Last night showcased some of the more talented singers left in the competition, like Alice Tan Ridley, who gave us a powerful rendition of Gladys Knight’s “Midnight Train to Georgia.” Ridley really can sing, and I can’t help but think that if age wasn’t a factor, she would at least make it to Hollywood week on American Idol. (How did her version of the song compare to that of Idol runner-up Crystal Bowersox?) Michael Grimm took to the electric guitar for Al Green’s “Tired of Being Alone,” and gave another soulful, enjoyable performance. And then there was 12-year-old Lil Chris. (Is there room for another “Lil” artist on the market these days?) He can sing, and he’s a great dancer — plus I always appreciate a good Ne-Yo song — but doesn’t his voice still need to change? It may be too early for him to headline a show on the Vegas strip if puberty is still a ways away. Let’s wait a few years.
What I don’t understand about America’s Got Talent is how the aforementioned acts are forced to compete against all kinds of crazy like air bands, muscle men, cheerleaders, and magicians. I’m all for variety, but I really don’t understand some of these acts. Here are my biggest headscratchers from last night:
Cheer SF, the cheerleading group from San Francisco. I was surprised these peppy gymnasts were still in the running last night (and got to advance straight to Hollywood!) and the judges seemed to feel the same way, looking less than enthused by their performance. Don’t they have cheerleading competitions for this exact reason? Plus, Bring It On came out 10 years ago, so I think we can say the sport’s pop culture moment has officially passed.
Antonio Restivo (who looks like Ron Jeremy if he had auditioned for Rock of Ages). The magician emerged from atop his flaming throne to the sounds of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Let Me Hear You Scream” (suck up, much?). Last night his “trick” was making a woman appear and disappear in two different glass boxes. Impressive — maybe — but I was so distracted by the pyrotechnics and flashy dance moves his assistants were doing across the stage, I almost missed them. Check him out below:
Can acts like Cheer SF and Antonio Restivo even compare to Alice Tan Ridley and Michael Grimm? Who do you hope makes it through tonight, PopWatchers?
First off, let me say I am happy to see some coverage for AGT. Sure, it’s no AI or DWTS, but I think it does have a unique niche and more often than not I enjoy the show. In response to your comments, I believe the judges have a tendency to stack the “finalists” with some bizarre choices like Cheer SF and that Indian dude who can’t do impersonations. No matter how amusing you might find him to be once, you are not going to enjoy it again. I was very impressed with Alice Tan Ridley and her rendition of Midnight Train to Georgia. After her initial foray into “At Last” I was worried she was a poser…but no, she is awesome!
Yes! Alice Tan Ridley is awesome!
This show is beyond awful and Sharon is the poster child for celebrity whoredom. Where are any of the previous winners, except that ventriloquist. ventriloquist, really?!
I do like Alice Tan Ridley for sure, her voice is outstanding, as if she’s been an old Motown veteran! The only thing about her to me that BUGS ME, is her tendency to hesitate 2 or 3 beats from when she’s supposed to start singing. Sometimes she lets a full bar pass before she rushes to sing the verse. It’s intentional, it’s her way of making it her own, (I guess) it’s not like she’s forgetting the lyrics. But that hesitation is distracting and to me quite maddening! She did it more during “At Last” than she did last night, but she did do it 3 times during the song and I was yelling at the screen, “Sing it already!” Bugs me. Just my opinion.
Alice IS a veteran performer! They are totally misrepresenting her. Check out her website: http://www.aliceridley.com/bio.html In 2008 she was recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, she sang on a film that played at Sundance, she’s performed off-Broadway, and she DOES sing in the subways but as part of a cultural program at NYU. She is a PROFESSIONAL and has no business being on this show.
You think anything on this show is real? It is as fake as Sharons lips, cheeks, boobs, nose, hair, etc…….
Thanks to the judges sending no-talents to Hollywood, I barely scanned last night’s episodes because it was the “best of the worst”; ‘cept a few peppered in between.
How the “impressionist” guy made it but the choir of former homeless Vets didn’t is beyond me. But as to the blogger’s question, the past few seasons on BGT the winners were a dance team (who beat Susan Boyle,) and a gymnastics team. This isn’t a “singing” competition, it’s a “talent” competition. The black light guys from last week and the wall dancers from this week are great to watch and very talents, but they don’t sing. That said, of the singers, Michael Grimm is probably the best overall. Alice tends to over sing.
You do have a valid point. However, I actually enjoy the different kinds of acts. I am a HUGE American Idol fan so I’m always fearful that all the singers will make it through to the final and no one else. (Look at last season with Kevin Skinner and the Opera Lady.)
….oh, lol, speaking of “Head Scratcher”….what about Ronith?
Vote Ronith!
Ronith is a complete waste of time. He happens to have tickled Howie’s funny bone, but the only bigger idiot than Ronith is the person who would pay money to watch him.
I agree with you, Marci! He’s the only one I fast forwarded through. Stupid.
Actaully the bigger idiots than Ronith are the people that continue to watch the show.
