AMERICA’S GOT TALENT 9/14/11: Finals

Well, I don’t have TOO much to say about the finale results…

First of all, I wasn’t THE MOST enthused about the Top 4.  I figured Landau and PopLyfe would make it…but I thought EITHER Silhouettes or iLuminate would make it…not both.  Guess I was wrong.   Figured they split votes since they’re KINDA similar.

PopLyfe did NOT do well in their performance this week, so I wasn’t surprised AT ALL that they only got 4th place.  iLuminate coming in 3rd may have had to do with a split vote with Silhouettes.

I was really happy for Landau!  Altho the fact that he was a crooner wasn’t very original…where he comes from, what he does for a living, and the way he looks definitely added to the unexpected factor in his talent.  Who would’ve thought a guy that looked like that would sound LIKE THAT!  Still pretty crazy when I’m watching him perform…how his voice is SO SMOOTH!  Awesome!

Very cute how happy Silhouettes was for Landau.  Considering they all were kids, usually kids have a hard time masking their disappointment.  But these kids were genuinely happy for Landau, which was so sweet! I still was a bit sad since Silhouettes was SUCH a moving and inspirational team.

While I’m very happy for Landau…and in many ways he really did deserve the title…I honestly have no desire to see him perform live or buy his CD when it comes out.  But that’s just because crooning really is not my thing…It doesn’t impress me much…nor is that type of music appealing to me either.  But Congrats to Landau for prevailing!   Great job!

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT 9/6/11: Semifinals

I know only 4 make it into the finals next week, but I have to put a Top 5…

LANDON SWANK:

• I’ve only really watched two seasons, but…I have to say…Landon really is the BEST magician on this show…!  Period.  I LOVE how he’s so SUBTLE and classy when he does his magic.  So “simple” yet “effective.”  AWESOME.  And I say it every week…but he’s SUCH A CUTIE too.

ANNA GRACEMAN:

• I do agree that Anna’s performance tonight wasn’t as good as last week.  I actually do think she should KEEP the piano as part of her performances…it really makes her come across more unique and mature.  She sounded good this week…and like Piers says, when she hits those big notes, she’s AMAZING!  Such a huge voice from such a little girl!  I mainly keep her on my list because I actually would really buy her album…I think she’s quite a talent and has a great voice.  Not to mention she’s very cute and sweet.

SILHOUETTES:

• …and THAT’S what I was waiting for!  They redeemed themselves from last week!  THANK GOODNESS!  Tonight’s performance was so great…so moving and touching.  Shows exactly what they’re all about.  The whole intro piece tho…Can you say SYMPATHY VOTES?  I was touched, but…it was a bit much.  They really are awesome tho…and this performance definitely earned them a spot in the finals.

LANDAU EUGENE MURPHY JR:

• Normally I’m not a big fan of singers who sing standards…but I gotta give it to Landau.  The guy is GOOD.  Man.  PERFECT song choice tonight!  He really has SUCH a smooth voice…and it’s still so crazy to see THAT VOICE come out of THAT MAN.  And I do love his story…it’s what this show is all about.

ILUMINATE:

• Altho this act is very similar to Fighting Gravity last season, these guys are very good.  And it is something different…not a typical dance, singing or magic act.  Very cool and entertaining.

WHO WILL MAKE THE FINALS? 

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT 8/30/11: Quarterfinals Group #2

Gosh…this week’s group was SO MUCH BETTER than last week!  This group is a LOT tougher as far as the competition goes…

Here are my favorites (and standouts):

LANDON SWANK:

I’ve been a fan of Landon’s since the first time I saw him.  I think the magic he does is VERY different than other magicians that have been on this show!  Tonight’s trick was QUITE impressive!  And so unique!  Umm, and I know this shouldn’t matter…but I have to…he’s GORGEOUS!   I hate to say it…but that really does help.  He’s so easy on the eyes and that smile… *swoon*

GYMKANA:

If you haven’t already heard/seen it, you know why Gymkana’s on this list.  That accident was really bad!  The guy really could’ve caught on fire/gotten hurt!  Felt really bad for them!  Although they will get definitely sympathy for the accident, they couldn’t even finish their routine because of it!  That’s not a good sign, and sadly, at this point, you kinda have to be pretty perfect to even have a chance.  And they unfortunately weren’t.

