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America's Got Talent Recap, Finals part 3

Posted on 09/03/2008 by RealityWanted in Americas Got Talent

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Those who read this series of recaps know that America's Got Talent has been on NBC since June. They have excellent ratings, so the thinking must be to bet that the American Public will watch anything, including shoddy acts that had no place in the finals because namby-pamby judges (let be be specific; I mean Sharon Osbourne and David Hasselhoff) put far too many acts through to these Los Angeles rounds. This competition should be over by now, but NBC is milking it until Oct. 1, its actual ending. Tonight my commentary will have a lot of Piers' remarks because always has the most controversial things to say and almost always the most incisive. Sharon has an occasional worthy comment and David wants to be everybody's friend
 
The results from last Wednesday on which 5 will make the round of 20 had no surprises. You knew Queen Emily and Paul Salos were going to make it as they have the talent to be top 10. You knew that the Wright Kids and David Jens would make it because they performed well, but they are not going to be top 10. The final spot was up for grabs; would it be Beyond Belief Dance Company or Zooperstars? I was hoping for Zooperstars. The #5 and #6 finishers are competing for the final spot decided by the judges. Piers is publicly on record as hating the Zooperstars, stating for this occasion that they are the most stupid act ever. He was a sure Beyond Belief vote. Sharon said they were great as well as silly. David had the deciding vote and he finds Zooperstars weirdly entertaining and gave them continued presence in the competition. The eliminated acts were Beyond Belief Dance Company, George the Giant, Jonathan Arons, Slippery Kittens, and unfortunately Kazual, who did not even make the runoff.
 
Last night was quite typical of what has been happening. The first 4 acts were dreadful because none of them should have been there in the first place. After that 4 of the next 6 were OK and one was dazzling. Which acts are in which category? Here is my take on that:
 
Texas State Strutters - a Rockettes clone buzzed early (presumably first by Piers and later by the other judges although the cameras were careful to not reveal who buzzed when). Piers had a very cutting remark in suggesting the group try a new line of work underwater in synchronized swimming.
 
Michael Strelo-Smith - he is a music teacher that wants a performance career instead; he sang "I Am What I Am". I though he did an OK job(which is not going to keep him in given the competition for vocalists), but he got 2 buzzes from the judges. Again letting it all hang out, Piers suggested that karaoke is his proper line of work(do I hear the style of Simon Cowell, executive producer of this show, influencing Piers' style which I'm sure was formed well before he ever met Simon?).
 
Bruce Block is a magician/illusionist. He elected to have 2 halves of a mock horse put back together and a real horse come out of the box. Nice, but no cigar, as they say. Piers made a joke about the intent originally was to use a saw that was threatened to make quarter horses, but a whole horse emerged instead. He accused Bruce of letting down magicians worldwide. There were approximately 10 midgets on the stage. David (and I) found this confusing as most of them had no need to be there and were just window dressing.
 
Sheqida - now what do you remember about Shequida? I'll bet it is the ability to sing both high soprano notes and low basses note in one composition. So what did Sheqida do tonight? He/she looked fabulous, but it was only falsetto soprano notes in the song chosen. Frankly he/she does not have a very good high voice as notes at the top were not in tune. Scratch Sheqida. Piers likened it to a pet rabbit being strangled. It was not that bad but it was not good enough to make the next round.
 
Taubl Family - finally we got a nice easy listening act. The words I wrote down before they performed were safe, solid and simple. The Taubl kids play many instruments and sing very well. Their mom is at the piano and their dad was on percussion last night. It all came together into the first good performance of the evening. Sharon called them a ray of sunshine.
 
Jonathan Burkin - boy twirler who did many different kinds of things in his act. He was using lighted batons that he tossed away then did multiple back flips to reach the front of the stage. He juggled three lighted batons, he used his neck and head to rotate a lighted baton around his head. In short, he was the only excellent act of the evening and he is headed for top 10. Piers called it incredible. David termed him the best male twirler in the United States (probably true but difficult to measure).
 
Sarah Lenore - she is now playing the sophisticated, mature female singer/guitarist and she has the voice to pull this off. Sharon had challenged her to differentiate from the many of blond, pretty young singers out there and I feel she accepted that challenge and succeeded.
 
Sick Step - 11 male dancers who incorporate hip hop moves into a pleasant routine. Piers said good job, which I agree with. This is not a team that will make the top 10 but it was good enough to probably make the next round.
 
Matthew Piazza - he did a range of excellent impersonations in earlier rounds. Tonight he had either run out of them or he was taking a risk and saving them for the next round. He chose to break out of regular impersonations in the middle of his act to go to the piano and impersonate Jerry Lee Lewis on "Great Balls of Fire". He is much more entertaining doing impersonations. Sharon recommended that he "work on his writing" to get around running out of good material.
 
Joseph Hall - the first time I hear him sing I, the judges and the audience were all blown away. I put him into the 8 performers I recommended most highly. Well, last night Joseph Hall let us all down in a performance of "Jailhouse Rock". He will go to the round of 20 for sure, but I doubt that he will go any farther unless he regains his earlier style. Sharon asked him to "be dirty for me". I hope that he can do it. There are still plenty of excellent Elvis Presley songs to sing.
 
So, that was last night's competitors. Jonathan Burkin was the star of the evening. Sarah Lenore was next best, then the Taubl Family. Joseph Hall and Sick Step would be the next two. Competing for the #6 spot to get into the runoff would be Matthew Piazza and Sheqida. Either one would lose to Sick Step in the runoff. The 3 goners are the Texas State Strutters, Michael Strelo-Smith and Bruce Block.
 
It is interesting to watch the positioning of the performers. The one expected to wow the audience is always placed last. Last night Joseph Hall had that opportunity. Tonight I expect it will go to Nuttin' But Stringz. See you in less than 24 hours!

For more America's Got Talent Links visit Sirlinksalot.net


  


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