Howard Stern | Pure America's Got Talent

AGT Season 7 Wildcard Performances: A Night of Incredible Talent

This was a great night. Really, I wouldn’t mind having this whole group (minus one act…) be the semi-finalists. I think it was Howard who said it is amazing that the people who performed tonight were the ones that got cut! It’s going to be hard for me to decide who I think is going to stay and who is going to go — it really is going to depend on who’s calling in. With that, if there was an act you loved, make sure you call in and vote! There were a lot of great performances, and unfortunately, some of the stellar ones will be going home. Be sure to vote for your favorites in our poll. Here’s my thoughts from tonight:

Howard’s Pics:

Ben Blaque: I disappointed that he didn’t get through before now, because I feel like his acts are always daring, and different every time. It was another great act tonight, but unfortunately, a bit slow for some reason. He did deliver, however, and pulled off his stunt successfully. The judges and audience seemed to like him, but I wasn’t as impressed tonight as usual. I’m split on whether or not I think he’ll go through.

Spencer Horsman: Escapes are always exciting, and he definitely outdid his last performance (but really, was that hard to do?) I knew he was going to get out in the end, but my breath was definitely being held until I saw him emerge from the tank. He outdid himself tonight, and I’m glad he had a chance to come back and redeem himself.

Todd Oliver and Irving: I wasn’t super impressed last time. His jokes really didn’t make me laugh. Right of the bat though, it was apparent that he took Howard’s advice to make it topical and relateable to the audience, and I think he hit it right on the head. The jokes had the audience laughing, and I was laughing out loud. His first joke was a zinger, and it continued on from there. He is probably my top pick. We’ve had ventriloquism, but this is different than what we’ve seen in the past. LOVED IT. If he doesn’t get through, I will be very disappointed. You could tell he was so excited about the response he got from the audience and judges.

Horse: Why did Howard bring this back? I hate this act, and I don’t think it’s worth 1 million dollars. Who in their right mind would ever pay for this act? I couldn’t hardly stand to watch it — if it wasn’t my responsiblity to watch it, I would have changed the channel. What shocked me even more was how much the judges loved it. For a show that is supposedly “family friendly”, this was far from it. Maybe I’m just old fashioned and lame, but I really, really hate this act (I can hardly stand to even call it that). Please America, don’t vote him through and let the more talented people through.

Sharon’s Pics

All That!: I’ll admit, I loved the projection behind them. I thought it was pretty cool. However, this wasn’t my favorite act of the night. They did a great job, but on a night where there were quite a few incredible acts, they didn’t quite match up.

Bandbaz Brothers: It goes without saying that this act is incredible. I’m still trying to figure out how they did what they did, and wondering how they didn’t get through in the first place. It was breathtaking, and I hope they’ll go through so we can see what else they can do!

Jake Wesley Rogers: His downfall last night ws in the song choice, so I hoped he would pick a better song tonight. And I think he did. But even with the better song choice, I think he was among the bottom tonight. He definitely has a killer voice, but I’m not sure if he’s what America is looking for right now. Howie and Howard were right on with his comments. It’s just not his time to be the winner of a AGT. There was a bit of a disconnect between him and the audience, but there are some better acts going on in this competition, and tonight especially.

Lindsey Norton: Originally, I really liked Lindsey. But, plain and simple, I’d be very surprised if she went through. On a night of thrill, danger, and excitement, her act fell short. That’s not to say she did a bad job. Because she didn’t. On the contrary, she did an amazing job. She is very graceful, and has so much talent. But much like All That!, it wasn’t super memorable, especially compared to other acts from tonight. The good news is, she is young, and I do think she has a good career ahead of her. It’s just not her time to shine.

Howie’s Pic

Andrew De Leon: Okay, here’s the thing. He has an incredible voice. His story is pretty neat. I, myself, was quite shocked when he stumbled in Las Vegas, costing him a trip to the Top 48. And tonight he once again showed that a strong, powerful voice he has. But I just don’t think he should go through, and I know I’m likely in the minority thinking that. There was just something about his performance that I didn’t really like. Maybe it was the song, maybe it was his outfit, I have no clue. He seemed to get a great response from everyone though, so I won’t be terribly surprised if he gets through. Sharon seems to think he is going to win now.

Jarrett & Raja: First time they performed? Loved them. Last time? Very disappointing. How did I feel after tonight? They were back, and better than ever. It was very entertaining, and was quite mind blowing. I’m so glad that they really made their act better, and they definitely redeemed themselves. They could go through, but I think there were a few acts that might push them out of that top four.

Sebastian El Charro: It was entertaining. I thought his outfit didn’t really fit his song, but I guess that is kind of his trademark, so whatever. He has a very, very powerful voice. He defintitely showed that he is dynamic and can sing more than just Latin music. We do have a few children-singers in the competition, which may hurt him. For some reason, none of the “traditional acts” from tonight really stood out to me as memorable, just because of the high level of excitement some of the other acts have. We’ll see though.

Cristin Sandu: I thought it was unfortunate that last time, his act kind of failed him, so I was very excited that Howie brought him back. fire was awesome, I was very nervous when the metal started to fall, and my heart dropped when he fell. Not only because there was fire. It was a great act, and I feel bad for him because he probably won’t go through, but it was exciting and if it was up to me, he’d be back, because i think he has a lot of potential. I think what Sharon said about how he escaped it all was really amazing. I think that a lot of people will hold it against him that he fell this time, and the last, so I don’t think he’ll go through. But he definitely has done some amazing things during his time on AGT.