ANNA GRACEMAN:

What can I say about Anna?  This girl has TALENT.  My gosh.  I was really looking forward to Anna tonight, because so far, she has NOT disappointed me at ALL.  Tonight was no different (other than maybe that dress …altho she’s a little girl, so she’s allowed.  Dresses like that look cute on little girls! )!  She sang a song that Carrie Underwood has sung!  I just LOVE LOVE LOVE how she plays the piano and pretty much always adds her own “Anna spin” to it.  When she starts belting…WOW.  Can’t believe a voice THAT BIG comes out with a girl THAT SMALL!  Her voice is SO FULL and PURE.  Sometimes she does a little too much with the runs, but…hey…if you can do it, why not show it off?!  I love her.   She’s so cute too!  That smile!

LANDAU EUGENE MURPHY JR:

I still can’t get over this guy’s voice.  You would NEVER expect that voice to come out of him!  Crazy!  And crazy good!  Don’t know if what he does will stack up to all the other awesome acts that performed tonight!  The thing Landau has going for him is the “root” factor…He really is such a likable guy, and he’s totally what this show is about — a car washer by day, singer by night!  Talk about the American Dream!

SILHOUETTES:

I have to say I wasn’t AS impressed this round with them as any of the previous rounds.  I think mainly because they used more of the video aspects than the actual dancers to make the images. Then it ended so quickly and felt almost abrupt.  Altho the beginning with the ocean waves, volcanoes, etc…that was pretty cool.  I would give them the benefit of the doubt tho…they really are great and so innovative!  Very engaging to watch!

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT 8/9/11: YouTube Auditions

I actually didn’t watch last night’s full episode, but I did want to feature a couple of acts:

KALANI BASKETBALL FREESTYLE:

• Umm…local boy on AGT!  Awesome!  Wonder why I didn’t read/hear about it here at home?!  Usually when local things happen nationally it becomes a pretty big deal!
• The basketball court he was practicing on was right  in my neck of the woods!  Very cool!
• I thought he did a great job!  Yes, he DID drop the ball (Piers said twice, but I only noticed once), but…EH.  Only one little drop.

POWERHOUSE:

• OK…you know how I feel about these “Glee wannabe” groups.  EH.  They definitely could’ve been worse, but…I agree with Howie.  They’re NOT GLEE.  Not even close.  It was a lot of bells & whistles, in my opinion.
• Umm, when they talked about how THEY were the INSPIRATION for Glee…Sorry.  Get over yourself.  That was too much for me.  Yes, they may have had one of the Glee writers come and work with them and all, but…by saying all that was too much bragging for me.  If you are going to say that you inspire a show like Glee, then at least be as good as them!   Sorry, I know I’m bias.

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT 7/19/11: Top 48 – Group #2

This week’s group wasn’t as impressive…or I wasn’t as entertained overall.  But I still had my favorites of the group:

LANDON SWANK:

I still like Landon.  His magic trick with the mirrors was quite impressive imo.  Not to mention the fact that the guy really is a GREAT LOOKING guy.  That helps A LOT.

STEVEN RETCHLESS:

Obviously Steven’s pole dancing act is a bit…uncomfortable at times.  But you gotta give it to the guy…he is TALENTED.  The things he does aerobically on that pole are crazy!  SUCH STRENGTH!  The whole Lady Gaga stuff can be a bit much…not to mention his outfits, etc.  But that’s who he is, and athletically he’s something else.

