America's Got Talent: Finale!
Airdate: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 [8-10pm]

Finally, after what seemed like a season that took forever to get to this point, we are now at the finale and have crowned a new winner. Was the winner deserving? Believe me, I'll get to that later.

To start off the night, the Top 10 and Thelma Houston performed "Don't Leave Me This Way." Even though this was a performance that was perfect for the singers and dancers, they left Grandma Lee out in the cold, left to do the introduction of Thelma. They could have at least added some sort of comedy into the mix; it didn't have to be jokes. And what kind of singing was that, Kevin? I thought you were bad before, and now you've sunk to a new low in singing ability.

The first guest performer is Leona Lewis, who performed her new song, "Happy." Even though I don't have her first CD (I'm ashamed to admit it, but it's on my list of CD's to buy), she is one of my favorite singers, with such favorites as "Bleeding Love," "Better in Time," and now, "Happy." She has an unbelievable voice, reaching octaves that may very well match Mariah Carey's vocal range.

The Audition All-Stars were up next, with "There's No Stopping Us Now." I think that giving them this opportunity, along with the title of the song, probably instilled in them the thought that the they really are good, which is obviously delusional thinking. At the end of this segment, the magician reveals what's behind the veil. What a fitting way to end the season with Piers and Grandma Lee getting hitched. Perfect!

I don't know how to comment on the Cirque du Soleil performance. I thought they were all about acrobatic-type dancing and all that, not some clowns with unfunny jokes and singing.

In the midst of all these guest performers, we can't forget the real reason for this show, to reveal the winner. They start with narrowing the group down to the Top 10:

Hairo Torres and Barbara Padilla. No surprise there: Barbara!

Lawrence Beamen and Voices of Glory. Again, obvious that Voices would be in the Top 5.

Texas Tenors and Fab 5: Wow, it's three for three on the 'no surprise' factor, with the Tenors advancing.

Kevin Skinner and Drew Stevyns. What would have made my day would be seeing Drew moving forward instead of Kevin. But, alas, that dream was squashed. I guess it was too good to be true.

Recycled Percussion and Grandma Lee. No!!!!!!!! America thought Recycled was more talented than Grandma Lee? I don't think so. The only reason this happened was because the band was the last to perform on Monday night.

The next guest performer was Shakira who sang lip-synced "She Wolf." The whole thing was annoying, really. She didn't even try to make the non-singing believable. The voice was altered, and her mic was not near her mouth at all times. Afterwards, she said something about working hard. Yeah, work hard at the dancing and sex appeal and not worry about doing your job, which is singing. Now that's working hard, isn't it?

And now it's time to trim again; this time to narrow the Top 5 down to the Top 2.

5th Place: Voices of Glory

4th Place: Texas Tenors

3rd Place: Recycled Percussion. If they had performed earlier in the night, they would not have gotten near 3rd place.

One of my favorite bands ever, Rascal Flatts, performed "Summer Nights." (I typed the wrong song title in my Live-Tweet). A perfect song to end the summer with. They even got Piers to clap his hands to the beat of the song. Perfect!

And now, the moment everybody has been waiting for, what this whole night has been leading up to: a performance by Internet sensation and singer Susan Boyle. Oh wait, I forgot we still have a winner to crown. Retract that. But still, the press has been making such a huge deal out of this performance beforehand. She performed her first single, a remake of the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses." What a beautiful voice. And her voice was truly amazing during the chorus. I enjoyed this even more than "I Dreamed a Dream." That is the song we have heard from her the most, so it was a nice change to hear something different from her. But why didn't they talk to her afterwards? We found out after the fact that it was pre-taped in case she got overwhelmed again. She has such a great voice, and has such great potential to be a huge star (even though she already is one), but she won't be able to do all that unless she is stable. And even though it seems like she is fine now (she said as much in the intro video), she is going to have to perform live or people will think she is still unstable.

And now is the time to crown a new winner. Will it be chicken catcher and horrible singer Kevin Skinner, or cancer survivor Barbara Padilla who has a beautiful voice.

The winner of America's Got Talent 2009 is...Kevin Skinner. WHAT? NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is even worse than when Kris Allen won this year's American Idol over the actually talented Adam Lambert. I believe that the right person has won every year on AGT, regardless of how their career is after winning. But this is ridiculous. Kevin Skinner can't even sing! When praising him, his supporters only talk about him being a chicken catcher, so it's obvious that even his supporters know deep down that he can't sing. I wanna go on and on with this rant, but I'll stop before it gets really out of control. I guess there's always next year.

Before I leave, let's see how well I did in my predictions for the season:

Quarterfinals Group 1: 5/5, 100%
Quarterfinals Group 2: 4/5, 80%
Quarterfinals Group 3: 3/5, 60%
Quarterfinals Group 4: 3/5, 60%
Semifinals Group 1: 3/4, 75%
Semifinals Group 2: 4/5, 80%
Finals: 0/1, 0%
Season Total: 22/30, 73%

Well, another season gone. Even though I'm a fan of this show, I'm kinda glad it's over for the year. This year just exhausted me. With the season now over, I end my AGT commentary for the year as well. I'll start back up in January with Idol-Talk, then next summer for AGT again. For one final time, see ya then...

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 6:18 PM PDT

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America's Got Talent: Finals
Airdate: Monday, September 14, 2009 [8-10pm]

On Monday, the finalists performed one last time for America's votes. Who blew away the competition, who was forgettable, and who completely bombed? Let's find out...

1. The Voices of Glory: Singing a Whitney Houston song ("Greatest Love of All") was risky (but was obvious strategy since Whitney is trying to make a comeback), but for the most part, the group pulled it off. I give it a seven or eight out of ten, based on the vocals. Nadia was a little flat at times (in the middle to lower vocal range). But when her voice got higher, she and the boys were great. They may have increased their chances of winning, but was possibly diminished by going first.
2. Hairo Torres: After my contradictions last week, I wanted to be a little easier on him, while still being truthful. There were times when I was impressed, but I didn't think there were enough dance/contortion moves. He is still a talented young man, regardless. His chance of winning plummeted; he's out of the running.
3. Lawrence Beamen: The song choice ("My First, My Last, My Everything") was better than last week, but it didn't completely work out. The song forced him to sing short notes, so we couldn't hear any range or length in his voice. Out of the two singing acts so far, Voices of Glory has it. Chance of winning: forgettable, so no chance.
4. Barbara Padilla: It is not surprise that she sang the first song she did on the show; season 1 winner Bianca Ryan, season 3 winner Neal E. Boyd, and Britain's Got Talent finalist Susan Boyle all did it. And since it has been a long while, it felt like a new song to me. Out of everything I have said about her all these weeks, there's nothing more I can say other than this: she's already a winner. And I love how, each week, she is shocked when the judges say how great she is. I saw more confidence this week, which was great. Chance of winning: 99.9%. I don't say 100% because you never know how America will vote sometimes.
5. Fab 5: This week, they had to do more than just give an enjoyable performance. Unfortunately, that wasn't apparent. There was nothing new brought to the stage; just the same type of tap dancing/clogging we have seen from them before. Chance of winning: forgettable, so no chance.
6. The Texas Tenors: There will always be cheese with their performances, but this was their best yet. They saved the best for last. And "My Way" is a great song, which is fitting for the end of the competition. They definitely increased their chances of winning, though I can't see them winning.
7. Drew Stevyns: I am amazed that he has made it this far. But this time, he stepped it up enormously. This was his best of the season, like the Tenors. And I found nothing wrong with the song ("I'll Stand By You"), his voice, or the overall performance. Even though this is the best we've seen of him, he will probably get lost in the mix in America's eyes.
8. Grandma Lee: I was worried that she wouldn't be as funny this week, but she brought her A-game as usual. Each joke, from Seacrest to Piers to Simon, was top notch. When she was carried out by those "Egyptians," I was already laughing. Then I noticed the belly bump, and wondered how that would fit in, but I loved that she said "We'll talk about this later, Piers." And revealing that her new baby daddy is Simon was hilarious. I think that out of anyone in the competition that could give Barbara Padilla a run for her money, it is Grandma Lee. She is the only person I could see beating the opera singer.
9. Kevin Skinner: Singing "I Don't Want To Miss a Thing," he started right off the bat with horrible notes. And it continued until the middle of the song. The last half was better and more on key, but he didn't do anything to persuade me. This was nowhere near a million dollar performance. The judges admitted he doesn't have a good voice, but decided to throw that huge aspect out and basically said he should win because he's unemployed and has a touching story. But the truth is this: When you are buying an album, you are buying the voice, not the story. So, once again, a big epic fail to the judges for not doing their job. Kevin is a nice guy and all, but I really don't want him to win (if you haven't noticed already). He is not the best act in America, plain and simple. Chance of winning: I'm not even going to go there.
10. Recycled Percussion: It was a little uneven at times, but so much energy and excitement. The song was great, which added to the energy. The water seemed pulled straight from the Taylor Swift award show playbook. That was a little unnecessary. But overall, a great end to the night. Chance of winning: while uneven, they had the pimp spot, so it's hard to tell how their chances of winning are. But I doubt they will win.

Favorite Acts: Barbara Padilla / The Texas Tenors / Drew Stevyns / Grandma Lee
My Votes: Barbara Padilla [10 votes by phone] / Grandma Lee [10 votes online]
Winner Prediction: Barbara Padilla
Alternative: Grandma Lee

Overall, this was a great night of performances. There's no doubt about it, Barbara Padilla has the best shot at winning. If you would have told me that during the auditions, I would have said no, because we had an opera singer win last year. Neal E. Boyd is one of the best acts to grace the America's Got Talent stage, but I have to admit that Barbara is better than him. It's hard to say that, because I can't say anything bad about Neal, but it's probably the truth.

Even though I'm predicting Barbara to win, I also voted for Grandma Lee and selected her as an alternative to win if Barbara does not. I love Grandma Lee, and couldn't help but vote for her as well, because regardless of the results, she's deserving as well.

