Genre: | Reality Talent contest |
Director: | Alex Rudzinski |
Presenter: | James Corden |
Judges: |
|
Location: | Television City Hollywood, California |
Runtime: | 60 minutes |
Country: | United States |
Language: | English |
Network: | CBS |
Num Seasons: | 1 |
Num Episodes: | 12 |
The World's Best is an American reality talent competition television series. Produced by Mark Burnett and Mike Darnell, it features international performers being evaluated by three judges—Drew Barrymore, RuPaul and Faith Hill, and a panel called the Wall of the World that consists of 50 experts of entertainment. It premiered on CBS on February 3, 2019, following the conclusion of Super Bowl LIII.[1] [2] [3] The series is hosted by James Corden.[4]
CBS ordered The World's Best in February 2018; CBS SVP of alternative programming Sharon Vuong credited Mark Burnett and Mike Darnell's experience in the reality genre, stating that they "understand how to create compelling competition and build enduring franchises", and that it would be a "unique, original format with global scale".[5] Darnell felt that The World's Best was "the next new spin on a variety show", and defended comparisons to a competitor, NBC's America's Got Talent (which, in May, would announce an all-star spin-off series, )[6] [7] by emphasizing its "dramatic" scoring system and international focus as differentiating it from other talent competition series.[8]
In August 2019, CBS president of entertainment Kelly Kahl stated that the network had not yet decided whether The World's Best would be renewed for a second season. Kahl explained that the network "enjoyed the show creatively", but that they would "probably tweak the format a little" if renewed.[9] However, on Apr 25, 2021, TVLine.com stated that the show would not be renewed for a second season.[10]
Each act is judged by three main judges of American origin, as well as the "Wall of the World" — an international panel of 50 experts in various fields of entertainment.[11] Each judge scores a performance on a scale from 0 to 50, while each member of the Wall panel can give a yes or no vote. The average of the judges' scores, and the number of votes given by the Wall, are totaled into a maximum possible score of 100.
Acts who achieved at least 75 points advance to the Battle round, where the acts are paired into duels against each other. In each battle, the judges score the acts in a similar manner to the audition round, but the Wall votes between the two acts instead.
In the Champions round, the twelve acts who advanced from the battles are grouped into four divisions (consisting of solo and group competitions in "Music" and "Variety" categories) with three acts each. The act with the lowest score from the American judges is automatically given third place, and a finalist is determined between the remaining two with the main judges' score and the Wall's votes, in the same manner as the Battle round. The winning finalists in each category also each receive a $50,000 prize.
In the finale, semi-final performances are conducted between the solo and group champions in the Music and Variety categories. The winners of each advance to the finals to determine the champion, who wins a $1,000,000 grand prize.
The members of the "Wall of the World" include:[12]
Country | Continent | Judge | Occupation |
---|---|---|---|
Australia | Oceania | Aaron Cash | Dancer and choreographer |
Mexico | America | Alberto Belli | Director |
Asia | Alex Wright | K-pop producer | |
Brazil | America | Anderson Silva | MMA fighter, former and longest-reigning holder of the UFC Middleweight Championship |
Netherlands | Europe | Angela Groothuizen | Singer and TV personality |
Colombia | America | Ariadna Gutiérrez | Miss Colombia 2014, Miss Universe 2015 runner-up |
Armenia | Asia | Arthur Gourounlian | Creative director and choreographer |