SILHOUETTES:

2 for 2 Silhouettes!  Wow!  Their act is SO unique and SO creative.  I just love them.  And this whole tribute to America was great…so touching.  Love love love that it’s all kids performing!  So awesome how they make their formations.  Awesome!

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT 7/12/11: Top 48 – Group #1

First night of Quarterfinals…Only 4 of the 12 acts that performed will make it thru.

Here are my Top 3:

FEARLESS FLORES FAMILY:

While I still find them to be entertaining…and they added Mom to the mix now in the orb, I do think they are already starting to get old.   I mean, how much more can they really do to keep us impressed?  I wonder… But for now, they’re worthy of moving on, imo.

SANDOU RUSSIAN TRIO:

Every time I watch this act, I cringe.  Man.  It’s SO dangerous…how high she’s being thrown, then when she lands on that flexible bar…Aaahh!  Hard to watch.  But that’s what makes this act so good.  Very scary…but also takes a lot of TALENT too.

ANNA GRACEMAN:

I actually missed Anna’s first audition.  But I did see her Las Vegas audition, and I was QUITE impressed.  This week?  WOW.  This little girl is…AWESOME.  Her voice is so impressive…just the style she has as well as the power.  My gosh.  She’s better than a LOT of American Idol contestants who are more than double her age!  I REALLY like her…and what’s even better is her personality!  So sweet and cute…very humble…and what an adorable smile she has!  Love her!  She may be my favorite of the whole competition right now…

 

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT: New York Auditions (Part II)

Just a couple of standouts:

CINDY CHANG:

For me, this performance was the most moving this season so far.  At first I thought Cindy was a BIT weird, ’cause she was so giddy and all…but I think that was just because she was so nervous.  I was HOPING she was actually one of the GOOD ones, especially when she said her parents told her she can’t sing…and thankfully she WAS!  The fact that she was so emotional at the end of her performance was SO TOUCHING.  You could tell how REAL and GENUINE it was.  I was SO HAPPY for her!  Then when she said even her voice teacher said it was TOO LATE for her to live out her dream of being a singer.  It was so great that she was able to get all the adoration and praise from the audience & ALL THREE judges (with Piers giving her a STANDING O on top of that!)!  Yay for Cindy!

FEARLESS FLORES FAMILY:

Gotta say…this was QUITE impressive!  Not just the fact that they did the stunts with the bikes in the orb…but the fact that it was KIDS who were doing it!  8 and 13 year olds?!  Pretty awesome.  Then when the dad said that to up their performance, all 4 of them would be in the orb…SERIOUSLY?!  Can they all physically even FIT in there, let alone do tricks?!  Definitely worth putting them thru to see what they would do next…

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT: Seattle/Houston/Minneapolis Auditions

This is going to be one clump since I only got to watch them just now.  For me the stand-out auditions from these cities:

MELISSA VILLASENOR:

I was worried that this girl wasn’t going to be good since she did seem a bit odd in the intro video.  But I was pleasantly surprised!  Her impressions were awesome!  Her Kathy Griffin was SPOT ON.  Crazy.  Great job!

DANIEL JOSEPH BAKER:

I KNOW this guy is flamboyant.  And actually, flamboyant isn’t even strong enough of a word to describe him.   So of course I thought he was going to be a trainwreck.  But once he started singing…WOW!  He’s REALLY GOOD!  He did his own arrangement of the Lady GaGa song…and he played the piano!  Great job!  Not to mention he’s go personality which makes him very entertaining to watch!

SANDOU TRIO RUSSIAN BAR:

This was QUITE the daring act!  Considering just HOW HIGH she was flipping in the air, only to land on a flexible BAR like that!  Not to mention NO NET/CUSHION below in case she fell!  I’m interested to see WHAT ELSE she has up her sleeve…

LYS AGNES:

This was probably one of the biggest surprises.  Just by the way she looks, I was expecting some kind of R&B/soulful voice to come out of her.  Then when the operatic voice came out…WOW!  That was really impressive!  Her story is very touching too…and how she was so grateful to be able to sing again.  Very sweet.  Great job!

