NBC'S TOP-RATED SUMMER SERIES "AMERICA'S GOT TALENT" REVEALS TOP 48 CONTESTANTS

NBC'S POPULAR SUMMER SERIES FROM FREMANTLEMEDIA NORTH AMERICA AND SIMON COWELL'S SYCO TELEVISION ANNOUNCES ALL ACTS TO COMPETE LIVE IN HOLLYWOOD BEGINNING TUESDAY, JULY 12

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - July 7, 2011 - "America's Got Talent," NBC's top-rated summer series from FremantleMedia North American and Syco Television has selected the Top 48 acts that will vie for the coveted $1 million grand prize when the live performance episodes begin Tuesday, July 12 (9-11 p.m. ET).

With the start of the live shows, America now votes for their favorite acts via phone and online at http://www.nbc.com/americas-got-talent/.

The Top 48 contestants are:

Anna Graceman - Juneau, Alaska (singer/pianist)

Attack Dance Crew - Tallahassee, Fla. (drilling dance crew)

Avery and the Calico Hearts - Lubbock, Texas (singing trio)

Captain & Maybelle - Atlanta, Ga. (variety act)

Charles Peachock - Kent, Ohio (juggler)

Dani Shay - Orlando, Fla. (singer/guitarist)

Daniel Joseph Baker - Katy, Texas (singer/pianist)

Dezmond Meeks - Pineville, La. (singer/pianist)

Duo Aero - Saint Paul, Minn (trapeze duo)

Dylan Andre - Zieglerville, Pa. (singer/guitarist)

Echo of Animal Gardens - Lake Geneva, Wis. (animal act)

Fatally Unique - Rockford, Ill. (hip hop dance team)

Fearless Flores Family - Myakka City, Fla. (family daredevil act)

Frank Miles - Los Angeles, Calif. (variety act)

Geechy Guy - Las Vegas, Nev. (comedian)

Ian Johnson - Hebron, Ill. (yo-yo tricks)

J Chris Newberg - Los Angeles, Calif. (comic/musician)

Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr. - Logan, W. V. (singer)

Landon Swank - Wasilla, Alaska (magician)

Lys Agn�s - Denver, Colo. (singer)

Mauricio Herrera - Pomona, Calif. (singer/dancer)

Melissa Villasenor - Los Angeles, Calif. (impressionist)

Miami All Stars - Miami, Fla. (dance group)

Mona Lisa - Houston, Texas (twin singers/guitarist duo)

Monet - Charlotte, N. Car. (singer)

POPLYFE - Oakland, Calif. (teen band)

Professor Splash - Lakewood, Colo. (shallow water diver)

Purrfect Angelz - Los Angeles, Calif. (dance troupe)

Sam B. - Falls Church, Va. (dancer)

Sandou Trio Russian Bar - San Antonio, Texas (Russian bar trio)

Scott Alexander - Lancaster, Pa. (magician)

Seth Grabel - Los Angeles, Calif. (magician)

SH'Boss Boys - Atlanta, Ga. (young rap trio)

Silhouettes - Arvada, Colo. (interpretative dance)

Smage Bros. Riding Shows - Elkhorn, Wis. (motorcycle stunt show)

Snap Boogie - Boston, Mass. (dancer)

Squonk Opera - Pittsburgh, Pa. (band)

Steven Retchless - New York, N. Y. (pole dancer/aerialist)

Summerwind Skippers - Boise, Idaho (jump rope team)

Taylor Davis - Leesburg, Ga. (singer/guitarist)

Team iLuminate - New York, N.Y. (glow suit dancers)

The Fiddleheads - Dahlonega, Ga. (bluegrass band)

The Kinetic King - St. Paul, Minn. (variety act)

The Rhinestone Ropers - Jerome, Idaho (variety act)

Thomas John - Woodland Park, Colo. (variety act)

Those Funny Little People - Chicago, Ill. (variety act)

Yellow Designs Stunt Team - Monument, Colo. (BMX bike tricks)

Zuma Zuma - Las Vegas, Nevada (tumblers)

Now in its sixth season, "America's Got Talent," airs Tuesdays (9-11 p.m. ET) and Wednesdays (9-10 p.m. ET) on NBC. Howie Mandel, Piers Morgan and Sharon Osbourne star as the celebrity panel of judges, and Nick Cannon serves as host. The series is a true celebration of the American spirit, featuring a colorful array of aspiring stars, including singers, dancers, comedians, contortionists, impressionists, jugglers, magicians and ventriloquists, all vying for their chance to strut and perform on stage hoping to win America's hearts - and the $1 million prize.

