Auditions were filmed in Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Portland, Chicago and at the Universal Orlando Resort.
Prior to production starting, David Hasselhoff left the show to focus on a new project, leaving a replacement needed for his role as judge.
Eleven acts were picked by the judges, while a twelfth would be selected by voting from online viewers, guaranteeing a place in the competition via a special quarter-final round.
Unlike the original format, the judges could each pick about four participants who were eliminated from the competition, either at the Vegas Verdicts stage or in the quarter-finals.
Despite arranging a variety of guest performers for this season, the involvement of Susan Boyle during the results of the Top 10 final was cancelled at the last minute, due to a legal complication securing the rights to a song by Lou Reed.
[4] Of the participants who auditioned for the season, sixty-five secured a place in the live quarter-finals, with twelve quarter-finalists in each one.
Guest Performers, Results Show: Lin Yu Chun, Evolution of Dance, and David & Dania.