Tom Sandoval Promises To Deliver Even “Bigger Production” During ‘America’s Got Talent’ Live Shows: “We Like To Be A Little Extra”

These are the best days of Tom Sandoval‘s life.

The Vanderpump Rules alum shocked fans earlier this summer when he and his cover band, The Most Extras, auditioned for America’s Got Talent. Now gearing up for the live shows, which begin airing tonight, Sandoval promised an even “bigger production” and perhaps a different genre of music from his band. I know what you may be thinking: how can it get bigger than their energetic performance of A-ha’s “Take on Me” that left judge Simon Cowell grinning from ear to ear?

“We’re Tom Sandoval and the Most Extras, so we like to be a little extra,” Sandoval told Decider over a recent Zoom interview.

Sandoval, who starred in 11 seasons of Vanderpump Rules, has been rebuilding his image ever since he was outed in 2023 for cheating on his longtime girlfriend Ariana Madix with their mutual close friend Rachel Leviss. Having since starred on Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test Season 2 and The Traitors Season 3, Sandoval has been slowly distancing himself from the Scandoval narrative and the “most hated man in America” title that came with it. While he was able to wow judges Cowell, Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara, and Mel B with his audition, it’s now going to be up to America to vote Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras to the semifinals.

“I’m nervous. I’m excited,” Sandoval said. “I know that the people that are going to be performing in these live shows are all really, really talented. I’m just honored to be among such amazing talent. I’ve never been in this situation before, so it’s a new thing for me.”

When we caught up with Sandoval, he shared more about his upcoming performance on America’s Got Talent, how Chad Kroeger from Nickelback inspired his tour rider must-have, and what it was like starring in the 2002 music video for Bon Jovi’s “Misunderstood.” Check out the full interview below.

Live shows for America’s Got Talent are kicking off tonight. How have you been preparing for your upcoming performance? Is there anything you can tease about what we’re going to see?

I can tell you that you’re definitely going to see a different genre. We’ve been working on some new stuff, practicing a lot. It’s been nerve-wracking trying to figure out what song we’re doing. But we’re all really excited. It’s going to be a bigger show, a bigger production than last time, which I’m really excited about. 

That’s exciting to hear because your audition was also a pretty big production, I would say. You guys went all out. 

Yeah. We’re Tom Sandoval and the Most Extras, so we like to be a little extra. 

Do you guys have any pre-show rituals? And if so, what are they? 

I think we all just go through our music. We all sort of huddle around. We all rub each other on the back and say, “Got your back, got your back.” It’s just a constant reminder that we’re out there together and that we’re always looking out for each other. 

I feel like you’re always touring. What are your must haves on your tour rider? 

My biggest thing is just like tea with honey. I also like to melt gummy bears in with my tea and honey because the gelatinous of the gummy bears melt into the tea and it coats your vocal cords. Because we do, sometimes, anywhere between 20 to 24 songs a show. Especially with this upcoming tour, we have five shows, sometimes six shows in a row. So it can be pretty hard on the voice. 

I’ve never heard of that method.

I believe I got that from I think Chad Kroeger from Nickelback does it. 

Interesting! You got four yeses from the judges in your audition. Now it’s going to largely be up to America’s vote. How are you feeling about that? 

I’m nervous. I’m excited. I know that the people that are going to be performing in these live shows are all really, really talented. So, I’m just honored to be among such amazing talent. So yeah, I’ve never been in this situation before, so it’s a new thing for me. It’s a new thing for us.

You’ve done a lot. You’ve done game shows, competition shows, reality TV. This must feel completely different than all of that. 

Yeah. I mean, it’s a competition show, but it’s very different than Traitors or Fox Special Forces or even House of Villains, what I was just on. So yeah, it’s definitely the biggest stage for sure, 100%, I’ve ever been on even remotely. 

Tom Schwartz was in the audience for your audition. You said Kristen Doherty reached out to you about your performance afterward. Have you heard from any of your other former cast mates, and will we see anyone else making a cameo in the audience during these live shows? 

I’m not sure. I’m having my family come out. I’ll have my girlfriend there. I don’t know, we’ll see. I’ve been so focused on just getting ready for it that I haven’t even thought about that. But yeah, we’ll definitely have some people there for sure. 

You guys want to become the ultimate party cover band. What are your favorite three songs to perform? 

