By Arthur Perkins

Instead of watching the early evening hours of the Democratic National Convention, my dial was turned to America's Got Talent. Did I make the right decision?
 
Jerry Springer clarified what the AGT finals process will be. There are 10 teams competing tonight and they will be reduced to 5 in a results segment of tomorrow night's show. Tomorrow night an additional 10 teams will compete. Presumably next week, there will be announcement of which 5 teams from part 2 make the cut followed by 10 more teams on Tuesday night, then the last 10 teams competing and results from the night before to identify the 5
continuing on. So, on with the show now that we know what the plan is to get to 20 acts from 40 acts currently.
 
Extreme Dance FX - this is a synchronized clogging group. Piers stated that their dynamic performance was terrific tonight but must "step it up" to stay in the competition if they survive by "being better, faster, lighter"; Sharon cited their energy; in one of the most inane comments of the evening, David said they were "not too young (which he had thought them to be last round)". My assessment is that who cares about a synchronized clogging group. Their talent is good but it's not awesome and why should they take up a place in the next round when there are more deserving acts.
 
The James Gang - combine hip hop dancing with 1920s music. Similar to that famous scene between Marlon Brando and his brother, this was "not their night". They had been a high energy dance routine in earlier rounds, but energy was missing tonight due to their choreography. Sharon termed their act as unique, which it is. Piers thought the first half was terrific, but said that they it got complicated and needed more simplicity in the second half. David stated that the emphasis on such lost arts as swing dancing and Cab Calloway were excellent.  I really like what I have previously seen from this group and believe they have the potential to do really well, so I want to see them make it to the next round.
 
Derrick Barry - it wasn't his night either. Derrick disappointed me and I'm sure also the judges based on the expectations they had from his previous Britney Spears impersonations. This one was flat. Jerry Springer, never one to miss an opening, took over the mic to encourage the voting public to do just that - vote for Derrick as a way of getting rid of Piers. Piers questioned whether Derrick should use his talents to impersonate women since he is such a a talented impersonator. No doubt he was thinking of Michael Jackson when he said that. Sharon loved the performance and said there is room for 2 Britneys, contradicting Piers. David lauded the costumes and attitude and choreography. I think Derrick is going to be eliminated.
 
Elite - what was this act doing in the finals. Which judges were the idiots who selected this young girl to impersonate a martial artist with mock battles against a pirate chief (her father in costume) and other pirates. They were talking about how someone might get hurt before the performance; what a terrible joke perpetrated on the viewer as nobody could possibly be hurt badly in this routine unless they slipped off the stage. Piers is known for his incise comments. With this act he said "I've glad I'm not your father." He cited her energy, but I guess because he had nothing else positive to say about it. David used the trite phrase "entertaining."
 
Ronny B. - David buzzed him mid-performance. Piers said that Ronny should not be concerned because this singing and dancing talent was superior to what David's will ever be. He went on to say that Ronny will not win the $1,000,000 prize but if he does Piers will the country (I'm sure he does quite frequently to return home to Britain) - and that threat should win Ronny votes. Jerry Springer, never one to miss an opening, took over the mic to encourage the voting public to do just that - vote for Derrick as a way of getting rid of Piers.  Sharon likened him to Jiminy Cricket, probably because of his shortness. David's comment was that he is a singing ant, like he likes Ronny B.  I was not amused at all. I want to see Ronny B. get the elimination he deserves.
 
The Cadence - 6 male drummers who drum up a cacophony of percussive noise. I really like this act, but it was only a good night for them when they wanted something awesome. The only thing mildly interesting in their act tonight was the use of water on the tops of 4 large drums which bounced up in droplets as those drums were being hit. It was like creating rain. Piers said that the beginning of this act was lacking but the ending was dynamic. Sharon stated that what is needed is animalistic behavior from each drummer. David again resorted to cliches: "step it up", "tighten it up". I would like to see them voted through due to their potential as demonstrated in prior rounds.
 
Jessica Price - she is a singer and guitarist who uses the sympathy approach to generate votes because of her father's abandonment of her many years ago. Piers made a comment on how awesome she was but how she needs to smile. I do not agree because I do not like her style of music. I do not want it to win America's Got Talent, so it would be appropriate for her to be eliminated now.
 
Shimshi - magician who did a card trick using an audience member as a prop. She drew a card then took a jagged edge of its corner off. He supposedly put that card back into the deck but I think really palmed it and got it somehow to the floor. then he leaped up with an impressive somersault to kick one card from the fanned deck to attach onto the bottom of his shoe. You know that he would not have tried it if there was any question about completing it. Piers called seeing a card trick boring, but I think he is way off-base on this one. Sharon called it perfect timing and execution. David said it was a great trick. I agree with Sharon and David.
 
DC Cowboys - This was another tribute to the inanity of the judges putting them in the finals. They had no right to be there. A bunch of men in cowboy shirts and dancing pants paraded around to "Footloose" with an embarrassing lack of synchronization. This act was buzzed by Piers so you know how he felt. He called them "fun, but poor dancers." That says it all. It would be a travesty if they made it to the next round.
 
Neal E. Boyd - was scheduled to go last because they were saving the best for last. He sang "Somewhere" from West Side Story perfectly. It was very moving and he is easily the best act of these 10 and probably the best in the entire competition. All 3 judges gave him a standing ovation in addition to the audience doing so. Piers stated that the competition was his to win because he sang incredibly. Jerry made a fool of himself by asking why Neal had to sell insurance when he should be just singing. Jerry apparently has not heard of the need to make a living to eat and have shelter before you are able to make it big.
 
Jerry then made more of a fool of himself by calling AGT "the greatest show in the history of the world." Hyperbole has its place that this is a totally ridiculous statement.
 
Finally, the competition for the wild-card 40th card vacated by the withdrawal of the Russian Bar Trio due to injury was finished by the public voting for Donald Brasswell more than any other potential act. He will compete next week and the other 7 acts go home. That includes two of my favorites (beyond Russian Bar Trio who I expected to win the competition): Victoria Jacoby, Kyle Rifkin.
 
So here are the acts I want to see advance: Neal E. Boyd, the Cadence, Shimshi, the James Gang, Derrick Barry. If any of them do not make it, then I would see Jessica Price or Extreme Dance FX getting in. I hope that we have seen the last of DC Cowboys, Elite and Ronny B.
 
There will be another America's got Talent episode in 24 hours. Stay tuned here. Look at what I was able to write by ignoring the Democratic National Convention. Would I have missed this? AGT is a blend of acts with very limited talent with genuinely excellent performances. Who would want to miss this?

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