The mostly lackluster talent plays second fiddle to the inane interplay between the gang of four grinning judges, the overly enthusiastic audience members with their phony closeup reactions and the rock-concert-style loud music and fireworks in the backgound. If the contestant has a sob story about a terminal illness, being a victim of bullying or having a dream of coming to America from a third world country to hit it big in show biz, then they will be first in line to get a golden buzzer from their compassionate celebrity panelists.
A lot of the acts, contortionists for example, might find steady work at a carnival sideshow or county fair.
Yeah, the show attracts eyeballs despite the minimum of actual talent being put on public display.
"Talk amongst yourselves." ~ Linda Richman.