The Best of the Best:

Todd Oliver and Irving

Bandbaz Brothers

Andrew De Leon

Spencer Horsman

Not Sure of Their Fate

Jarrett and Raja

Ben Blaque

Sebastian El Charro

Lindsey Norton

All Good Things Must Come to an End:

Jake Wesley Rogers

Horse

Cristin Sandu

All That!

Magicians, Singers, and an Air Guitarist — AGT YouTube Auditions – 8/14/2012

Well, after two straight weeks of watching the Olympics, I was excited to have America’s Got Talent back. It was the YouTube auditions night, so I was curious to see what was voted in this year. Jackie evancho was discovered on the YouTube auditions, and it goes without saying how successful she has been. Was there anything up to that level tonight? To be honest, I really don’t think so, but there were a few good acts. For the most part, I felt like the acts were mediocre, but these people also have less experience than some of the other competitors performing on the big stage. I had a hard time deciding who was going to stay, as it really could come down to what the viewers of the show tonight are into. There were several acts that were good for different reasons. With that, here are my thoughts from the night:

Clint Carvalho: Did he practice this before? How else would the bird know how to get in? I’m impressed that the bird did exactly what he said, but I have no clue how he did it though. It is definitely a different animal act than what we are used to on this show. I think it’s cool that he uses birds that have been abused and he rehabilitiates them. I just wonder how much he can do with this act.

Reverse Order: Maybe I’m just totally out of touch with what is “popular” nowadays when it comes to bands and music, but I didn’t like them. There was just too much noise overall. I mean, they do seem talented, especially when it comes to the instruments, but I wasn’t a fan of the song choice or the style. I felt like Howard had some wise words from them. They need some more time to kind of combine their individual talents together to create something better. I did think it was a bit odd that they want to bea rock band, yet they chose such a poppy-voice. This was not a million dollar act for sure. We’ve seen some incredible acts this season, and I just don’t think they measured up.

Rudy Coby: He said his act is a nightmare come to life. I can definitely see that. This act was kind of creepy, not gonna lie. It was a kind of slow moving until the end, which was an interesting illusion. But I agreed with HOward, there was just a lot of filler stuff, that was boring. As usual, Howie and mine’s opinoins were totally opposite. Sharon’s comment was spot on — there really wasn’t timing. He could have a great act if he did neat tricks throughout the act like he did at the end.

7 in Unison: It’s no secret that the dance acts this year were pretty great, so this group came in with a lot of competition. And unfortunately, I don’t think they live up to what some of the other acts have shown. I didn’t find their moves to be very unique, and it was slow. I actually agreed with Howie. I mean, they are good dancers, but they aren’t different from other groups we’ve seen that have been sent home. Dance is really hard for me to really impressed with, just because there are a lot of similar moves and . It was 90 seconds but it felt like 90 minutes. The music was slow, and the act was too. I think they’ll be going home.

Drew Erwin: This young man was the overall winner of the YouTube competition. When I heard this, the first thing I thought was that there were probably a lot of teenage girls voting. He is definitely some heart throb material. However, beyond that, he did have a powerful voice. I did really like he song choice, which may have won me over a little bit. It might have just been my television, but the sound seemed a bit off. My mom’s comment on this act? “Finally, someone I can listen to!” Sharon had some great points — the other competitors do have an edge over him (or whoever wins from tonight), and for being a rookie, he did very well. I really did enjoy him, and thus far in the night, I think he did the best. Hopefully all those teenage girls who voted for him in the first place will call in tonight, and a few others that will push him through. I think with some more practice, he could do really well.

Melinda Hill: She was…not really that funny. And you could tell the audience wasn’t supper thrilled either, especially by the lack of laughter and the less-than-enthusiastic applause at the end. I think her act was more just weird faces with strange comments. She did a lot better at the beginning, but she just wasn’t entertaining overall. I feel bad, because she obviously did a good job in her YouTube video, or else she wouldn’t be here. You could tell she felt disappointed.

Eric Buss: I would have buzzed him, just like Howard and Sharon. He would be a great birthday act. Maybe I’ll hire him for my son’s first birthday. There didn’t seem to be any point to the act, so no, I don’t think he’ll be giong through. There’s nothing else I really could say about this.

Romeo Dance Cheetah: I was very skeptical about this one. Really, how impressive can air guitar be? However, I believe everyone deserves a fair chance. However, I was not impressed, one bit. To me, he was just running around the stage, doing absoultely nothing but being kind of obnoxious. My almost-two-year-old nephew pretends to play guitar and it’s adorable. However, when a 30-year-old man does it, it’s not adorable. How he got through to the live shows is beyond me.

The Magic of Puck: The second magician-type act of the night. I’m not sure if I liked it, or just thought it was weird. Who knew you could do so much with a handkerchief? It was definitely more impressive than some of the other acts from tonight. I think if he adds some more exciting aspects to the act, he could have some potential in the show. He was definitely one of the best of the night, and I liked this a lot more than the “scary” magician act.

