Tape Face impresses again
Canterbury performer Sam Wills has made a triumphant return to the America’s Got Talent stage, with judge Simon Cowell comparing him to Charlie Chaplin.
Wills, who performs as The Boy with Tape on his Face, went through to the next round of the US talent contest after dragging judge Howie Mandel on stage for a routine where Tape Face skydived on a stool and then brought Mandel on stage to turn his body into a singing face.
Wills won a standing ovation for his debut on the show in May.
Judges Cowell, Mandel, Heidi Klum and Mel Brown all voted him through to the next round. Cowell said his act was ‘‘clever, funny, unique and brilliant’’.
A video of his first appearance went viral and has been viewed 35 million times on YouTube. The judges were equally as impressed by his latest appearance. Cowell compared his act to silent movie star Chaplin.
‘‘I normally can’t bear this kind of act because it is a bit circusy, but you are like Mr Bean or Charlie Chaplin.’’
Klum was also full of praise. ‘‘I loved you the first time around, I love you today.’’
Wills said in May that the response to his first appearance on the show was overwhelming. ‘‘It has been a bit crazy. That is a bit of an understatement, actually.’’
Wills started his performing career as a busker in Christchurch. His hit show, The Boy with Tape on his Face, sold out around the world and attracted dozens of five-star reviews.
Talent scouts from America’s Got Talent approached Wills to see if he was interested in auditioning.
He said he did the show so he could break into America.
He has ambitions of taking his show to Las Vegas or an off-Broadway theatre in New York. The show has packed theatres in Britain, enjoyed several sellout runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and was performed at the Royal Albert Hall.