LIL’ T:

Tanner didn’t have NEARLY as much personality as the Sh-Boss boys, but he was just as cute.  When he started dancing…OH MY!  Those hip thrusts were awesome!  Too cute.  I wonder how much more he has tho…I don’t think he has much repertoire.

PROFESSOR SPLASH:

How could I NOT put Professor Splash’s stunt?!  To dive into a pool of only 12 INCHES OF WATER?!  CRAZY!  Can’t believe he did it without getting hurt!  Gotta give the guy props.

THE SILHOUETTES:

Now THIS act was some INGENIUS stuff!  I loved it.  It was so different and creative…and for me, totally engaging.  This was SO MUCH better than something like the iLuminate performance.  Loved how all the performers were kids too.  Great job.  Looking forward to what they do next!

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT 5/31/11: Los Angeles & Atlanta Auditions

This will be my 2nd season of America’s Got Talent.  Wasn’t sure if I was going to tune in this season, but decided I’ll give it another try.

Here are just a few of the acts that stood out to me tonight:

RYAN ANDREAS  Angel:

• Although I still honestly DON’T want a singer to win this show (what’s the point of featuring all these OTHER types of acts if just another SINGER wins the whole thing?!  Might as well be American Idol in that case!), I have to say Ryan really impressed me.  I thought he was going to choke and wasn’t going to be able to perform, but…once he started singing…Wow!  Did NOT expect his voice to sound like that.  It was so raspy and full!  Nice sound!  He sounded great!

LANDON SWANK:

• I wouldn’t say Landon’s magic trick was THE BEST I’ve ever seen…but it was quite impressive.  And Landon is QUITE easy on the eyes, which helps a lot.   Seems like a nice guy too.  I’m SURE he has bigger tricks up his sleeve, so I’m looking forward to what else he’s got.

SH’BOSS BOYS:

• How could I NOT put these little boys down?!  They were adorable!  And when that boy answered Piers’ question about what he’d do with $1 million dollars…with the answer that he did…OMG.  That was awesome.   They lyrics of the song they rapped was so cute too…so age appropriate!

iLUMINATE:

• iLuminate = Fighting Gravity Part II; These guys are very similar to what Fighting Gravity did last season.  Piers said they are probably the MOST EXCITING act he’s seen.  Umm…REALLY?!  Altho they were quite unique and entertaining, I don’t know if I’d say they were the MOST exciting act ever.  But it’ll be neat to see what they do next…

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT 9/15/10: Finale Results

This finale results episode was actually a pretty good show!  Very entertaining!

Just some thoughts:

• Prince Poppycock and…DONNA SUMMER?!  Wow.  What a pair!  It was actually really cool to hear PP singing a very “popish” song!  He sounded GREAT!  We also got to see him dance around a bit.  Love that pink hair!   And Donna Summer…she can still BELT it!
• Michael Grimm and…JEWEL!  That was a great match!  I was surprised that she didn’t perform with her guitar.  Guess she didn’t want to overshadow Michael.  They sang the song that Crystal Bowersox made famous on AI!  Me & Bobby McGee.
• Fighting Gravity and…LIONEL RICHIE?!  That was a surprise!  I was WONDERING who they would put with them, considering their act is so unique.  The performance of Dancing on the Ceiling was pretty cool actually.  Neat way to incorporate the singing and what FG does.
• Jackie Evancho and…SARAH BRIGHTMAN!  W.O.W.  That’s pretty amazing!  I remember Jackie saying that after she saw/heard The Phantom of the Opera for the first time, that’s what made her want to sing.  And now she gets to sing with the ORIGINAL Christine from Phantom?!  That’s ridiculous!  Sarah’s voice isn’t QUITE as polished as it used to be, but…she was still quite awesome.

