Just when you think you’ve seen everything on America’s Got Talent, a new act comes along and changes the way that you think about the competition, whether it’s through wacky uniqueness or pure creativity. One of the most popular acts of the show’s current series had both of these two things in spades, and although it took a while for both the audience and the judges to understand what they were all about, at the end of their audition they walked away with a golden buzzer from Sofia Vergara.
The act in question was Japanese novelty comedy duo Schumacher (comprising members Ryu Taro and Yuya Gomi), and their audition saw the duo using their impeccable comedic timing as well as costume changes and masks to dress up as different animals, including a dog, a zebra, and a hilarious two-person giraffe. The pair had reportedly never performed their quirky act outside of Japan before, but the America’s Got Talent audience loved it – after they had worked out what was going on, that is.
Out of all the judges, it seemed as though it was Simon Cowell who was Schumacher’s biggest fan at first, bursting into laughter whenever the duo revealed a new costume change. In the end, however, it was Sofia Vergara who was most taken with Taro and Gomi and their absurdist humor. “I’m very confused, I thought it was ridiculous” she said, giving her verdict when the duo had finished, before telling them she had no idea how to describe their act but still wanted to give them a Golden Buzzer.
But whilst Sofia’s Golden Buzzer “shocked the world” as host Terry Crews put it, it may remind some viewers of a similar situation that occurred on Britain’s Got Talent earlier this year. It happened when offbeat Japanese comedian Nabe got a Golden Buzzer from Amanda Holden after he presented his act that involved him altering his hair to mimic famous figures. From Shaun the Sheep to Simon Cowell’s chest hair, Nabe nailed his impressions and got sent through to the competition’s semi-finals.
Based on these two auditions alone, it’s clear that both British and American audiences love a bit of surreal Japanese comedy. Having received an unexpected Golden Buzzer just a matter of weeks ago, Schumacher proved this point particularly well, and it will be interesting to see how far their wacky brand of comedy gets them in the competition.
If you would like to hear more from this talented duo, you can subscribe to their YouTube Channel for more incredible comedy. Follow them on Instagram to stay updated with their latest activities.