America’s Got Talent Semifinals Week 1 Live Blog (VIDEO)

AMERICA'S GOT TALENT -- Episode 1021 -- Pictured: Metal Mulisha Fitz Army -- (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)

Hey everyone! It’s Adam, here to recap this season’s first America’s Got Talent semi-final round. The show starts soon, so grab your popcorn and get ready cause the show starts at 8! What will judges Howard Stern, Heidi Klum, Mel B. and Howie Mandel think of tonight’s 11 acts? Join us.

And we are live! Here we go!

Performing first is fodder Ira. Tonight he is singing Copacabana, by Barry Manilow. He and his mother set the scene starting off bantering about nonsense. Halfway through Howard rightfully buzzes them. They never deserved to be at this stage in the competition. Howard says it is time for them to go home. Mel says it was underwhelming. Howie loved them. Thanks for being wrong Howie! During his short talk with Nick after they perform, Ira says he just bought himself 2 tickets to the bottom 3. I think you just brought your ticket home, honestly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKT8aYJ635A

Next is a personal favorite act of mine. Mountain Faith Band tonight are taking on Can’t Feel My Face, by The Weeknd and this is…. AMAZING! I love these rearrangements! The lead singer is doing wonderful. Great performance. Howie felt they didn’t go big enough. Howard thought it lacked moments. Mel thought it was the wrong song. I HIGHLY disagree with those comments. Not every song needs a big note finisher people! However, with the comments the judges gave them I think they are screwed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfhFdM_HILE

Time for the wildcard, Metal Mulisha! Howard tries justifying their decision by saying that they are “risk takers” and dangerous. Come on people, this is now the second time they have been brought back after being cut. Soon production will probably bring them all the way to the finale. Tonight they do basically the same tricks they did every other time! I just can’t you guys. What a waste. I don’t know why the producers are do obsessed with these danger acts! They are never going to win, ever. The judges give them a standing ovation. Whatever, they are going home again tomorrow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jzQwz6ioXk

Samantha Johnson is up next. Last time she had the pimp spot and standing ovation from the judges, but was still in the bottom 3. Tonight, she is taking on Earned It, by The Weeknd. Wow, 2 The Weeknd songs in one week? Tonight is a really strong performance from Ms. Johnson, but I would be shocked if she advances tomorrow. I think she is either going home of going to be in danger. If this was American Idol I would be convinced she was a fodder singer. Like last time, the judges say they love her, but I think they are just blowing smoke at this point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUDALRCObJw

Derek Hughes is our first magician of the night. Still not a fan of this guy. Tonight, he says he is going to tell his kids back home a bedtime story (at 5:45?). As he reads the story of Humpty Dumpty I am waiting for the magic, but it is taking forever! Finally he rips the story book to bits only to have it come back together at the end with one piece missing with a smile. I was bored. Oz is way better then him. Still the judges are pretty strong with their praise for Derek. Eh, I hope he goes home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCNPZhEXsQI

Next is Drew Lynch and during his intro package they really play up his sob story, which I really hate. We should judge him based on his talent, not his story! Tonight he does a routine about his difficulty talking on the phone. I have to say, I am finding it so annoying that he laughs at his own jokes. Am I the only one who wasn’t laughing during the entire thing? I didn’t find any of his jokes funny. Still the judges stand for him. Howard agrees with me, and tells him to stop laughing at his own jokes. Eh, Drew is still going through nonetheless.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Frjt4iLL-uY

The CraigLewis Band are up next. I still just can’t get on to these guys’s train. Tonight, they are taking on A Change Is Gonna Come, by Sam Cooke. Did I do something wrong to them, cause they are SCREAMING AT ME. Ugh way to much, guys! This is just so embellished, I can’t. But wait, all the judges are now standing for them. Howard says they just solidified their spot in the finale. Mel says it was missing something. A little restraint is what she is thinking about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS9G8jMWEMA

Now the show has begun! Oz Pearlman is up next, and I am just so excited to see what he does this time. Tonight, he does tricks where he predicts drinks that Howard takes a sip of. After he correctly predicts Howie and Mel’s favorite drinks. Not as great as his first performance, but still a strong showing. The judges are just baffled how he did it. I have no idea, and that is why he is such an incredible mentalist/magician.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_41ccCTwQP0

Benton Blount is the next singer performing tonight. How many singers are performing tonight? There are so many! Tonight he is doing Fight Song. Gee, I wonder which producer “suggested” this song for him. I hate that they force these contestants to sing songs from genres out of their preferred area. I think someone pitched this song a little to low for Benton, because he looks like he is struggling. The high notes were on point, but other then that I didn’t think it was that great. Mel thought it was the wrong song. Howard says there are better singers then him. Benton might be in trouble guys.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yppdIOUpXNI

Another favorite of mine are up next! Siro-A say they are going to try and take this performance to the next level, and oh boy do they. Incredible dance performance! These guys just might have won this season with that performance! I don’t know if I could watch an hour long show of theirs, but in those 90 seconds it is pure adrenaline, and wow are they talented! Well done guys, these were the best of the night, by far! Moving on for sure. The judges give them a standing ovation and Howie says they are possibly going to win. Great performance!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooiaIJsCH4c

Closing out the night is Arielle Baril taking on Nessun Dorma. Strong performance from Arielle tonight. With a pimp spot I think she has a great shot of moving on, but then again I said the same thing about Samantha a few weeks back. Mel points out some of her timing issues. Howie thinks she is great for her age. I think she did just fine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydYoGertnbo

So that is everything guys, thanks for joining me! Meet me back here at 8 tomorrow for the results. And as always if you liked what you read and you want to show your appreciation you can follow me on Twitter at @adamhsamuel! Have a good night, guys!

This is AdamSLM signing off…

About Adam Samuel 151 Articles
Contributing Writer/Researcher at mjsbigblog.com I'm a typical college student balancing a journalism major with my love for reality singing shows.