This is the absolute biggest joke of a show. The talent is mediocre at best. The judge is a complete bafoon, and the judges should lose their jobs. I watched last night in disbelief, thinking these folks have nade it all the way to Hollywood. And that older female singer that butchered Midnight Train To Georgia had me in stitches, she was so bad. (WOO!! WOO!!, as she made an arm gesture for the train whistle.) This show is a trainwreck.
correction: The Host is a complete baffoon.
You have to admit, Nick is funnier than last year’s Grandma Lee?
If you’re going to insult other people’s intelligence, it would be wise to learn to spell the insulting words, so people don’t think YOU’RE the buffoon.
This comment was meant for Tim. I thought I’d hit “Reply.”
DUH!!!
actually it’s buffoon
they have to have all those bad acts in there for the “fill” if everyone was fantastic the ones they want to win will get dumped too fast. They throw in ‘cannon fodder’ so they will get knocked out and/or the good ones stand out more.
This is just like AI and the auditions/ final 24
If you are going to insult other people you should make sure you are not a complete tard while doing it. And you should not correct mistakes that you actually didn’t make.
And yet you sat through the whole show, Tim.
I thought most of the talent was quite good. Lil Chris really impressed me, not for his singing, more for his manners.
Why was Ronith even in this group. Piers was right in his comments, but isn’t what he did last night, exactly what he has been doing to get to this point?
Hannibal, Antonio R was exceptional and only get better. Wreckless was so good at their audition, Telephone by Gaga and cannot get back to that energetic routine, its true, the music makes it better.
There are way too many cheerleaders which makes it confusing to watch and really belong more in a cheering competition than a Vegas show. The trio Iron Horse should have done more with their comedic act than singing, true, the lead singer sounded a bit better than last year’s winner, Kevin S, but I would have preferred to see less singing and more action with the instrumetns.
My prediction for the 4:
Wreckless, Gabourey S’s Mom, Michael Grimm and Hannibal!!!
Agree with your prediction. I voted for Hannibal and Alice.
Hannibal has an interesting voice, but he’s just.too.weird. for most people. I can’t see people paying to see just him. He should get hired by SOME musical or opera, but he’s so weird and diva-like that he may not get a chance.
Hannibal IS weird, but he does have a good voice. His eyes just **sparkle** – is it LIFE, or madness?
have to throw in either the Rock climbers or the fire guy, strictly on the fact that these are 2 acts one would expect to see in Vegas and in the end that’s what this is all about.
I’d take out Hannibal, too many singers.
I really think that the wall dancers will make it through and I also think Antonio has a chance. So my predictions (not my tastes) for the four going through are Alice Ridley, Michael Grimm, Antonio and AscenDance.
My one big thought is how do cheerleaders, strongmen even wall dancers sustain an entire headline show? At least the dancers, singers & magicians can change it up, but I just can’t see some of these acts as “headliners”. How much variety can there be?
Wall dancers? Really? I thought they were boring – and what’s to get chokeup up about? Did she say, “I felt like America breathed through me?” Oh, please – maybe she should enter a drama competition. I think the two adult singers were the only ones who belonged on the stage last night.
Alice Ridley and Michael Grimm were the best of the night. I tried to vote for Michael multiple times but was only able to get through once. Lil Chris was “pitchy.” Restivo’s act is entertaining but I don’t think it’s good enough to win. Has anyone else noticed how once of his eyebrows arches an inch above the other when he gets emotional?
I too noticed the eyebrows!
OMG The eyebrows drive me and my sis CRAZY! It was worse before last night. It still happened, but less so. I guessed that he used botox because he saw it too and was embarrassed!
Michael Grimm sings with more feeling than all of this year’s AI contestants combined.
He did connect with the camera several times, even though the judges stated he didn’t with the audience. He doesn’t sing my type of music, but he is very good.
What kind of example do the judges make for the young people watching the show when they insult and denigrate each other? Please, GROW UP. (It is not pleasant for adults, either.)
I think “America does not have talent” Most of those “acts” were pathetic one time acts. Where is our Susan Boyle? I voted for Gabourey’s Mom and Hannibal. Can’t wait to see Prince Poppycock again.
NO MORE KEVIN SKINNERS! That throws out Michael Grimm. I can’t bear it if another southern boy wins. I’d never watch again. My choices: Alice, Rock Climbers, Wreckless and Antonio.
Is it that he is a southern boy or that you feel he is not talented enough? I have to agree with the person who said, “are they good enough for Vegas” That is the whole point of it. I think it’s going to be an act that does something, like play with fire or dance on a rock wall. While I love Michael Grimms voice, could I sit through a whole Vegas show, not really, could I watch some guy play with fire, oh yes! that’s the point of Vegas, give us flash, give us fire. Just being on AGT, both Michael and Alice are going to do well, no worries there.
I think that Fighting Gravity is amazing, and the only group that could truly wow a Vegas audience.
I thought Alice was way over rated. I have actually heard better renditions at the karaoke bar on Friday night. Michael Grimm ruled!
Yes, Fighting Gravity is my vote to win AGT. They are just awesome and they really do something different every week. I don’t think they can sustain an hour or hour-half show, but throw in the fire guy Antonio and a couple of dance and singing acts and you’ve got a real show I would pay money to see.
I agree with Tim. This show sucks, the talent is not there, and only 28 comments prove there is no interest in it.