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Update: Indy comedian Ryan Niemiller advances to semi-finals of 'America's Got Talent'

Update: Indianapolis comedian Ryan Niemiller will perform at least one more time on "America's Got Talent." Niemiller learned during Wednesday's episode of the NBC series that public voting sent him to competition's semi-finals. He next will tell jokes on either the Sept. 3 or Sept. 10 episode of the show. The original recap of Tuesday's episode follows:

Positive feedback flowed toward Indianapolis comedian Ryan Niemiller during Tuesday's live telecast of "America's Got Talent."

Seven of Tuesday's 12 performers will advance from the quarterfinals to the semifinals of the NBC series.

Celebrity panelist Howie Mandel said he believed Niemiller will make it.

"I promise you everybody at home was laughing," Mandel told Niemiller. "You are wonderful, you're memorable, you're funny, you're smart."

Comedian Ryan Niemiller performs during Tuesday's "America's Got Talent" live telecast.

Public voting on Tuesday's performers is open until 7 a.m. Wednesday. Visit nbc.com/agtvote or use the "America's Got Talent" official app to vote.

A live results episode will air at 8 p.m. Wednesday on WTHR-13.

Born with a congenital birth defect in both arms, Niemiller joked during his performance about a New Year's resolution to improve his physical fitness.

The Demotte, Indiana, native said a friend advised the purchase of a Fitbit activity tracker.

"I have heard those are a great way to lose some weight," Niemiller said, "if you're fortunate enough to be born with wrists. Instead of counting my steps, I've been counting the amount of times I drop my Fitbit. I'm getting 8,000 a day, I think that's pretty good."

Before Niemiller's performance, "America's Got Talent" showed a video in which Niemiller visited his alma mater of Kankakee Valley High School in Wheatfield, Indiana, where he was a lineman on the football team and was voted homecoming king his senior year.

Following Niemiller's performance, celebrity panelist Julianne Hough said his act is improving when compared to two earlier appearances this season. 

"You were born to be on the stage," Hough said.

Panelist and "America's Got Talent" creator Simon Cowell also had kind words for the Indiana State University alum.

"Everything worked," Cowell told Niemiller. "Your flow, your confidence. It was just one of those great, great performances."

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Call IndyStar reporter David Lindquist at 317-444-6404. Follow him on Twitter: @317Lindquist.