Let’s make sure we’re all on the same page before we dive into our recap of last night’s results.
You dumped Acrodunk…but pushed The Voices of Glory. You sent Paradizo Dance, two enormously talented acrobatic dancers, home…so you could watch Grandma Lee tell the same moderately humorous joke she’s been telling for two months. Again. What?! Worst of all is the fact that you took all of those voting cues from this man:
Who do I have to see to get a Xanax around here? The first half — and a little extra! — of the final eight contestants was selected last night, and it’s hardly the assembly any merit-based program would want to promote. I mean, there’s Fab Five (you chose wisely) and Kevin Skinner and Texas Tenors, all three of whom fairly well deserved their advancement (and were pretty much a lock, anyway). But again, you dropped ACRODUNK and PARADIZO DANCE – the two most objectively talented groups on a show that features the word in its title. Did you maybe misdial?
The first roll call, where Texas Tenors took the stage with Drew Thomas Magic and Arcadian Broad, didn’t offer any real frustration; the right act (and the obvious one, too) was given the nod. Not even a painful duo by Miss Piggy and Kermit or another trip to the (very cramped!) Orville Redenbacher lounge could sour that moment of justice.
Of course this quickly changed when the next three acts — Grandma Lee, Tony Hoard & Rory, and Paradizo Dance — came out to learn their fate. The latter was given the first boot, a real sin for a group that has been nothing but creative and fun to watch in all of their performances. Perhaps their routine the night before was not on a par with the “Halo” dance they did in the quarterfinals, but it was still great when compared to most of the other acts. The judges should (and this REALLY goes without saying) be able to recognize those acts operating at a higher level than others and NOT lead voters astray with unfair comments. Paradizo Dance was OBJECTIVELY BETTER than Grandma Lee, Tony Hoard & Rory, The Voices of Glory, and a few more acts…but their bum criticism probably cost them a finals slot. That really sucks. The kick in the pants: Grandma Lee advances. Tyler Perry and Bill Engvall fans everywhere high-five.
INTERLUDE: The Muppets were apparently not entertainment enough for one night, so The Hoff returned to his first love — a talking car the stage — and performed a jazzy song about nothing in particular. Paris, it looked like? Evening wear? Was that the song he used to end the Cold War? (My grasp of history’s a little fuzzy.) I found it suspicious that Sharon and Piers, his fellow judges, were not allowed to critique him. Shouldn’t he — and any other “entertainers” who take the stage — be held to the same standards of judgment they employ with the contestants? But I digress.
With 10 minutes left, we came to the meat of the show: four groups — Acrodunk, Kevin Skinner, The Voices of Glory, and Fab Five — all competing for the remaining two finals slots. Or one, since Kevin Skinner, like Texas Tenors, was a lock regardless of performance quality. After the country crooner was given the nod, my only thought was “don’t lose Acrodunk. Or at least don’t send them home next. Tell me they at least came in 5th place.” WELL, NO ONE LISTENED TO ME. Without question an act meant for the finals, Jerry Burrell and Acrodunk were instead sent home. What a load of s—! Being a sincerely nice and mature guy, Jerry managed to channel their frustration into a positive send-off…but their run should not have ended tonight.
Still one slot open, and a judges’ decision between Fab Five and The Voices of Glory. Sharon goes first, but…well, she doesn’t go (“I can’t make a decision”) and instead passes the ball to David…who ALSO can’t make a decision, and laterals to trusty Piers…who says the decision was “too difficult” to settle with a judges’ pick. So screw it, you’re both in!
(That faint bleeping noise you heard? Producers trying to mask the insane amount of cursing coming backstage from Paradizo Dance and Acrodunk as they were a) passed over by an American public easily swayed by judges’ ill-informed critiques and b) left to watch those same judges’ surprise “happy ending” unfold. REALLY?!)
So we’ve got half 5/9 of our finalists selected! What do you think, guys? Am I being too hard on certain contestants? Were the decisions to your liking? Did The Hoff BRING IT in a way we haven’t seen since “Hooked on a Feeling”? Unleash whatever you’re feeling in the comments below.
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When “The Hoff” came on to sing, I switched to “Ghost Hunters.” When Acrodunk got booted, both the Mrs. and I were shocked. Paradizo Dance – they should have made it! *And* Drew Thomas Magic too- Piers Morgan should be “X’d” and dumped. And would someone tell the Hoffmeister to wear an undershirt?
I fell asleep during his performance! Thank goodness for TiVo — I can watch the rest of the show tonight.
Drew Thomas Magic has only himself to blame, that act was terrible and corny. He should have came out dressed in a tux & executed a dynamic & exciting act. I think his assistants should start applying for jobs at Hooters.
He was boring but I felt sorry for the girl who is obviously traumatized that her dad lost when she was featured in his act.
And shame on him for using her so blatantly and putting her in that position.
The funniest part of GMa Lee’s act is when they show the judges forced laughter as she’s performing. Hey it’s a nice story to see her up there “living her dream” at this point in her life but IMO she is just not that funny.