Bria Kelly: I’m a big country-music fan, so I was excited for this girl. She seemed a little bit nervous — there seemed to be some shakiness to her voice. There was a lot of background noise, which made it hard to just concentrate on Bria. She has a good country voice, but I wasn’t a fan of the song choice (however, I know it is a popular song currently, so it’s understandable why she chose it). Just like Drew Erwin, she obviously hasn’t had the chance to get more comfortable performing like some of the other acts. She did seem like she was shouting at times, as Sharon said, but I really think that was because she had to in order to get over the background music. I don’t think she was the best of the night, as Howard suggested, but she did well. I just wish she sang something different.

Cast in Bronze: We’ve already had a new instrument introduced this season, the Earth Harp. So the thought of another one being introduced was kind of exciting. This was kind of a let-down though. Definitely not as awesome as the Earth Harp. However, he did a good job playing them. It seemed like Christmas came early (kind of what Sharon said — it did seem a bit department store-ish).The whole “masked figure” thing was kind of weird. I don’t think he deserved three X’s though, and I felt like the judges were being a bit harsh. I liked his act a lot more than some of the other acts. Do I think it’s a million dollar act? No, not really. However, I kind of want to vote for him in spite of the judges, because I disagreed what they said.

Academy of Villains: When I was a senior in high school, I was in the musical Fiddler on the Roof. I played the dead grandmother, and the beginning of this act very closely resembled that scene. The sudden switch to hip-hop dancing was kind of col though too. But with that, what is up the creepy acts tonight? Even though it creeped me out, I surprisingly really liked this act. It wasn’t a typical “dance” act. They showed something new, and I loved it. They most definitely are going through in my opinion. I think the best really was saved for last, because it was new and inventive. I loved how the leader of the group was emotional at the end. That usually seals the deal for me when I really like an act.

My Top Four:

1. Academy of Villains

2. Drew Erwin

3. The Magic of Puck

4. Bria Kelly

Could Move On

5. Clint Carvalho

6. Reverse Order

7. Cast in Bronze

Going Home

8. Melinda Hill

9. 7 in Unison

10. Eric Buss

10. Rudy Coby

11. Romeo Dance Cheetah

Rumor: Is Sharon Osbourne leaving AGT?

While trolling the internet earlier today, one article from BuddyTV caught my attention. In fact it caught my attention so much that I had to look for the tweets in question myself:

From the Howard Stern Show:

#AGT update: @HowardStern isn’t sure if he’ll do another season and says Sharon Osbourne may not come back unless she gets more money #H100

July 23, 2012 4:58 am via TweetDeck ReplyRetweetFavorite

@sternshow

Stern Show

Then again, Sharon had to respond:

My darling @HowardStern, money is not the reason I’m not returning to @nbcagt, it’s because…

July 24, 2012 10:49 am via webReply RetweetFavorite

@MrsSOsbourne

Sharon Osbourne

According to the article this is all news to NBC:

This potential news seems surprising for NBC, as Entertainment Chair Robert Greenblatt said, “This is coming out of context and sort of spontaneously, and we don’t even know what’s going on. And it’s probably much ado about nothing.” Greenblatt had no other comments on the matter at the time.

What do you think? Should Sharon leave? And if she does… who would you like to see replace her?

AGT Final Top 48 Performances Commentary – 7/24/2012

I think that many of the best were saved for the last. There were quite of a few acts I really enjoyed, and I’m at a loss for who I think is absolutely staying. I guess it comes down to separating the really good acts, from the spectacular ones. I like to think that my predictions are usually pretty accurate, but tonight, I’m not so sure if I’ll be guessing the correct ones. With that, here’s my thoughts and power rankings on tonight’s performances:

David “The Bullet” Smith: This act was interesting in the auditions. Definitely dangerous. But I always have wondered, what more can he do? Sure he can fly through the air, but there’s only so much you can do with that. I felt like the cheerleaders were a little ridiculous, and the fireworks just were there to make the act seem cooler, but in the end, it was pretty much the same act we saw when he auditioned. I do not think he should go forward after tonight. The cannon cam was pretty neat though.

All That!: They were cool, but not as good as some of the other dance acts, which, as we’ve been told time and time again, is the hardest category this year. I like the shirt colors. They looked like they were having a lot of fun up there though. I did enjoy them but we will see how they fare against some other acts tonight. It sounded like this was going to be a tough night to be performing in.

Ulysses: I was shocked when he got through initially, and I’m going to be even more shocked if he gets through tonight. He’s a nice guy…but that’s not what this show is about. I think the triple X’s from the Judges says it all. And the dancers? It’s like they were trying to take away from his badness.

Joe Castillo, Sand Artist: What this man does is very powerful, and he does it with such zest. I’ve been excited to see his performance tonight, and I wasn’t let down. I loved the images he created, and I feel like the possibilities are endless for his act. This act is something that should be appreciated, and I hope people who do appreciate it will take the time to call in and vote.

Eric & Olivia: An any other night of the Top 48, I think they would have had a good chance. However, tonight, the competition was tough, as I already mentioned. Olivia has a good voice, there is no denying that, but I really don’t think they will get through to the next round. Even though they were good, there were even better performances tonight that I think will push them out of the competiion.

Eric Dittelman: It blows my mind how he does this. My husband is convinced he has an ear piece in his ear, but I feel like they would have discovered that by now. Who knows. I love it though, and I’m curious to see what else he can do. It seems like it could be a bit repetitive after awhile, but I do like how he switched it up tonight with the mock “Deal or No Deal”. I’m not sure how he did it. It seemed more like he predicted the future though, rather than reading their minds. My friend suggested that maybe he gave the case to the most attractive girl, betting that Howie would pick her in the end. I really hope he goes through.

