Fifty-five million people agree…America’s Got Talent was on last night!
We started this week of brazen hyperbole back in New York (again) after six weeks of tryouts. Don’t ask me when we’re going to get to the actual season. Check back in November and we might be on our fifth trip back to Atlanta. First up was the woeful Perry Zanett, self-proclaimed "Greatest Actor this country has ever had." He ran his monologue right into poor Yorick’s grave, and the next 10 minutes worth of acts weren’t much better, which got me wondering if there’s anyone undiscovered and talented left in New York. Really? No one? There was a really good barbershop quartet on the subway yesterday, where the hell were they?
Apparently the overwhelming lack of talent started playing games with the judges’ minds, seeing how Ronny B., accurately dubbed a "strange little fellow" by Sharon, advanced to Vegas by giving the least sexy song-and-dance routine I’ve ever seen (embedded clip below, if you dare). Now don’t get me wrong: I understand the joy of personal expression. Soyou go, Ronny B., dance your heart out. But please, make yourself happyin the privacy of your own home.
It wasn’t all off-key caterwauling and monologuing, though. Every episode of America’s Got Talent is required by federal law (seriously!) to have at least one heart-wrenching back story from asoulful singer, and Xavier Lewis (X.L.) fit the bill quite nicely. This is a man working hard to keep food on the tablefor his wife and infant son, but who also dreams of Vegas glory, and thank God this time the story hada happy (and tuneful) ending. Lewis sang "Ordinary People" so well that Piers Morgandeclared him better than John Legend. And the audience savored therare minute of auditory bliss.
There’s a cadence to everyepisode of America’s Got Talent. Basically, for the first 42 minutes,the show makes you lose faith in humanity and entertainment. And then they give youQueen Emily. Emily, the single mom. Emily, who’s unable to keep a job.Emily, with a voice I’d trade a finger for. Emily, whose church-grown pipes make the Hoff get up and dance (and, from the looksof it, unbutton at least two more buttons on his shirt). Why do youalways do this, America’s Got Talent? I’m always so ready to becomethe pessimist, and then you make me regret not stocking up on tissues. You’re evil that way, and I keep coming back for more.
So does America’s Got Talent make you cry, make you want tochange the channel, or a little of both? Will Ronny B. just end up playing at bus stationsin Vegas? And how does Sharon manage to make an insult (“you look likea shrunken Marc Anthony”) sound cute?
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How many huge multi-person dance groups have they put through already? As if any of them have a shot. They put through a college dance team, as if all these 18-20 year olds are going to be able to stop school and perform in Vegas for a year or more if they won.
I don’t watch it anymore because it became too “gong” showish for me. Or maybe it’s “Showtime at the Apolloish”….anyway, I see the clips and honestly, has any contestant on that show gone on to bigger & better things? After about 20 minutes, I’m bored and have to turn it off…however, Jerry Springer is very good at hosting.
What I don’t like about America’s Got Talent is that it’s all about the singers and the back stories are designed to make me cry…and yet somehow never do. Britain’s Got Talent is way more diverse and I actually buy that some of those people don’t know how the reality competition works and are playing the story for all it’s worth. (Paul Potts being the last time a “story” has actually gotten me.)
Sally,
If you did not watch last year, the winner was Terry Fator. He has signed a 110 million dollar contract to appear at Steve Winn’s Mirage in Las Vegas, with a potential extension with an additional 100 million. I guess that qualifies for bigger and better things, doesn’t it?
The Ventriliquist guy had a strong showing. WAY too many dance groups have been put through. But for vegas. The sexier the better i guess.
As for the Queen, she was great and I hope she stays strong till the end.
I loved this show last season and was glad to see my two favorites the top two. But I am really, really getting sick of these auditions. Seriously, how many sob stories do we have to hear before we get to the real competition already! Argh! The stories actually ruin the act for me. By the time they get to the singing, I’ve stopped listening.
Still watching the show though. I do like it and I am looking forward to seeing some of the competetors again in Vegas (if we ever get there…).
The college dance troups are a dime a dozen and on every major campus. I don’t think they should be encouraged or put through to finals. What next? Every campus choir? I think they should be single acts that CAN possibly be booked for Vegas shows. I’m liking some of the singers- Queen Emily was hot. It IS a fun show.
I loved the way they mixed up the show last night. Instead of closing the show with an overweight, tear filled, black male singer with a sob story, they brought in an overweight, tear filled, black FEMALE singer with a sob story. Now that’s what I call variety!
