Asia's Got Talent (season 1)

Asia's Got Talent
Season 1
Hosted by	Marc Nelson Rovilson Fernandez
Judges	Anggun David Foster Melanie C Vanness Wu
Winner	El Gamma Penumbra
Runner-up	Khusugtun
Release
Original network	AXN Asia
Original release	March 12 (2015-03-12) – May 14, 2015 (2015-05-14)
Season chronology
Next → Season 2

The first season of Asia's Got Talent (AGT) started airing on March 12, 2015, across 15 countries in Asia,^[1][2] culminating to a grand final airing nine weeks later on May 14, 2015. It featured a grand prize of US$100,000 and an opportunity to perform at the Marina Bay Sands.^[3]

The show is hosted by Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez; while the judges are Anggun, David Foster, Melanie C, and Vanness Wu.^[2] This show is also co-hosted by Singaporean YouTuber and Power98FM DJ's Dee Kosh for sneak previews, highlights, recaps, and behind the scenes.

Filipino shadow play group, El Gamma Penumbra was declared as the first season winner. News of their win leaked early through social media even before the broadcast of the results,^[4][5] causing dismay among netizens due to the spoiler nature of the leak.^[5]

Auditions[]

The following were the locations for the open ground auditions:

Date	City	Audition location	Ref.
September 27, 2014	Singapore	Basement 1, Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands	[6]
September 28, 2014	Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia	Taylor's University Lakeside Campus	[7]
	Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines	SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia	[8]
October 5, 2014	Taipei, Taiwan	Legacy Taipei	[9]

Auditionees were also allowed to submit their audition videos online via the show's official website.

Auditions in front of the judges (and a live audience) were held on January 13–14, 16–18, 20–22, 2015 at the Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios in Johor, Malaysia.^[10][11] They would be screened across five episodes.^[12]

The judges' auditions also feature the Golden Buzzer. Each judge would have one chance to use the Golden Buzzer. The so-called Golden Acts, those on whom the Golden Buzzer is used, would automatically advance to the Semi-Finals. Wu was the first to press the Golden Buzzer on Japanese popping act Time Machine, followed by Melanie C on Chinese acrobat-dancer couple Gao Lin and Liu Xin and Anggun on Filipino shadow play group El Gamma Penumbra. Foster was the last judge to push the Golden Buzzer, using it on Filipina singer/soprano Gerphil Flores.

Below are the acts who are confirmed within the show to have received at least three Yes votes and thus had successfully passed their auditions, as well as the Golden Acts. As implied by the addition of acts whose performances were exclusively seen outside AXN Asia's broadcast of the show, the list does not cover everyone who had passed. Due to time constraints, some acts, named or otherwise, are seen with their fates partially known (only one or two known Yes votes) or edited out completely from broadcast and are thus not listed.

Successful auditionees of Asia's Got Talent season 1
Junior New System – multi-genre dance group Gwyneth Dorado – singer/acoustic guitarist Tatueng Mong – improv percussion musicians AltType – double Dutch act Gonzo – tambourine performance artist Toshanbor Singh Nongbet – tenor Time Machine – popping dance group Oscar Chu – harmonica performer Ra-L – singer Shawn Chua – ventriloquist Han Bok Hee – singer Fe and Roadfill – singer and comic Gao Lin and Liu Xin – dancers/acrobats Suwanna Hong - fusion band Khusugtun – musical ensemble Stefano Koukas – dancer/popper Fitri Cerado – singer/keyboardist The Talento – pop rock band Ira Christy PitalokaID - pianist Dance Thrilogy – tap dance group Angelico "Echo" Claridad – singer Chiqaz – dance troupe Rachzonja Adhy Kirana Putra – drummer The Miss Tres – transgender singing group Nitish Bharti – sand artist Fathin Amira – singer Bảo Cường – extreme performance group KST Lion Dance Troupe – lion dance troupe Avijit and Tinku – acrobatic performers Nhật Anh – pole dancer D'Intensity Breakers – hooping dance group Ni Luh Ayu LenyID – traditional dancer Sandy AriefID/YT – acrobatic fire dancer The BlessingID – singing duet Nguyễn Thị Huyền Trang – flute player Bebop – pop rock band Flexie Buddies – acrobatic performers Dai Dali – pole dancer Billy Chang – contemporary dancer El Gamma Penumbra – shadow play group Neil Rey Garcia Llanes – beat boxer Sada Borneo – new-age band Chao Tun Yi – cube spinner Triqstar – neo-traditional dance troupe Helen Renata GunawanID - whistler Ari WibowoID - opera singer Djitron PahID - sasando player The Velasco Brothers – acrobats/breakdancers Symmetry – mirror image dancers The Brothers – tenors Vilas Nayak – blindfold speed painter Rifki ArdiansyahID – violinist Young Boys – comic piano ensemble Wei Wei – contortionist KotekaID - neo-traditional dance group Mask Performers – comic/shock performance artist troupe Filomena Litani – singer Gerphil Geraldine Flores – singer/soprano Vina and DarkoID – sand artist duo Zheng Yongcang – diabolo performer King of Connexion – martial arts troupe Katsumi – digital martial arts performer Clarence Kang – pianist Sydney Uke – ukulele player Matthew GiffenYT – stand-up comedian Vernon De VeraYT – magician JoyYT – pole dancer
NOTE: Please be guided that the successful auditionees are listed according to their order of appearance. Golden acts are italicized. Those labelled "ID" are acts exclusively seen on ANTV (Indonesia), while those with the "YT" label are acts seen only on the show's official YouTube channel. Also note that this list is incomplete.