Horse: I’m sorry, but I hate this act. Ever since I first saw it, I was disgusted. I don’t think he deserved to even make it to the initial auditions. This isn’t a talent, no matter how much he, or the judges, want to believe it. Acts like this just get through to get a rise out of the audience, that I am sure. Maybe I’m missing something, but could someone please tell me what the allure of this act is?

Lindsey Norton: Here’s the thing — I really like her. I think she’s an excellent dancer. However, I’m not sure if I want her to go through. There are SO many dance acts in this competition, and quite a few seem similar to this. The audience seemed to love her though, and maybe what she does is different from everyone else. It was very beautiful, and she has a great presence about her.

Olate Dogs: Well, Britain’s Got Talent just had a dog act win, maybe AGT will too. I think this act is so much fun, and definitely sets it self apart from the other groups. I was watching the show with quite a few family members tonight, and everyone, from my nephew who is almost 2, to my grandparents, were loving it. I’d love to see something so different from the typical singing/musical act win this year, and I think the Olate Dogs could be major contenders in the competition.

Sebastien “El Charro de Oro”: There is sure an abundance of younger kids in the Top 48 this year, hasn’t there? I think this was one of my favorites though, probably because he’s so dang cute. I kind of felt like I was being serenaded in a Mexican restaurant, but that’s okay, because I love when that happens! He has a great voice. I thought the rose at the end was rather classy though. My grandma commented that this little boy sounded like a full grown man — I have to agree. He definitely has an old soul, as Howie said. Was he the best of the night? I don’t think so. But he was adorable!

Unity in Motion: I really, really loved these girls. I feel like dance fans will have difficulty voting between them and Lindsay Norton tonight. They are definitely one of the best dance acts in the competition, and I hope they go through.

William Close: Another home run act for the night. I love the instruments and vocals that were added to the performance. It was just an over all awesome act. It’s so different from a typical musical instrument act, and he seems to do with it such class and precision. He got a standing ovation, from the audience and the judges. I imagine that it takes a lot of time and talent to play the earth harp. It seems like the judges have already deemed him the winner, what does everyone think?

Staying:

1. William Close

2. Joe Castillo

I could see any of these staying:

3. Eric Dittelman

4. Olate Dogs

5. Unity in Motion

6. Lindsey Norton

I think they are going home, but it could be a surprise:

7. Sebastien

8. All That!

9. Eric and Olivia

10. David “The Bullet” Smith

Definitely Leaving:

11. Horse

12. Ulysses

AGT Top 48 Quarter Final Performances Night 3 Commentary

This was a weird night. There were some home run acts, and some definite strike outs. At times, I felt like quite a few of the contestants took a step in the wrong direction. As I’m going back through my commentary and deciding on the power rankings, I honestly forgot about a few of the acts by the end of the night. And unlike most nights where I can’t agree with anything that Howie Mandel says, I agreed with just about everything. And Sharon was driving me crazy. I felt like a lot of her comments were way out there. I think there were some definite winners though, but it is not as clear cut as some other nights. Be sure to cast your vote for who you think will stay here, and, as always, let me know if you agree with my power rankings.

The Untouchables: As a dance group, you’ve got to be good this year, and continually deliver new, fresh ideas. Unlike many of the dance numbers this year, The Untouchables do this each time. Even just considering the fact that these kids are so young, they are pretty incredible, but I feel like they blew a lot of other dance acts out of the water. I’m not usually a big dance fan, but this group won me over. They have SO much enthusiasm and genuine talent. It was captivating, and I loved watching them. I hope that people remember to vote for them, because being the first group performing, they may be forgotten by the time everyone else performs.

Mike Price Rock Star Juggler: I didn’t remember Mike Price, but when I saw that he was a juggling act, I wasn’t super excited. I’ve seen many juggling acts in my life time. However, I have definitely never seen anyone do what Mike Price has done. While what he did was pretty col, I’m not sure I want him to go on. His act doesn’t seem as polished as it could have been. He, unfortunately, messed up a few times, which made me worry for the girl who had gasoline on her as he juggled over her. I agree with Sharon, he started out great, but really, it went down hill from there. The best part was the guy who came out with the fire extinguisher. It’s a fun act, but there was just something a little off about it.

Inspire the Fire: This group impressed me during the auditions (enough to write a post about them, at least). However, tonight my opinion was the opposite. They just seemed…off. The dancing wasn’t that great, nor was the vocals. I love what this group stands for, but it was just too amateur tonight. Even though I usually don’t agree with Howie, I felt like it was cheesy, and a “$125 act.” Compared to what we saw earlier with The Untouchables, it wasn’t even in the realm of a million dollar act. I feel bad saying this, but I have to be honest. They weren’t that great — even to the point where I wonder if they threw it on purpose.

Christin Sandu: Just the description of his act had me nervous! What he does is definitely a risk. I liked how he started out, and of course, who wouldn’t be impressed with his balancing act. So with that, it killed me that his tower collapsed. My heart broke for him, because he seems like a very genuine person. The act wasn’t that different from what I remember his audition being, but my memory might be rusty. Unfortunately, the fall sealed his fate, and I think he will be going home. I can’t imagine how devastated he must have felt. Because, as Sharon said, he should be proud he made it this far. There’s obviously something else much better in the cards for him ahead.