Well, we're at the end of the season, finally. It's all come down to these ten finalists. Who will win, and will the winner or any of the finalists reach a Terry Fator-like level of fame? We won't know for a quite a while, but I'm looking forward to tonight's Finale, where Leona Lewis, Shakira, Rascal Flatts, and Cirque du Soleil will all perform, as will Susan Boyle. Even though Terry Fator already performed earlier in the season, he really should come back for the Finale to perform. With all of these performers, it should be a great show. I don't have to worry about writing down notes or finding someone to vote for; I just have to sit back and relax and enjoy the show.

Even though I don't have to worry about all those things, I will still be multi-tasking: I will be Live-Tweeting tonight's Finale as I did for Monday's performance episode. You can follow those Live-Tweets on Twitter @TVWatchOnline beginning at 8pm Pacific Time. For the final time, see ya then...

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 7:33 PM PDT

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America's Got Talent: Semifinals - Acts 11-20
Airdate: Tuesday, September 8, 2009 [9-11pm]

I want to apologize in advance for my commentary tonight. I wasn't paying complete attention to AGT because I was trying to tune in to Kaleb Nation's BlogTV midnight release party for his debut book, Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse at the same time. Because of this, my comments are shorter and I was bored by the performances (except Barbara Padilla).

1. Recycled Percussion [Band]: I am a little disappointed by them this week. They seemed like they tried to find any excuse to hit something, anything. Last time, it looked planned out, and every move was for a reason. This time, however, it was all over the place.
2. Lawrence Beamen [Singer]: It was just okay. At times, his voice wasn't as strong. I wouldn't move him forward based on this performance, but it's hard to tell what the rest of America will think.
3. Erik & Rickie [Ballroom Dancers]: There is no doubt they are great, but it seemed like the producers might have picked the Michael Jackson song and theme for them. I doubt these kids would have chosen that. I don't think the song fit their dance, but they still are great dancers.
4. Jeffrey Ou [Pianist]: He goes back to the mad pianist that the judges loved, and now they don't like it. I don't get the judges anymore. But I finally agree with them on Jeffrey Ou. I've never gotten this style of being all over the place. And what was up with his hair? Fits the style, I guess.
5. Hairo Torres [Breakdancer]: I still don't understand why he's still on the show. There was some dancing that was nothing extraordinary. Not a million dollar act.
6. The EriAm Sisters [Singing Group]: I still don't like this act. Their voices were flat throughout, as usual. And the song was kind of boring.
7. Mario & Jenny [Comedy variety duo]: This is one of those acts that shouldn't have gotten past the auditions. This was terrible! What was the point of it? We've gone from bad to horrible.
8. Drew Stevyns [Singer]: The first half was not that good. But the last half picked up when his voice got stronger. He has a unique voice and I am glad he got better as the song went on. It wasn't perfect, but better than most before him.
9. FootworKINGz [Dance ensemble]: There was nothing special here. I did not see any moves that were epic or original.
10. Barbara Padilla [Opera singer]: They saved the best for last. Nobody was able to touch her level of talent tonight. I think she topped her previous performance. She is sailing into the finals, for sure.

Favorite Acts: Barbara Padilla
My Votes: Barbara Padilla [10 votes by phone; 10 votes online]
Top 10 Predictions: Lawrence Beamen / Hairo Torres / The EriAm Sisters / Drew Stevyns / Barbara Padilla

The producers have changed the rules one again. First, the judges send two acts to the finals instead of one last week; this week, there will be five acts going forward instead of four, and there will be no Judge's Choice this week as well. Hmm, this might make for some interesting results. 

Like I said, I apologize for giving a half-hearted effort this week. As far as I am aware, I will not have any distractions next week for the finals, so I promise to do better at that time.

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 7:37 PM PDT

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America's Got Talent: Semifinals - Four Five Advance
Airdate: Wednesday, September 2, 2009 [9-10pm]

[Note: I apologize for the format of yesterday's AGT commentary. The Tripod blog system is very unforgiving, and I had to partly redo the entire post, which ended up squishing paragraphs together.]

Before I recap the results, I want to make a comment on the AGT recap episode that aired in the hour preceding last night's results show. The recap show usually shows the performances and the judge's comments; last night, however, they edited out Arcadian Broad's "The producers made me do it" comment. The producers obviously want to continue to make themselves look good, but after this edit, it makes them look even worse. To the producers of America's Got Talent, I say to you: BIG EPIC FAIL!

Now that I've got that out of my system, let's move on to the first results show of this year's semifinals.

Arcadian Broad, The Texas Tenors, and Drew Thomas Magic were called up first. It was completely obvious that the Tenors were advancing, and the other two (especially Arcadian, due to his comments) were going home. The three Texans will not win, but after their "Unchained Melody" performance, I'm looking forward to their final song. Hopefully, it will be even less cheesy (but I doubt it will be completely 'cheese'-free. 0/1

The first guest of the night is The Muppets. Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy sing, with some chickens doing backup. Maybe I'm not as familiar with the Muppets as others are, but where did these chickens come from?

Grandma Lee, Tony Hoard & Rory, and Paradizo Dance are next. Out of all the acts from this week, I was on pins and needles anxiously waiting to see if Grandma Lee made it or not; relief spread over me when her name was called. And every time she makes it, I love her emotional expressions. If she is like this already, imagine if she won? 1/2

The final guest is judge David Hasselhoff singing "Feeling Good." This was obviously a huge boost to his ego. But I have to wonder if he was lip-syncing. If you watch him do the final note, it looks like he closes his mouth before that note is over with. I wouldn't be surprised if he did, but whatever.

Four left: Kevin Skinner, Acrodunk, Voices of Glory, and Fab 5. Acrodunk goes home. Darn. I wanted to see them one more time. Kevin Skinner is through. I'm shocked! Not. I'm tired of seeing the praise he's getting. He's a nice guy and all, but his talent is mediocre at best. 2/3

And now comes the moment when the judges don't know how to be judges. Sharon can't make up her mind, so she hands it over to David. David can't make a decision (as usual), so it's up to Piers. And Piers doesn't want to send either one home, so the judges send both Voices of Glory and Fab 5 into the Finals. They probably made that decision during the break, then acted like they couldn't make a decision on-air. But we can see right through that veil.

Correct Predictions: 3/4. I did extremely well, considering how I've been losing steam lately.

So, five are in instead of four, which means that the finals will at least be a Top 9. It could be a Top 10 if they do the same thing next week. We'll just have to wait and see.

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 6:27 PM PDT

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America's Got Talent: Semifinals - Acts 1-10
Airdate: Tuesday, September 1, 2009 [9-11pm]

We have finally made it past the four weeks of quarterfinals, and now have moved on to the first of two weeks of semifinals. Which acts impressed, which acts should go home, and which contestant called foul on the producers? Let's find out...

1.   Acrodunk [Basketball dunkers]: For the most part, I have never been disappointed by this act. While I have a few criticisms (it lagged a little in the middle, and the sparks shooting up during the first half were kinda lame and random), overall, I was again very impressed. Actually, I do have one other critique - many of the acrobatic moves, I believe, were ones we have seen from them before.

2.   The Texas Tenors [Singing Group]: This performance was a lot better than last time; in other words, it was not as cheesy. But the 'cheese' factor was still there in some capacity. However, what dulled it this time was the beautiful voice from the blond. It's hard to explain, but something about this whole performance, compared to last time, was bearable.

3.   Paradizo Dance [Acrobatic Dance Group]: No. Just...no. There were so many things wrong, cheesy, and just plain unnecessary about this: the 'just married' sign, the donut, the maid/cleaning sketch, the bed, the PJ's, and them. If they make it into the finals, then this will prove that America doesn't know what talent really is.

4.   Drew Thomas Magic [Illusionist]: I was extremely disappointed by the illusion. I saw nothing new or exciting about it. The appearing assistants/models were recurring throughout, and it got a little boring after awhile. The story he presented was cheesy. But I did notice where strategy came into play, and that was incorporating his daughter into the story/illusion. And I don't know if her crying was all an act or spontaneous, but I'm sure some voters will choose him based in the sympathy factor. Unfortunately, it won't be enough to make the finals.

5.   Tony Hoard & Rory [Canine Flying Disc team]: The barking was annoying, but Rory did not miss a single Frisbee this time, which made this performance a lot better. But I'm still not sure they should advance; nothing original here.

6.   The Voices of Glory [Singing group]: I have always despised these kind of unbearably cheesy family singing groups. But this may be the first week where I have to retract that statement, because I heard a vast improvement with all three of their voices. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but based on this performance, they deserve to be in the finals. [Gasp!]

7.   Fab 5 [Power tap dancers]: Once again, I really enjoyed their performance. This is what talent is, and they are extremely skilled tap dancers. However, it is hard to say if they will stay on the show; their chances of survival depend on how good or bad the remaining three acts are.

8.   Grandma Lee [Comedienne]: Out of all 20 semifinalists, she is the only one I was looking forward to seeing again. And I was not let down. I can see where some may get tired of her, but I haven't. She writes jokes that fit her age, but yet are edgy enough to appeal to other demographics. When she makes it to the finals (and she better), she has a good shot at winning; and if she does, she will have deserved it.

9.   Arcadian Broad [Dancer]: There is no doubt that he is talented, but the other dancers distracted from him. And that was very gutsy for him to reveal that the producers made him do the High School Musical theme. You could tell the judges were trying to change the subject. And Nick mentioned that the contestants do have the final say (uh huh). I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall when he went backstage after making that comment. The producers probably thought, well, he's out. Today, I've been reading various episode recaps, and everyone is applauding Arcadian for having the guts to call out the producers like that. I'm sure some may vote for him because of his comments, but I don't know if the performance, when it comes down to it, was enough.

10.  Kevin Skinner [Singer/Guitarist]: It was obvious from the standing ovation from Piers and from the pimp spot (aka, the last act of the night) that the producers are still trying to shove him down our throats as the next Susan Boyle, which he is not. His voice was sharp (maybe even flat at times as well) for at least half the song, which was painful to hear. Unfortunately, he will be in the finals. And if he wins (and I know I've said it before), his career will be a dud.

