" due to the fixed venue being situated upon the Las Vegas Strip, while in the ninth series, acts performed in New York, with the stage dubbed "Judgement Week".[11]

text: From the tenth season, the stage's format was changed and renamed as "Judge Cuts". In each round, the judging panel were joined by a guest judge who helped with making decisions on which act could move on to the live shows. Like the auditions, the guest judge could use a Golden Buzzer for an act, but once used, it could not be used again. Unlike previous seasons, the Judge Cuts featured twenty acts per round, with seven acts advancing into the live shows, including the one chosen by the guest's golden buzzer. Unlike the previous format for the stage, the venue used varied, but included the CBS Studio Center and the NBC Universal Back Lot.

text: Live shows[edit]

text: During the live shows, the final selection of participants, which has ranged from between 20 to 60 acts and include those that were chosen as Wildcards by the judges or received the Golden Buzzer, are divided into groups and compete against each other for viewers' and judges' votes. The general structure of the live episodes focuses first on four quarterfinals, and then two semi-finals, aimed at finding that season's finalists. Additional rounds are conducted when required (such as a "Top 8" or a "Top 10", depending on the season). Live episodes are broadcast weekly, and featured performances by guest stars, including previous winners of America's Got Talent. During these stages, the judges still provide feedback on an act's performance when it is over, and can use buzzers to prematurely end an performance before it is over; in the first season, the judges could not end a performance before it was over. Acts which don't secure a sufficient amount of votes by the public and/or the judges, are eliminated from the competition.

text: Those that make it into the season's final compete against each other to secure the most votes from the public, with the number of finalists varying between seasons. The act which does is declared the winner for that season, in which they secure the programme's cash prize of  $1 million, and, since Season 3 (2008), a chance to headline a show on the Las Vegas Strip. Between the fifth and eighth season, the winner was also made the headline act of a national tour with runners up following the final show, stopping in 25 cities.[12][13] 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.[14] (See #America's Got Talent Live, below.)

text: Judges and Presenters[edit]

text:
Season

Presenter

Judges (chair's order)

1

2

3

4

1

Regis Philbin

Piers Morgan

Brandy

David Hasselhoff

N/A

2

JerrySpringer

Sharon Osbourne

3

4

NickCannon

5

Howie Mandel

6

7

Howard Stern

8

Heidi Klum

Mel B

Howie Mandel

9

10

11

Howie Mandel

Mel B

Heidi Klum

Simon Cowell

12

TyraBanks

13

text: In its first season, the judging panel consisted originally of David Hasselhoff, Brandy Norwood, and Piers Morgan, with the program hosted by Regis Philbin. Prior to the start of the second season, Norwood was forced to step down due to a legal matter she was caught up in,[15][16] leading to her being replaced by Sharon Osbourne,[17] while Philbin was replaced by Jerry Springer as the show's host.[18] Further changes were made to the panel and show's host, as a direct result of each respective member having a need to focus on other TV commitments - Springer was forced to leave after the third season, and was replaced by Nick Cannon for the fourth season;[19] Hasselhoff left the show after the fourth season, and so was replaced by Howie Mandel for the fifth season as a direct result;[citation needed] Morgan left after the sixth season, leading to him being replaced by Howard Stern for the seventh season.

text: In August 2012, Osbourne left the program following a dispute with NBC.[20][21] While the network replaced her with former Spice Girls member Mel B in February 2013,[22] the production staff decided to expand the number of judges in the panel to four - such a format change had already been occurring in other international versions of the competition, such as on Britain's Got Talent two years prior. In March 2013, supermodel Heidi Klum was announced as joining the panel for the eighth season, confirming reports that the show would include a fourth judge into its format.[23] In October 2015, Stern was replaced by Simon Cowell for the eleventh season.[4] After his eighth year hosting America's Got Talent, Cannon announced plans to retire from the show due to comments he made about the network;[24] despite being under contract to continue his hosting duties, NBC eventually replaced him with Tyra Banks for the twelfth season.[2]

text: Judge Cuts Guest Judge[edit]

text:
Season

Judge Cuts 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

DJ Khaled

Laverne Cox

Seal

13

Ken Jeong

Olivia Munn

Martina McBride

Chris Hardwick

text: Season synopses[edit]

text:
Season

Premiere

Finale

Winner

Runner-up

Third place

1

June 21, 2006

August 17, 2006

Bianca Ryan

All That

The Millers

2

June 5, 2007

August 21, 2007

Terry Fator

Cas Haley

Butterscotch

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

5

June 1, 2010

September 15, 2010

Michael Grimm

Jackie Evancho

Fighting Gravity

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

8

June 4, 2013

September 18, 2013

Kenichi Ebina

Taylor Williamson

Jimmy Rose

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

12

May 30, 2017

September 20, 2017

Darci Lynne Farmer

Angelica Hale

Light Balance

13

May 29, 2018

September 19, 2018

TBA

TBA

TBA

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.[25]

