That was a clip from the new season of America's Got Talent.

So how does this work?

So in the middle of filming, the lockdown happened.

So part of the show is going to be

the original in a live audience and then the rest is?

OK.

That's a good idea.

These are alll-- we're taking ideas right now.

But tonight is the premiere of America's Got

Talent on NBC at 8 o'clock.

You've got to watch it.

Now, I've got to say this is the best, most amazing, weirdest

season yet.

First of all, what you'll see tonight

is, you'll see the good, fun-loving AGT that you

know and love and expect.

Because we started, we did most of all the auditions in front

of the audience in Pasadena.

There's 4,000 people there.

People are screaming.

The acts are bigger and better than they've ever been.

My Golden Buzzer this year--

I'm not going to give it away now-- is

like something you've never seen on our show

before, on our stage.

It's not dancing.

It's not singing.

It's not comedy.

Wait until you see what that is.

And then the pandemic hit.

And then we, just like you--

I wonder, did you guys tape without an audience ever?

We were going to do that.

And then we were on break.

And then we were going to do that and then

we didn't end up going back because--

In the morning we announced that we would do shows

without an audience.

And by that afternoon--

Yeah.

--we had canceled shows.

And by the next day we were in quarantine.

Because Ellen won't work without an audience.

Ellen will not work without an-- even at home she needs to put

somebody in the garden.

No.

That's who I am.

You know me.

But we did it without an audience, which

was weird at first, but then it was amazing

because you just focused on-- you know, a lot of times when

somebody comes out on stage and the audience jumps

to their feet, you're drinking the Kool-Aid of the room.

And this way we could focus on the person.

And it was actually great.

And then Heidi started coughing.

And we sent her home.

And we were all worried for her and ourselves

because we were sitting next to her,

but turned out to be negative.

She didn't have COVID-19.

She's OK.

And then it was three of us.

And Eric Stonestreet came in and sat with us.

And then they shut down the whole thing.

And we've been doing it a little bit like this from home.

So tonight is the premiere.

And I can't wait to see it because there's always

good stuff on it.

And you're saying this season, better than ever.

So it's tonight, America's Got Talent, 8 o'clock, NBC.

Right.

We'll see you later.

We'll be back.

All right.

Bye, Howie.

Bye.

Honey, I'm done.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Honey, I'm done.

I'm not on Ellen anymore, OK?