NBC announces spin-off ‘AGT: Fantasy League’ bringing back a former AGT judge to the panel, and new but familiar twists
NBC is expanding the America’s Got Talent franchise with a new summer spin-off called AGT: Fantasy League. Building on the success of All-Stars and The Champions editions, Fantasy League reimagines the format by combining fan-selected favorites, judge-led teams and interactive voting to create a competitive, draft-style series. The new series is set to premiere in 2024.
Fans will recognize familiar faces on the judges’ panel. Mel B, the singer and songwriter best known from the Spice Girls, returns to AGT as a judge. She joins executive producer Simon Cowell, supermodel and fashion icon Heidi Klum, and comedian Howie Mandel. Actor and former host Terry Crews will return to emcee the competition. Sofia Vergara will not participate in this winter spin-off.
Mel B brings significant reality TV and talent-show experience to the desk. Beyond her global pop career with the Spice Girls and solo work, she previously served as an AGT judge for multiple seasons and appeared on related shows including Dancing with the Stars, The X Factor, and international editions like The Masked Singer Australia and Lip Sync Battle UK. Her return adds celebrity familiarity and stage experience that many viewers will welcome.
AGT: Fantasy League format borrows from X Factor and The Voice
AGT: Fantasy League reshapes the typical talent-show progression into a draft-style competition similar to fantasy sports. After an initial fan vote, a pre-selected pool of notable acts — including former winners, finalists, viral sensations and international Got Talent favorites — will be eligible for selection. Each judge will assemble a roster from that pool, drafting a team made up of a variety of performers such as singers, dancers, ventriloquists, comedians, aerialists and magicians.
For the first time in AGT history, judges will actively compete against one another by mentoring the acts they draft. The dynamic will look familiar to X Factor viewers, where judges mentor categories and vie for a win, and to audiences of The Voice, where coaches guide their chosen contestants. Judges will provide coaching, stage direction and strategic input as their acts progress through the competition, aiming to have a team member crowned champion.
Following the AGT finale, fans can vote for acts they want to see compete on ‘Fantasy League’
Fans have an active role in shaping the Fantasy League roster. After the America’s Got Talent finale on Wednesday, Sept. 27, viewers will be invited to nominate and vote for more than 60 eligible acts using the AGT app. The most-nominated performers will be narrowed to a draft pool of 40 acts, from which judges will pick their teams.
Each judge’s final roster will consist of 10 acts, creating 40 total competitors across all teams. The selection will span a broad range of talent categories to deliver variety onstage and keep the competition wide-ranging and entertaining. The series structure emphasizes both performance excellence and strategic coaching, putting judges’ reputations on the line as they work to advance their chosen performers.
The Golden Buzzer returns but with a twist
The Golden Buzzer remains part of AGT: Fantasy League, still able to send an act straight to the finals. However, producers have added a strategic element: judges may use their Golden Buzzer either to secure their own act’s direct passage to the finals or to steal an act from another judge’s team. This tweak introduces additional drama and competitive maneuvering, echoing the steals and saves used on The Voice during battle phases.
Each week, audience voting will determine which acts advance and which judge earns the distinction of having coached the season’s champion. Viewers in the studio will also influence outcomes, and free tickets will be made available to fans who want to attend recordings. Details on how to obtain tickets and attend tapings will be provided through official AGT channels and ticketing outlets.
AGT: Fantasy League is co-produced by Fremantle and Syco Entertainment, with Simon Cowell among the executive producers. The combination of fan-driven nominations, judge draft strategy and the Golden Buzzer twist creates a format that blends familiarity with fresh competitive stakes — a model designed to engage longtime AGT viewers while attracting new audiences who enjoy interactive, coach-focused talent competitions.