It’s really tough to say. We’ve performed so many different songs. I really love our variety. It just depends. Sometimes I’m really into a song in a current moment and then I’m excited about a new one that we’re doing. That’s what I love about being in a cover band. We’re not stuck to playing the same songs over and over. We can replace one timeless classic with another amazing timeless classic. 

The options are endless. 

Yeah, especially with my band and how great they are and how talented they are as musicians. They’re really able to play just so many songs. 

Switching gears a little bit. One of the first shows you did post-Vanderpump Rules was Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, and you made it almost to the very end. What was your reaction to hearing that Brittany Cartwright participated in Season 4, and did she reach out to you for any advice? 

I didn’t speak to her about it, but I’m excited for her. It’s definitely one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. On the season we were on, after watching it back, I’m sure you can ask all the people that were there, it was way harder than it looks. There’s so much stuff that they put you through that you don’t see on TV, so I wish her the best of luck. I’m sure she probably already filmed it or whatever, but I hope she did really well. And it’s really just about testing yourself.

I mean, that image of Jojo Siwa carrying you is just one that replays every time I think of the show. You were on a really great season. 

Oh, I agree. I loved our season, I loved our cast. 

There have also been some rumblings that we could see you on The Valley in the future. Is there anything you can say about that? Is that something you’d be open to doing, or is that kind of reality TV part of your past now? 

Well, it’s always nice to be asked to do something like that, but for right now I’m really just focusing on other aspects of my life. But you never know. You never know. 

Jax announced his exit from The Valley. Where does your friendship with him stand currently? And do you think it was the right move for him to kind of step away? 

I actually just saw Jax yesterday. We went and saw a movie together. We’re doing good. I’m really just trying to support [him and] be a good friend to him as he tries and he gets the help that he needs and I just wish him all the best. 

What movie did you guys see? 

We went and saw Freakier Friday. 

Oh, was it good? I haven’t seen it yet. 

I liked it. I laughed a lot. 

You have to add “Take Me Away” to your next set list. 

There you go. That would be a good one.

I also want to say the Tom Sandoval redemption arc really started with The Traitors. What did you feel about all the support you got from Traitors fans this past season? 

It was really, really nice and refreshing. Yeah, it definitely brought back a sense of confidence. I just love doing shows like that. So, I’m gonna continue to do more, hopefully. Yeah, it’s a fun ride and I’m glad to see that people like watching me and those types of situations. 

Did you see the cast lineup for Season 4? Is there anyone you’re rooting for?

I actually haven’t really looked at it. I can’t remember who some of them are offhand, but yeah, I’m excited. I’ll watch it. I think it’s always unique to see like, okay, this person is going to be on this season of a show, but then it’s like, “How long are they going to be on that show? Are we really going to see much of them?” Because that kind of happened with Dorinda [Medley]. But I’m glad to see that she’s going to be coming back on. 

Maybe we’ll even see you make a surprise appearance in the future. Maybe they’ll bring you back for a cameo.

That would be awesome. I’m so down for that.

On top of everything you’re doing, you also did House of Villains. Is there anything you can say about that experience? 

House of Villains was awesome. It might have been one of my favorite or my favorite experience as far as being on competition shows. It was really cool. You have such a different group of people coming together. In a sense, I think you feel more of a sense of control over your outcome and what kind of show it’s going to be for yourself. That’s what I really liked about it. 

Speaking of exciting things, we have BravoCon coming up again in November. Will we see you there? Would you be open to even performing, maybe?

We’re still talking about that. And yeah, you’re probably going to see me there. 

I have one personal burning question for you that I’ve had for a while. What do you remember from your time starring in Bon Jovi’s “Misunderstood” music video?

Oh, my gosh. That was one of the coolest experiences of my life. Just to be pretty recent out of high school, I remember going to that audition and having to leave and come back and leave and come back again. It was a long, long wait to get in there, and it was such a big production. You know, this is like closing down streets in New York, just doing stunts. I mean, it was long days, but it was so cool. All the different locations, all that. It was a very action-packed video. It was amazing to shoot. And I will always remember that experience very fondly for the rest of my life. It was just such a cool thing to be in a big music video that’s showing on VH1 on TRL. It was pretty cool. 

That’s awesome. You’ve definitely been a busy guy. You’ve done reality TV, Traitors, Special Forces, America’s Got Talent. What’s the next goal you want to check off your bucket list? 

I don’t know, I’ve gotta think about that one. Maybe Survivor?

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Watch Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras perform on America’s Got Talent on Tuesday, Aug. 19 at 8/7c on NBC. You can find out more about the band and tour dates on their website.