I can’t believe that GMa Lee was chosen over all the talent that was sent home. I’m a G.Ma also, also her age, and this grandma just does not have any talent. We need new judges, and THE HOFF is a pathetic has been.
What kills me is the fact that Grandma Lee is living her dream, BUT DIDN”T she do that when she was on Last Comic Standing. I hate the fact many of these acts have appeared on other competition shows, aka Br8skate. Tired of the innuendo jokes. Her jokes are stale, Phyllis Diller does better.
she’s living her DREAM and it becomes OUR NIGHTMARE
I thought Grandma Lee was a hoot and a half. I think you might need to be from the South to appreciate her. Last night was tough no matter what, all of those acts were pretty good. I thought Arcadian did a great job with what he was “TOLD TO DO”. I’m sure they’ll be sending 5 through again next week too.
yeah, in order to appreciate Granny you have to be from the South and live in a trailer
And a dirty mind and bad manners. I’m glad my grandmothers were ladies.
I am not from the South, do not live in a trailer, and love stand-up comedy (and despise crap like Larry the prep school and college graduate pretending to be a cable guy while he’s making fun of an audience too stupid to know they’re being laughed at and not with). I think Grandma Lee is hilarious.
hmmm…a new demographic…he’s not from the south, does not live in a trailer and likes Granny — cannot integrate…
this old lady (me) is from the south…(YOU SAID YOU’D HAVE TO BE TO UNDERSTAND GRANDMA LEE)…my opinion is: grandma lee is not funny, just discusting. if i acted like that my greatgrand kids would have me put away. she should have been buzzed out a long time ago. just cause piers thinks she is cute gives me a clue why so many good acts are gone.
Can I go to vegas and set one hour and listen to Grandma Lee-NO, Texas Tenor’s-NO, Barbara Padilla’s-NO, Fab Five-NO, Kevin Skinner-YES YES YES. He can sing and like Mel Tillas he is intertaining just to listen to. I will see him in Vegas.
They couldn’t even find a 3 second clip of Skinner to play last night, he sings so horribly off key. But it’s in his heart. Sheesh, I wish he would keep it there.
that’s Mel TILLIS who is ENtertaining…
So you’re the one. An illiterate deaf man.
I agree. Kevin Skinner can not sing very well at all. I have no idea what people are seeing, because the last 2 times I’ve watched him, he’s been off-key and awful.
He’s a nice man with an interesting story, and an OK voice. More talented than some of the other acts? Nope. Would I buy a ticket to watch his show? Nope. This whole season has been strange.
Skinner couldn’t get a gig at Pizza Hut in Nashville. The guy is way off-key, has no range, poor song choice and would never, ever, ever, get signed to a country label.
Very clearly some acts were sent home that should have stayed, I have the same fthoughts as the author here. Something to be noted is besides the fact that the judges should not comment on the acts and sway public opinion but the Grand Master Hoff was clearly lip-syncing… watch the last 4 seconds where he is still singiong the word “good” but he has already closed his lips. All in all a great show with some great dissapointments!
actually, he was not lip-synching…
he was singing live – yes, he closed his mouth, stopped singing and the orchestra kept the note going
Actually I thought he was singing live until he “did” close his lips and the voice was still singing. Very obvious, should have been edited out.
Trish, you don’t know what you’re talking about so don’t talk as if you do. Clueless.
You call that singing?!
to CRK: as to whether that is considered “singing” or not, that’s another subject!
I think we call all agree that Hoff is neither a singer, and much less a dancer. He’s so stiff and can barely move on stage. He must have written it into his contract with AGT that he wanted some stage time now that he has a captive audience. He really should have done his schtick WITH the Muppets, it could only have improved things.
hahahaha
Seriously, were you guys actually watching his act that closely? I left the room.
he was singing live, for certain – yes, he closed his lips and stopped singing but it was the orchestra finished the note
IMO, it was not the orchestra – his voice continued even though his lips were closed. Perhaps he is a ventriloquist now too! I don’t even care if he was lip-syncing – what’s ridiculous is that he still wore the “cool mike” when he didn’t need it. lol Also, THAT is the definition of cheese – not the Texas Tenors. lol
We thought he was lip syncing too until we noticed that the voice track and the video track were not in sync. It was very obvious in the when Nick Cannon was talking to Kevin Skinner. Nick’s voice kept going even after he had stopped talking and put the microphone in front of Kevin for his response.
I thought I had stumbled upon a bad version of Young Frankenstein last night. But then I regognized that plastic surgeried face and the lame attempts at shuffling instead of dancing and I realized it was the Hoff, honoring us with his imagined singing and dancing abilities. Now THIS is what America is about:).
Last night was a 6 depends night. @ for Granma Lee. She crapped herself twice while up on stage. Two for Hasselhoof, so he didn’t leave a trail of ooze and booze as he slimed his way across the stage. And two for me as I wet myself from laughing so hard at Hasselhoffs “talent”. But he isn’t much worse than the corn pone Skinner.
Where did my comments go???