Semifinals[]

The deliberation round was held at the Marina Bay Sands, the venue for the semifinals and finals.^[12] It was shown at end of the final auditions episode first aired on April 9, 2015. Wu was not physically present during the deliberation round, his input being relayed through Foster, who along with Anggun and Melanie C chose the 20 remaining acts who would compete in semi-finals. The four Golden Acts and the judges' picks would bring the total number of semifinalists to 24. The first eight semifinalists were announced after the deliberation round, with the others to be revealed gradually as the semifinal rounds progress.

While the voting is similar to other voting processes in the Got Talent franchise, the revelation of results would be slightly different, to be revealed in the following week rather than the next night (as semifinal rounds are only once weekly, barring replays). Also, in another twist, the Golden Buzzer returns wherein each semifinal round, the judges would use it as one unit to send one act straight to the finals. This is similar to the Judges' Choice in the other local franchises, albeit one ahead of the vote rather than after and based on the vote. Aside from the Judges' Choice through the Golden Buzzer, the two acts with the most public votes would also advance to the finals. There would thus be a total of nine finalists emerging from the three semifinal rounds.

Ages listed are as of the time of the auditions. In the case of group acts, the age ranges only accounted for the members present at the auditions. The age(s) of any additional member(s) who only appeared in the semifinal may or may not be within the range designated.

Name of act	Age(s)	Genre	Act	Hometown	Semifinal Week	Result
El Gamma Penumbra	22–40	Dance/Novelty	Shadow play group	Philippines	3	Winner
Khusugtun	25–38	Music	Musical ensemble group	Mongolia	2	Runner-up
Gerphil Geraldine Flores	24	Music	Soprano	Philippines	2	Third place
The Talento	11–12	Music	Pop rock band	Thailand	3	Fourth place
Junior New System	16–23	Dance	Multi-genre dance group	Philippines	2	Middle two
Triqstar	23–33	Dance	Dance troupe	Japan	1	Middle two
Dance Thrilogy	8–12	Dance	Tap dance group	Singapore[note 1] (Australia)	3	Bottom three
Gao Lin and Liu Xin	26 & 22	Acrobatics	Acrobatic duo	China	1	Bottom three
Gwyneth Dorado	10	Music	Singer/acoustic guitarist	Philippines	1	Bottom three
AltType	26–29	Novelty	Double Dutch act	Japan	3	Eliminated
Bảo Cường	23–35[note 2]	Danger	Extreme performance group	Vietnam	2	Eliminated
Bebop	19–24	Music	Pop rock band	South Korea	2	Eliminated
Billy Chang	31	Dance	Contemporary dancer	Taiwan	3	Eliminated
The Brothers	30–34	Music	Tenors	Indonesia	1	Eliminated
Fathin Amira	22	Music	Singer	Singapore	2	Eliminated
Gonzo	29	Music/Novelty	Tambourine performance artist	Japan	1	Eliminated
Nitish Bharti	25	Novelty	Sand artist	India	1	Eliminated
Oscar Chu	18	Music	Harmonica player	Taiwan	1	Eliminated
Sada Borneo	21–23	Music	New-age band	Malaysia	3	Eliminated
Sydney Uke	12	Music	Ukulele player	Thailand	2	Eliminated
Time Machine	23–32	Dance	Popping dance group	Japan	3	Eliminated
Toshanbor Singh Nongbet	23	Music	Tenor	India	3	Eliminated
The Velasco Brothers	22–33	Dance/Acrobatics	Acrobats/breakdancers	Philippines	1	Eliminated
Young Boys	14–24	Music/Comedy	Comic piano ensemble	Indonesia	2	Eliminated

Note

Semifinals summary[]

Semifinals 1 (April 16)[]

(For the Buzzes columns in this section and the next two, Melanie C is referred to by her surname Chisholm.)

Act	Order	Performance description	Buzzes				Result
			Foster	Anggun	Wu	Chisholm
Gonzo	1	Performed a superhero-inspired tambourine routine to the tune of "Holding Out for a Hero" by Bonnie Tyler.					Eliminated
Gwyneth Dorado	2	Sang "Nobody's Perfect" by Jessie J.					Advanced
Oscar Chu	3	Performed "Rondo Alla Turca" from Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 11 using a total of eight harmonicas.					Eliminated
Triqstar	4	Performed a popping dance routine centered on cherry blossoms and the folk song "Sakura Sakura."					Advanced
The Velasco Brothers	5	Performed a mob/bar fight-inspired routine.					Eliminated
Nitish Bharti	6	Used multiple sand boards to convey a story of a world seen by a blind girl temporarily given sight.					Eliminated
Gao Lin and Liu Xin	7	Performed a routine based on the tango.					Advanced
The Brothers	8	Sang "All by Myself" by Eric Carmen, as popularized by Celine Dion.					Eliminated

Semifinals 2 (April 23)[]

Act	Order	Performance description	Buzzes				Result
			Foster	Anggun	Wu	Chisholm
Young Boys	1	Performed a tropical island-themed routine using a total of seven instruments: a piano, an electronic organ, a pair of kettledrums, a marimba, a pair of bongo drums, a pair of conga drums, and a cajón.					Eliminated
Gerphil Geraldine Flores	2	Sang "(Where Do I Begin?) Love Story" from the movie Love Story.					Advanced
Bebop	3	Sang "Footloose" by Kenny Loggins.					Eliminated
Khusugtun	4	Performed a traditional Mongolian musical piece entitled "Tes Goliin Magtaal" (Cyrillic: Тэс голын магтаал), a song in praise of the Tes River. Initially starting with natural bird chirps sounds and a few instruments before reaching an a cappella climax using traditional Mongolian throat vocals.					Advanced
Bảo Cường	5	Inserted various objects through his nose and mouth and stopped a running motorized electric fan blade with his bare tongue before eventually swallowing a sword weighted down by a pot and several knives.					Eliminated
Sydney Uke	6	Performed "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" by Frankie Valli.					Eliminated
Fathin Amira	7	Sang "Chandelier" by Sia.					Eliminated
Junior New System	8	Performed a multitrack dance and stunts performance using a medley composed of "We Will Rock You" by Queen, "This Is How We Do It" by Montell Jordan, "María" by Ricky Martin, "Let's Get Loud" by Jennifer Lopez, and "Crazy in Love" by Beyoncé.					Advanced

Semifinals 3 (April 30)[]

Act	Order	Performance description	Buzzes				Result
			Foster	Anggun	Wu	Chisholm
El Gamma Penumbra	1	Performed a routine based centrally on war, recovery from war, and peace.					Advanced
Dance Thrilogy	2	Performed a sailor-themed dance routine, set to the music of "Anything Goes" from the musical with the same name.					Advanced
Sada Borneo	3	Performed an original composition inspired by the rainforest and nature in general.					Eliminated
AltType	4	Performed a toys-inspired routine.					Eliminated
The Talento	5	Sang "It's My Life" by Bon Jovi.					Advanced
Time Machine	6	Performed a science-fiction/mad scientist's laboratory-inspired routine.					Eliminated
Toshanbor Singh Nongbet	7	Sang an operatic rendition of "The Lord's Prayer" as written by Albert Hay Malotte.					Eliminated
Billy Chang	8	Performed a dance routine based on the four classical elements of earth (represented by sand), wind (from a wind machine), fire (a flaming hoop), and water.					Eliminated

Finals[]

The finals, like the semifinals, will be held at the Marina Bay Sands over a span of two episodes, a performance night and a results night.^[12] It is presumed that the final two public vote finalists from the third semifinal round would be present together the finalists who already advanced.

