Michael Grimm, Howie Mandel In New Season of "America's Got Talent"

NEW YORK (CBS) The buzzers and big red X's are back as the fifth season of NBC's "America's Got Talent" kicked off Tuesday night in round one of open auditions from Los Angeles.

Nick Cannon returns as host of the popular talent program, but Howie Mandel, comedian and "Deal or No Deal" host, replaces David Hasselhoff at the judges' table. Piers Morgan and Sharon Osbourne remain as judges.

"I have been with this show since day one," said Mandel at the start of the televised auditions from the Orpheum Theatre.

He is proving to be a playful, likeable addition to the show. He got a kick out of the loud, often obnoxious buzzer at the judges' table - even setting it off unwittingly before contestants began.

The contestants are as diverse and anything-goes as they were in seasons past with notable standouts already emerging from the varied bunch.

Two pint-sized dancers dubbed "Future Funk" -- "B-Boy Bailrok" and "Baby Boogaloo" Brown -- worked the L.A. auditions into a frenzy with cool dance moves and skills that defied their youth. The duo elicited the first "wow" moment of the night, garnering three "yes" votes.

Michael Grimm, a 30-year-old musician from Mississippi, also wowed judges with his soulful rendition of Jann Arden's "You Don't Know Me." And, interestingly, he bears a keen resemblance to late actor Heath Ledger.

Other performers with tickets to Las Vegas include six martial artists named "Kung Fu Heroes"; French mime-dancer Haspop; the versatile tattoo artist and mask-wearing charmer Maricar; and "The New Directions Choir" an a capella group composed of 10 formerly homeless veterans.

"America's Got Talent" shifts to Dallas tonight as even more performers look to advance to Vegas from the open auditions that are making their way across the country.