Elusive: As with many of the acts tonight, I was impressed in the beginning, but by the end, I wasn’t feeling it. The walking down the stairs with his hand was cool, but besides that, I remember seeing moves like this at my high school prom. I don’t have much to say about this act, but beyond the walking on the stairs with his hand, I wasn’t impressed. As many husband said after the act, there was no “wow” moment. He is inspirational because of his challenges, but I don’t think it’s enough to get him through. I would like to see a dance off between him and Turf, but I don’t know if we’ll have a chance to see that. I liked his dancing better than Turf, but that’s because Turf’s moves were kind of creepy at times. We’ll see.

Jake Wesley Rogers: I honestly have no recollection of his audition, or being in Las Vegas. For one thing, what is up with his style? When my niece looked at the TV, she said “what is up with his hair?!” He has an okay voice, but I was not a fan of the song choice. I didn’t find him entertaining, and compared to some of the other young singers in the competition, he really didn’t compare. Sorry, Jake, but I do not think this was a good performance. He seemed like he was mad at the world. I would be too though, if I had hair like that. If I had an X, I would have pressed it. Okay, that was a little harsh, he seems like a nice kid. But I just didn’t like him.

All Wheel Sports: Don’t hate me for saying this, but there act did seem a bit busy at times, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it! It was hard for me to concentrate on one single element at a time. They do some awesome things, and I think the most amazing thing is how they did all of that on such a small stage. There was an awesome danger aspect to this act, that’s for sure. Definitely one of the best acts of the night, that’s for sure. I hope they get through so we can see what else they have to offer! Howie made a good point, us viewers at home weren’t able to get the big picture of what this act was about, but after hearing the audience go wild for them, I have to believe they were even more incredible in real life.

Wordspit and the Illest: Well, this group appears to be a fan favorite. I was even a fan when I first heard them. Was it a mistake for them to do an original song, versus one that the audience would know and recognize? I guess it’s in the eye of the beholder. It was a bold move, that’s for sure. I know that a lot of people like them because they are “original”, but I just didn’t tonight. But most seemed to really enjoy them, and compared to some of the other acts, they did well.

Jacob Williams: He’s awkward. He’s nerdy. And he’s hilarious. I was laughing so much as I watched his act this evening. The comedians are really on fire this year. Jacob’s jokes are totally different from Tom Cotter’s, which I think will help him in the long run. I really hope he gets through, because he really is a neat comedian. There’s something about an awkward comedian that I love. I think that awkwardness is what makes his act even more stellar, and I agree with Howie (wow, the second time in one night?!), best act of the night!

All Beef Patty: I’ll be upfront, I can’t stand drag. But even with those personal feelings aside, tonight wasn’t All Beef’s best night. It wasn’t that fun of a performance, and to me, his All Beef’s voice sounds like something is stuck in his (her?) throat. I could see this being a great act on a smaller stage in Vegas, but as a head liner? I don’t think so. I don’t think this is an act that main stream America is going to vote for.

Spencer Horsman: This act was very disappointing. I was expecting to see Spencer, wriggling out of the steel straight jacket, and barely escaping those deadly-looking spikes. Instead, as the judges mentioned, we saw him behind a screen. We didn’t even get to see him escape; for all we know, he had help back there. It was boring, and not up to his usual intense escapes. I wish he had done something that the audience could see, because he definitely took a nose dive into loser’s circle tonight. It’s definitely unfortunate.

Light Wire Theater: This. Was. Amazing. I was left speechless after watching it. What a great way to end a mediocre night. What they do is incredible and spectacular. This was by far my favorite act of the night, and is something I would pay for my family and me to see in Vegas. There’s not much I can say to describe this act, except I hope they go to the very end. This act has got to take so much time to get it perfect, and perfect it was. Just in case you missed it, here is a link to the video of tonight’s performance.

Definitely Staying:

1. Light Wire Theater

2. Jacob Williams

3. The Untouchables

Could Go Either Way:

4. Wordspit and the Illest

5. All Wheel Sports

I’d Be Surprised if They Stay:
6. Elusive

7. All Beef Patty

8. Jake Wesley Rogers

9. Inspire the Fire

Going Home For Sure:

10. Spencer Horsman

11. Mike Price

12. Christin Sandu

Turf: Is He Really Worth the Hype?

Anyone who has been watching AGT this season knows the name Turf. He’s the street dancer/contortionist that came to the auditions with an inspiring story, and a pretty unique talent. So far, he has flown through the auditions, Las Vegas, and now, the top 48. Here’s his act from last weeks performances.

Among many, he is the favorite to win. For me, I think he’s interesting. Granted, I get a little sick to my stomach while watching some of his act, just because it hurts me to watch a body move like that. I’m not sure if he’s been my favorite act so far (Donovan and Rebecca, as well as Shanice and Maurice Hayes, are the ones I am rooting for), but I do think he has a chance of winning. However, on the flip side, there are some who wonder, what’s the big deal. On my commentary from last weeks performance, the following comment was left by JP about Turf:

This is probably just me, but I need to know something about one act. What does everyone see in Turf? I don’t get it. They’re overhyping him as this great act, but I don’t see it. I’ve seen this type of act before, and he doesn’t do anything that really impresses me. He’s talented, but I don’t think he’s one of the best acts. There generally seems to be act every season that everyone loves but I don’t get, and this seems to be this season’s act. Based on tonight’s performances, I would say Tom Cotter and Donovan and Rebecca are the only two slam dunk acts in the round. After them, I would like to see two of Hawley Magic, Ben Blaque and Tim Hockenberry advance. Unfortunately, I think Turf is going to take one of those spots even though I just don’t think he was as good as the others. Maybe I’m just missing something with his act, but I just see him as good, but not great. He’s below those five in my mind, and might even be below The All Ways (though I have to admit that I generally like rock music, so they were better to me.)

