AGT Shocker: Vanderpump Rules Star Tom Sandoval Auditions for Season 20

Just when we thought we’d seen it all on America’s Got Talent, along comes… Tom Sandoval.

That’s right, the disgraced former cast member of Bravo’s Vanderpump Rules appeared as a contestant in Tuesday’s episode, auditioning along with his band, Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras.

“A couple of years ago, I made some really bad choices and was involved in a very bad cheating scandal, and I let down a lot of people,” Sandoval told the cameras backstage. “It pretty much destroyed my life. It was absurd how much coverage [it got] and how big it became. Ever since then, it’s like everything that I do is completely criticized. I feel a lot of pressure. I just hope the audience and the judges see who I am as a musician versus just somebody on a reality show.”

Several audience members were visibly shocked when Sandoval appeared on stage, but not Simon Cowell (aka Lisa Vanderpump’s old pal), who was briefed ahead of his audition. Sandoval’s voice began to waver as he reintroduced himself to the crowd, specifically citing when The New York Times labeled him “the most hated man in America.”

“It was really rough, and I was in a very dark place,” Sandoval said. “I felt as though I had nothing in my life, and this band was the only thing that kept me going.” With his buddy Tom Schwartz and girlfriend Victoria Lee Robinson in the audience cheering them on, Sandoval and his band dove into a falsetto-tastic performance of A-ha’s “Take On Me.”

Mel B was the group’s biggest fan (“You made me smile! You gave me happy vibes!”), but all four judges were on their feet by the end of the audition. Sofia Vergara seconded the “joy” she felt from the performance, adding that Sandoval “looked amazing up there.” Howie Mandel also praised Sandoval as a “showman.”

Cowell, predictably, turned out to be Sandoval’s toughest critic. “The vocals weren’t great,” he said, eliciting boos from the audience. “However, not everyone comes on this show to get a record deal. Sometimes it’s about being true to who you are.” And with that, the group received four yeses.

Of course, Sandoval wasn’t the only contestant who received good news on Tuesday. Following his audition, viewers were introduced to Duo Stardust, an extreme roller skating duo from the Ukraine who previously made it to the semifinals of Britain’s Got Talent in 2024. Hoping for better luck in America, the pair auditioned for AGT with a jaw-dropping, gravity-defying routine — and they left with a coveted Golden Buzzer, courtesy of Sofia Vergara. Watch their full audition below: