Backstage at America’s Got Talent, amidst the whirlwind of reality TV production, I found myself, a humble puppet handler, at eye level with Nick Cannon’s undoubtedly expensive shoes. My puppet alter ego, Milo S., the frontman of our emo puppet band Fragile Rock, posed a question that hung heavy in the air, “Nick Cannon, what do you do when you get rejected?” Cannon, with the confidence of someone untouched by failure, simply replied, “I don’t know, it’s never happened to me.” The irony was thick, foreshadowing the rollercoaster of rejection that was about to ensue.
The genesis of Fragile Rock, this unlikely Emo Rock Bands phenomenon, was as unexpected as Cannon’s response. A year prior, navigating the choppy waters of divorce, I turned to songwriting, aiming for the melancholic depths of emo music. But my satirical sensibilities took over. Growing up with a brother immersed in the sounds of bands like The Smiths and The Cure, I always found a humorous disconnect between the inherent sadness of emo and the potential success it could bring. A flippant Facebook joke about starting an “emo puppet band called Fragile Rock” surprisingly resonated.
[Image of Brently Heilbron on the AGT set: “]
The joke quickly gained traction, attracting a talented collective from Austin’s improv and music scene. Shaun Branigan, a puppetry veteran, signed on to create the puppets. Musicians Ryan Hill, Jayme Ramsay, and Cindy Page joined to form the band’s core. Improvisers with puppeteering and musical skills rounded out the ensemble, creating a cast of characters as fragile as their band name suggested. We even crafted a music video for our anthem of despair, “I Am Sad and So Am I,” and developed a full-fledged musical, complete with a therapist character, Dr. Landy, adding another layer of satire to our emo rock bands persona.
Fragile Rock became more than just a comedic concept; it developed its own momentum. Elijah Wood publicly declared his admiration for our bass-playing puppet, Nic Hole, and even the legendary Caroll Spinney of Big Bird fame engaged in conversation with our guitarist puppet, Kyle Danko. What began as a lighthearted jab at emo rock bands was morphing into something surprisingly substantial and deeply engaging.
Our emo puppet band expanded into a sprawling collective, a “Polyphonic Spree of Austin’s emo puppet scene,” as I like to call it. Following David Bowie’s passing, we spontaneously put together a cover of “Heroes,” featuring a massive Bowie puppet requiring three handlers. The performance was a powerful, cathartic experience. The very next day, a Facebook message arrived: an invitation from a senior producer at America’s Got Talent. They wanted Fragile Rock to audition.
The offer was surreal. There was a catch, however: AGT required us to completely conceal ourselves, the puppeteers – a departure from our usual performances. And the audition was in Dallas, the very next day. Fueled by the improvisational spirit that birthed Fragile Rock, we made it happen. Arms outstretched, bodies contorted, band members masked, we navigated the chaotic path towards potential emo rock bands stardom, AGT-style. Three auditions later, amidst increasingly formal producers, we received the news: we were in.
[Image of Fragile Rock frontman Milo S. and his handler: “]
Los Angeles beckoned, and AGT footed the bill to transport our whimsical militia: puppets, puppeteers, musicians, a videographer, a puppet master, and our supportive partners, the “Yokos.” After settling in and smuggling in some essential queso, we dove into the whirlwind of AGT filming. Days were a blur of shooting backstory segments, starting in a basement with a cantor who seemed less than thrilled by our brand of emo rock bands humor. We were assured that they were capturing enough footage for an entire season, fueling our hopes of becoming AGT sensations. The physical strain of puppeteering for hours was intense, a newfound respect blooming for professional puppeteers. One of our crew, Chad Smith, even received a compliment from an AGT staff member comparing his puppetry skills to Jim Henson’s – a moment he still cherishes.
Filming culminated in our performance before the judges: Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Mel B, and Howie Mandel. Nick Cannon hosted this spectacle of celebrity personalities. Confined backstage, we prepped, Milo S. delivering pep talks and mock-arguments, playing into the reality TV narrative. We were ready, convinced of our potential for AGT domination. However, the stage setup presented an immediate challenge. We could barely see or hear the judges, or even our own band. A sense of unease settled in. Looking at each other, a silent question hung in the air: What have we gotten ourselves into?
The performance itself unfolded like a slow-motion train wreck. The band started, I began to sing, but synchronization was immediately off. Then came the buzzers – loud, jarring, and relentless. Yokos were swiftly ushered away, collateral damage control in full swing. The buzzing culminated in a merciful silence.
The feedback from the judges was surreal, a scene playing out in real-time that we had only witnessed on television. Mel B declared us “mean,” apparently we were too edgy even for Scary Spice. Howie Mandel, in a stinging comedic jab, likened our project to Simon Cowell’s less successful ventures. Heidi Klum’s comments were a blur. Finally, Simon Cowell, with his trademark icy demeanor, delivered the ultimate blow, a comment so cutting it momentarily broke me out of character. Mishearing “deaf toddler” as “dead toddler,” his insult landed with a thud of unexpected offensiveness. My immediate, unfiltered reaction, spoken aloud, shattered the puppet persona.
In the post-performance “exit interview,” Nick Cannon, oblivious to the irony, inquired about Fragile Rock’s future, his enthusiasm seemingly manufactured. My response, channeling the melodramatic spirit of emo rock bands, was the only one fitting: “You ain’t gonna see me cry. A tear don’t fall from a glued-on eye.”
Brently Heilbron is an Austin writer and comedian. He is the host of the PBS series Stand Up Empire and lead singer of the emo puppet band Fragile Rock.