Can someone answer JP’s question — what is it that everyone sees in Turf? Most comments and articles I have seen on this year’s season of AGT really do praise him, and in a way, that might bias some into thinking he’s better and more unique than he really is. In his critique last week, Howard Stern warned Turf about not letting all of the praise go to his head, because there are some other great dance acts this year (specifically, as Howard mentioned, Unity in Motion). While he appears to have a fairly large fan base now, he still needs to continue putting his best foot forward and keep his current fans, as well as win over those a little more unsure. Is Turf going to be able to step it up, and prove he is more than just a good dancer and deserves to be among the winners of AGT? What do you think of Turf? Feel free to leave your opinions, as well as vote in this poll. I’m interested to see what others think of him.

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July 16, 2012 I Written By Katie

Filed Under: America's Got Talent America's Got Talent Future America's Got Talent Judges America's Got Talent Season 7 America's Got Talent Updates America's Got Talent Videos Entertainment NBC Reality TV TV TV News

Tags:AGT AGT Season 7 America's Got Talent America's Got Talent Season 7 Howard Stern Turf

AGT Top 48: Night One Commentary and Rankings

Well, we’ve finally made it to the live shows. I’m hoping that we can leave behind the silly auditions and get to the real stuff now.

Howard, albeit unpopular at times tonight, I felt gave the best insight to the acts tonight. I think Sharon is just being nice half the time, and Howie…where do I even start with him. Some of his comments seem to come from left field. Tonight wasn’t the best night, in my opinion, and I’m having trouble deciding on four people good enough to stay. Here’s my insight on the acts, in the order they performed. I’ve also done some rankings, so if you don’y want my commentary, feel free to skip to the bottom, and be sure to vote for your favorites here.

The Scott’s Brothers: As my mom put it while she was watching this with me tonight, it does take talent to not be off beat from each other. I thought this was SO entertaining, it was a lot of fun. One of my favorite acts from the night, and if they go on like I’m hoping, I think they could be the dark horse of the competition. It was different, and really, not exactly what I would think of when I think “million dollar act”, but I think that’s why I like them. They aren’t the typical winner — a singer. And I could see America really loving them. I know I sure do.

American BMX Team: Well, I was glad when this group was the stunt team that got through to New York. It’s definitely an adrenaline just watching it! I love the danger aspect to it, and the crowds “oohing and ahhing” proved that it wasn’t absent tonight. I do wonder how different their act can become, because I have to admit, I’m starting to get a little bit bored. Yes, it’s dangerous, and you won’t ever see me doing that, but it wasn’t my favorite act. Maybe it’s because I’m not into extreme sports. The judges seemed to love it. But it’s up to America. I’m split on if they’ll go home or not.

Distinguished Men of Brass: If you remember my post about them after they first performed, I was a big fan. However, tonight, I was a bit disappointed. Perhaps it’s because I was a little tired, and their act just kind of bored me. I could see them more playing at a gazebo on the Fourth of July in a local park than winning the competition. I don’t think they’ll go on after tonight. It just wasn’t that exciting. By the end of the night, I had actually forgotten about their performance completely.

Edon: I forgot about this kid at first, but as soon as he started singing, I remembered him. I was a little concerned when he said that the high note in the song he chose was to high to reach. I found his voice was a little annoying, but it’s just personal taste, because my mom and sister loved him. He did an overall good job, but I don’t think he’ll go very far. There were some powerful parts to the song, and for a 14-year-old, he did very well. The judges loved him, as did the crowd…but I’m not totally sold. I think he sure seems like a great kid, and has the makings of a winner, but maybe not quite yet. But who knows, America seems to love young kids like this go far, so he could make it through. He did hit all his notes, and it was a hard song.

Jarrett and Raja: This is definitely a unique twist on a magic act, that’s for sure. I’m a sucker for the song “Singing in the Rain”, so the fact that the act featured that made me interested at first. It was fun, yet cheesy, and definitely not what I would think of as a typical magic act. At that, I don’t think tonight’s performance was a million dollar act. The audience didn’t like them. It was a little confusing, and not anything like what we saw in Vegas. Part of me wonders what exactly what they were thinking. It’s a fun act, but something more impressive should have been brought forward tonight. Probably one of the worst acts of the night.

Lil Starr: I LOVED here when she first tried out and in Vegas. She definitely had a very spunky personality, and, of course, she had some incredible dance moves. I did enjoy the act tonight, but it seemed a little much at times. I didn’t like all the flashing lights, it seemed to take the attention off her. Howie thought she was the next Shirley Temple — definite possibility. She doesn’t compare to some of the other acts though. I agree with Howard a little bit though — her act doesn’t seem to have much variety to it, even though she is a great dancer. She sure was sweet though, and she did do great, as she stated at the end of her performance.