Favorite Acts: Acrodunk / The Texas Tenors / The Voices of Glory / Grandma Lee
My Votes: Grandma Lee [10 votes by phone; 10 votes online]
Top 8 Predictions: Acrodunk / The Voices of Glory / Grandma Lee / Kevin Skinner

After four weeks of seeing a new set of contestants each week, it was nice to finally see familiar faces. This week will be one of the toughest yet when it comes to the results. Kevin Skinner aside, there will most likely be at least one act that will advance that doesn't deserve to, which means that I'm worried about Grandma Lee's chances. Also, I do not know if the Judge's Choice will still be present. If so, then I have a feeling it will come down to Acrodunk and The Texas Tenors, which the judges saying goodbye to the Tenors, due to the fact that we already have a lot of singers.

Tonight, The Hoff himself, David Hasselhoff, will perform, as will Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. Both performances should be interesting (no comment on if that is a good or bad thing).

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 6:08 PM PDT

Updated: Wednesday, September 2, 2009 6:09 PM PDT

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America's Got Talent: Quarterfinals - Week 4 Results & Top 20 Revealed!
Airdate: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 [9-10pm]

We now have our Top 20 semifinalists! Did America and the judges get it right? Let's find out...

The EriAm Sisters and Drew Stevyns were up first. It seemed obvious to me that EriAm would be picked, but it was Drew Stevyns instead. Wait for it...wait for it...and EriAm Sisters are through as well! What a change from the same results formula the show has been using these past few weeks. Some surprising (or semi-surprising) results right from the start. Either way, I'm 0/2 right from the start. This doesn't bode well for the rest of the night.

Since there was only one guest performer this week, they filled up that extra space with a behind the scenes video leading up to the showtime and the contestant's reactions backstage during the show.

African High Flyers, Pam Martin's Top Dog and Coney Island Chris. Really? One of these acts is advancing? Thankfully, all three were eliminated in one giant swipe all at once.

Recycled Percussion, Matt & Anthony, and Ishaara. The next to say bye-bye is Matt & Anthony, then Ishaaar, which means that Recycled Percussion takes the third spot. Even though I predicted both the band and the dancers to move on, when it was between those two, I truly thought it would be the Bollywood dancers. But, no matter, a deserving act still made it. 1/3

Reba McEntire performed "Consider Me Gone" off her newest album, which went #1. The chorus is kinda catchy.

Now we're left with four acts, and all four are called to the stage: The Lollipop Girls, Mia Boostrom, Barbara Padilla, and Erik & Rickie. I was completely relieved when the strippers were eliminated. And no surprise that opera singer Barbara Padilla advanced. 2/4

Now the judges have to fill the last spot, and it's between Mia and Erik & Rickie. David, with some difficulty, picks the young dancers. Sharon, also with some difficulty, goes with the singer, which means it'd down to Piers. He sends Erik & Rickie to the Top 20.

Week 4 Predictions: 3/5, same as last week. And speaking of last week, I said then that if the pattern held, then I would only get two right this time. But it leveled out instead.

And thus, all Top 20 spots are filled and we now have our semifinalists! America didn't get it completely right, which happens every week. Hopefully, the undeserving acts get eliminated soon. Over the next couple weeks, those twenty will perform once again for spots in the finals. See ya then...

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 12:54 PM PDT

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America's Got Talent: Quarterfinals - Acts 37-48
Airdate: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 [9-11pm]

Last week I was still a little ill, if you know what I mean, from Week 2, and thus still a little grumpy.  But this week, even though there were a few bad acts, I have recovered and immensely enjoyed most of the acts in this fourth group:

1. Ishaara [Bollywood Dance Group]: They were one of the only great acts I remember from the auditions. I said last week that I've never been impressed with the dancers on this show. But Ishaara is the exception, and it's because of Slumdog Millionaire. Yes, I am one of many others who have gotten sucked into the excitement and brilliance that is Slumdog Millionaire the movie, the music, and the dancing. The Bollywood dance is what sets them apart, and it would be disappointing if they are not voted through.
2. Barbara Padilla [Opera singer]: I knew she was a great opera singer, but I wasn't expecting the pure power and perfect high octaves of her voice that we heard this week. This is probably one of the best performances we have seen this year. I do not think we have had a female opera singer on the show before (if we have, then I doubt they were any good, or they'd be memorable), which definitely sets her apart.
3. Pam Martin's Top Dog [Dog variety duo]: Spy is one of the, if not the, most talented dogs to ever grave the AGT stage. My criticism, then, is directed towards the owner: her little dancing was cheesy, and the adopted sign at the end was obviously a way to get votes.
4. African High Flyers [Acrobats]: We were on a roll with great acts, then the African High Flyers performed. I'm not saying that what they do doesn't require skill, 'cause it does, but it was lacking in content. Then the fire at the end was completely random, thrown in at the end as if it was an after-thought, and not necessary.
5. Mia Boostrom [Singer/Musician]: I was really rooting for her because she had one of my favorite auditions. The song was a great choice, and I loved the acoustic start at the piano. But once she stood up and left the instrument, there were a few pitchy notes throughout. My constructive criticism is that she should have stayed at the piano and continued that acoustic and more intimate part. Unfortunately, I don't know if she did enough to continue, though I hope enough people vote for her.
6. Erik & Rickie [Ballroom Dancers]: They were excellent during their audition; I didn't know if they would be able to top themselves this time. But top themselves they did. I don't think I've seen a better dance coming from such young dancers. They could be two of the Dancing with the Stars professionals when they are older.
7. Coney Island Chris [Slideshow Performer]: Oh, come on! I thought the auditions were over. I am glad all three judges buzzed them; unfortunately, I think the final buzz by David was right as it was ending (way too late). Sharon said she didn't know how he got this far. To her I say - really, Sharon? I think that's what every single viewer has been saying since his audition. You are on the judging panel who chose him, so don't think you had nothing to do with it.
8. Matt & Anthony [Dancing/Musical Duo]: During the auditions, I never understood their act. And I still don't. The tap dancer is amazing, but if he wants to make it in show business, he needs to dump the singer (who was not good at all). The talent of the duo was extremely unbalanced.
9. The Lollipop Girls [Dancers]: Why did they deserve a second chance? 'Cause they didn't. I think their act is supposed to be dancing of some kind, but that's not what we saw. There wasn't a lot of movement; rather, a lot of stripping. That may fit Vegas, but not for a potential hour-long family-friendly stage show.
10. Drew Stevyns [Singer/Musician]: I don't remember him at all, but that doesn't matter, because his unique voice stands out. Though it wasn't perfect, I would want to hear him sing again, no matter what the results are for this wildcard act.
11. Recycled Percussion [Band]: This was such an energizing performance that you almost can't help but like it. Some may shrug it off as loud garbage, pardon the pun, but there was something about it that I enjoyed. It reminds me so much of STOMP.
12. The EriAm Sisters [Singing Group]: They have potential, but I wasn't as impressed as the judges were. These sisters' voices were constantly flat throughout the song. There was a lot of great talent tonight, but we ended on a flat note, pun intended. So, as I said, they have potential, but not good enough based on this week.

Favorite Acts: Ishaara / Barbara Padilla / Erik & Rickie / Recycled Percussion
My Votes: Ishaara [10 votes by phone] / Barbara Padilla [10 votes online]
Top 20 Predictions: Ishaara / Barbara Padilla / Mia Boostrom / Erik & Rickie / Recycled Percussion

Overall, this was an extremely strong week, and possibly the best week so far in the quarterfinals (along with Week 1). Due to that strong level of talent, there may be a shocking result or two. But the four I listed above as my favorite acts deserve 100% to be continuing on in the competition. The fifth and last spot, though, could be a toss-up between Mia and the EriAm Sisters (and maybe another act as well).

Tonight, Reba McEntire will be the guest performer, singing "Consider Me Gone." Reba never disappoints. I wonder if there will be a second guest like these past few weeks, although none have been announced. Maybe since this is the last week of the quarterfinals, they will fill up the time by bringing out the entire newly-formed Top 20. Either way, see ya then...

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 7:24 PM PDT

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America's Got Talent: Quarterfinals - Week 3 Results
Airdate: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 [9-10pm] 

Yesterday, I said that this week's results show should be an exciting night. Now, after the fact, it was both exciting and shocking; shocking because of two certain acts who were voted through, and two who weren't. But I'll get to that in a bit.

The first two acts to be called forward by Nick Cannon were Bri and Jeffrey Ou. When their names were called, my jaw dropped, because I thought that both would stay. But I wasn't surprised Jeffrey's name was called, thus eliminating Bri. If you read my performance comments, you know that I voted for Bri. She wasn't perfect (nobody was), but she was one of the only contestants this week who caught my attention. Anyway, back to Jeffrey: Sharon said she was speechless at the results. Now, it was hard to tell if that was a good speechless or not. I'm thinking she didn't believe he would get enough votes due to the technical difficulties. But, like I said, I'm not surprised because I had a feeling people would deservingly give him sympathy votes. 1/1

Ashley Tisdale, the first guest performer of the night, performed "It's Alright, It's Okay." Nothing special. I mean, she's great on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and the High School Musical trilogy, but her voice and the song weren't anything to go gaga over.

They use the same formula during every segment of the results shows, so no surprise that three acts were the next to hear their fate: Jay Mattioli, Dave Johnson, and Lawrence Beamen. It was unbelievably obvious that Lawrence was staying and the other two would be leaving. 2/2

Before going to the next break, Marcus Terell & the Serenades and Mario & Jenny faced the music. Regardless of what I thought about Bri being eliminated, I thought this was the first huge shocker of the evening, with Mario & Jenny advancing. Marcus's voice wasn't perfect, but he had the potential to go far in this competition. And from a comment that Piers made later on in the show, I think that he would agree with me. Mario & Jenny are not good enough to be in the Top 20. It's as plain and simple as that. I believe that David said they could win the competition. Is he out of his mind? The little bit we saw of them this week does not equal a million dollars. 2/3

Before I go off even further on this rant, I'll move on with the next segment: Daughtry!!! The band performed their current single, "No Surprise." There were a couple moments during the song where it seemed like Chris' voice wasn't top-notch (but only a couple, and it was barely noticeable). But this isn't a criticism, because if you follow him on Twitter, you will know that he has been under the weather and even had to cancel at least one show. So I applaud him for not cancelling his appearance. But nevertheless, they were great on the show.

