America’s Got Talent: Howie Mandel slams Golden Buzzer for New York-based choir comprised of nurses

Howie Mandel pressed the Golden Buzzer for a choir comprised of nurses on Tuesday during the season 16 premiere of America’s Got Talent on NBC.

The 65-year-old judge was moved by the Northwell Health Nurse Choir as the New York-based group of 18 nurses performed a stirring rendition of Stand By Me.

Howie after their performance said they were all ‘heroic’ and declared that he also was going to stand by them as he rose from his seat and moved to the center of the judges’ table.

Golden moment: Howie Mandel pressed the Golden Buzzer for a choir comprised of nurses on Tuesday during the season 16 premiere of America’s Got Talent on NBC

‘You know why I want to stand for you? So that I can do this,’ Howie said as he slammed the Golden Buzzer sending golden confetti down on the singers.

Show host Terry Crews, 52, then announced that Northwell Health Nurse Choir was headed straight to the live shows in Hollywood after getting the Golden Buzzer treatment from Howie.

The season premiere saw the return of Terry, Howie, Heidi Klum, 48, and Sofia Vergara, 48, as well as franchise creator Simon Cowell, 61, who broke his back last August after falling off his new electric trail bike.

The contestants during the two-hour season premiere featured dog acrobats and dog impersonators, a self taught 16-year-old aerialist acrobat, a gelatin wrestler, a video game dancer, father and son comedian competitors, and a comedian dressed in a peacock costume who suffered a disastrous wardrobe malfunction.

Frontline workers: The 65-year-old judge was moved by the Northwell Health Nurse Choir as the New York-based group composed of 18 nurses performed a stirring rendition of Stand By Me

Frontline workers: The 65-year-old judge was moved by the Northwell Health Nurse Choir as the New York-based group composed of 18 nurses performed a stirring rendition of Stand By Me

He's back: The season premiere saw the return of Terry, Howie, Heidi Klum, 48, and Sofia Vergara, 48, as well as franchise creator Simon Cowell, 61, who broke his back last August after falling off his new electric trail bike

He’s back: The season premiere saw the return of Terry, Howie, Heidi Klum, 48, and Sofia Vergara, 48, as well as franchise creator Simon Cowell, 61, who broke his back last August after falling off his new electric trail bike

Outfit choice: Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara were surprised to see Simon in shorts

Outfit choice: Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara were surprised to see Simon in shorts

The peacock man, a contestant who had tried out multiple times before, wasn’t the only controversial act that mystified the judges and the audience.

A Japanese man named Mr. Cherry tried to break the world record for breaking the most walnuts with his butt.

The current record was held by a man who broke 71 walnuts in 30 seconds.

World record: A Japanese man named Mr. Cherry tried to break the world record for breaking the most walnuts with his butt with his assistant Chikki

World record: A Japanese man named Mr. Cherry tried to break the world record for breaking the most walnuts with his butt with his assistant Chikki

Cherry, who needed to crush 72 to break the world record, leaped butt first across the stage crushing 79 walnuts one at a time with his weight and beating the world record.

Sofia didn’t think that was enough of a talent to send him through and decided to go on stage herself, in her black velvet crystal embellished outfit, and tried unsuccessfully to crush a walnut herself with her butt.

‘It really hurt,’ said Sofia. ‘It’s impossible.’

New record: Cherry, who needed to crush 72 to break the world record, leaped butt first across the stage crushing 79 walnuts one at a time with his weight and beating the world record

New record: Cherry, who needed to crush 72 to break the world record, leaped butt first across the stage crushing 79 walnuts one at a time with his weight and beating the world record

Good effort: Sofia didn't think that was enough of a talent to send him through and decided to go on stage herself, in her black velvet crystal embellished outfit, and tried unsuccessfully to crush a walnut herself with her butt

Good effort: Sofia didn’t think that was enough of a talent to send him through and decided to go on stage herself, in her black velvet crystal embellished outfit, and tried unsuccessfully to crush a walnut herself with her butt

Too hard: 'It really hurt,' said Sofia. 'It's impossible'

Too hard: ‘It really hurt,’ said Sofia. ‘It’s impossible’

Simon voted him through saying he wanted to see Mr. Cherry do more things with his nuts, but he failed to impress enough of the other judges.

