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Tom Sandoval's latest appearance on America's Got Talent quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the season. On August 19, the Vanderpump Rules alum stepped onto the stage with his band, Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras, delivering a high-energy cover of The Weeknd's hit "Blinding Lights."
The performance, however, drew sharp criticism from judge Simon Cowell. Midway through the set, Cowell pressed his red buzzer, stunning both the audience and fellow judges. "That did not sound good, I'm afraid," Cowell told Sandoval. "It didn't sound great. It didn't." Though unapologetically blunt, he added, "I like Tom, and I like the band, but judging this performance, it didn't work."
Sandoval later explained that technical difficulties had thrown him off. "Right before I went on, my in-ears kinda went out," he revealed, referring to his stage monitors. "So I was flying in the dark there. But I had a blast."
The other judges offered more encouraging feedback. Sofia Vergara admitted, "I loved the dancing, I loved the band, I loved the song. The sound was not amazing, but this was super entertaining." Mel B, who has been supportive of Sandoval since his audition, once again praised his energy: "You make me smile. You just do. And the way that you commit is flawless. Those moves, brother, they're lit."
Howie Mandel also focused on Sandoval's stage presence and appeal beyond the competition. "What you want to do is music. You want to be the most fun cover band, and that's well worth looking at," he said. "There are people watching who probably want you to play their weddings, their parties, their clubs."
Sandoval first impressed the panel in June with a rendition of A-ha's "Take On Me," which earned him strong praise. He reflected on his decision to join the show saying it was a really good opportunity to showcase the band.
While the quarterfinal performance divided opinion, it reinforced Sandoval's determination to continue pursuing music. As he summed it up: "It definitely was scary, but really exciting—and I'm really, really happy I did it."