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.[26] In March, NBC announced that Philbin would not return as host of the show, and that Jerry Springer would succeed him as host,[27] 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.[28]

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.[29]

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.[30] 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[31] and was replaced by comedian and game show host Howie Mandel. This made Piers Morgan the only original judge left in the show.[32] The show premiered Tuesday, June 1, 2010, at 8 pm ET. Afterward, Talent resumed the same time slot as the previous season.[33]

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.[12][13]

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.[34]

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.[35] 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,[36] 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.[37] 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.[38] 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.[39]

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.[40] 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,[41] but later said that she was staying with the show "for now."[42] Osbourne confirmed that she would be leaving the show after a feud with NBC on August 6, 2012.[43][44]

text: On February 20, 2013, it was announced that one of the Spice Girls members, Mel B (Melanie Brown), would be joining the show as the new fourth judge. Entertainment Weekly also reported at the same time that NBC was looking at a possible fourth judge to be added.[45] On March 3, it was announced that supermodel Heidi Klum would replace Sharon Osbourne as the third judge.[46]

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.[47] America's Got Talent moved its live shows to Radio City Music Hall in New York for season eight.[48] 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.[48]

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.[49] 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.[50] 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.[51]

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.[11] 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.[52]

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.[53]

text: Howard Stern rumored on his radio show on October 1, 2014, that he might not return,[54] but announced on December 8 that he would return for the upcoming season. Nick Cannon returned for his seventh season as host.[55] On February 9, 2015, Howie Mandel said he would return for season ten[56] and Mel B announced the next day that she would be returning as well.[57] It was revealed on February 11 that Heidi Klum would also be returning.[58]

text: It was announced on December 4, 2014, that Cris Judd would be named as a dance scout.[59] 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.[48][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.[4] Mel B, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel all returned as judges, with Nick Cannon returning as host. The live shows moved from New York back to Los Angeles, due to Stern's departure,[66] 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 second female and second child to win America's Got Talent (Bianca Ryan, age 11, was first). Magician mentalists The Clairvoyants were runners-up, and magician Jon Dorenbos placed third.

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, Cannon announced he would not return as host for the twelfth season, citing creative differences between him and executives at NBC. The resignation came in the wake of news that the network considered firing Cannon after he made disparaging remarks about NBC in his Showtime comedy special Stand Up, Don't Shoot.[72] NBC selected Tyra Banks as the new host for season 12,[2] which premiered on Tuesday, May 30, 2017.[73]

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, and Ukrainian dance act Light Balance finished in third place. Deaf musician Mandy Harvey and dog act Sara & Hero rounded out the top five.

text: Season 13 (2018)[edit]

text: On February 21, 2018, it was announced that judges Simon Cowell, Mel B, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel along with Tyra Banks would all be returning. The season premiered on May 29, 2018.[6]

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.[74]

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 headliner of the show.[75]

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.[76] 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.[14]

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.[77]

text: In 2017, four shows were given at the Planet Hollywood Resort in Las Vegas. They featured winner Darci Lynne, runner-up Angelica Hale, third-placed Light Balance, and finalist Preacher Lawson.[78]

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.[79] The special drew 9.5 million viewers.[80]

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)

Seasonviewers

Seasonranking

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[81][82][83]

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[84][85]

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[86][87][88]

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[89]

1

7[90][91][92]

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[93]

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[89]

1

8[94][95][96]

June 4, 2013

12.41

Final Performances: September 17, 2013

11.19

2012–13

Tuesday 8:00 pm

11.22[97]

1

Season Finale: September 18, 2013

11.49

Wednesday 8:00 pm(after July 10)

10.34[98]

1

9[99][100][101]

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[102]

1

Season Finale: September 17, 2014

12.21

Wednesday 9:00 pm(after July 23)

10.37[103]

1

10[104][105][106]

May 26, 2015

11.09

Final Performances: September 15, 2015

11.33

2014–15

Tuesday 8:00 pm

10.70[107]

1

Season Finale: September 16, 2015

9.54

Wednesday 8:00 pm(after August 12)

9.07[108]

1

11[109][110][111]

May 31, 2016

11.67

Final Performances: September 13, 2016

13.97

2015–16

Tuesday 8:00 pm

11.71[112]

1

Season Finale: September 14, 2016

14.41

Wednesday 8:00 pm(after July 5)

10.97[113]

1

12[114][115][116]

May 30, 2017

12.37

Final Performances: September 19, 2017

14.70

2016–17

Tuesday 8:00 pm

12.90[117]

1

Season Finale: September 20, 2017

15.64

Wednesday 8:00 pm(after August 9)

12.00[118]

1

13[119]

May 29, 2018

12.16

Final Performances: September 18, 2018

TBA

2017–18

Tuesday 8:00 pm

TBA

TBA

Season Finale: September 19, 2018

TBA

Wednesday 8:00 pm(after August 15)

TBA

TBA

text: Awards and nominations[edit]

text:
Year

Association

Category

Result

Ref.