Things disappear and reappear at random.
actually if you post a comment and post a second one under a different name, your original post disappears.
I posted under the same name! Don’t you see 2 for city girl!
I use CRK too (short for cynical Rnacid Karma). Both names are still there. It’s a conspiracy! Oh well. Back to work.:)
That’s simply not true.
Clearly Lucy made that up.
Where do I go to sign up for the Kevin Skinner fan club? That guy is beyond incredible.
I agree that Acrodunk should have been selected for the finals. However, Americans just love their Grandmas. For the sake of variety, I would have chosen them over the Texas Tenors.
I suspect that we will be seeing Acrodunk in some commercials, tv shows, and movies. Those guys are incredible. Maybe they will get their own show.
Yeah, I would have picked Acrodunk over the Tenors. They are talented, but who under the age of 60 enjoys that kind of music?
Then again, the best singer in the whole thing–Bree–was eliminated weeks ago, and a whining cry-baby mediocre singer who sang one opera piece well once last year was your champion. I mean, seriously, while I respect the ability of opera, when’s the last time an opera album has been a hit?
Are you serious? That creamy-cheese girl “Bri” really sucked. Her style was forced and she sounds like all the other girls her age out there trying to sound different and unique – but they all sound like each other. She was gawd-awful. The Tenors also suck – if not for Blondie, over whom all the desperate women out there are creaming themselves, they would be nowhere. Their voices suck and what’s even worse – their horrible harmonies, which sound like a terrible trainwreck.
Straight opera albums aren’t hits nowadays but POPera albums are. Now, why American and world public prefers mediocre POPera singers to great opera singers is beyond me, but this is what happens nowadays.
Since any opera singer who goes on AGT is not looking for a straight opera career – really, would any opera theater ever consider an AGT contestant or even winner seriously? – but for POPera career, an opera singer has as much chance a pop singer in this show. Maybe more of a chance since there are many pop singers on the show and the public is familiar with pop and can do comparisons. Since there is usually one or two opera singers on this show and the public is not familiar with opera, has never heard great operatic music or operatic voices, the public is blown away by opera singers.
Bri wasn’t great at all, IMHO.
Kitty: After that diatribe on opera, your conclusion is that Bri wasn’t great at all. I agree…but…Bri was not an opera/popera singer so I don’t get your point at all.
Dexter, I was replying to this comment by Bill “while I respect the ability of opera, when’s the last time an opera album has been a hit?” and nothing else. I was not talking about Bri. Sorry, I should’ve quoted the phrase I was replying to.
I don’t have much of an opinion about Bri – pop music is not my thing. She was not on pitch during last song, but this could had something to do with the music she was asked to sing. Again, I was replying to a specific question.
Maybe they should rename the show – America’s Got So Much Talent.
You are hysterical. You should replace grandma Lee. I bet you also song as well as Kevin Skinner. I know my dog does.
I don’t get this. Is this supposed to be funny? And I haven’t so much as cracked a smile throughout Granny’s performances. Though I admire her immensely for her chutzpah, judging her purely on her performances she just does NOT make the grade. Can you imagine an HOUR of this? Yikes.
Miss Piggy was great. Everything else…meh. Man this show’s gotten weird.
Grandma Lee?? You got to be kidding me! Acrodunk would be the best choice for Vegas. Just for laughs, I would like to see the Grandma win it all and then they can change the name of the “popularity” show to “America Has No Talent”.
Acrodunk was unbelievable. I couldn’t believe when they got voted off. What’s wrong with America?
I don’t think this America has voted’ works every year the loser wins; what’s happening with last year winner? Why is Grandma Lee still there?
Last year’s winner was Neal E. Boyd. He has been on tour with Paul Potts (Britian’s Got Talent) for most of the summer I believe.
Paul Potts is extremely over-rated as a singer. I heard him on the radio once and I was pretty horrified — he over-sings and sounds like he’s going to pop a jugular.
According to the Neal E. Boyd official website, he had an appearance on “Good Morning Texas” in early August, and under “dates” it says he has no scheduled bookings.
Both Paul Potts and Neal Boyd are overrated. Paul Potts sounds like any amateur – there are many singers like Paul Potts in amateur opera theaters. Neal Boyd is pretty mediocre too.
Interestingly there was a good opera singer on AGT last year – Donald Braswell – but producers wouldn’t let him sing opera. There are videos of him on YouTube singing actual roles in opera before his accident; there is also a video of him singing Lenski aria in 2008 unamplified. He is pretty excellent… It’s a bit ridiculous that powers-that-be on AGT didn’t give him an option to sing an opera aria. He is doing much better than Neal now, deservingly so.
I read some funny posts before and now they are gone. What’s up? Censorship?
Grandma Lee is very spunky, sharp, and so hot, that “Al-Zeheimer” does not have a chance with her. I’ll keep voting for her. “You rock Grandma Lee! Remember, if the fat lady does not sing, it’s not over.
SP – Granny’s “hot?” How old are you? 95?
What show are you watching? The fat lady has sung many times!!! The fat guy too!!