• 4TH PLACE:  Prince Poppycock;  WOW.  I’m SHOCKED.  I can’t believe he got the LEAST amount of votes!   I’m sad.  I think Piers’ Xing and critique REALLY made a difference.  No matter what people say, hearing something SO NEGATIVE like that DEFINITELY sticks with you.  Poor guy!  He looked so sad!  Man…coming in ONLY 4th…I don’t know if that’s enough to help make him successful…
• 3RD PLACE:  Fighting Gravity; This is the place I put them in my prediction…but still surprising because Michael Grimm is in the TOP 2!  I wonder if they’ll be able to make something of themselves now?

• WINNER and RUNNER-UP:  O. M. G.  I AM SPEECHLESS.  I CAN’T believe it.  Michael Grimm wins America’s Got Talent! He beat the 10-year old girl!  Wow!
• I’m actually SO AMAZED that America loved him THAT much to vote him the winner!  That’s AMAZING!
• I guess it must’ve really been his humbleness and love for his family that probably put him over the top.  How he always talks about helping his grandparents REALLY made him look good.  Like the golden grandson.  Very sweet.  He also was very reserved…he never overpowered…just did his thing.  He was also pretty cute with Jackie.  He always seemed to be so supportive of her…like a big brother.  Cute!
• The one thing I was thinking about why Michael made it to the Top 2 (and ultimately won) was because he is VERY RELEVANT.  Obviously for America, by choosing a singer as a winner, they are definitely more “accessible” to the public…they’ll get CDs, concerts.  But a Vegas show?!  I still don’t think Michael is “Vegas material.”  But I guess now he’s GOING to be.

I can’t believe how OFF I was with this result!  I put Michael as my #4 and Jackie as my #1!  Crazy!  I’m not happy that a SINGER (out of ALL the DIFFERENT acts there were…some of whom would NEVER get an opportunity like this) won.  Seriously, for a show that’s about all the UNIQUE talent that’s out there…America ends up picking just a TYPICAL POP SINGER?!  Totally ruins the whole concept of why this show is special, imo. At LEAST the guy was humble and seemed really grateful and touched by the win.

BUT, For my first season of watching this show, I have to say it WAS pretty enjoyable.  I just hope a SINGER doesn’t win EVERY SEASON like this!

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT 9/14/10: Finale Performances

OK, just a quick rundown of the Top 4′s performances:

PRINCE POPPYCOCK:

I CAN’T believe Piers X’ed Poppycock!  That was TOTALLY unnecessary!  Plus, he did it RIGHT BEFORE the big finish!  I mean…this is the FINALS Piers…YOU may not have liked the perfomance, but out of courtesy to the performer, AT LEAST let the man finish!  GEEZ!  That was REALLY irritating.

Piers said that PP “blew it.”  I totally disagree!  YES this performance was probably his MOST SERIOUS performance, but…NESSUN DORMA?!  Come on!  That’s like one of THE BEST opera solos out there.  I think after all these weeks of Poppycock’s TOTALLY ENTERTAINING and FUN performances, I think people (namely PIERS) is forgetting just how much of an AWESOME SINGER PP is technically.  And this song DEFINITELY showed that off.  PP reminds me a lot of Adam Lambert…EVERY week he would CHANGE up his peformance.  No 2 weeks were the same.  This week’s performance could’ve been a LITTLE lighter, I suppose…but really, he’s DONE the fun act.  This was the “seriously listen to my voice and what I can do” act.  I thought he sang it REALLY WELL and his props, as usual, were totally over the top and FABULOUS.  I just hope America wasn’t swayed by the grumpy man!

MICHAEL GRIMM:

OK.  Piers X’ed PP, but gave Michael a standing ovation?  Not to knock Michael, but…was he THAT outstanding?  YES, he’s a GREAT singer.  He’s got the look, he’s cool and he plays guitar.  He really seems to be a “good boy,” helping out his grandparents/family the way that he does.  He seems pretty humble and reserved.  But seriously…can you say AMERICAN IDOL?  For THIS show, I don’t feel Michael is the act who should win this entire thing.  Not by a long shot.  Even if he doesn’t win, I’m sure he’ll get picked up by some record label…and really that’s all he wants.  He doesn’t need a headlining Vegas show.  He doesn’t match Vegas at all imo.

