Tom Sandoval Talks AGT, Villain Labels, and Life After Vanderpump Rules

Why Is Tom Sandoval On ‘America’s Got Talent’?

Tom Sandoval has been trying to prove something for a long time. If you’ve watched Vanderpump Rules for more than five minutes, you know this man loves two things: drama and a mic. His bar gigs, his cover band, the themed parties — all part of his never-ending quest to be more than just a reality TV guy.

Now he’s standing under the biggest talent show spotlight there is. America’s Got Talent Season 20 just saw Tom Sandoval and The Most Extras hit the stage with their version of “Take On Me.” It’s bold to walk into Simon Cowell’s house with an 80s hit and a pocket full of reality baggage. But somehow, they got four Yes votes.

Tom knows exactly how people see him. He knows the trolls circle the second he pops up anywhere new. But in his mind, AGT isn’t just about him. It’s about giving his band — the people who stuck by him during every scandal — a chance to play for more than just curious VPR fans.

Park Sung-hoon Opens Up About Playing Hyun-ju in ‘Squid Game’ Season 3

He told TheWrap he hesitated before saying yes. It’s a huge risk. You bomb in front of Simon Cowell and millions of people, that clip lives forever. But he figured it was worth it. And when Simon cracked a grin mid-performance, Tom knew they were on the right track.

Does Sandoval Really Think He’s Not A Villain?

People still can’t wrap their heads around Tom’s version of Tom. To the world, he’s the reality star who tanked friendships and headlines with bad choices. He’s the guy people love to hate-watch. But to himself? He’s not that guy.

Jerry Bruckheimer Reveals How Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow Almost Didn’t Make It Past Disney

This whole House of Villains thing sums it up. They asked him before and he turned it down. He didn’t want that word attached to him. Now he’s doing it, but he insists he’s not a villain. He says he’s just someone who messed up. He says he doesn’t live like the big bad people think he is.

If you listen to him talk about the new season, he almost sounds excited to show people he’s just… there. Just a dude in the house mixing it up with other reality stars. He claims this House of Villains run might be his favorite reality experience yet. Different vibe. Different crowd. A chance to show another side.

Whether people buy that is another story. When you watch reality TV long enough, you know the “villain edit” is half the game. Sandoval’s learned that lesson over and over. Sometimes you don’t know how you’ll come off until you’re sitting on your couch watching it with everyone else.

Harry Styles Kissing Mystery Woman at Glastonbury: What Really Happened?

What About His Time On ‘The Traitors’?

Sandoval being on The Traitors Season 3 is more proof he can’t stay away from high-stakes games. He says he had a whole plan ready to go. He figured out who the Traitors were. He pitched an idea to flip the game.

Didn’t happen. He blames it on missing commitment from the other players. The show cut a lot out, he says. But he shrugs it off. If the final cut makes him look clueless or cunning, as long as it’s entertaining, he doesn’t seem to mind.

He’s been in this business long enough to know you can’t control everything. You just show up, play your part, and hope people get hooked.

What Happens Now That ‘Vanderpump Rules’ Is Moving On?

Fans are still catching their breath from the news that Vanderpump Rules is about to change forever. Season 12 is scrapping the old crew. Lisa Vanderpump stays. Everyone else? Gone.

Sandoval’s not losing sleep over it. He says it’ll be tough to capture what they had. He knows people will compare. But he’s not bitter. He wishes them luck. He knows what they built can’t be copied overnight.

He doesn’t want to jump on The Valley full-time either. He’d show up if someone invited him to a party. Maybe pop in for a cameo. But the days of being a mainstay in that world? He’s not chasing it. He likes competition shows more now. Less personal dirt, more big moments on stage.

Why Does He Keep Showing Up On Reality TV Anyway?

For a guy who swears he’s not hunting more screen time, Sandoval sure stays busy. One minute he’s undercover on Masked Singer. Next, he’s halfway through boot camp on Special Forces. Now he’s singing A-ha for Simon Cowell.

Ask him why and he’ll say it’s about proving something. To himself first. To the band second. Maybe even to the fans who secretly root for him while claiming they hate him.

He says standing on that stage at AGT was the scariest gig he’s done yet. He knows he’s not the world’s greatest singer. He knows Simon was right when he said the vocals could be tighter. But he doesn’t care. He likes the challenge. He likes the chance to show up and see if people change their minds.

Even when they don’t, he keeps swinging. Next round, next cover song, next big grin when Simon raises an eyebrow. He says they’re already planning what to do next if they get through the quarterfinals. They don’t want to be just a cover band doing karaoke in sparkly jackets. They want to surprise people.

And maybe — just maybe — get a headline that isn’t about who he’s dating or who he’s fighting with at SUR.

Tom Sandoval’s never going to be everyone’s favorite. But he’s still here. Still standing on new stages. Still taking all the hits, all the trolls, and turning them into a show. For better or worse, that’s who he is now. And he seems perfectly fine with it.