Father and son comedians Gerald Kelly and his seven-year-old son Hunter competed against each other.

Hunter stunned the judges with Simon saying he couldn’t believe he was the same age as his son Eric, as he took the stage and called his dad a a loser because he said ‘we have the same job.’

Funny dad: Father and son comedians Gerald Kelly and his seven-year-old son Hunter competed against each other

Funny dad: Father and son comedians Gerald Kelly and his seven-year-old son Hunter competed against each other

Hilarious son: Hunter, seven, impressed Simon who has a son Eric the same age

Hilarious son: Hunter, seven, impressed Simon who has a son Eric the same age

Sofia said he had great comedic timing and even Howie called him a star.

Heidi wanted to seem him go head to head with his father as all the judges unanimously voted Hunter and his father on.

Dustin Tavella, a magician from Virginia Beach stunned the judges with the story of adopting his son with each judge writing down clues that actually appear to factor in his son’s adoption story.

Adoption story: Dustin Tavella, a magician from Virginia Beach stunned the judges with the story of adopting his son with each judge writing down clues that actually appear to factor in his son's adoption story

Adoption story: Dustin Tavella, a magician from Virginia Beach stunned the judges with the story of adopting his son with each judge writing down clues that actually appear to factor in his son’s adoption story

Peter Rosalita, 10, sang ‘All By Myself’ and Simon said his singing gave him ‘goosebumps’ and told him that everyone was going to fall in love with him as he voted for him along with the other judges.

The judges were also mesmerized by a 16-year-old self taught aerialist Aidan Bryant who decided to teach himself the art on his own after being inspired by watching the singer Pink perform.

The show ended with previously failed contestant Sethward, who has tried out for the show multiple times in the past, appearing on stage in a Peacock outfit dancing.

Young singer: Peter Rosalita, 10, sang 'All By Myself' and Simon said his singing gave him 'goosebumps' and told him that everyone was going to fall in love with him as he voted for him along with the other judges

Young singer: Peter Rosalita, 10, sang ‘All By Myself’ and Simon said his singing gave him ‘goosebumps’ and told him that everyone was going to fall in love with him as he voted for him along with the other judges

Self taught: The judges were also mesmerized by a 16-year-old self taught aerialist Aidan Bryant who decided to teach himself the art on his own after being inspired by watching the singer Pink perform.

Self taught: The judges were also mesmerized by a 16-year-old self taught aerialist Aidan Bryant who decided to teach himself the art on his own after being inspired by watching the singer Pink perform.

During the trainwreck of a performance, the giant peacock tail fell off in the middle of the act followed by Sethward deciding to climb a rock and attempt to fly. 

He instead splatted down onto the stage ripping the butt off his costume. His wardrobe malfunction was digitally covered up by the NBC Peacock sign as he continued to flounce around the stage.

Heidi said it was a ‘hot mess’ and Sethward responded ‘but a good time?’.

He's back: The show ended with previously failed contestant Sethward, who has tried out for the show multiple times in the past, appearing on stage in a Peacock outfit dancing

He’s back: The show ended with previously failed contestant Sethward, who has tried out for the show multiple times in the past, appearing on stage in a Peacock outfit dancing

In the end his performance and multiple attempts appeared to wear down Simon who blurted out, ‘I don’t think I can do this anymore.’

For Sethward, his perseverance paid off and judges gave him a yes.

America’s Got Talent will return next week on NBC.

In character: Sethward stayed in his Peacock character during his performance

In character: Sethward stayed in his Peacock character during his performance

Cracking up: Heid and Sofia got a laugh out the Peacock's wardrobe malfunction

Cracking up: Heid and Sofia got a laugh out the Peacock’s wardrobe malfunction

Worn down: In the end his performance and multiple attempts appeared to wear down Simon who blurted out, 'I don't think I can do this anymore' as he agreed to let Sethward advance

Worn down: In the end his performance and multiple attempts appeared to wear down Simon who blurted out, ‘I don’t think I can do this anymore’ as he agreed to let Sethward advance