Charice and illusionist Cosentino (Australia's Got Talent season 5 runner-up) performed in the results night, Charice singing "Lay Me Down" with Foster on piano and Cosentino performing a metamorphosis/escape act involving a cage and spikes. Anggun also sang "Snow on the Sahara" before joining the rest of the judges in covering their own version of "Let's Groove" by Earth, Wind & Fire. There were no intentional buzzes towards the acts but Wu buzzed after Gao Lin & Liu Xin's proposal aiming it at Foster.

Act	Order	Performance description	Result
The Talento	1	Sang "The Final Countdown" by Europe.	Fourth place
Gao Lin and Liu Xin	2	Performed a ballet and acrobatics routine to the tune of "Unconditionally" by Katy Perry. (An actual and unexpected wedding proposal ensued between the two after the performance.)	Bottom three
Gwyneth Dorado	3	Sang "Titanium" by David Guetta featuring Sia.	Bottom three
Dance Thrilogy	4	Performed a dance routine to the tune of "The Gold Diggers' Song (We're in the Money)" from the musical 42nd Street.	Bottom three
Khusugtun	5	Performed an original composition, entitled "Mongol" (Cyrillic: Монгол) with the use of traditional Mongolian musical instruments and sung with throat vocals.	Runner-up
Triqstar	6	Performed a dance routine wholly inspired by the traditional Japanese arts, highlighted by dancing while still kneeling, contortionism, and popping routines.	Middle two
El Gamma Penumbra	7	Performed a routine themed centrally on man's destruction of Mother Earth's resources, its effects, and ecological salvation, set to the tune of "Colors of the Wind" by Vanessa Williams.	Winner
Gerphil Geraldine Flores	8	Sang "The Impossible Dream (The Quest)" from the musical Man of La Mancha.	Third place
Junior New System	9	Performed an American football-inspired multitrack dance and stunts performance using a medley which included, among others, "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls, "Run the World (Girls)" by Beyoncé, "Let Me Clear My Throat" by DJ Kool, and "Who Let the Dogs Out?" by Baha Men.	Middle two

Contestants who appeared on previous shows or seasons[]

• El Gamma Penumbra, the winner of the first season, placed fourth on the third season of Pilipinas Got Talent.
• Gerphil Flores, the third placer of this season, was a semifinalist of the premiere season of Pilipinas Got Talent.
• The Velasco Brothers, a semifinalist, placed third on the first season of Pilipinas Got Talent.
• The Miss Tres was a semifinalist on the fourth season of Pilipinas Got Talent.
• Symmetry was also a semifinalist on the fourth season of Pilipinas Got Talent.
• Angelico "Echo" Claridad joined the first season of The Voice Kids in the Philippines. He turned all three chairs and joined Team Lea, but was eliminated in the Battles.
• Jeremiah Velasco auditioned in all five seasons of Pilipinas Got Talent. In his fifth season audition, he mentioned in front of the judges that he also auditioned on Asia's Got Talent.^[13] His audition was not aired.
• The Talento competed in the fourth season of Thailand's Got Talent, reaching the finals.
• Ira Christy Pitaloka, Rachzonja Adhy Kirana Putra, Ni Luh Ayu Leny, The Blessing, Helen Renata Gunawan, Ari Wibowo, and Rifki Ardiansyah all appeared in the second season of Indonesia's Got Talent while Djitron Pah and Young Boys appeared as semifinalists in the first.
• Han Bok Hee auditioned on the second season of Korea's Got Talent, singing "Non, je ne regrette rien" by Edith Piaf, the same audition piece she used in this season.^[14]
• Bảo Cường and Nguyễn Thị Huyền Trang were semifinalists on the 2012 season of Vietnam's Got Talent.
• Neil Rey Garcia Llanes won the 2014 edition of the talent show Talentadong Pinoy.
• Roadfill Macasero of Fe and Roadfill is already known in the Philippines as one-half of a comic and song duo Moymoy Palaboy, the other half being his older brother and group namesake Moymoy.
• Indian martial arts group Bir Khalsa placed third in the second season of India's Got Talent. They also appeared in the third season of the joint Czech-Slovak franchise Česko Slovensko má talent; their audition there and their audition in this season both did not result in their favor.

References[]

External links[]

• Asia's Got Talent official website