And back to the results: G-Force, U4RIA Dance Crew, and Hairo Torres were up next. None of these three acts were in my Top 20 predictions. Regardless, of the three, I thought U4RIA would be selected. Instead, it was Hairo Torres. He won't make it very far after this week unless he greatly improves. 2/4

Only two more acts left, and now the judges have to choose the final spot: Pixie Mystere or FootworKINGz. All three chose FootworKINGz. I am actually surprised that all three went the same way. Usually, one will choose the other act (usually David).

Week 3 Predictions: 3/5. Unfortunately, my predictions are slowly getting worse over these past three weeks. Week 1, I correctly predicted all five acts. Week 2, four out of five. And this week, three correct. If this pattern holds, then I will only have two right next week. I guess I'll just have to continue to do my best to strategically choose acts, and hope I improve. But even so, this week's three is still good, considering.

This week's performances were a major improvement over last week's disasters. Next week, the final 12 quarterfinalists perform, then this year's Top 20 will be complete. See ya then...

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 3:34 PM PDT

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America's Got Talent: Quarterfinals - Week 2 Results
Airdate: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 [9-10pm]

After the dread that was week 2 of the quarterfinals, I didn't even want to recap the results episode. So I decided that I would give a quick run-down right now:

First up is Fab 5 and Beale Street Flippers, and Fab 5 advances. For my predictions, I'm 1/1.

LMFAO performs.  1) Who are they?, and 2) They weren't very good; fitting considering the lack of talent this past week.

Next up is Voices of Glory, Eleisha Miller, and Carol Loo. Carol is the first to leave (duh!), and Voices of Glory move foward. When it came down to Eleisha and Voices, Eleisha had a look on her face that looked like she knew she was going home. And she happened to make friends with the other kids standing with her on stage, mostly with the girl. 2/2

The Texas Tenors and Pete Peterkin are called up next, and the Tenors are voted through (obvious). 3/3

Penn & Teller are the second guest act of the evening. Take note, contestants: this is what talent really is. I love seeing them perform, because they usually seem to take a trick or illusion that's been done a billion times before, but putting their own comedic and amazing twist to it that never disappoints.

SQ Entertainment, Alizma, and Paradizo Dance are next. Alizma and SQ are both gone, leaving Paradizo to go into the Top 20. Even though I predicted this, it's a shame to see them still on the show. 4/4

And finally, the judge's have to choose between Tony Hoard & Rory and Charles DeWayne. David picks Tony, Piers chooses Charles and says that if he doesn't go through, it would be the biggest scandal in the history of AGT. The biggest scandal? Really?! I don't think so. But despite Piers' warning, Sharon chooses Tony to fill the last spot of the week.

Week 2 Predictions: 4/5. I'm doing really well these past couple weeks.

America's Got Talent: Quarterfinals - Acts 25-36
Airdate: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 [9-11pm]

Now that we've got that horrible second week (& weak) behind us, let's move on to Week 3 with the next bunch of quarterfinalists:

1. FootworKINGz [Dance ensemble]: For the most part, the dance groups have never intrigued me on this show (in any season). And it's partly the same for this group, but they are great at what they do. And I loved the varying colors all over. Also - it was hard to tell if there was a mistake in that final jump.
2. Marcus Terell & the Serenades [Singer]: Marcus definitely is better than the singer Piers wanted through last week, and has the potential to be even better. But his voice was pitchy at times, though that final falsetto note was amazing. The backup singers were the replacements, and I didn't see the chemistry with Marcus that the judges thought they saw. To me, they could've been any three girls dressed like the Dreamgirls (the musical/movie) and put on a rotating pedestal like showgirls.
3. Pixie Mystere [Dance/Contortionist Group]: This was a really enjoyable performance. They may not make it, but it was a lot funner to watch than the first two acts. But, on a note not related to their dancing, they had way too much makeup on for their age; I don't care if they're on stage or not. Out of these three acts so far, they are more likely to go home, though.
4. Jay Mattioli [Magician]: When the music started, it set a great energy level to the act. It kinda slowed down a little in the middle with the scarves, mainly because that was more along the lines of close-up magic and not stage magic. So there was good and bad to this performance. Unfortunately, this wildcard act will not be voted forward.
5. Bri [Singer/Musician]: At first, I could not figure out what song she was singing, then realized it was a stripped down version of Lady Gaga's "Poker Face." But in the middle, when the song went fast, her voice was a little all over the place at a few moments, but the ending brought her back to her unique voice. Despite the middle, she should move forward. She is the only act so far tonight that I'm excited about.
6. U4RIA Dance Crew [Dancers]: Sharon was right on the money saying she wasn't sure if this wildcard act was the best dance act on the show. The only good thing about it was the music.
7. Dave Johnson [Acoustic Comedian]: When the song began, it seemed as if he was singing about either the women of Desperate Housewives or The Real Housewives. But it turns out it was the Golden Girls. Even though these are the types of acts I'm always criticizing, I was laughing and wish the judges didn't all buzz him so I could hear the rest. If Last Comic Standing was still on the air, he could have tried out for that show, because he is similar to season 6's God's Pottery.
8. Hairo Torres [Breakdancer]: He was memorable from the auditions for being a contortionist. But that's not what he did tonight. He only contorted his body once. The rest was filled with choreography that we've seen a million times. It was fun to watch, but he abandoned what he was remembered for.
9. G-Force [Girl Band]: I'm glad Piers did the right thing and buzzed them. To David - a little off on the vocals? Try a lot off. I don't think there was a note in tune the entire time. Right from the first note, I wanted to mute the TV. And to Sharon - they have a bright future? I don't think so. Not unless they replace that lead vocalist, if not all three of them. In the intro video, they said they wanted to be the female Jonas Brothers. Well, actually, they could be with those horrible vocals. This is one of those subpar acts that shouldn't have gotten past the audition round.
10. Jeffrey Ou [Pianist]: Oh no! What happened? The start was so promising, but then it was all over the place. The beginning was beautiful, then the dancers came out and it became a disaster. And according to Nick Cannon, a cable became unplugged, which was why we couldn't hear the piano during the Elton John bit. That's really unfortunate, but I wish he would've stuck to just him and the piano: intimate and beautiful. And I disagree with the judges that he should have been manic and all over the piano as he was during his audition. I actually hated his audition. That's why I loved the start of tonight's performance.
11. Mario & Jenny [Comedy Variety Duo]: All they did was light the bottom of a guitar on fire and stuck the tip of the other end in their mouth, then did it again. The only change was the end when they lit the cube  and swung it around a bit. For all the dramatic music that played as a backtrack, nothing really happened.
12. Lawrence Beamen [Singer]: His deep and silky voice will definitely appeal to many out there. And it's true - he does have a great voice, though he's no Neal E. Boyd.

Favorite Acts: Pixie Mystere / Bri / Lawrence Beamen
My Votes: Bri [10 votes by phone; 10 votes online]
Top 20 Predictions: FootworKINGz / Marcus Terell & the Serenades / Bri / Jeffrey Ou / Lawrence Beamen

I believe that the technical difficulties that occurred during Jeffrey Ou's performance will be the reason he advances; it will be the sympathy vote, and he does deserve a second chance.

On tonight's results show, Ashley Tisdale will perform "It's Alright, It's Okay" and Daughtry (I can't wait!) will perform "No Surprise," and we will find out which five acts will form the third quarter of the Top 20. It should be an exciting night. See ya then...

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 4:20 PM PDT

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America's Got Talent: Quarterfinals - Acts 13-24
Airdate: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 [9-11pm]

Last week, only a few acts stood out.  Can the same be said for this week?  Let's find out...

1. Fab Five [Power Tap Dancers]: They are great at what they do, but I can't say anything else that is positive, because I didn't see the "wow" factor with this performance.  I feel that if they do advance, they very well could be forgettable against some of the better acts we may see in the Top 20.
2. Charles DeWayne [Singer/Musician]: Again, no "wow" factor.  This was a completely forgettable performance. And the song choice contributed to this. "Just the Two of Us" didn't allow us to hear the range or power of his voice. I won't remember this in a few minutes.
3. Carol Loo [Dancer]: Right from the first second, I thought there was an error and we were shown a clip from the auditions. But, alas, this was one of those acts that the judges let through because they are easily entertained. And what was Sharon talking about, comparing Carol to a pop icon - Madonna she is not.
4. Tony Hoard & Rory [Canine Flying Disc team]: This is not even close to being a million dollar act. I doubt that dog would be able to keep going for an hour if they had their own Vegas show. Tony & Rory were not in sync with each other, and Rory almost went off the stage because of Tony's throw.
5. Eleisha Miller [9 year old singer]: I do not think that there was a note in tune during that entire performance. Sharon and David kept giving positive comments about her dancing and energy, but her act is singing. If she still wants to have a career onstage, she should go into comedy or be a sidekick.
6. Paradizo Dance [Acrobatic Dance Group]: I don't care if she can lift him; this act is ridiculously stupid and a waste of time. My biggest criticism is that the act of her lifting him never occurred tonight. The closest they came was when he went over her and they tried to pull it off as such. I have a feeling they will be voted through, though, which is a waste.
7. The Texas Tenors [Singing Group]: I agree with Piers that it was so cheesy. The cowboy outfits made the whole thing so hokey. But they do have amazing voices. And singing "God Bless the U.S.A." was obviously pure strategy on the part of these Texans to get votes. But I would put them through based on their voices.
8. SQ Entertainment [Dancers]: They are definitely more deserving than last week's wild card acts. However, I was not as impressed with them as the judges were. They still have some work to do to improve, but compared to the previous acts tonight, they should move forward (but probably won't).
9. Pete Peterkin [Celebrity Impersonator]: The opening was a complete dud - his Obama jokes were dreadful. Then he went from that to impersonating Obama impersonating Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles. Pretty good, but not extraordinary.
10. Alizma [Singers/Musicians]: I am so glad the judges all buzzed them out. They should not have gotten past the first round. They should have dropped the singing and just played the violin. But, instead, we got no violin playing (they held the instruments, instead), and atrocious and eardrum-splitting singing.
11. Beale Street Flippers [Dancers]: With only fifteen minutes left, I am so bored by tonight's show that I have nothing to say about this wildcard act.
12. The Voices of Glory [Singing Group]: I almost fell asleep. The judges were praising the girl. However, she wasn't perfect, and was shaky at times.

