America’s Got Talent 2016 – Judge Cuts #4 – Live Blog and Videos

AMERICA'S GOT TALENT -- "CBS Radford Auditions" -- Pictured: Musicality -- (Photo by: Vivian Zink/NBC)

America’s Got Talent 2016 – Judge Cuts #4 – Live Blog and Videos

Judges Simon Cowell, Mel B., Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel complete the four part Judge Cuts tonight! Which acts will move on to the live shows?

One Direction singer Louis Tomlinson is set as guest judge and will choose an act to save. We’ll be live blogging the Judge Cuts Part 4 right here.

Twenty acts compete tonight, only SEVEN will remain to move on to the live shows, including Louis’ Golden Buzzer pick.

Fourteen year old singer, Jayna Brown, was Louis Tomlinson’s Golden Buzzer pick. I had a feeling he’d choose a singer. It’s hard to tell from these highly edited rounds, but Louis was a very amiable and interested judge. He brought a nice balance of empathy and constructive criticism to the panel.

Simon advanced the dance troupe The Outlawz because he saw a group of cute boys he could market like a boy band, rather than a group of talented dancers. We’ll see if America bites. I was surprised Sos and Victoria, the quick-change artists advanced–Simon didn’t seem at all impressed with them.  Viktor Kee and The Clairvoyants were the best acts on a fairly weak night.

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Louis enters the building as a gaggle of hysterical girls scream for him. Oh Boy. Louis claims to be a little intimidated by his new job, but he cannot wait to use his Golden Buzzer. The man’s hair is on point tonight, by the way.

ThroWings – Acrobats – They’re a married couple and SOOO IN LOVE. They got engaged on stage, apparently. She had an accident with another partner. She broke her spine in 3 places! OUCH. The judges bring up the accident and ask if they just threw her off her game. Nice. This act, if you don’t remember, involved a lot of swinging and tossing. If Andre fails to catch Annie, she’s toast. She does all the heavy lifting and assumes ALL the risk. To up the ante, Annie puts on a blindfold. After his last catch, she rips off her blindfold and they kiss dramatically. “I loved it!” gushes Simon. “You stepped it up big time.” Howie calls it “amazing.” He thinks they should move on. Mel insists she’ll fight for them. “I was over the moon,” says Louis. These acts that put woman in constant peril rub me the wrong way. Andre carries his partner off the stage like she’s some weak little flower, when she’s the one with the b*lls, if you ask me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8BMAJSsCB4

 

Louis chats with Mel B. about the joys of being a new father.

Campbell Walker Fields – Singer – 14 year old performs a song about his mom. Oh. He was adopted by a gay couple, which resulted in being bullied at school. When he was 10 or 11 he began asking questions about his birth mother. He’s never met her, but knows she gave him up for adoption because she couldn’t give him a good life. Grateful, he dedicates Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years” to her. He has a very mature sounding tone, but his phrasing and timing still need to mature. He chokes up during the song, though, which pleases the crowd. “You make me emotional!” says Heidi. “I felt every word.” Louis talks about auditioning for the X Factor at 18. He understands how scary it is. Simon acknowledges tuning problems, but also felt every word.

Mel B notes there are no dance troupes. WE NOTICED MEL.

Flip – Teen dance troupe – They perform a clean and very synchronized hip hop routine. Heidi calls it “perfection.” Louis notes they stepped it up from their audition.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zlJwZhA84I

Shane and Shannon Jensen – Ballroom Dancers – Howie is so impressed! He obviously does not watch Dancing with the Stars. Mel calls them seamless.

The Outlawz – Dance Troupe – They realize they have to step up their game. Too bad they didn’t step up those dumb black hats. Heidi criticized their audition and they’ve taken her suggestions to heart. They do basic boy band choreo. It’s really not that impressive. They’ve added some fancy lighting, but it’s still nothing special. Simon looks happy. Nah. These guys. Really basic. I’ve been spoiled by dance shows, I guess. The judges are super impressed. Mel saw a few mistakes, but calls it “really good” overall. Louis chucked about 1D’s terrible dancing. Heh. Simon likes their imperfections–he feels it lends personality to the group. Hm.

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

Louis goes backstage to give the kids a pep talk. They clap wildly!

Ari Hill – Singer – Puerto Rican native sings “The Wanderer.” Louis didn’t like the song, but liked her voice. Avonlea Martin – Singer – Sixteen year old sang an original song at the piano. Louis compliments her musicianship, but feels she need to pull out more of her personality.

