‘America’s Got Talent’ Opened Their Milestone 20th Season With the Wrong Act

America’s Got Talent is a triumphant celebration of making dreams come true. Since its debut, it has given many individuals the opportunity to find a new audience in a short time on stage. It’s truly that 2 minutes that can change your life. So, one might expect this season, the milestone twentieth season, to begin with a bang. Someone who could make AGT history. Well, when you ask for a party, you’re gonna get a party. At least through somebody’s eyes.

Eric Booker, a jovial guy from NYC, steps on stage. Before he begins, Simon Cowell senses something amiss and asks if he needs water. Eric says yes and downs the entire bottle. It’s just a precursor to what is to come. A cart of four large beakers is brought out to him, and a quartet of shot glasses for the judges containing the same liquids. He offers them to play along as he chugs the contents of the glasses. And well, this is not how we expected this party to kick off.

How Eric Booker Set the Tone for ‘America’s Got Talent’ Season 20

Let’s begin by saying that everyone has a talent. The level of skill set of talent varies in difficulty and perception. But part of what makes an engaging and enticing AGT act is the element of intrigue and mystery. No one knew what Eric Booker was going to do on stage when he first came out. And even when his cart of liquid mystery was rolled out, the beakers were turned around so as to keep the contents a secret. We had an inkling of what was to come, but we were still engaged. But then, as each beaker was revealed, pickle juice, hot dog water, creamed corn, hot sauce, no wonder the reaction was what it was. From the crowd, the judges, and me sitting in my room, grossed out of my mind.

Mel B, who is back and is not here for any nonsense, immediately buzzes him. There was no way she was going to sit through this, especially when she returned after her multi-season hiatus. And when she sees her fellow judges engaging Eric, she leans over and slams Howie Mandel and Sofia Vergara‘s buzzers. Three down, one to go. She stands up to try to get the madness to stop, but Simon Cowell is allegedly eager to see him shoot the hot sauce and prevents her. At the very least, the audience is clearly entertained as they chant “chug, chug, chug.” Ladies and gentlemen and everybody in between, this is the beginning of Season 20.

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Why Would ‘AGT’ Start Season 20 Like This?

Like many acts on AGT, Eric Booker wasn’t an up-and-comer with no attention ever given to him. He goes by the name BadlandsChugs on YouTube and TikTok, racking up views for the very thing he came onto AGT to showcase. He’s certainly a personality and a lot of fun, but there are questions as to why he should kick off a milestone season. Why begin with a novelty act that is going to make your eyes roll? Is a gross-out performance the heart of AGT? Does it represent 20 seasons of talent? He really wasn’t the real first act, right? He had to be the warm-up comedian, right?

Even as he chatted with the judges with a gallon of milk in his hand, Simon treated it like a legit act. “I just don’t think hot dog water is that exciting.” Howie, who did try to participate alongside Booker, said, “For the 20th season, we want something amazing, so the fact that I couldn’t do it means it’s something special.” I mean, sure, but that’s not the point, right? There are a lot ot things that we can’t do, but it’s not worthy of winning a talent competition. Are you going to fly to Vegas to watch this man chug gross items? Probably not. Mel B, like most viewers, was mortified at what her colleagues were saying. The other judges were truly entertaining Eric. It’s a performance that is going to get people talking, but maybe not in the way it should. And kids, please, don’t try this at home.