Todd Oliver: I feel as if I have seen better ventriloquist tonight, but I like the use of a dog. It was cute. I don’t know that he had the audience as captivated as he did in the past, and I had to agree with the judges — he didn’t have the best material. So, “cute” isn’t going to cut it. I found myself getting distracted and not really even paying attention for the majority of the act. Sure, the audience did laugh throughout it, but it didn’t seem like they were that entertained. Like just about everyone on the show tonight, he sure seems nice, but really, I could see him going home tonight. It’s kind of disappointing, because I did like him, but there were some other acts tonight that blew him out of the water.

Nikki Jensen: I didn’t really remember her from the auditions, to be honest. I was pleasantly surprised though, she has a very unique, beautiful voice. She sang well, but it didn’t absolutely blow me away, which needs to happen at this stage in the competition. I love that song, but she wasn’t very entertaining. It seemed more like a slightly-better, high school talent show performance. I think she’ll go home tonight for sure, sorry Nikki.

Michael Nejad: So, I’ll be honest. I kind of think this is a weird act, but I don’t think he deserved an X seconds into his act. That shovel violin drove me insane. I would compare it to nails-on-a-chalkboard bad. It is unique. Very unique. But it isn’t a type of unique that I really want to see more of, and I think America is going to agree with me. He’s definitely getting the ax tonight. Sorry, Michael. Maybe you should look into doing a Home Depot commercial or something.

787 Crew: Just to start out, I feel like they should have been in the movie Tron. Secondly, just like with Lil Starr, the lights were totally distracting. I really liked them when they initially tried out, but they didn’t wow me tonight like I was hoping. There wasn’t any factor to it that had me ever think “wow, this was incredible!” They might be heading back to Puerto Rico after tonight’s performance, sorry to say.

Shanice and Maurice Hayes: Hands down, my favorite act of the night. It was powerful and full of emotion, and I can’t help but love the whole father-daughter aspect to this act. They seem to have a great relationship, and that is awesome. As much as I kind of don’t want a singing act to win (I mean, almost all of the previous winners were singers. There are so many singing competitions out there. Let’s get something new), I can’t deny that they did a great job. I loved this song, and I can’t wait to see what they have to show next. As Howard said, there was a beautiful heart and soul to the act.

David Garibaldi and his CMYKs: All I have to say is, awesome. When I say I want something new and different to win, this is what I’m talking about. The music was right on, the dancing was great, and that art? Incredible. These guys definitely have what it takes to win. I was completely captivated the entire time. I’m going to stop here, because really, how can I describe something so unique and, well, indescribable. They have to go through; if they don’t, I’m calling it — this contest is rigged.

Rankings for the night:

Here they are, in a few different categories. They are ranked according to who I think did the best.

Definitely moving on:

1. Shanice and Maurice Hayes

2. David Garibaldi and his CMYKs

Good Possibility They’ll Move on:

3. Edon

4. The Scott’s Brothers

5. American BMX Team

Okay, But I’ll Be Shocked if They Advance:

6. 787 Crew

7. Lil Star

8. Nikki Jensen

9. Distinguished Men of Brass

Definitely Leaving:

10. Todd Oliver

11. Jarrett and Raja

12. Michael Nejad

Inspire the Fire Inspires the Crowd in the AGT Tampa Auditions

“Honestly thought I was watching a production on Broadway, but it was urban at the same time” – Sharon Osborne
“I hate Glee, but I love you” — Howard Stern
“This was not corny, it was great” — between Howie and Howard

The first performance in the Tampa auditions received the comments above from the judges and a huge applause from the audience. Inspire the Fire, who some claim are similar to Glee, definitely lit up the stage and were my favorite act of the night. I was actually reminded of Glee with the song choice, Lean on Me, since that song was featured on the show Glee once. However, I was very entertained by this group. I mean, I’ve heard better vocals and seen better dancing, but I loved the act, and the meaning of the organization, Inspire the Fire. Here is their audition from the other night:

As it was introduced during the audition, Inspire the Fire, a non-profit group based in Charlotte, North Carolina, was created to help youth, particularly those who are under-privileged. The website for Inspire the Fire describes the group as follows:

The youth we serve are ages 10-21. Statistically, this age range has been more likely to engaged in juvenile crimes . . . The central purpose of the program is not to develop professional artists. Rather, the program strives to raise awareness and appreciation of artistic abilities of all students and to recognize and develop the outstanding talents of many students who would not be identified as gifted and talented through academic tests or other traditional means.

Participants in the program have to get a certain amount of community service hours in order to be in the group. Besides singing, there are a bunch of different activities that the members can participate in. The group also give a few performances a month.

Overall, this just seems like a great group with an awesome purpose. I’d like to see some more of what they can do. Even if they don’t win, maybe they could make a a guest appearance on the next season of Glee. What did you think of this group?

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May 30, 2012 I Written By Katie

Filed Under: America's Got Talent Judges America's Got Talent Season 7 America's Got Talent Videos NBC Reality TV TV

Tags:AGT 2012 AGT Season 7 America's Got Talent 2012 America's Got Talent 2012 Premiere America's Got Talent Season 7 Charlotte Glee Howard Stern Inspire the Fire Inspire the Fire America's Got Talent Sharon Osbourne

America’s Got Talent 2012 in Tweets — New York Auditions Night Two

Here’s the round-up of my thoughts for night two of New York:

Okay, Howard's dad sounds and acts just like him. I guess we know what @HowardStern will like look in 30 years or so.