Favorite Acts: Um...nobody
My Non-Vote: No one deserves my vote this week
Top 20 Predictions: Can we just forget the results this week and make it a Top 15 instead of a Top 20? No? Oh well, I tried...Here are my predictions: Fab 5 / Paradizo Dance / The Texas Tenors / Beale Street Flippers / The Voices of Glory

This was probably the worst performance episode in the history of reality-competition shows. There was not one extraordinary performance; not even close. I soon became so bored that I didn't even want to comment on the acts anymore. That's why you may notice my comments above got shorter and shorter the more you move down the list. And for the first time since I started voting on these type of shows (which was American Idol, during one of the first few seasons), this week was the first week that I have not voted for anyone on a reality show. Throughout the years, I have voted every week on such shows as American Idol, America's Got Talent, and Last Comic Standing. But last night, I just wanted to scream out in agony at the lack of talent and lack of potential stars. It almost makes me want to stop watching this show altogether.

Tonight's results show should be interesting. At this point, I don't really care who gets voted through and who gets eliminated. I just want to move on to next week and hope that the show title, "America's Got Talent," can live up to its name. Besides the results, LMFAO (who?) and Penn & Teller will perform as well. Maybe they can show this second quarterfinals group what talent is. I guess I'll see ya then...or not...

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 6:37 PM PDT

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America's Got Talent: Quarterfinals - Five Advance
Airdate: Wednesday, August 5, 2009 [9-10pm]

After the first 12 quarterfinalists performed live Tuesday night, America voted, and now five have advanced into the Top 20 semifinals.  But first, let's start at the beginning of the results show:

At the start of the show, host Nick Cannon said there was a shocker in store.  Well, I wouldn't be surprised, as I echo what I said yesterday that this show isn't always about talent, even though it should be.

Acrodunk and Breaksk8 are called up first.  One is moving forward and one is eliminated.  And...Acrodunk is in the Top 20.  I'm off to a good start with my predictions: 1/1.

After the break, season 2 winner ventriloquist Terry Fator performs.  Every time I see him on TV, he never ceases to amaze me with his extraordinary talent.  I've never seen a ventriloquist as perfect as he is.  He makes you believe that the dummy is really singing and talking.  During the intro video, we are reminded that he has a $100 million deal in Vegas and is the most successful reality show winner ever.  Also, we find out that his Vegas show is coming out on DVD and Blu-ray Disc next month: September 1, to be exact (according to Amazon).  I would love to see his show live, but if I can't, then still being able to see it, albeit on DVD, is the next best thing.  You can pre-order the show on DVD, Blu-ray Disc, and MP3 at the TV Watch Online STORE.

And back to the results: Lake Houston Dance, Drew Thomas Magic, and Manuela Horn are up now.  Lake Houston Dance is eliminated first of the three.  Now of the two remaining, only one will be voted into the Top 20, and that act is...Drew Thomas Magic.  I'm two for two now.  Nick talks to a disappointed Manuela Horn: did she really believe she was good enough to stay?  If this was American Idol, she would be one of those auditioners who are so delusional that they believe they are the best thing around and deserve to continue on.

Kevin Skinner and Mosaic: I don't think it was much of a surprise that Kevin advanced.  I still don't get why they're acting as if he's the best act in the competition.  Don't be surprised if I keep saying this constantly for the rest of the season.  And I'm on a roll: 3/3

Next up, Nick Cannon introduces someone who is the best person in the entire world.  At least, that's the gist of what Nick was saying.  You think he's a little biased?  Anyway...his wife, Mariah Carey, performs her new single, "Obsessed."  And I'm not obsessed about this song.  After the performance, I'm finally able to see them together, and they're all over each other; Mariah even going so far as grabbing her husband's behind as they're walking off stage.  Well...we've seen worse on this show before.

The next three acts to find out their fate are The Platt Brothers, The Diva League, and Grandma Lee.  The Platt Brothers are out, and so is The Diva League, which means that Grandma Lee is in the Top 20!!!  Out of all the acts this week, she was the one who I thought deserved it more than anyone.  After she finds out the results, she covers her eyes to wipe tears from her eyes.  You can tell she really wanted this, and her dreams are coming true.  I'm now 4/4; there's no way I can get a clean sweep...or can I?

There are only two acts left: Arcadian Broad and Thia Megia, two of the younger contestants.  These two came in fifth and sixth, and the judge's will decide this last spot.  Piers says he is voting for the person who has improved the most: Thia.  Sharon chooses Arcadian, which means David is the deciding vote.  There's only a few seconds left, as Nick points out, and David chooses Arcadian, which means the dancer takes the fifth spot in the Top 20.

How is this possible: I correctly predicted all five acts to advance this week.  Is that a first for me?  I haven't gone back to look at my previous picks, but this is possibly a first for me on this show for one week.  Maybe I'll do a little digging and report back next week.

Nick Cannon said at the start of the show that there was a shocker.  That were completely misleading.  There was no shockers this week.

And that's the show.  As a reminder, you can pre-order the DVD, Blu-ray Disc, and MP3 of Terry Fator's show, Live from Las Vegas, from the TV Watch Online STORE.  Next week, twelve more acts perform in the second week of the quarterfinals.  See ya then...

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 10:29 AM PDT

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America's Got Talent: Quarterfinals - Acts 1-12
Airdate: Tuesday, August 4, 2009 [9-11pm]

At the end of last week's final Vegas episode, we were left with a cliffhanger: Simon was calling the judges and saying that there was a big problem.  My first thought was that one of the acts had to be disqualified.  It turns out Simon thought that there was just so much talent that he wanted Piers, Sharon, and David to reconsider some eliminated acts to bring back.  Was Simon watching the same show as us?  There was just too much talent?  I don't think so.  Oh well...

1. Breaksk8 [Breakdancing roller skaters] - There were a couple of good moments, but overall, not impressive.  And using the Michael Jackson song to dance to, plus the moonwalk on skates, was obviously pure strategy on their part to gain votes.  But I don't think it worked.
2. Thia Megia [14 year old singer] - There is no denying she has a good voice, but Miley Cyrus' "The Climb" might not have been the right song for the first live voting round.  I wasn't able to see what her range might be.  And what was up with the fan blowing on her at the end.  Over the top? I think so.
3. The Platt Brothers [Variety Act] - I have a feeling I'm going to constantly be saying tonight that I'm not impressed.  I echo the judge's words: what is their act?  They were all over the place, trying to do too much, and it was a big epic fail.
4. The Diva League (Wild Card) [Drag Queen Act] - Piers buzzed them, and they deserved it.  Why did Simon want to bring them back?  What a waste of a wildcard spot.  With their vampire and monster outfits, it looked like they were about to attempt to recreate the "Thriller" video.  Another epic fail.
5. Manuela Horn [Comedic Variety Act] - I was relieved to see all three judges buzz her, thus ending the act early, because that was painful to watch.  She shouldn't even have gotten past the auditions, and this performance proved why.  This is why I don't take this show as seriously as I do with American Idol.  And why oh why does she have to be from Seattle, in my homestate?
6. Grandma Lee [Comedienne] - Finally, an act that deserves to be voted through.  When I first saw her in the auditions, I immediately remembered her from Last Comic Standing.  On LCS, the talent scouts/judges unfortunately did not put her in the finals.  So I am really excited she has made it this far, and being the only comedian, and a good one at that, puts her at an advantage at the moment.  She is hilarious, and edgy without crossing the line.
7. Mosaic [A Cappella Singing Group] - We're getting back on solid footing with these past two acts.  They have great harmony, although the act wasn't perfect.  I would probably give them a 7 out of 10, but they still have a shot of being voted through.
8. Acrodunk [Basketball Dunkers] - I am impressed that they are able to not just dunk basketballs, but execute all this choreography in order to accomplish it.  Even though I don't have a problem with them right now, I wonder if each performance will eventually look the same after a while.  But right now - great.
9. Arcadian Broad [Dancer] - He is one of the best young acts to be on AGT.  Tonight, I didn't like the act as much as his auditions, but he definitely has the potential to be a huge star on Broadway.  So, even though it wasn't perfect, I want to see him in the Top 20.
10. Drew Thomas Magic [Illusionist] - Magicians have never gone a long way on this show, but Drew could change that.  Just when we thought we knew the end result, we were surprised.  My only criticism is that we were forced to look at the two boxes for way too long.
11. Kevin Skinner [Singer/Guitarist] - I did not even recognize him tonight; he had an extreme makeover.  I don't get why the judges keep gushing over him as if he is the second coming of Susan Boyle, because he does not have a strong voice.  He is obviously going to the next round, but since this is a talent show, he doesn't deserve it.  If he wins, he will not have a huge career.
12. Lake Houston Dance [Dancers] - Why did Simon want the judges to reconsider them?  Another waste of a wildcard spot.  They weren't deserving in the auditions, and they're still not tonight.  We don't want to see little girls in PJ's twirling about in a possible Vegas show.  And the pillow fight at the end was stupid.  Plus - was that Miley Cyrus singing the "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" song as the backtrack?  There was too much Miley tonight.  This whole thing was ridiculous, and a poor way to end the night.

Favorite Acts: Grandma Lee / Acrodunk / Drew Thomas Magic
My Vote: Grandma Lee [10 votes by phone] / Drew Thomas Magic [10 votes online]
Top 20 Prediction: Grandma Lee / Acrodunk / Arcadian Broad / Drew Thomas Magic / Kevin Skinner

The five acts above are who I predict will go through, but I doubt all five will actually be voted through, because this show, as we see time and time again every season, is not all about the talent, even though it needs to be.  There most likely will be at least one act going through that shouldn't, and I exclude Kevin Skinner in this because we all know he's moving forward regardless of his average voice.

