Howie Mandel showed during Wednesday’s episode of America’s Got Talent that Mel B was not the only judge capable of a startling image makeover.
The former Spice Girl grabbed the spotlight Tuesday with her drastic new hairstyle — short, swept back and shaved at the sides.
Howie took it further and appeared on the show in drag.
New look: Howie Mandel underwent a major makeover during Wednesday’s episode of America’s Got Talent following Mel B’s new look
Seven acts were sent through to the semi-finals during the one-hour show, with the four judges completely split on the act they wanted through for the final pick.
Howie earlier was seen dressing up as a woman named Harriet who greeted hopefuls at the show’s check-in desk.
The bald comedian was shown getting eyelashes and nails attached, full makeup and then putting on a brown wig with a shoulder-length bob.
After staring himself in apparent awe in the mirror, Howie then went out to the registration desk where he was seemingly unnoticed by those checking in for the show.
Hair style: Mel debuted a new hairstyle this week on the show
Touched up: Howie dressed in drag as part of a skit
Long lashes: The comedian received long fake lashes as part of his makeover
He then continued to prank them, getting one guy to put fingerprint ink on his own face, getting a woman to try to get her eye scanned just to be told her identity had been stolen, and even almost starting a wedding for a couple who arrived.
‘I am an ordained minister — do you want me to marry you? We have a Bible…’ he said, with the couple shown looking confused but seemingly ready to start a service with him.
He took his alter-ego to the max when an elderly gentleman started singing, smiling flirtily as ‘Harriet’ and asking him: ‘Are you single? I’m single. I think we have a connection.’
Checking in: Contestants checked in with Howie thinking she was greeter Harriet
When the gent agreed to have lunch with ‘Harriet,’ Howie then started feeding him a sandwich.
After the taped skit was aired, host Tyra Banks smiled: ‘Howie, you look good as a woman — I’m jealous!’
‘Don’t be jealous, you look good as a woman too,’ Howie replied with a smile.
The host: Tyra told Howie that he looked good as a woman
While his skit stole the spotlight, behind-the-scenes footage of the previous night’s live show saw the other judges admiring Mel’s new style.
‘Your hair is so different, I’m still like, ”What is happening?”,’ Heidi Klum smiled at her fellow judge.
Howie touched the part at the sides that had been shaved and teased her: ‘Look at this — it’s like me.’
Fresh cut: Mel had a fresh cut that featured a shaved side
‘Don’t touch it!’ Mel told him sternly.
It was an emotional night for the acts, with five sent through purely on viewers’ votes, another from an instant Dunkin’ Donuts Saves online vote during the act — and the seventh by judges’ votes.
But when they had to choose between Korean dance crew Just Jerk and Miami singer Yoli Mayor for their pick, they were completely split — with Simon Cowell and Heidi picking Yoli while Howie and Mel went for the dancers.
Online vote: Viewers used the online Dunkin’ Donuts Save and chose Christian Guardino
It meant that in the final seconds of the show producers scrambled to check which of the two had the biggest viewers’ vote — with Yoli falling to her knees in tears when she was told she had won and was the seventh act going through to the semis.
Of the five automatically sent through, the most dramatic moment appeared when young favorites Angelica Hale and Darci Lynne were both called forward, usually a sign that one was going home.
With nine-year-old Angelica already in tears while they waited, they were shocked when both were sent through — with Darci, 12, now also in tears at the news.
Young talent: Darci Lynne and Angelica Hale made it to the semis
Tender moment: Tyra hugged Darci and Angelica after they advanced
‘Oh my God thank you so much guys this means so much to me,’ Angelica sobbed, hugging Darci who laughed that she felt ‘really good because we were so scared we were going to have to go against each other!’
Asked for advice for them, Howie insisted: ‘There’s nothing I can say to make them better than they are. You just do you, you are two perfect little angels, the most talented people I can imagine.