Afghanistan | Asia | Aryana Sayeed | Singer and TV personality |
Spain | Europe | Carlos Latre | Comedian and actor |
Ireland | Europe | Caroline Morahan | Actress and TV host |
Denmark | Europe | Cecilie Lassen | Ballet dancer |
Netherlands | Europe | Chantal Janzen | Actress, singer and TV presenter |
Brazil | America | Chinzõ Machida | Shotokan black belt |
United Kingdom | Europe | Dave Eringa | Record producer |
United Kingdom | Europe | Del Mak | Choreographer |
Germany | Europe | Dennis Jauch | Dancer and choreographer |
France | Europe | Essaï Altounian | Musician |
Bulgaria | Europe | Galabina Kamenova | Gymnast |
Greece | Europe | Galena Velikova | Dancesport athlete |
Kazakhstan | Asia | Gia Noortas | Actress and filmmaker |
Japan | Asia | Hokuto Konishi | Dancer and choreographer |
Poland | Europe | Ida Nowakowska | Actress and ballerina |
Germany | Europe | Jorge González | TV personality |
Nigeria | Africa | Kate Henshaw | Actress |
China | Asia | Kathy Wu | Actress and TV personality |
Canada | America | Keshia Chanté | Singer and songwriter |
Israel | Asia | Kobi Rozenfeld | Choreographer and creative director |
South Africa | Africa | Lira | Musician |
Panama | America | Luigie "Lugo" Gonzalez | Record producer |
Japan | Asia | Makoto Deguchi | Theater producer |
Sweden | Europe | Margareta Svensson | Musical artist and vocal coach |
India | Asia | Nakul Dev Mahajan | Bollywood choreographer |
Canada | America | Nathalie Yves Gauthier | Circus expert |
Germany | Europe | Nazan Eckes | TV host and judge |
Mexico | America | Patricia Manterola | Telenovela star and singer |
Ecuador | America | Paulina Aguirre | Singer |
Switzerland | Europe | Petra Sprecher | Stuntwoman |
Philippines | Asia | Pops Fernandez | Musician and TV personality |
Samoa | Oceania | Rikishi | Professional wrestler, WWE Hall of Fame performer |
Mongolia | Asia | Rokit Bay | Rapper and music producer |
United Kingdom | Europe | Ross King | Broadcaster |
Colombia | America | Sergio Trujillo | Broadway choreographer |
South Africa | Africa | Shado Twala | Radio and TV personality |
United Kingdom | Europe | Sisco Gomez | Choreographer and TV personality |
Europe | Slava N. Jakovleff | Film director and TV producer | |
Belgium | Europe | Slongs Dievanongs | Rapper |
Canada | America | Stu Golfman | Comedy talent agent |
United Kingdom | Europe | Stuart MacLeod | Magician |
South Africa | Africa | Tats Nkonzo | Comedian and musician |
Asia | Thai Nguyen | Fashion designer and TV personality | |
China | Asia | William Yuekun Yu | Peking opera actor |
Czech Republic | Europe | Yemi A.D. | Celebrity choreographer and creative director |
United Kingdom | Europe | Zoë Tyler | Vocal coach and TV personality |
Nigeria | Africa | Zora DeHorter | International casting director |
Week 1
Act | Country | Talent | Judge Score | Wall Score | Final score | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kukkiwon | Martial Arts Acrobats | 49 | 50 | align=center bgcolor="gold" | 99 | ||||
TNT Boys | Philippines | Singing Trio | 49 | 50 | align=center bgcolor="gold" | 99 | |||
Space Cowboy | Australia | Sword Swallower | align=center | 32 | align=center | 25 | align=center bgcolor="salmon" | 57 | |
Enkh Erdene | Mongolia | Country Singer | align=center | 48 | align=center | 49 | align=center bgcolor="gold" | 97 | |
Manami Ito | Japan | Violinist | align=center | 40 | align=center | 46 | align=center bgcolor="gold" | 86 | |
Matt Johnson | United Kingdom | Escape Artist | align=center | 45 | align=center | 36 | align=center bgcolor="gold" | 81 |
Act | Country | Talent | Judge Score | Wall Score | Final Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Naturally 7 | United States | Acapella Group | 47 | 48 | 95 | |
Dundu | Germany | Puppetry Performers | 48 | 49 | 97 | |
Iya Traoré | Guinea | Soccer Freestyler | 35 | 29 | 64 | |
