Ah, America! Where the music is epic, the peaches are delicious, and there is a weekly fight to the death of dignity called America’s Got ‘Talent’. This week’s episode journeyed to Atlanta and New York, for a veritable slurry of strength, talent, and all-out weirdness. Sadly, the first cut was the most undeserved: Billy Dodson sang a wonderful falsetto aria, yet was kicked off because, as the Hoff would put it, "this is America!" and we apparently can’t have no man singing no woman’s part. (Ugh.) But we can have a 10-year-old girl beating up her father. Indeed, Alexandra ‘Elite’ Pyles whirled onto the stage with a combination of what seemed to be swing dancing, vaudeville slapstick and karate. And yelling. Lots of yelling. It was enough for the judges to give her a ticket to Vegas, with an added offer from the Hoff to be his bodyguard. I’m not entirely sure what that says about him, but watch the embedded clip below, and if you still have any will left tolive, click through and read the rest of my recap, after the jump!
So, let’s make a pact and fast-forward through the Carrie Underwood wannabe, the James Gang’s anachronistic jazz show, and the little girl who attempted to make America proud through contortionism and neon spandex. Instead, we’ll concentrate on Matt and Elaine Bonowitz from Staten Island, who call themselves "Polka Today" and claim to do for their genre what Michael Flatley did for Irish stepping. Let that settle in for a second. Michael Flatley. Polka. You got it? Okay, good. Now add a polka cover of “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves. Watch their performance, too, if you dare, but keep in mind you won’t be able to press the big red X (with sound effect) the way the judges do.
Though camp counselor Debra Weiner brought on some entertainmentwith her never ending rendition of "Dancing in the Streets," (and bynever ending I mean Hasselhoff had to climb onstage and pull the micaway from her), the emotional climax of the night came from KyleRifkin. This 36-year-old wedding singer from Harlem has seen hisshare of hard knocks, but he already held a special place in my heartfor choosing my perennial karaoke fave, the Temptations’ "Ain’t Too Proud to Beg," as his audition number. I may have to retire itthough, as my pipes could never compare to his. Kyle seemed to inspiremore than just clapping* though, because once he started crying,everyone else followed suit. Even host Jerry Springer got misty eyed; it’s good toknow his heart hasn’t been entirely hardened by midget strippers andtrailer park adultery.
So what did you think? Did Billy get buzzed too soon? Could you takedown Alexandra? And is it just me, or does listening to British peoplespeak make you feel smarter?
*It may have just been the assorted footage NBC chose, but noone in the audience has rhythm. And neither does Sharon Osbourne.
Agreed. Billy sang beautifully but was sadly unaware “it’s America!”… in 1932. Wait, no, in 1932 he probably would have been appreciated. And the kid screaming at her dad while he performed somersaults? I can see The Hoff going for that, but I was puzzled that Sharon did as well. She must have a soft spot for the kiddos.
I thought that the guy at the end of the program was awesome. The Polka Today people were out of sync with each other as well as the song. Polka dancing can be choregraphed to be contemporary, but that was worse than liverwurst!
Kyle the wedding singer was great.
Wonder if he cries at all the weddings.
Hope he wins.Great entertainment show.
This is Billy Dodson who was on “America’s Got Talent”! Thank you for printing this. It makes me feel better to think that other people out there think that what I do matters. I appreciate it!!!
I missed Dodson’s performance, so I’m not sure if it was bad or not. However for the record, as for male singers who can sing falsetto/Soprano, there are some male singers (mostly British) who can sing very high and in tune. IE: Jimmy Somerville of The Bronski Beat and The Communards. Moreover, if television judges (American Idol, and America’s Got Talent) are going to bash every man that cannot sound like Eddie Kendrix,then that’s hypocritical AND homophobic.
I hated that little girl who beat up her dad. It was so fake and stupid. I did enjoy the wedding singer but other than that nothing else was really remarkable. I could not understand 2 things about the contortionist: 1- Why was she wearing so much make-up? I danced as a child and had to wear lots of stage make-up for recitals but my mom picked colors that actually went with my complexion. 2- why was she dressed like a pink cat? I kept saying that aloud to myself during the whole performance.
I’ve seen Billy perform in various operas and other shows and he is truly amazing. The way the judges bashed him was completely unbelievable to me considering the way the coddled “Boy Shakira” last year. I lost what little respect I had for “The Hoff” after that.
They only showed about five or six acts completely, opting instead to waste time on mugging and touching human interest bs.
Anyone know if NBC foots the bill for travel and lodging to Vegas? With the number of group acts involved, it seems about 500 people are already headed to Sin City.
And I really wished NBC shuffled off some of the country singers to Nashville Star. I’ve heard at least three on AGT that are better than anything on NS.
Exactly Dan. I just saw his performance on YouTube, and it was not THAT bad. My question is this: if he had chosen an R&B/soul song instead of an opera song,would the judges have thought differently? The problem is that the male high notes for opera are for “castratos”. Castrato is not used in modern day opera simply because well, you get the idea. To have a male sing opera soprano, an octive lower than castrato is unusual.
I have performed with Billy Dodson and have watched him perform for many years as well. Not once has he had a negative reaction from an audience member. Every time he opens his mouth and this amazing and unique voice comes out, people are just in awe. He gets standing ovations all the time and more praise than any other singer I know (and I live in Nashville so there are a million of them). How does being just Ozzie’s wife and a non-talent has-been like Hasselhoff qualify you to make such remarks? Oh well. Billy is far above America’s Got Talent.
Superb job, Billy… Can’t say I’m surprised that they canned you, but it has nothing to do with your level of talent, which is high. Welcome to low-class, low-brow, lowest common denominator mainstream America. Keep your chin up, your day will come.
Your friend,
Kevin
As the director of Miss Marple’s Dinner Theatre in Nashville, Tn. and friend of Billy Dodson I was horrified by the comments The Judges made. Billy has been blessed with a special opera voice like none other. He performs at the dinner theatre and recieves STANDING OVATIONS. Plus various Nashville Cathedrals.Yes we have Freedom of speech…but atleast know something about the profession of opera or any music for that matter before you open your mouth and( insert foot) as my dad would say.
I missed it on live tv but I got to watch it on You Tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NOUdHqQJlk. Billy did a great job as usual. It seems as though the producers (playing the Rocky theme and airing Billy’s bouncer quote) set Billy up as some big tough bouncer guy. So the audience and judges had this impression he would bust out in this huge manly voice. Had they portrayed him as a classical operatic performer, the audience (both studio and at home) as well as the judges may have had a different impression of Billy and would have been ready to hear the falsetto aria.
At Miss Marples, people are generally amazed when Billy first sings. Once the people who are a little shocked learn of Billy’s work with the Nashville Opera, they become aware that they are being exposed to a historical genre of singing and they come to appreciate it more.
I know something about ratings and “showbusiness”. It is a sad testimnony when sensationalism , and outragiousness trump art and talent in its purest form.