Jayna Brown – Singer – Fourteen year old, she and her mom are homeless presently, living with friends and family. She cries. It’s terrible when a kid feels the pressure to be the family breadwinner. She sings Andra Day’s “Rise Up.” The young singer is a naturally talented vocalist, with oodles of potential. Really nice phrasing and tone for her age. She takes the stage with nerves, but manages to completely lose herself in her performance. The crowd goes wild. The judges give her a standing ovation. “Your voice is so beautiful!” says Heidi. Mel calls her a “natural.” Simon says, “You young lady have just turned this competition upside down.” Louis says she has everything, “It’s so infectious to watch your performance!” And YOU GUESSED IT LOUIS PUSHES HIS GOLDEN BUZZER. I had a feeling he’d pick a singer. The confetti flies. Jayna hugs her mother. Louis joins in on the group hug. The singers backstage try not to look too bummed out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMrYv4rC_pk

John Hetlinger – Singer – He’s the 82 year old man who sang “Bodies” by Drowning Pool. He performed with them last weekend. His wife is only 63. This time he takes on “Dragula” by Rob Zombie. Simon gives him a standing ovation. It’s ridiculous. Louis hopes he’s just like him at 82. Heidi buzzed him. She doesn’t get it. “I am going to fight for you,” promises Simon. REALLY?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlzAbs1Vkmo

Nathan Bockstahler – Comedian – Six year old comedian is cute by half. Santa jokes! “If you’re cute like me, you can get away with just about anything! Right Mel and Heidi?” Geez. Mel calls him cute as a button. Simon loves him. Louis wants to be Nathan’s best friend. “You are the coolest six year old!” Simon thinks he’ll be a little movie star. Nathan is a distillation of every annoying Hollywood kid affectation. I’m sure the networks will come calling.

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

Viktor Kee – Juggler – His brother died of a sudden heart attack a few days after his audition. He’s going to bring his brother’s spirit into his performance with him. This guy is a juggler but with an artistic twist. Wearing a bodysuit and bald cap, he mixes graceful dance moves with expert juggling. It’s elegant and compelling all at once. This second audition was even better than the first. Mel thinks he’s everything the show is about. “I want to come and see your show.” Howie loves his emotion and heart. “There’s so many layers to your performance. I was captivated,” says Louis. Simon loves the whole presentation. “You’re very talented,” he says. Heidi reminds everybody there is tough competition to get through to the next round.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aM_LbLHoC7A

Sos & Victoria – Quick Change Artists – Heidi loved them the first time. She’s excited they are back. And they manage to step it up. Victoria changes her outfit amid a burst of pyro, which looked impossible. Simon still didn’t think it was enough. The couple added magic tricks to please Simon, but he’s still unimpressed. Simon insists he didn’t ask them to add magic!

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

John Bernhardt – Theremin player – He plays “Walk Like an Egyptian” and most definitely did not step it up. Four Xs means he goes straight home. Jonathan Norson – Contortionist – He’s covered head to toe in sparkles. A couple of backbends later, he’s dispatched. The Amazing Hernando – Magician – He drags Mel B on stage. She’s not thrilled. When he reveals a bird, Mel says “I saw where you got that.” He answers, “You don’t have to tell everyone!” Oy. Simon rolls his eyes. “I am losing the will to live,” he says. Four buzzes and he’s gone.

Louis admits that he’s still a little terrified of Simon.

Musicality – Singing Group – They are inner city high school students from South Side Chicago. The director wanted to create a “safe haven” for the kids.  One of the boys becomes emotional when he shares that shortly after the group’s initial audition, his sister was murdered and left behind a dumpster. They sing a dramatic rendition of “Skyscraper.” It’s as emotional as a Glee-type performance can be. Kudos to the director working so hard with disadvantaged kids. The crowd loves it. The director cries as the kids hug each other. Louis admires the unity and love they have for each other. Howie loves what he hears. Mel is rooting for them. If they can get into the finals, hope will be alive for America’s urban youth, says the Director. Simon believes viewers will root for them, and he will too. THE MUSIC SWELLS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv6E4_SAPf0

Barron of the Universe – Strong Man – He brought his girlfriend this time. Dude performs gross-out stunts. He warns that his nipples might rip off tonight. OK I’m out. He attaches a car to his nipple rings and pulls. His girl rides atop. Blech. Not watching. “My nipples are sore watching you,” says Louis. Mel knows there’s an audience for that sort of thing. Heidi is gagging. Howie thinks he stepped it up. “How are your nipples…I’ve never asked a man that before,” says Simon. Howie makes a parking garage areola joke. Yikes.

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

DJ Demers – Comic – He’s hard of hearing and tells lots of deaf jokes. Simon liked his audition better. Bye dude.

The Clairvoyants – Clairvoyants – This male/female duo performs a very clever act. Let’s see if they can step it up. Amalee, the “psychic” one guesses the serial number a bill Simon pulled out of his pocket. It’s pretty amazing. She’s wearing a blindfold. Jaws drop everywhere. Heidi calls it “mysterious” and “incredible.” Louis doesn’t know how to react. “Brilliant” says Mel, after she tucks Simon’s money in her bosom. Simon and Howie are also both really flabbergasted.

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

Results are next!

Musicality was the last act to advance, and Simon launched into this elaborate fake out, like he was going to send them home. Kids were crying. Nice.  Next week the LIVE SHOWS begin! Join us as we live blog the acts.

Moving on to the next Round

Jayna Brown – Louis’ Golden Buzzer
Sos and Victoria
The Clairvoyants
ThroWings
The Outlawz
Viktor Kee
Musicality

About mj santilli 34830 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!