Sister Cristina Scuccia | Italy | Singing Nun | 41 | 37 | 78 | |
Justin Flom | United States | Magician | 49 | 46 | 95 | |
Duo Suining | China | Hand Balancers | 46 | 45 | 91 | |
Lydian Nadhaswaram | India | Pianist | 41 | 44 | 85 | |
Krystyna & Princess | United Kingdom | Hypnodog | 29 | 12 | 41 | |
Jordan McKnight | United States | Contortionist | 49 | 42 | 91 | |
Kai & Alexandra | Switzerland | Upside Down Clown Duo | 36 | 33 | 69 | |
Jade Kindar-Martin | United States | Highwire Walker | 35 | 36 | 71 | |
Dimash Kudaibergen | Kazakhstan | Vocally Diverse Singer | 50 | 48 | 98 |
Act | Country | Talent | Judge Score | Wall Score | Final Score | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shaolin Yanze | China | Kung Fu | 43 | 46 | 89 | ||
Daneliya Tuleshova | Kazakhstan | Singer | 47 | 49 | 96 | ||
Nina Conti | United Kingdom | Ventriloquist | 42 | 43 | align=center bgcolor="gold" | 85 | |
Duo Nigretai | Brazil | Aerialist Duo | 37 | 44 | align=center bgcolor="gold" | 81 | |
Liliac Band | United States | Rock Band | 48 | 43 | align=center bgcolor="gold" | 91 | |
Emotional Line | Popping Dance Group | 39 | 30 | 69 | |||
William Close | United States | Earth Harp Player & Creator | 42 | 45 | align=center bgcolor="gold" | 87 | |
Los Vivancos | Spain | Variety Dancers | 42 | 42 | 84 | ||
Li Wei | China | Slackline Daredevil | 44 | 46 | 90 | ||
Vonnie Lopez | United States | Gospel Singer | 48 | 44 | align=center bgcolor="gold" | 92 |
Week 4
Order | Act | Country | Talent | Judge Score | Wall Score | Final score | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Justin Flom | United States | Magician | 45 | 35 | align=center bgcolor="gold" | 80 | ||
Jordan McKnight | United States | Contortionist | 42 | 15 | 57 | ||||
2 | Lydian Nadhaswaram | India | Pianist | 43 | 31 | align=center bgcolor="gold" | 74 | ||
Enkh Erdene | Mongolia | Country Singer | 45 | 19 | 64 | ||||
3 | Matt Johnson | United Kingdom | Escape Artist | 34 | 17 | 51 | |||
Li Wei | China | Slackline Daredevil | 40 | 33 | align=center bgcolor="gold" | 73 | |||
4 | Manami Ito | Japan | Violinist | 37 | 23 | 60 | |||
Daneliya Tuleshova | Kazakhstan | Singer | 44 | 27 | align=center bgcolor="gold" | 71 | |||
5 | Sister Cristina Scuccia | Italy | Singing Nun | 35 | 4 | 39 | |||
Dimash Kudaibergen | Kazakhstan | Vocally Diverse Singer | 48 | 46 | align=center bgcolor="gold" | 94 |
Week 5
Order | Act | Country | Talent | Judge Score | Wall Score | Final score | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Los Vivancos | Spain | Variety Dancers | 42 | 17 | 59 | |||
Kukkiwon | Martial Arts Acrobats | 50 | 33 | align=center bgcolor="gold" | 83 | ||||
2 | Nina Conti | United Kingdom | Ventriloquist | 42 | 39 | 81 | |||
Space Cowboy | Australia | Sword Swallower | 33 | 11 | align=center bgcolor="salmon" | 44 | |||
3 | William Close | United States | Earth Harp Player | 39 | 1 | 40 | |||
Naturally 7 | United States | Acapella Group | 46 | 49 | align=center bgcolor="gold" | 95 | |||
4 | Duo Suining | China | Hand Balancers | 38 | 13 | align=center bgcolor="salmon" | 51 | ||
Dundu | Germany | Puppetry Performers | 41 | 37 | 78 | ||||
5 | TNT Boys | Philippines | Singing Trio | 50 | 47 | align=center bgcolor="gold" | 97 | ||
Emotional Line | Popping Dance Group | 40 | 3 | 43 |
Order | Act | Country | Talent | Judge Score | Wall Score | Final score | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Shaolin Yanze | China | Kung Fu | 43 | 28 | 71 | |||
Duo Nigretai | Brazil | Aerialist Duo | 43 | 22 | 65 | ||||
2 | Liliac Band | United States | Rock Band | 43 | 14 | 57 | |||
Vonnie Lopez | United States | Gospel Singer | 47 | 36 | 83 |
Category | Act | Country | Talent | Judge Score | Wall Score | Final score | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solo Variety | Justin Flom | United States | Magician | 42 | 24 | align=center bgcolor="Salmon" | 66 | ||