Tonight, on the first live results show of the season, we will find out which five acts will be voted through to the Top 20.  Plus, Mariah Carey (wife of host Nick Cannon) will perform, as will season 2 winner Terry Fator.  See ya then...

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 10:18 AM PDT

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America’s Got Talent: Winner Revealed!

Airdate: Wednesday, October 1, 2008 [9-11pm]

This is it! After spending the summer watching the good, the bad and the weird, it is time to crown a new winner.

The show began with the Top 10 performing Kelly Clarkson’s “A Moment Like This.”  I wonder if Simon Cowell had anything to do with the selection of that song (if you know what I mean).

X Factor winner (and Simon’s pride and joy) Leona Lewis performed her current single, “Better In Time.”  She is easily becoming one of my favorite singers.  I first heard her on the radio with “Bleeding Love” and saw her perform on American Idol.  She has an amazing voice and I hope to buy her CD sometime soon.

Next, each of the five finalists received a special video message from their Idols. For Neal E. Boyd, it was Il Divo (another of Simon’s discoveries), Brian McNight for Queen Emily, Marc Cohn for Eli Mattson, Andrew Lloyd Webber for Donald Braswell, and Wyclef Jean for Nuttin But Stringz.  These were great messages and hopefully gave inspiration to these contestants that they can continue to pursue their dreams and goals regardless of the final results.

After the videos, we were treated to (or maybe not depending on who you are) the Audition All-Stars performing “Don’t Stop Me Now.”  I thought this was hilarious!  Even though we all criticized them when they were first on the show (and you know you did, so don’t deny it), it was just fun to watch them have fun (and make a fool of themselves).  After this performance, we watched clips from the season.

And finally on to the results.  Queen Emily was informed that she would be the first eliminated, putting her in fifth place.  I knew that she probably wouldn’t be in the final 2, but I was surprised that she was the first to go out of the five.  Then fourth place went to Donald.  It was obvious he wouldn’t go farther than that.  Then what many thought was the surprise of the night: Nuttin But Stringz didn’t even make the Top 2!  As you are aware, I have never been a fan of them, but with how much the judges favored them, I was surprised that they were in third.  Oh well…that meant that Neal and Eli made up the final 2.  They both have been favorites of mine.  It was no surprise to me that Neal got there, but again, with the love that Stringz had received, it was surprising to see Eli there as well.

Before the final results, we watched Neal and Eli’s journeys on the show.

And the winner, with less than ½ of 1% separating the two, of America’s Got Talent Season 3, winning the million dollars, the act in Vegas, and title of “Best New Act in America” is…NEAL E. BOYD!

If you go back through my commentary this season, it has been apparent that Neal has been my favorite to win from the moment of his first audition with “Nessun Dorma.”  Here are just some of the comments I gave him after his breathtaking performances:

He blew the competition away tonight.-Top 40

His voice is unbelievable…He has the voice to go along with his personal story-Top 20

Tonight, with an encore, this was, again, probably his best performance of the season…He is the Paul Potts of America.-Top 5

After winning, Neal received another video message, this time from opera singer Placido Domingo.

I am just so proud of Neal, and so excited that he won.  He totally deserved it, and I look forward to seeing his career take off.  I hope he records and releases a CD because I will definitely buy it.  Opera has never been a genre I listened to, but Neal (and Paul Potts before him) opened me up to the beautiful music.

I have enjoyed giving my comments on the season 3 performances for America’s Got Talent, and I hope to continue next year, as well as re-launching my Idol-Talk segment on the blog.

So to close out my commentary for the season, here is my closing message:

Congratulations to opera singer Neal E. Boyd for winning season 3 of America's Got Talent, taking home the title of "Best New Act in America," $1 million grand prize and a headlining show in Las Vegas! Neal has overcome struggles in his life to get to where he is now, and I applaud him for pushing through it all, and having the determination and the "I want this" attitude with regards to winning the show.

See ya next season...

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 12:14 PM PDT

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America’s Got Talent: Top 5 Revealed / Top 5 Perform

Airdate: Thursday, September 18, 2008 [8-8:30pm] /

  Wednesday, September 24, 2008 [9-10pm]

I am combining two episodes into one for this blog post: the top 5 revealed and the top 5 perform.

Last week, we found out that Donald Braswell, Neal E. Boyd, Queen Emily, Nuttin But Stringz, and Eli Mattson filled up the Top 5. Before I move on, I do have to say that in terms of talent level (which is what this show should be based on), I believe this is the best finals group that America’s Got Talent has seen in the show’s history. And I know that this is only the third season, but it shows that this show can get better and better.

Besides finding out who made the Top 5, singer Natasha Bedingfield performed her current single, “Angel.” I’m not sure how familiar you are with her, but she is one of my favorite singers. She has such a unique voice, with an exceptional array of songs on her two CD’s. Check out her music; you will love it!

Now on to the performances of the Top 5:

1. Nuttin But Stringz [Violin Players]-I won’t deny the fact that they have an amazing talent and deserve to be in the finals this week. My only problem with them is that each time it sounds like they are playing the same song. The only thing different tonight was the umbrella people in the air, which detracted from the performance.
2. Donald Braswell [Opera Singer]-In a way, it was a risk to sing something that he had already sang on the show before, but I think that tonight he sang better than when he first sang “You Raise Me Up.” I think there’s a slim chance he will win, but he still has an exceptional voice and I hope he pursues a path where he will be able to use that talent.
3. Neal E. Boyd [Opera Singer]-I’m not surprised he sang “Nessun Dorma” again; it was probably his best performance when he sang it at the start of the season. Tonight, with an encore, this was, again, probably his best performance of the season. He is still my favorite this year, and I would love to see him win and live out his dream. He is the Paul Potts of America.
4. Eli Mattson [Singer]-I’m kind of surprised he sang a song that seems to be performed a lot on talent shows: “Against All Odds.” But he still knows how to make people listen to his unique and amazing voice. I agree with David that he is the dark horse in the competition. Who knows what his odds are of winning, but I would buy his CD if he came out with one.
5. Queen Emily [Singer]-This has been a truly amazing night to watch five great acts perform, and Queen Emily closed out the show with star quality, control, and a powerhouse voice on “One Moment In Time.” She does have a chance of winning, but it will be hard to beat Nuttin But Stringz and Neal E. Boyd.

I find it kind of interesting that the talent with all five acts have to do with music, and that four of them are singers. After season 1 winner, Bianca Ryan, did not do well with her debut CD, you could tell the judges did not want a singer to win season 2 (somewhat evident by eventual winner Terry Fator, even though he uses singing in his act). And so I find it really ironic that this year, the majority of the contestants from all or most of the rounds were singers. But it goes to show that even though many of them are too old for American Idol, they still have another show to go to that they can showcase their talent on.

Below, you can see who I voted for, plus who I am predicting to win season 3 of America’s Got Talent.

My Votes: Neal E. Boyd [10 by phone / 10 online]

Winner Prediction: Neal E. Boyd

As evident by what I just typed above, I predict that Neal E. Boyd will win season 3. I have been saying ever since his audition at the start of the season that he is the frontrunner to win, and I never faltered from that, no matter how much the judges were not-so-subtly hinting that they wanted Nuttin But Stringz to win.

I am eclectic when it comes to music; I will listen to just about every type of music. But opera has never been a genre I was interested in listening to. But Neal E. Boyd (and Paul Potts, winner of Britain’s Got Talent) opened my ears and mind up to it. He has such a beautiful voice, and that is what matters. If he were to release a CD, I would buy it. This goes to show that as a 20-year-old college student, I can listen to and appreciate music other than pop/rock (breaking the stereotype of my demographic).

Next Wednesday (9-10pm) is the finale, when we will find out who does triumph as the actual winner. See ya then...

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 5:00 PM PDT

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America’s Got Talent: Top 10

Airdate: Wednesday, September 17, 2008 [8-10pm]

[Before I comment on last night’s show, I want to add in a blurb that I forgot to mention last week. I had previously said that for the Top 40 round, my predictions were 80% correct. And the part I forgot to mention last week was that for the Top 20 round, my predictions were also 80% correct.]

I’ll talk about this later on, but since we are getting down to the wire it will be hard to see some of the acts leave the competition. But it goes to show that the talent level this year has been raised and we are looking at a tough finals next week. As I said, I will talk about it more later on below, but first, here are my comments from the Top 10:

1. Paul Salos [Frank Sinatra Impersonator]-“New York, New York” is such a great song and Paul put it all forward to show everyone that he should be in the Top 5. Once again, a perfect impersonation. [Added comment after watching the entire show: Since there are so many acts that deserve to move on, Paul might have gotten lost in the shuffle in terms of America remembering the performances, so I am not sure if he has done enough to secure a spot next week.]
2. Kaitlyn Maher [Singer]-Unfortunately, she just keeps getting worse each week. Her voice was shaky and she seemed distracted all throughout tonight’s performance of “I’ll Be There.” If she gets voted back, then people are voting not based on talent, but on her age.
3. Donald Braswell [Opera Singer]-I’ve always wondered if he can match Neal E. Boyd, but tonight was probably his best performance. Another great song and he’s definitely a contender for the Top 5.
4. Jessica Price [Singer]-I’ve said before that she has the potential, and tonight she has finally shown star quality. The emotion, which fit the song, was there, and she has a better chance of making the Top 5 than I thought coming into tonight.
5. Joseph Hall [Elvis Impersonator]-His confidence is 100% there this week with “A Little Less Conversation.” Though there were a few moments where his voice was okay, the entire performance was top-notch and entertaining.
6. Neal E. Boyd [Opera Singer]-With “All By Myself,” this was, unfortunately, the wrong song because it didn’t show off his powerful operatic voice. The low notes were horrible, so he needs to choose a more operatic song next week (because he will be here next week unless a shocker is in store).
7. The Wright Kids [Singers/Musicians]-That was truly awful, right from the first note. During the first couple lines of the Jackson 5’s “ABC,” they were not singing cohesively together. The lead singer was off-key and all the voices were weak and all over the place. Their stay was over-welcomed weeks ago.
8. Queen Emily [Singer]-I agree with Piers: she is giving Neal a run for his money. “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” is one of my favorite songs and she blew it out of the park. Her voice and talent is sensational and gave the best performance of the night so far.
9. Nuttin But Stringz [Violin Players]-I don’t know what the judges were watching, but it wasn’t what I saw. Their playing wasn’t as strong tonight, and I didn’t get the women swinging around in the air. It was distracting. Even though they will be here next week, each performance is sounding the same every single week.
10. Eli Mattson [Singer/Musician]-He may not have been as strong as last week, but he still performed Elton John’s “Sorry Seems To Be the Hardest Words” really well. I love his voice, and the piano playing was exceptional.

