On Tuesday’s (August 22) live America’s Got Talent program, Howie Mandel quipped that his colleague judge Sofa Vergara is single and ready to date after her divorce from Joe Manganiello.
The incident happened after Brynn Cummings, a 12-year-old ventriloquist, stunned the judges with her performance. It featured a humorous scenario in which she paired Heidi Klum up with a puppet named Lovebird who was an eligible bachelor. Mandel, though, had some tips for her next appearance.
You’re very cute, Mandel said. “I adore the way you combine ventriloquism and magic. You have a right to be here. I hope you’re loved in America. If I could give you one piece of advice, it would be to talk to Sofa if you’re looking for eligible bachelors as she’s now available.
Mandel’s remark caused several in the audience to gasp, but Vergara didn’t seem phased as she responded by raising her hands in the air and cheering, “Yeah!”
The host Terry Crews intervened and said, “No, we’re not doing that here.” to the Mandel.
In July, Vergara and Manganiello announced their breakup, claiming “irreconcilable differences” as the cause.
The couple told Page Six that they had taken the agonizing decision to separate. “As two very devoted and caring individuals, we kindly request respect for our privacy at this time as we move through this new stage of our lives.”
The couple got engaged in Palm Springs, Florida, in 2015 after initially meeting at a White House Correspondents’ Association dinner the previous year.
Vergara appeared on AGT in high spirits despite her divorce and seemed to enjoy Cummings’ performance, despite the fact that the Modern Family star had difficulties pronouncing the word “ventriloquism.”
Vergara exclaimed, “That was amazing.” “I can’t imagine the level of concentration you need to do both things because it’s so unique on a show where we’ve seen everything, we’ve seen so many ventrickleists [sic].” But you come across as being so cool.
What two items? Mandel prompted her to elaborate.
She responded with a giggle, “The mentalism… and the ventrickleism [sic].”