America's Got Talent spin-off stops production after stuntman's act goes terribly wrong

Photo credit: NBC Universal
Photo credit: NBC Universal

America's Got Talent has confirmed production has been suspended on its spin-off after a stuntman and escapologist's act went disastrously wrong, leaving him in a trauma unit in hospital.

Jonathan Goodwin – who was a semi-finalist on the show in 2020, and who made the finals of Britain's Got Talent in 2019 – had returned for America's Got Talent: Extreme, a spin-off focusing on dangerous stunts and daredevil acts.

TMZ reports that Goodwin's act this time saw him suspended in a straightjacket in the air, while two cars dangled either side of him, 70 feet off the ground. The plan was for him to escape before the cars smashed into each other, but something went wrong and he didn't manage to get out in time.

The cars hit each other with him caught in between them, then they caught fire. Goodwin fell to the ground and hit his head.

Photo credit: NBC Universal
Photo credit: NBC Universal

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TMZ further reports that Goodwin was unresponsive initially, but came to while being airlifted to hospital. He was taken to the trauma unit of a local hospital and is reported to have had surgery. His current condition is unknown.

"Our thoughts and prayers remain with Jonathan Goodwin and his family as he continues to recover from his accident on Thursday. In order to focus on the wellbeing of our crew, we will be temporarily pausing production on America's Got Talent: Extreme and will resume the last few days of filming at a later date," a show spokesperson told People.

"The health and safety of our cast and crew continue to be our priority,"

Photo credit: NBC - Getty Images
Photo credit: NBC - Getty Images

America's Got Talent: Extreme features Simon Cowell returning as judge alongside former WWE wrestler Nikki Bella and motorsports star Travis Pastrana, with Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Terry Crews hosting once more.

AGT's UK-based sister show Britain's Got Talent has not aired this year for a different reason, that being the continuing coronavirus pandemic.

The show's bosses were unsure on how to produce the show with government restrictions, so they decided to suspend it until next year. The show is contracted until 2024 on ITV.

America's Got Talent: Extreme was announced for the 2021-2022 midseason on NBC.

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