This week, we had some exceptional performance (including Donald Braswell, Jessica Price and Queen Emily), some horrible performances (Kaitlyn Maher and The Wright Kids), and one that may have gotten lost in the shuffle (Paul Salos).

As I mentioned earlier, this really is a tough call with how many amazing acts there are this year. It will be hard to see many of them go. There are some that I would like to see next week, but there is just not enough room for them all.

Below, you can see who I voted for, plus the five who I am predicting will move onto the next round [as I have said before, this does not necessarily mean that I think all of them were great; it is just who I believe America will vote through]:

My Votes: Neal E. Boyd [10 by phone]

                  Queen Emily [10 online]

Top 5 Predictions: Jessica Price; Neal E. Boyd; Queen Emily; Nuttin But Stringz; Eli Mattson

It was tough this week to make my predictions. I automatically put Neal, Queen Emily, and Nuttin But Stringz in there because it is obvious they are moving on, unless we are in for a shocker. Then I picked Eli for a variety of reasons. The judges love him; he performed last (which can help with people’s memory of performances); and the mix of singing and playing the piano is superb. And then for the last spot, I really wasn’t sure who to pick. I got rid of Kaitlyn and the Wright Kids because they shouldn’t be there. Then I got rid of Paul because I have a feeling that with all the amazing performances this week, he may have gotten lost in the shuffle and the majority of America may have forgotten how he did (or what he did). So I was between Donald, Jessica, and Joseph. They all deserve to move on, but as I said, there are only so many spots. They all gave electrifying performances, but I ultimately went with Jessica because I believe she has finally shown star quality and that may resonate with viewers. But Joseph could take that spot because he is back on his game this week.

Tonight, Natasha Bedingfield will perform her latest single, "Angel." If you don't know who she is or haven't heard her music before, watch the show tonight. She is one of my favorite singers. I have said before that I love singers with unique voices and she has that. Her current CD is so perfect and stands out as a great array of songs. Also tonight (8-8:30), we will find out who makes the Top 5. I can't wait for that...

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 7:50 PM PDT

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America’s Got Talent: Top 10 Revealed

Airdate: Thursday, September 11, 2008 [8-8:30pm]

On the first show of the season entirely devoted to voting results, they didn’t meander around; they just got right to the results. First up were the ten acts that performed on Tuesday.

The first two acts called forward were The Wright Kids and ZOOperstars. Personally, neither act was all that great this week, but The Wright Kids were better and of the two, they advanced to the next round.

Queen Emily and Neal E. Boyd were called next and my heart stopped. I thought to myself, how could America have voted only one of them through? Even the judges, especially Sharon, were shocked. But then Jerry announced that both of them were moving into the Top 10. Phew!

Extreme Dance FX and The James Gang were next and the results were the opposite of what the last two acts went through. Dance and James were both eliminated.

The Cadence and Paul Salos were up next, and even though I predicted that both would move on, I knew that it would be Paul. And I was right; he’s in the Top 10.

Daniel Jens and Jessica Price were the last on stage, meaning they placed 5th and 6th in the voting, though we don’t know who was in what place. This spot would be decided by the judges. David voted for Jessica and Sharon voted for Daniel, so it came down to Piers, who sided with David and voted Jessica into the Top 10.

Now we move onto the acts that performed on Wednesday.

The first two up were SickStep and Kaitlyn Maher. Before the results were announced, I truly believed that of the two, SickStep would be moving on. But the majority of America voted four-year old Kaitlyn through. Here’s what I think of this result. We all know that she doesn’t have the best voice to have a show in Vegas. But I believe that after the judges criticized her and said that her time is up, America probably thought that it was mean to gang up on a four-year old and so they sided with her with sympathy votes.

Donald Braswell and the Tapping Dads were called forward next, and it was obvious that Donald would be staying, and he did.

The Taubl Family and Nuttin But Stringz were next and again, it was obvious that NTS would be moving forward, unless this became a huge surprise shocker, especially with all the praise they received by the judges. And in the end, Stringz did advance.

Jerry then called Sarah Lenore and Eli Mattson forward, with Eli taking a spot in the Top 10. I think that Sarah killed her chances of staying in the competition when she chose a pop song instead of a country song.

Jonathan Burkin and Joseph Hall were the final two left, and the judges would decide this last and final spot of the Top 10. In a way, this would have been a hard decision for me if I were one of the judges, because I think both should have stayed in. But when it came down to it, Joseph probably has a better chance at sustaining an act in Vegas, which is why Piers and David voted for him, with Sharon voting for “baton boy” (in her words).

So, we now have our Top 10: The Wright Kids, Queen Emily, Neil E. Boyd, Paul Salos, Jessica Price, Kaitlyn Maher, Donald Braswell, Nuttin But Stringz, Eli Mattson, and Joseph Hall.

Overall, we have a great Top 10. The past two year’s on the show, it hasn’t always been even near top-notch. But this year is different. Of course, as with all of these types of shows, there may be one or two who shouldn’t be there, but other than that, I am excited for the rest of the season. They all will need to be even better next week, when 10 become 5. That will be hard, because since there are some great contestants this year, it will be hard to see some of them go.

Ever since we first saw him in his initial audition, I have been rooting for Neal E. Boyd. And I still think he has a superb chance of winning. He reminds me of Paul Potts, who won the first season of Britain’s Got Talent. They both have a similar personal story and both have great opera voices.

I can't wait for next Wednesday, when the Top 10 perform; then on Thursday, we will find out who advances to the Top 5.

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 6:44 PM PDT

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America’s Got Talent: Top 20, Acts 11-20

Airdate: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 [8-10pm]

I think that overall, the night was a success in terms of talent level. These acts were the last ten acts from the Top 20, and we’re getting to a point now where you have to be on your game or you could be going home. For me, I think of the Top 40 round as the round in which we wean out the ones who shouldn’t have been there in the first place. And the Top 20 round, which is what we’ve been watching this week, is where we separate the good acts from the great acts. That is how I see these two stages in the competition. Tonight, Thursday, we will see if that holds true, but first, here are my comments from the rest of the Top 20:

1. SickStep [Dance Group]-I agree with Piers that not all of them were in sync with each other. It may be because there is a lot of them; I don’t know. And out of all the acts we see, I believe it is the dance groups that need to step up in order to stand out. I say this because after a while all the dance groups seem to look and dance the same, so each one needs to make the performances unique to separate themselves from the rest and make people notice them.
2. Donald Braswell [Opera Singer]-When I realized he was singing a broadway song, “The Music of the Night” from The Phantom of the Opera, I wasn’t sure if it would sound cheesy or dated. But it didn’t. And I wanted to find something wrong with the performance, but I didn’t. Once again, a beautiful voice.
3. Joseph Hall [Elvis Impersonator]-Elvis is back! When he started to sing “Suspicious Minds,” I wasn’t sure how well he would do since it was a slower song, but he’s back to how we saw him in his initial audition. He’s definitely in the Top 10.
4. Taubl Family [Singers/Musicians]-They stepped it up last week, but became boring again this week. The women sang during most of the performance, and they weren’t always singing cohesively together. I don’t know what the song was, but it was the worst choice.
5. Sarah Lenore [Country Singer]-Last week, I believed she had the potential to do well in the country music industry. And I still believe that, but then this week she goes and sings a pop song: Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love.” Even though this is currently one of my favorite songs, it was definitely the wrong song, and she needs to stick to country if she wants to keep going on the show.
6. Nuttin But Stringz [Violin Players]-Once again, another powerful performance. My only concern is that each performance is going to sound alike, and not as if each one is different.
7. Kaitlyn Maher [Singer]-Again, her voice wasn’t as strong, except for the ending. She is so cute, but for the Top 10, we need to have the best of the best, in terms of talent. So I am glad that Piers was more critical with her performance of “Beauty & the Beast.” It’s hard because she is only four-years old. But I do think her time is up on the show.
8. Tapping Dads [Tap Dancers]-Again, they’re good at what they do, but they need to stand out more. Tonight, with the tuxedos and the tapping, they looked like the cartoon penguins in Mary Poppins.
9. Eli Mattson [Singer]-He was my favorite last Wednesday, and tonight he proved once again that he can be a successful singer. I love his unique voice and would buy his CD.
10. Jonathan Burkin [Baton Twirler]-I don’t know how he doesn’t drop a baton. Once again, he showed how he is needed in this competition. Every time he is onstage, I worry that he will drop one, but he never does, which shows how talented, focused, and determined he is.

Before the contestants performed, last year’s winner, Terry Fator, performed as previously announced. And as always, he is truly talented and really funny. I am glad he brought out the turtle dummy, because when he was a contestant last year, that was my favorite of his. I would love to see his show someday.

Below, you can see who I voted for, plus the five who I am predicting will move onto the next round [as I have said before, this does not necessarily mean that I think all of them were great; it is just who I believe America will vote through]:

My Vote: Eli Mattson [10 by phone; 10 online]

Top 10 Predictions: Donald Braswell; Joseph Hall; Nuttin But Stringz, Eli Mattson; Jonathan Burkin

Tonight is a special half-hour Thursday results show at 8pm, where we will find out who is moving on into the Top 10.