So far this summer, the Tuesday and Wednesday editions of "American's Got Talent" are the #1 and #2 series on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox in total viewers, while ranking #2 and #3 in adults 18-49, behind only NBC's "The Voice." Versus last year, "America's Got Talent" is up in adults 18-49 by 14 percent on Tuesdays (with an average 4.1 rating vs. a 3.6) and up 27 percent on Wednesdays (4.2 vs. 3.3), according to "most current" averages from Nielsen Media Research. In total viewers, the show is up 17 percent year-to-year on Tuesdays (14.5 million vs. 12.4 million) and 21 percent year-to-year on Wednesdays (14.3 million vs. 11.8 million).

For more information, please visit nbc.com/americas-got-talent/, twitter.com/nbcagt and facebook.com/nbcagt.

For contestant embeddable clips and full episodes of "America's Got Talent" please visit NBC.com's official show site: http://www.nbc.com/americas-got-talent/

"America's Got Talent" is produced by FremantleMedia North America and Simon Cowell's SYCO Television. Simon Cowell, Cecile Frot-Coutaz, Jason Raff, Ken Warwick and Georgie Hurford-Jones are executive producers.

About NBC Entertainment:

NBC Entertainment develops and schedules programming for the network's primetime, late-night, and daytime schedules. NBC's quality programs and balanced lineup have earned the network critical acclaim, numerous awards, and ratings success. NBC has earned more Emmy Awards than any network in television history. NBC's roster of popular scripted series includes such as critically acclaimed comedy Emmy winners "The Office" and "30 Rock," starring Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey. Veteran, award-winning dramas on NBC include "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and "Chuck." Unscripted series for NBC include the new vocal competition hit "The Voice" as well as the popular "The Biggest Loser," "The Celebrity Apprentice" and "America's Got Talent." NBC's late-night story is highlighted by "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," "Last Call with Carson Daly" and "Saturday Night Live." NBC Daytime's "Days of our Lives" consistently finishes among daytime's top programs in the valuable women 18-34 category. On Saturday mornings, the network broadcasts Qubo on NBC, a three-hour block that features fun, entertaining, and educational programming for kids, including the award-winning, 3-D animated series Veggie Tales.

About FREMANTLEMEDIA NORTH AMERICA:

FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is the U.S. production division of global media giant FremantleMedia. Based in Burbank, California, FMNA produces entertaining and innovative programs for network, cable, syndicated and online platforms, including the Emmy-nominated musical/reality phenomenon "American Idol" (FOX), "America's Got Talent" (NBC), "What Chilli Wants" (VH1), "Hole In The Wall" (Cartoon Network), "Let's Make A Deal" (CBS), "Family Feud" (syn), "The Price Is Right" (CBS), and the much-anticipated "The X Factor" (FOX) for Fall 2011.

About SYCO

Syco, with offices in London and Los Angeles, is a global music, television and film production joint venture between Simon Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment. Syco Television owns and produces the BAFTA Award-winning "The X Factor," which has topped the charts around the world. Syco Television is also the owner of the "Got Talent" television format. Versions of both "The X Factor" and "Got Talent" are co-produced by Syco, and are shown in more than 70 countries and have won multiple awards including national television awards and BAFTAs.

Syco is also the record label home for such diverse international recording stars as Leona Lewis and Il Divo. Cowell has worked with artists selling more than 200 million albums and delivering more than 180 No. 1 records. Britain's Got Talent in 2009 launched the global singing career of Susan Boyle. Her debut Syco album sold over 8 million units in six weeks, making it the world's biggest-selling album of 2009 and the fastest-selling album in history, selling a total of 20 million records to date.