JACKIE EVANCHO:

What else can I say about Jackie?  The little girl is MAD TALENTED in the singing department.  We all know America loves her.  The fact that she’s 10 YEARS OLD is giving her extra points/votes already.  I have a feeling she may have pulled off the win tonight.  I’m still AMAZED at how she can hit those notes with SUCH EASE.  It’s still a freak of nature to me.  BUT I still feel she shouldn’t win THIS SHOW.  She can go and get her own recording contract.  She doesn’t need this show to be successful.  NOT AT ALL.  But I don’t know if the other 3 acts can hold a candle to this little girl…

FIGHTING GRAVITY:

Yay!  Fighting Gravity kinda went back to their “roots” and did a performance similar to their first audition.  But in this case I did see progression…the tricks were more difficult.  It was on another level.  It was actually a great final performance for them.  Yes, Piers pointed out the little mistake they had (I’m not even really sure what it was…was it at the end when the lights came out thru the doorway and you could see backstage?), but…we all KNOW they’re not PROFESSIONALS yet.  And obviously if they get their own show, they will DEFINITELY have the time and money to perfect their act.  I still don’t know if they can pull of the win, but…at least their last ditch effort was a GREAT PERFORMANCE and made me remember why I liked them in the first place.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Well, I don’t think I have too much new to say.  I still want Prince Poppycock to win…I feel like he has earned it by putting on a DIFFERENT performance every week…and I really do think he NEEDS this win more than any of the other 3 acts in order to be successful in what he does.  But Pier’s TOTAL CRITICISM of tonight’s performance MAY have done him in.  Either that or it helped him because it really did seem like the audience was rooting for him and backing him up by booing Piers.  Sharon definitely was pissed at Piers for being TOO CRITICAL, especially since they don’t have a say in the winner this round.

If I had to choose right now who I think’s actually GOING to win…I’d have to say Jackie.  I will respect it if she wins (after all, she really HAS got SOME talent with that voice), but I still won’t be ecstatic about it.  She’s just not who I think would be a good representation of what this show is all about.  I feel like the winner should be more of an ACT rather than just a singer.

Who do YOU think should win?

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT: Top 10 RESULTS

And we have our TOP 4:

PRINCE POPPYCOCK:

• Yay!  America really DOES like Poppycock!  So well-deserved!  Can’t wait to see what he pulls out of his hat for the final!

MICHAEL GRIMM

• As I mentioned in my post last night, if anyone was going to squeeze their way into the Top 4, Michael was one of the ones who could do it.  And HE DID.  Wow.  I’m surprised America likes him THAT MUCH.  Altho he really did impress last night.  And at least he seemed really grateful for moving on.

JACKIE EVANCHO:

• THANK GOD Jackie beat out the ballroom kids.  Man.  I was worried for a second there.  At least her response to getting in wasn’t AS rehearsed as some of her other answers.  Another well-deserved advancement.

FIGHTING GRAVITY:

• Another well-deserved moving on.  I do hope their routine next week will be better than this week tho.  It just wasn’t as impressive.  Too much storytelling vs the cool effects stuff.

I was pretty good with the predicting of the Top 4…and it really is a pretty good Top 4.  Should be QUITE an interesting finale.  I think you know who I will be voting for…

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT 9/7/10: Top 10 Perform

Man, after watching this episode, I realized…this is a TOUGH Top 10.  I can’t believe ONLY FOUR acts will make it to the final!  I need more spots!

Here’s MY TOP 4:

JEREMY VANSCHOONHAVEN:

• I still have a soft spot for Jeremy.  And he really has stepped it up every round!
• I can see that his confidence is building every week!  Good for him!
• That trick on that fence thing…WOW!