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 3:34 PM PDT

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America’s Got Talent: Top 20, Acts 1-10

Tuesday, September 9, 2008 [8-10pm]

For the second consecutive time, I can once again gloat over my predictions. At the beginning of Tuesday’s show, Jerry revealed that Nuttin But Stringz, Kaitlyn Maher, Eli Mattson, Donald Braswell and Tapping Dads (Judge’s Choice) filled out the last five spots of the Top 20. I correctly predicted that all five would be going on to the next round. To look over the entire Top 40 round, I predicted 16 of the acts that made it into the Top 20. That’s 80%! Wow, I am doing better with this show than my predictions for American Idol.

Okay, I’m done gloating…This week is when we will pare down the Top 20 to the Top 10. And this Tuesday, half of them performed, plus a surprise appearance which I will mention after my performance comments:

1. The Cadence [Drum Act]-I said that they weren’t cohesive enough last time. Tonight, that wasn’t the case. I wasn’t sure at first, because the song seemed to overpower their drums, but overall they brought it together and, as the judges said, they are improving.
2. Queen Emily [Singer]-I’m surprised she chose this song, because I wasn’t sure at first if it would fit her voice. But she showed that, besides the powerhouse voice, she can control her tone, which is great because we need to see that with her singing, she can do softer tunes as well.
3. The Wright Kids [Music Group]-I have to truly disagree with the judges on this one. Yes, the singing was a little better, but the boy in the center has horrible low notes, and the smile on that girl looked really fake during the song. I believe David is wrong: they could not sustain a Vegas show. Maybe when they are older and are more professional sounding, but not right now. I’m sorry if anyone believes I am being too harsh on these kids, but we’re getting down to the wire now, and if they aren’t stepping up, then they need to go home.
4. The James Gang [Singers/Dancers]-They were horrible last time, and tonight was no different. It was a little cheesy and the vocals were superbly weak and off-tune.
5. Daniel Jens [Country Singer]-I 100% agree with Piers. His voice is still not as strong or unique as many of the other singers on this show. Because he picked Lonestar’s “I’m Already There,” it’s obvious he’s trying to get by on his story and not his voice.
6. ZOOperstars [Costumed Variety Act]-Unfortunately, they weren’t entertaining or funny tonight. It was a bit of a mess, and the transitions were awkward. And on a related note, during the intro video, the duck mentioned that his falling off the stage last week was an accident and was not part of the act. So I was wrong in my assumption that it was part of their performance.
7. Neal E. Boyd [Opera Singer]-This is a little different than what he normally sings, but once again, his voice is unbelievable. His mom was in the audience, which suited what he was singing. And the message in that song is very personal to him, and unlike Daniel Jens, he has the voice to go along with his personal story.
8. Jessica Price [Singer]-“Bubbly” by Colbie Caillat is one of my favorite songs on the radio right now, and Jessica has the potential to become that type of singer. She injected some personality and confidence into the performance, but her voice still needs to be just a little stronger. I know she has it in her; she just needs to bring it out.
9. Extreme Dance FX [Cloggers/Dancers]-They were average last time, but tonight they kept my attention. They are really improving now.
10. Paul Salos [Frank Sinatra Impersonator]-“Come Fly With Me” is such a great song, but I agree with the judges; this is one of his weaker performances. But there is something about him that makes you root for him.

Near the end of the show, last season’s winner, Terry Fator, came out onto the stage. And he said that this year’s winner will be performing at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas on October 17. Visit the America’s Got Talent website for details. He also announced that he will be performing on the show tonight (Wednesday). I can’t wait for that! He was my favorite last year and I was so excited when he won. And look at him now: he has one of the, if not the, biggest show in Vegas right now.

Below, you can see who I voted for, plus the five who I am predicting will move onto the next round [as I have said before, this does not necessarily mean that I think all of them were great; it is just who I believe America will vote through]:

My Vote: Neal E. Boyd [10 by phone; 10 online]

Top 10 Predictions: The Cadence; Queen Emily; Neal E. Boyd, Jessica Price; Paul Salos

Tonight (Wednesday), ten more Top 20 Acts, plus Terry Fator, will perform.

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 4:03 PM PDT

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America’s Got Talent: Top 40, Acts 31-40

Wednesday, September 3, 2008 [8-10pm]

I believe I have earned some bragging rights, because I correctly predicted which five acts from Tuesday made it into the Top 20. Yep, that’s right, I predicted that Jonathan Burkin (best of the night), Sarah Lenore, Joseph Hall, Taubl Family and SickStep (Judge’s Choice) would move to the next round. So far for the Top 40 round, I have only gotten four incorrect predictions out of a possible 15.

Now that I’ve got that out of my system, it’s time to move on to Wednesday night, where the final 10 acts from the Top 40 performed:

1. The Dallas Desperados Dancers [Dancers]-Cheerleading is not a headlining act. The dancers this year are not standing out.
2. Brian Cheatham [Singer]-I never liked him during the earlier rounds, and tonight was no different. He has a good voice, but good is not good enough.
3. Flambeaux [Fire Eater]-That was horrible. I did not get the point of it all with the others onstage and the weird and creepy setting and theme.
4. Kaitlyn Maher [Singer]-Her voice may not have been as strong tonight, but she is so cute and that is what will get her through. How can you say no to a face like that?
5. Dorae Saunders [Tina Turner Impersonator]-I’ve said before that if you’re going to impersonate a singer, then you better be actually singing (like Paul Salos and Joseph Hall), and not lip-syncing (like Derrick Barry as Britney Spears). This is not an impersonation, and that wig doesn’t look like Tina Turner’s hair.
6. Donald Braswell [Opera Singer]-The judges eliminated him, then America brought him back, and he showed this week why he should be in this competition. He has an amazing voice, and he is the best so far tonight.
7. Indiggo [Singers]-I don’t think they should’ve gone past the first round. They think they’re all that, and this whole act was laughable, and not in a good way.
8. Tapping Dads [Tap Dancers]-As much as I like the song, if you mix “Puttin’ on the Ritz” with tap-dancing, the result is bound to be cheesiness. That’s what this act was tonight. They are good at what they do, I’ll give them that, but the clothes and song made it not so good.
9. Eli Mattson [Singer]-I echo what Piers said: sensational. I love hearing singers with unique voices, and he has that. I don’t remember him from earlier rounds, but he got my attention tonight.
10. Nuttin But Stringz [Violin Players]-They made playing the violin cool. They are energetic and powerful, mixing classical with rock and hip/hop.

Except for a few acts (of course), overall this was a great night of performances. During the first Top 40 week, there seemed to be only one person from each of the two nights who saved the night, but tonight, there were a few who made this a great episode.

Below is who I voted for, plus the 5 who I think could be the 5 going through to the next round [this does not necessarily mean I think they were great; it is just who I think America may vote through]:

My Vote: Eli Mattson [10 by phone; 10 online]

Who Could Go To Next Round: Kaitlyn Maher; Donald Braswell, Tapping Dads; Eli Mattson; Nuttin But Stringz

Next week, we will find out who our complete Top 20 are, then those 20 will perform on Tuesday and Wednesday, with a special half-hour Thursday episode, revealing the Top 10.

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 6:14 PM PDT

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America's Got Talent: Top 40, Acts 21-30
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 [8-10pm]

At the top of the show, it was announced that the five acts from last Wednesday moving on to the Final 20 are: Paul Salos, The Wright Kids, Daniel Jens, Queen Emily (rightly so), and ZOOperstars! (Judge’s Choice). Again, I correctly predicted three out of five: Paul Salos, Queen Emily and ZOOperstars! This means that Beyond Belief Dance Co, Kazual, Jonathan Arons, Slippery Kittens, and George the Giant were sent home.

Tonight, Tuesday night, 10 more acts performed, and here are my brief comments:

1.       The Texas State Strutters [Dance group]-There are a lot of dancers on this show, so you have to stand out; they didn’t. It was just ordinary.

2.       Michael Strelo-Smith [Opera singer]-He’s a great opera singer, like Neal E. Boyd, but it was the wrong song. It sounded too Broadway. That’s unfortunate, because he is a good singer.

3.       Bruce Block [Magician]-As a magician myself, that was just okay. It was kind of cheesy, and we see this type of trick all the time. I didn’t seem him to anything; everyone else on stage did all the work. When are we going to get a magician on this show who has a chance of winning?

4.       Shequida [Opera Singer]-Last time, it was interesting to hear both the very high and very low notes. Tonight, the high pitch was so annoying.

5.       Taubl Family [Musicians]-It was interesting to hear Rhianna’s “Umbrella” sung in that style. At first I wasn’t sure if it was going to work, but I think overall it did. My only problem is still with that younger boy who sang first: he sounds too amateurish and his singing voice is not up to the level that his family sings at. But they have great harmony together.

6.       Jonathan Burkin [Baton Twirler]-I’ve always been impressed with him on the show, including tonight. Adding the fire was amazing and impressive, and like David said, he has a chance of winning the show.

7.       Sarah Lenore [Country Singer]-That was risky to sing such a great Dixie Chicks song, and I’m not sure if it worked out 100% only because personality is too soft for that angry/edgy song. Then again, look at Carrie Underwood: who would’ve thought someone like her could pull off a song like “Before He Cheats”? Either way, she does have a great voice, and she has potential.

8.       SickStep [Dance group]-They are better than a lot of the dancers on the show, but I’d just like to see something a little more unique. But still a great performance.

9.       Matthew Piazz [Celebrity Voice Impersonator]-The first half was great. He’s an amazing celeb impersonator, but once he got to the piano, it went downhill. Get rid of the piano and he’ll he great.

10.   Joseph Hall [Elvis Impersonator]-Tonight wasn’t his best performance, but he is still one of the best we’ve seen this year and I hope to see more from him.

Last week, I said that Neal E. Boyd saved the night for Tuesday, and Queen Emily did the same for Wednesday. Tonight, the first half of the show was not looking good, then the Taubl Family started turning it around and then Jonathan Burkin showed what this show is all about. Those three are my favorites so far.

Below is who I voted for, plus the 5 who I think could be the 5 going through to the next round [this does not necessarily mean I think they were great; it is just who I think America may vote through]:

My Vote: Jonathan Burkin [10 by phone; 10 online]
Who Could Go To Next Round: Taubl Family; Jonathan Burkin; Sarah Lenore; SickStep; Joseph Hall

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 11:56 PM PDT

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