‘Just keep doing you — if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’
Good advice: Howie urged the girls not to change
U.S. Air Force Academy a cappella act In The Stairwell had already had an amazing week after being told Mel had a crush on them — and were shocked to be the first act sent through to the semis, with Tyra also admitting: ‘Oh my gosh! I’m shocked.’
‘Humbled, privileged — thank you so much, it’s an honor to wear this uniform on this stage, it’s an honor to be here,’ one of the men said. ‘Thank you. Thank you, thank you.’
The judges had initially looked sad at the result because it meant young dancers Artyon and Paige were going home.
Singing group: In The Stairwell also advanced to the semis
Simon told the military men: ‘We had a conversation before the show tonight and I said in my opinion the most improved act were you guys.’
Tyra, meanwhile, admitted: ‘I’m personally super happy — my brother, 28 years in the Air Force, so I’m felling you. Really, really excited.’
Extra-footage was also shown of Mel flirting with the military men the previous evening — and even going in for a group hug with them backstage.
Extra footage: Mel was shown in extra footage flirting with the singing group
‘Heidi’s gonna be really jealous!’ she smiled to the camera as she left the group embrace.
She was seen on her phone — and quickly putting it away to give the handsome hunks her full attention when they came onstage.
‘Those are our flight boys,’ Heidi said, asking Mel: ‘Why are you looking at your phone when you can look at this?’
Top model: Heidi Klum blew a kiss during the results show
‘I’m not — I stopped immediately!’ Mel insisted, making it clear she was enjoying the view.
Howie further teased his co-star, who said she’s single after her ugly break-up with husband Stephen Belafonte, pointing to Mel and saying: ‘This isn’t a dating show, this is a talent show — please tell this lady.’
Former homeless comedian Preacher Lawson was next sent through, leaving Puddles Pity Party and the Singing Trump to exit the show.
Funny guy: Preacher Lawson after his stand-up routine also advanced
‘How are you feeling, because the popular vote didn’t seem to work?’ Tyra teased the Trump impersonator, who pulled out ‘Make AGT Great Again’ hats for her and the judges — then angered her by getting in a plug, saying: ‘Come see me at The Hard Rock in Vegas.’
Tyra tried to grab the mic from him and complained: ‘You stop that — you stop that. Hot mess.’
Brother and sister rollerskating acrobats Billy and Emily England were the last to be sent through automatically, beating out Bello Nock.
Popular loser: The Singing Trump lost the popular vote and was eliminated
Brother and sister: Billy and Emily England also made it to the next round
‘I’m speechless,’ Billy said, while his sister added: ‘I’m shaking.’
‘I do think that you are superheroes by the way, because what you did last night was incredible,’ Mel told them, adding: ‘I’m a superhero too — yes!’
Before they went before the judges for their vote, Just Jerk and Yoli were joined by Christian Guardino for the Dunkin’ Donuts Save viewers vote that night, with 17-year-old Christian shaking and saying he was ‘so relieved’ at being picked.
Tense time: Tyra revealed the results during the one-hour show
Fan favorite: Christian was saved by the show’s viewers
‘The entire night the American viewers on this show in my opinion have got this 100 percent right,’ Simon insisted. ‘I am thrilled.’
Last year’s winner Grace VanderWaal also returned to the show for a performance of her song Moonlight, saying her ‘life has changed so much’ since winning.
The champ: Grace VanderWaal returned as a past champion and sang her song Moonlight
‘I don’t even have keys to the house but now I have keys to the city,’ she said of the honor given to her in her hometown in upstate New York.
‘I never imagined that I would be able to perform like this and make albums and be here — it’s so incredible.’
After her performance, Tyra said: ‘She’s living proof that this show changes lives.’
Hugging Grace, she told her: ‘You were this little sweet girl — now you’re still a sweet girl just real, real famous.’
Standing ovation: Howie, Mel, Heidi and Simon Cowell gave Grace a standing ovation