FIGHTING GRAVITY:

• To be honest, this was my least favorite performance of FG.  Altho they’re trying to be more creative by telling a story, this “man on the moon” bit wasn’t quite as impressive as their other stuff.  BUT they’ve been SO POPULAR since the beginning…and I do still feel like their act is “finale worthy.”

PRINCE POPPYCOCK:

• No surprise that I have PP in my Top 10.  I LOVED seeing his mom talk in his intro piece.  So sweet how she said how PROUD she is of her son.
  
• This guy NEVER ceases to amaze me in his performances.  “Ode To America”…Wow.  Talk about PROPS.  Those images on the screen in the back with his FACE EVERYWHERE.  Awesome.
• The SONGS this week definitely weren’t as DIFFICULT as his previous songs, but…I think by now we ALL KNOW that his voice is just AMAZING, so in this case, it was more about the performance than the technical.
• I felt like I was watching the Boston Pops 4th of July celebration ALL-IN-ONE with that performance!

JACKIE EVANCHO:

• Jackie is more the total “deserves to be” in the Top 10 pick rather than the “I want her to be in” pick.  I still think she’s a bit “odd,” but man…that voice is just undeniably a TALENT.
• Pie Jesu – Talk about the PERFECT song choice for this round.  TOTALLY showed off that RANGE of hers.  She hits notes SO EFFORTLESSLY!  Crazy!
• Once again, her answers to Nick’s questions were SO PAGEANT-Y.  It’s so weird how LIVE she sounds so rehearsed, but in the intro videos she sounds so much more normal.

And these two are, to me, the acts that could THROW OFF MY PICKS for the Top 4:

MICHAEL GROSSO:

• Watching Michael Grosso’s performance just made me miss Murray.
• Altho his trick was impressive, I still feel like it’s much more “explainable” than Murray’s.  Like how he switches places with the girls, etc…there is more of a REASONABLE EXPLANATION for his tricks.  Like that clear box with the knives…Umm, couldn’t the girl have “escaped” from the bottom?  And the other girl jump in her place?  And as for him switching with the helper guy…that happened when they brought the box/covering to the back of the stage…
• Don’t know how popular Michael is…so I can’t tell if he could push his way into the Top 4.  I was thinking that it would be nice to have a magician in the T4…but after watching Grosso…Eh.  I’d be OK without it.

MICHAEL GRIMM:

• If a singer is going to make it to the Top 4, it pretty much needs to be Grimm.
• First of all, the guy LOOKS like a STAR.  He just is GOOD LOOKING (Brad Pitt/Luke Perry/Orlando Bloom)…wearing that fedora hat and all…pretty handsome I must say.
• His VOICE is QUITE smooth.  He’s very natural on stage.  Nice touch to leave out his guitar this time…change it up.
• I’m sure the ladies LOVED IT.  Plus he always talks about everything being for his grandparents.  All together now – AWW…

Should be VERY interesting who makes it in tomorrow night…this is a TOUGH CALL.  Seriously.  They’re all good at what they do.

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT: Semifinals Group 2 RESULTS

Really not too many surprises last night…

• MICHAEL GROSSO:  He does deserve to go thru to the Top 10, but I also wanted Murray as well.  To be honest, if I had to choose, I would’ve chose Murray.  But I figured Michael would get thru based on the rave reviews by the judges (Murray got criticized a bit more).
• JEREMY VANSCHOONHAVEN:  Yay Jeremy!  He’s the sentimental favorite…I mean, don’t get me wrong, he really DOES have a talent with the bike stunts, but I don’t think he can win the entire show.  But I’m happy he made it in (and I actually voted for him too!)
• FIGHTING GRAVITY:  They were 1 of 2 shoe-ins from this week.  ‘Nuff said.
• JACKIE EVANCHO:  2nd of the shoe-ins.
• STUDIO ONE YOUNG BEAST SOCIETY:  They REALLY need to change their group name!  WAY too long!  I KNEW the judges would pick them over Alice Tan Ridley…unfortunately for Alice, singing just isn’t as “impressive” on a show like this.  Plus Studio One is the only dance group left!  Had to give it to them…

FINALLY we get to see all the acts perform together in ONE night next week!  Top 10!  Should be interesting.  Now the question is…with only one group of EVERYONE…WHO AM I GOING TO VOTE FOR?!