2011

People's Choice Awards

Favorite Competition Show

Nominated

[120]

Kids' Choice Awards

Favorite Reality Show

Nominated

[121]

Primetime Emmy Awards

Outstanding Hairstyling For A Multi-Camera Series Or Special

Nominated

[122]

2012

Kids' Choice Awards

Favorite Reality Show

Nominated

[123]

Teen Choice Awards

Choice Summer TV Show

Nominated

[124]

Choice Male TV Personality: Nick Cannon

Nominated

[125]

2013

Kids' Choice Awards

Favorite Reality Show

Nominated

[126]

2014

People's Choice Awards

Favorite TV Competition Show

Nominated

[127]

Kids' Choice Awards

Favorite Reality Show

Nominated

[128]

2015

People's Choice Awards

Favorite TV Competition Show

Nominated

[129]

Kids' Choice Awards

Favorite Talent Competition Show

Nominated

[130]

2016

People's Choice Awards

Favorite TV Competition Show

Won

[131]

Kids' Choice Awards

Favorite Talent Competition Show

Nominated

[132]

2017

Critics' Choice Awards

Best Reality Series - Competition

Nominated

People's Choice Awards

Favorite TV Competition Show

Nominated

[131]

Kids' Choice Awards

Favorite Reality Show

Won

2018

Critics' Choice Awards

Best Reality Series - Competition

Nominated

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+[133]

Prelude to a Dream (2009) No. 121[134]
O Holy Night (2010) No. 2 (Platinum certification)[135]
Dream with Me (2011) No. 2 (Gold certification)[135][136]
Heavenly Christmas (2011) No. 11[135][137]
Songs from the Silver Screen (2012) No. 7[138]
Awakening (2014) No. 17[139][140]
Someday at Christmas (2016) No. 93[141]
Two Hearts (2017) No. 100[142] (Evancho's 7th consecutive No. 1 ranking on the Classical Albums Chart)[143]

2

Lindsey Stirling(season 5 quarterfinalist)

856,000+[144]

Lindsey Stirling (2012) No. 23
Shatter Me (2014) No. 2
Brave Enough (2016) No. 5

3

The Texas Tenors (season 4, 4th place)

500,000+[145]

The Texas Tenors (album)|Country Roots, Classical Sound: Remastered Special Edition (2011) No. 1 Classical Catalog Albums chart[146]
O Night Divine (2013) No. 13 Classical Albums chart[147]
You Should Dream (2013) No. 111; No. 5 Classical Albums chart[148]
First 5 Years Live (2014) No. 1 Classical Catalog Albums chart[146]
Rise (2017) No. 22; No. 1 Classical Albums Chart[149]

4

Grace VanderWaal (season 11 winner)

200,000+[150]

Perfectly Imperfect (2016) No. 4
Just the Beginning (2017) No. 22

5

Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr. (season 6 winner)

156,000+[151]

That's Life (2011) No. 34[152]
Christmas Made for Two (2013) did not chart

6

Bianca Ryan (season 1 winner)

150,000+[153]

Bianca Ryan (2006) No. 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+[154][155]

Cas Haley (2008) No. 8
Connection (2010) did not chart
La Si Dah (2013) did not chart

8

Michael Grimm (season 5 winner)

22,000+[156]

Michael Grimm Live (2007) did not chart
I Am Michael Grimm (2009) did not chart
Leave Your Hat On (2010) No. 101
Michael Grimm (2011) No. 13

9

Neal E. Boyd (season 3 winner)

6,000+[157]

My American Dream (2009) No. 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:
AGTSeason

Year

Contestant

AISeason

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:
AGTSeason

Year

Contestant

ABDCSeason

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:
AGTSeason

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

20112014

ITV (U.K.)The CW (U.S.)

Appeared

10

2015

Stevie Starr

Britain's Got Talent

4

2010

ITV

Advanced to the semi-finals[158]

11

2016

Cory Kahaney

Last Comic Standing

1

2003

NBC

Finalist

11

2016

Laura Bretan

Romania's Got Talent

6

2016

Pro TV

Winner[159]

13

2018

The Sacred Riana

Asia's Got Talent

2

2017

AXN Asia

Winner[160]

13

2018

Yumbo Dump

Asia's Got Talent

2

2017

AXN Asia

Semifinalist[161]

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 pm WIB.[162] But, since Monday, October 31, in addition to the weekend slot, the show has also been broadcast every Monday to Friday at 5 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.[163]

text: In the United Kingdom, TruTV, along with simulcasts on the Local Television Limited network, show America's Got Talent, with TruTV showing it from the tenth season.

text: The thirteenth season of the show will air on AXN Asia, together with the twelfth series of Britain's Got Talent.