Howie Mandel has watched countless performers take the America’s Got Talent stage, but even the longtime judge is struggling to predict who will walk away with the $1 million prize this season.

As the competition moves into its Live Shows, Mandel admits he does not have his usual favorite in mind.

“I usually, at this point, have a clear idea of who I believe is gonna win,” Mandel told Entertainment Weekly, noting that he has correctly predicted the winner around 80 percent of the time.

This season, however, feels different.

“There are a couple of people that are just way out there,” he said.

Mandel has served as an AGT judge since 2010 and insists he is rooting for every performer who made it this far. Still, the comedian naturally has a special place in his heart for contestants who make people laugh.

Howie Mandel is rooting for the comedians

Several comedians remain in the competition, including Cris Sosa and Daniel Alvarez, along with comedic singer Cesar Dias.

Mandel admitted that he would love to see a comedian make a deep run this year.

“There’s nobody that I’m not pulling for,” he said. “Personally, I would like a comedian to do very well. I just believe, you know, that’s what I do and who I am.”

But Mandel also knows that comedy is only one part of a competition filled with talented performers.

One contestant who has especially caught his attention is Nene Royal, the young singer who has quickly become one of the season’s biggest talking points.

Nene Royal has become a standout

Mandel praised Nene for making a huge impact after only two appearances on the show.

“We all are aware of Nene being the rockstar that she is and the global sensation that she has become,” he said.

According to Mandel, Nene’s Callback performance generated massive attention online, with more than 40 million global clicks shortly after the episode aired.

Her growing popularity could make her one of the strongest contenders when viewers begin deciding who deserves to advance.

Mandel also highlighted Hundred Fingers, the magic act he personally selected for a Golden Buzzer.

The judge said their performance stood out because it presented magic in a way he had never seen before.

The pressure is about to get much bigger

The Live Shows bring a completely different level of pressure for the remaining contestants.

A total of 44 acts have reached this stage, including singers, magicians, aerialists and other performers who impressed the judges during earlier rounds.

Now, the judges can only watch as the contestants compete for the audience’s votes.

Mandel compared the experience to watching a child perform at a school recital, where every performer feels like someone you want to support.

“You sit there like a parent at a recital,” he said.

He explained that every act still in the competition has already earned the judges’ belief that they could potentially win.

But making it to the Live Shows is not enough.

“They have to rise to that occasion,” Mandel said.

The pressure is even greater now because the contestants are performing live with a $1 million prize within reach and facing some of the strongest acts of the season.

For Mandel, that makes the outcome almost impossible to call.

Rather than predicting a winner, the veteran judge is leaving the decision to viewers. With so many performers capable of making a major impact, even he does not know who America will ultimately choose.

America’s Got Talent airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and streams the following day on Peacock.