As some of you pointed out in the comments of last week's recaps, many of the contestants performing on America's Got Talent are hardly new to the game. Saucy comedian Grandma Lee just missed the finals of Last Comic Standing in 2004 with many of the sames jokes she told last week. Acrodunk, the basketball-dunking acrobats, already performed on AGT three years ago (during the BRANDY era.) Next week's episode even touts a repeat singer, returning to the stage after being brutally XXX-ed in her last attempt. Second time's a charm? There's no country in the world more invested in second chances than America, and no show more dedicated to honoring that tradition than AGT.
And yet, are we really expected to be entertained by someone already given their "one shot," their "one opportunity" (this post brought to you by 8 Mile), who is merely trumpeting their same exaggerated act for a second time? Why should viewers be asked to treat the moment like it's now suddenly something heartwarming and special? Time to put a stop to this ridiculousness, guys. And I say we start with former American Idol contestant Kelli Glover.
As though prompted by an INVISIBLE FORCE (cough producers cough), Sharon asked the young lady to tell the judges something interesting about herself. "I was on season 1 of American Idol," she replied. "I've been dreaming of making it back for six years." Flags are up! Kelli then launched into a strong rendition of Beyonce's "Listen," commanding the stage and eliciting plenty of enthusiasm from the judges. She got her three votes. She advanced to the next round. She fulfilled her "dream." Success?
"I was so devasted," Kelli said of the 2002 AI loss. "I didn't sing for a while after that." But after her performance, for some reason, David Hasselhoff said, "You didn't give up," citing the six years she had spent as a blackjack dealer after losing her AI spot to Jim Verraros. UMM, WHAT? She most definitely DID give up, David, if a loss in 2002 so easily derailed her career aspirations. I'm endlessly put off by this idea that America's Got Talent — or American Idol, or So You Think You Can Dance — is the normal American's one golden hope of achieving all his/her performance-related goals, that only by getting another shot at a reality competition can one hope to have his/her talent noticed and validated. Have a little more creativity, America! Think outside the bun! Roll up your sleeves and work harder.
Thankfully, last night's episode featured three genuinely sweet performances to counteract the troubling Kelli Glover segment. Nine-year-old blues guitarist Tallan Noble Latz wowed the crowd with his poise and technical skill and elicited plenty of love from the judges. It's unlikely that guitar playing (however skillful) will get him past the next round, but Tallan's gracious behavior was a breath of fresh air when compared to the kind of kids (and adults, sadly) we've seen before. These days, that's almost a talent in and of itself.
The dancing/gymnastic-ing Platt brothers were equally fun to watch, pulling off some well-choreographed moves in a performance that was weird and engaging at the same time. (They said they were raised on a farm without television, and I believed them!) One hour Vegas show-worthy? We'll find out in the next round. Capping off the evening were the Spiritual Harmonizers, a group of postal workers diverse in age but harmonious in song. Piers compared their lead singer's pipes to those of Stevie Wonder, which didn't feel egregious. Without artifice or histrionics, he — and his mail-sorting buddies — truly connected with the audience. You are what this show [should really be] all about!
So what about it, guys? Am I being as ridiculous as I claim America's Got Talent's "second chances" policy to be? (Probably.) Do you think Ms. Glover has a future in singing? Who might play her Jim Verraros in the next round of competition? This show…
Those 2 performances were awesome. I seriously love this show.
I love this show.
The illusionist that they briefly showed (___ Burton) was a top 10 finalist in year 1. Maybe they’ll bring back that really tall, funky guy, Leonid the Magnificent. Not finding this year as much fun as the first three seasons.
Does anyone remember that the blues guitar player Tallan Noble Latz was on Rachel Ray last year? In the show his parents said it was his idea to play guitar and from day one when he picked it up he was a natural. He played in local diners till the child labor board stopped him. He also played with some big time blues players. He went on Rachel Ray to show his talent and hoped to be noticed. He is a really great blues guitar player as good as some of the well known ones. I hope he stays on Americas Got Talent for a while and is noticed.
_Nathan_ Burton. Who also happens to already have a headline magic show in Las Vegas.
_If_ Kelli Glover has been sitting on her butt for 6 years she’s a fool and deserves her failures. However, I doubt she’s done nothing but deal cards: sounds like she’s in plenty good performing shape, and has probably been working hard on her career. But you don’t say that on television, because America just _loves_ the sob stories. So much better to play up the ridiculous “this reality show is my only chance!” angle.
The blues guitar player, Tallan Noble Latz was on the Rachel Ray show last year and did a performance. On the show he said it was his idea to play guitar and he was a natural from the start per his parents. He played in local bars and diners till the child labor laws put a stop to him & he has played with a few well known blues players. He is a natural and I hope he goes far in the competition.
http://www.nathanburton.com/
How is this the #1 show of the Summer (by a wide margin)? It’s terrible. I’m chalking it up to the fact that there’s no real competition, but still. When ew.com posts an American Idol blog, there are pages and pages of comments. The so-called biggest talent show in America, AGT, currently has 9 responses and this article was posted 8 hours ago.
http://mel31602.blogspot.com/2009/07/americas-got-talent-recap-more.html
Check out my recap of last night’s show here. While I agree that those who have been in the top 10 before (like Nathan Burton) probably shouldn’t get another shot I think Kelli has improved greatly since AI (check out youtube for clips of her back then) and deserves another shot at fame. Sure she’ll already have a built in fanbase but I’m sure there are plenty who think she doesn’t deserve another shot so these votes will cancel each other out
I really liked Kelly. I wasn’t watching Idol in the first season,so this is the first time I’ve seen her. Now if she can just do something about her hair!
Yeah the magician from the Wayne Newton Reality Show who was around during the Brandy years (the guy with all the showgirls) was sneaked through during the “speed round” that follows the commercials. A lot of these guys are pros from Las Vegas who are there to fill out the show but know up front they won’t win. And some of the really bad ones are actually comedy writers and producers who are doing it for a laugh. I do get a kick out of some of the heavily edited bios.
Barbara Padilla is better than Susan Boyle, she is OUR Susan Boyle.
I think that they shouldn’t let anyone who has appeared on a network television ‘talent’ show on AGT. We’re a fairly large country, last time I checked. I’m sure that there’s enough talent out there to cast all of them…
As for Kelli, why use these shows as a springboard? Why not actually work for a singing career????
To answer your question, yes, you’re being too harsh.
AGT is wrong and so are the people who write about it. I’m a personal friend of Kelli’s first and foremost. She has only worked in a casino for ONE year. They will tell whatever story they want for a TV show. They don’t tell you how she was deathly sick and UNABLE to sing for about year. They just make it seem like she lost hope and gave up, not the truth at all. They used her for her American Idol story only to break her heart again.