May 22, 2012 7:06 pm via Seesmic ReplyRetweetFavorite

@pureagt

Pure AGT

I think one of my favorite moments of the show was Howard’s parents. He and Howard seem to be so much alike. I was cracking up when he gave Ronald Charles some advice.

Digital Ventriloquism...pretty cool. It's different than the norm for sure! #AGT

May 22, 2012 7:15 pm via Seesmic ReplyRetweetFavorite

@pureagt

Pure AGT

This ventriloquist act was very original, and I LOVED it. Howie said it won him over, and he doesn’t typically like ventriloquism. It will be fun to see what he comes up with next.

This is strangely beautiful. #AGT #DonovanandRebecca

May 22, 2012 7:24 pm via Seesmic ReplyRetweetFavorite

@pureagt

Pure AGT

"I can't say a yes big enough for you" #HowardStern #AGT #DonovanandRebecca. Love them. Can't wait to see what's next.

May 22, 2012 7:26 pm via Seesmic ReplyRetweetFavorite

@pureagt

Pure AGT

Favorite act of the night, hands down. I’m a fan of Donovan and Rebecaa already and have been watching videos of them since the debuted tonight.

His timing was pretty impeccable. Definitely has some genuine talent. #AGT #TomCotter. He seems humble "This is birth of my children good".

May 22, 2012 7:37 pm via Seesmic ReplyRetweetFavorite

@pureagt

Pure AGT

Tom Cotter seemed like a relatively family-friendly comedian with a good background. He seemed to get the audience laughing right off the bat, which was impressive. I liked him for the most part, though comedy isn’t usually my favorite talent.

#SavageMen...I liked them at first, but it went downhill pretty fast. This is just nasty -- they are fit for America's Next Stripper #AGT

May 22, 2012 7:55 pm via Seesmic ReplyRetweetFavorite

@pureagt

Pure AGT

"You know, I always think that women don't like a physique like that; They like something more like what I have." #AGT

May 22, 2012 7:57 pm via Seesmic ReplyRetweetFavorite

@pureagt

Pure AGT

1) Ew. 2) The best part of this act was Howard going up there. Can I just say how relieved I am that they didn’t get through? Savage Men is NOT my cup of tea.

There you have it. Be sure to join my live tweets during next week’s auditions in Florida here.

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May 23, 2012 I Written By Katie

Filed Under: America's Got Talent America's Got Talent Live America's Got Talent Season 7 Entertainment NBC Reality TV TV

Tags:AGT 2012 AGT Judges AGT Season 7 America's Got Talent 2012 America's Got Talent 2012 Premiere America's Got Talent Judges America's Got Talent Season 7 Donovan and Rebecca Howard Stern Savage Men Tom Cotter

AGT New York Auditions Night #1: Talent in Tweets

Well, the third night of auditions has come and gone. Did you see anyone or group that was particularly talented? I think there were a few winning acts. Here’s some of my thoughts from night one of the New York Auditions!

"This is the most amazing animal act I have ever seen" @HowieMandel #AGT

May 21, 2012 6:26 pm via Seesmic ReplyRetweetFavorite

@pureagt

Pure AGT

I admit, animal acts always have me nervous. But those dogs were amazing. My husband happened to glance over during that act and seemed pretty enthralled by it. The judges seemed very impressed, so I’m guessing (and hoping) this act goes far!

"The truth is, I'm the judge America listens to. Whose stage is this?" @HowardStern A little egotistical? Though it's true. #AGT

May 21, 2012 6:28 pm via Seesmic ReplyRetweetFavorite

@pureagt

Pure AGT

This remark that Howard made in response to Howie made me laugh. He does have a point!

I'm not so sure if this is a family friendly talent... But I guess it's impressive. #AGT He did get Howie and Howard to stand #AGT

May 21, 2012 6:35 pm via Seesmic ReplyRetweetFavorite

@pureagt

Pure AGT

A man named Horse. He started the act by claiming he has a one-of-a-kind talent and that he had two beautiful daughters. Well, after he showed his talent, I have to agree with the judge (don’t remember who) who said he won’t be having anymore daughters. This was one of the weirdest talents I have seen. Do I think he will win? Not a chance. He was right when he said it was one-of-a-kind. But I really wasn’t a fan.

I wonder if Nick Cannon has always wanted to do that to someone and not get beat up for it #AGT

May 21, 2012 6:35 pm via Seesmic ReplyRetweetFavorite

@pureagt

Pure AGT

You know he has.

"it come together to be one of the glorious moments we've had on AGT this season" #AGT #HowieMandel

May 21, 2012 6:48 pm via Seesmic ReplyRetweetFavorite

@pureagt

Pure AGT

I apologize for the incorrect verb tense in this tweet, but that is beside the point. But this was in response to the Wordspit the illest. I’ll be the first to admit, this group doesn’t perform my favorite kind of music, but it was impressive. I really think this will go far.

Whatcha gonna do. This could be the next "Pants on the Ground" phenomena. #AGT It might be a hit, Howard is right.

May 21, 2012 6:56 pm via Seesmic ReplyRetweetFavorite

@pureagt

Pure AGT

First Granny G . . . now Burton Crane? What’s up with these old people rappers. Oh well. They are pretty entertaining, and I have been singing “Whatcha gonna do” the rest of the night. He grew on me pretty quickly.

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May 21, 2012 I Written By Katie