LOS ANGELES – Zimbabwean stand-up comedian and actor Learnmore Jonasi fell short of ultimate glory in the America’s Got Talent reality competition, were singer Richard Goodall walked away with the US$1million prize.
Jonasi rubbed shoulders with American celebrity royalty during the Season 19 finale which featured performances by Olympic star Simone Biles, Michael Bublé, Neal Schon, members of Journey, Steve Aoki, comedian Gabriel Iglesias, the Magic Mike Live Las Vegas cast, Andra Day, and the Detroit Youth Choir.
Despite failing to clinch victory, Jonasi had a memorable run in the talent showcase, finishing in the Top 5 alongside Solange Kardinaly (Quick change artist), Sky Elements (Drone act), Roni Sagi & Rhythm (Dog act), and the eventual winner, Goodall.
Acts that made the top ten included Airfootworks (Dance group), Brent Street (Dance group), Dee Dee Simon (Singer), Hakuna Matata Acrobats (Acrobatic act), Learnmore Jonasi (Comedian), Richard Goodall (Singer), Roni Sagi & Rhythm (Dog act), Sebastián & Sonia (Aerial act), Sky Elements (Drone act), and Solange Kardinaly (Quick change act).
During his campaign, Jonasi sought to become the first comedian to come up tops without a ventriloquist.
One judge, Sofia Vergara said Jonasi was one of her favourite comedians in the history of the show, while Heidi Klum called him “a cartoon character come to life”.
In the end however, victory belonged to paperboy hat-donning Goodall, the self-proclaimed singing janitor from Indiana who auditioned with an emotional rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’”.
Under the America’s Got Talent format, amateur performers present their singing, dancing, comedy and novelty acts to celebrity judges and a nationwide audience in order to advance in the competition and win the million dollar prize.
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