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT 8/31/10: Semifinals Group 2

This week’s group of semifinalists was overall MUCH BETTER than last week.  Much more talent in this group.  Here’s some of the outstanding ones:

MICHAEL GRASSO:

• How many magician/illusionists can really make it?  But I have to say Michael’s tricks are pretty impressive.  I didn’t feel that this one was AS great as last week, but it was still quite cool.  And somehow I feel like we should be able to explain how he did it…just because this one had a lot of time where people could’ve moved around somehow…

MURRAY:

• I’m putting the two magic guys next to each other on purpose.  Michael or Murray?  Which one?  Tough call.  I can see what Piers & Howie were saying about all the “narration” Murray did…but I feel like that’s part of his act.  He always talks a lot to explain stuff.  But making a whole TRAIN disappear…come on now…how crazy is THAT?!  Pretty impressive.  And the silhouette of the train was there all the way up ’til that last minute when he pulled the sheet off…WTH?!  HOW DID HE DO THAT?!

*SIDE NOTE:  Between Michael & Murray, I might have to go with Murray…only because his stunts involve much more outrageous objects/animals.  So far he’s used a mustang, a tiger, and now a train.  I mean…all those things are not objects you can just THROW AROUND, but yet he’s able to make them appear/disappear.  Michael usually uses humans, which are much easier to “manipulate.”  Not AS impressive, imo.

JACKIE EVANCHO:

• OK, I’m STILL QUITE freaked out by Jackie’s operatic voice.  I still CAN’T BELIEVE she is able to sing LIKE THAT…AT 10 YEARS OLD!  She should be AT LEAST 50 with a voice like that!  It’s just…CRAZY.  BUT I will say I was LESS freaked out this week, and I actually kind of enjoyed her performance.  Mainly because her song choice was AWESOME.  “Time To Say Goodbye”…originally sung by Sarah Brightman & Andrea Bocelli.  I mean…come on!  That’s ONE TOUGH SONG.  And it really showed off her range.
• She DID mess up that last note, but I bet the live audience couldn’t even hear it, they were cheering so loud by that point.  The judges didn’t point it out, so I bet they didn’t hear it either.
• No matter how WEIRD it is that she can sing like that, it is a GOSH DARN TALENT and she deserves to move on.  Oh, but I’m not loving her answers to the questions that Nick asks her – TOO REHEARSED.  She needs to start talking more like the 10 YEAR OLD kid she is!

JEREMY VANSCHOONHOVEN:

• I still don’t know if Jeremy’s bike stunts can be a WHOLE SHOW, but I have a bit of a soft spot for him.  The video clip doesn’t show the backstory, but to see him take that HUGE FALL in rehearsal, but still be able to pull off that DANGEROUS stunt high up like that…what a trooper!  Not to mention he already stumbled on one of his earlier tricks in his act.  He has no fear!  And he seems like such a NICE GUY.  Very sweet.  I’m rooting for him.

FIGHTING GRAVITY:

• What can I say about these guys?  Their stunts and props were definitely “upped” this time.  Very cool with the neon colors (especially in the head guy’s eyes) and skateboards.
• Can’t believe they all “took a break” from college to pursue this!  I hope it pays off!
• Very interesting to me how Fighting Gravity was put in the pimp spot…just like Prince Poppycock…and they didn’t put them in the same semifinals group as Poppycock.  I’m thinking the show’s trying to “mold” it’s Top 10, don’t you?