Li Wei | China | Slackline Daredevil | align=center bgcolor="tan" | 3rd place | |||||
Nina Conti | United Kingdom | Ventriloquist | 45 | 26 | align=center bgcolor="gold" | 71 | |||
Group Music | Naturally 7 | United States | Acapella Group | 43 | 32 | align=center bgcolor="gold" | 75 | ||
Vonnie Lopez | United States | Gospel Singer | align=center bgcolor="tan" | 3rd place | |||||
TNT Boys | Philippines | Singing Trio | 49 | 18 | align=center bgcolor="Salmon" | 67 | |||
Group Variety | Kukkiwon | Martial Arts Acrobats | 50 | 33 | align=center bgcolor="gold" | 83 | |||
Dundu | Germany | Puppetry Performers | 48 | 17 | align=center bgcolor="Salmon" | 65 | |||
Shaolin Yanze | China | Kung Fu | align=center bgcolor="tan" | 3rd place | |||||
Solo Music | Daneliya Tuleshova | Kazakhstan | Singer | 48 | 7 | align=center bgcolor="Salmon" | 55 | ||
Lydian Nadhaswaram | India | Pianist | 44 | 43 | 87 | ||||
Dimash Kudaibergen | Kazakhstan | Vocally Diverse Singer | align=center style="background: black; color: white" | Withdrew |
Category | Act | Country | Talent | Judge Score | Wall Score | Final score | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Music | Lydian Nadhaswaram | India | Pianist | 47 | 34 | 81 | |||
Naturally 7 | United States | Acapella Group | 48 | 16 | 64 | ||||
Variety | Kukkiwon | Martial Arts Acrobats | 48 | 30 | 78 | ||||
Nina Conti | United Kingdom | Ventriloquist | 43 | 20 | 63 | ||||
Final 2 | Kukkiwon | Martial Arts Acrobats | 50 | 13 | 63 | ||||
Lydian Nadhaswaram | India | Pianist | 47 | 37 | 84 |
Act | Country | Talent | Position Reached | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lydian Nadhaswaram | India | Pianist | align=center bgcolor=gold | Winner |
Kukkiwon | Martial Arts Acrobats | align=center bgcolor=lightgrey | Runner-Up | |
Nina Conti | United Kingdom | Ventriloquist | align=center rowspan="2"bgcolor=Tan | Top 4 |
Naturally 7 | United States | Acapella Group | ||
Daneliya Tuleshova | Kazakhstan | Singer | align=center rowspan="4"bgcolor=red | Top 8 |
Dundu | Germany | Puppetry Performers | ||
TNT Boys | Philippines | Singing Trio | ||
Justin Flom | United States | Magician | ||
Dimash Kudaibergen | Kazakhstan | Vocally Diverse Singer | align=center style="background: black; color: white" | Withdrew; Top 12 |
Shaolin Yanze | China | Kung Fu | align=center rowspan="3"bgcolor=green | Top 12 |
Vonnie Lopez | United States | Gospel Singer | ||
Li Wei | China | Slackline Daredevil | ||
Liliac Band | United States | Rock Band | align=center rowspan="12"bgcolor=lightblue | Top 24 |
Duo Nigretai | Brazil | Aerialist Duo | ||
Emotional Line | Popping Dance Group | |||
Duo Suining | China | Hand Balancers | ||
William Close | United States | Earth Harp Player & Creator | ||
Space Cowboy | Australia | Sword Swallower | ||
Los Vivancos | Spain | Variety Dancers | ||
Sister Cristina Scuccia | Italy | Singing Nun | ||
Manami Ito | Japan | Violinist | ||
Matt Johnson | United Kingdom | Escape Artist | ||
Enkh Erdene | Mongolia | Country Singer | ||
Jordan McKnight | United States | Contortionist | ||
Jade Kindar-Martin | United States | Highwire Walker | align=center rowspan="4"bgcolor=salmon | Eliminated |
Kai & Alexandra | Switzerland | Upside Down Clown Duo | ||
Krystyna & Princess | United Kingdom | Hypnodog | ||
Iya Traoré | Guinea | Soccer Freestyler | ||
Air Date | 18–49 (rating/share) | Viewers (millions) | Source | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | February 3, 2019 | 7.0/29 | 22.21 | [13] | |
2/3 | February 6, 2019 | 1.0/5 | 5.56 | [14] | |
4 | February 13, 2019 | 0.9/5 | 5.85 | [15] | |
5/6 | February 20, 2019 | 0.6/3 | 3.65 | [16] | |
7/8 | February 27, 2019 | 0.4/2 | 2.64 | [17] | |
9/10 | March 6, 2019 | 0.6/3 | 2.90 | [18] | |
11/12 | March 13, 2019 | 0.6/3 | 3.60 | [19] |