Thank God for TIVO. I enjoy the show but there is so much so called talent going to Las Vegas that isn’t deserving. We like to fast forward through the show to avoid the pain of the bad acts.
I would love to know when and where in Las Vegas this talented group assembles and if the general public has a chance to get tickets.
Now, now, if those cute little college dance teams would agree to just take off their shirts, Vegas would eat them up like candy.
A little of both. I don’t mind the sob stories, but I feel manipulated by the way the show does them. And if the idiot audience is going to be allowed to boo and generally behave like ill-behaved slobs, then the sound people have to turn down their volume so they don’t drown out the act (although with Ronny, that was actually a blessing.) And it would be nice if we were allowed to see more of the acts–especially those that are sent through–than be “treated” to the quick cuts to the judges and audience. I really don’t know why I keep watching, other than the chance that there might be another act of the caliber of Terry Fator.
Some of the acts they put thru to Vegas, I can’t even imagine paying money to see them! The so called “judges” really need to get a clue. There is one act I especially like from one of the earlier shows. It’s Nuttin’ but Stringz. These two young guys can really play the violin. I first saw them perform at the Big E, a country fair in MA. They blew everybody away with their talent. Check out their web site at http://www.nuttinbutstringz.com
Oh, and to Sally in Chicago? You’re an idiot. Jerry Springer’s imitation of a demented grandmother watching from the wings is the biggest waste of space on TV. The best ratings grabber this show could do is have a sand bag or crane drop and take him out.
Springer not only brings nothing to the table on this show, he pretty much walks out the front door with the fine china under his jacket. But then again, this show is really nothing more than a Jerry Springer show – complete with a moronic shouting audience – with “talent” instead of paternity tests, so maybe he fits right in.
Better Jerry Springer than Ryan Seacrest. At least Jerry is in on the joke.
Call me a cynic, but Queen Emily was just a better than average Legends cover act of Aretha. Good, yes, remarkable, no. Worth a million? Hardly.
And by the way, according to the fine print the million is paid over 40 years! That means for those slutty cheerleaders, should either troup win, about $800/year each.
Dave St Louis: No way man. $110Million? I think you’re way off base. The prize is $1Mill not $110Mill.
Dave St Louis: No way man. $110Million? I think you’re way off base. The prize is $1Mill not $110Mill.
To Sally in Chicago-you’re still an idiot. The prize from “America’s Got Talent” is $1 Million. The contract he signed with the hotel is $110 million. Duh.
emily will win
Long live Queen Emily! Girlfriend can flat out SING!
I love how they were saying ” this is the end of the audition round…..in 2 weeks.!!”
Another thing:the olymopics start presumably after the vegas callbacks. so we ony get 2 weeks or so of competition?
queen emily is realy good!!! i think she might win!
I agree with Melinda65, show the acts instead of the audience and judges. The judges get enough face time when judging the acts.
IMO the judges were over the top when it came to “overpraising” Emily. She was good – but NOT THAT GOOD. She came across as another gospel singer with a big voice, but nothing unique about her.
I’m getting ready to give up on this show – but only because I am tired of the HORRIBLE camera work. Why do they think we’d rather see audience reaction over the actual performance? For every 1 minute performance, the camera only shows about 15 seconds. The rest is audience and judges. Not sure how much longer I can hold on.
To Frustrated: AMEN! Are these people high? Why would I want to see faceless audience members or celebs I can stare at in any tabloid? k
Don’t know his name but the man who sang “You Raise Me Up” was wonderful. He is surely a winner. Thank you
I like the show but it is a phony to say some of these stars are amateurs or non-pros. Google some of them and you will see that they are already performing pro or semi-pro. Example: Daniel Jens, the soldier, has a website whereas he is selling his mp3’s and CD’s and is a well-know Christian songwriter/performer. Did he flub those words on purpose to make it look like he is an amateur? In past seasons, the Amazing leonid already was perfoming in Vegas in a revue and so were the couple who constantly changed their clothes in amazement in front of everyone. The sword swallower too has a website and is a professional performer. C’mon, show raw talent like they do on the Brit version. The jiggly dancer/cheerleader groups are BORING!!!! Keep it for the half-time shows at the basketball games. Would you pay $80 to see that? as the Hoff put it for one of the acts. It is a nice premise of a show, but leave out the pros.