America’s Got Talent – Are You Watching?

By On 06/17/2008 · 27 Comments · In Uncategorized

Since Nashville Star is sorta turning into a bust, I may semi-cover this show–if there’s an interest.

Eh. I hate the non-stop Stupid Human Tricks that make up this show. I also hate famewhore parents who push their little kids onto the stage. I also really hate the super-mawkish backstories some of these contestants have. Not digging this show so much…yet.

Jerry Springer is perfect to host this 3 ring circus of absurdity. David Hasselhoff is…The Hoff! ‘nuf said! Sharon Osbourne and Piers Morgan are OK judges. Not that there’s much judging here. Neither really jump out at me as interesting personalities.

Some notable performances:

After the JUMP…

  • Jonathan Arons, 32 – He presents himself as a classical trombone player, but then OMG he breaks out the “wacky” dancing! Oh boy. He advances to Las Vegas – VIDEO.
  • Indiggo, 24 – Rumanian Twins sing “New York, New York” — pretty horrible, but pretty ballsy as they argue with the judges. On this show, talking back gets you a ticket to Vegas. – VIDEO.
  • Nuttin’ But Stringz 21 and 23 – These guys are brothers. They are a Violin/hip-hop duo. Yeah Seriously. While super-gimmicky like nearly everything on this show, they aren’t half-bad – VIDEO.
  • Mary Bly, 80 – 80 year old tap dancer. Need I say more. Sharon wants to advance her. The other judges say no. – VIDEO.
  • Kaitlyn Maher, 4 – Adorable little 4 year old who sings. She is cute, but just UGH. Just NO. Parents shouldn’t be putting their little ones on parade. Me no likey. – VIDEO.
  • Slippery Kittens 24-35 – The Burlesque group made up of soccer moms want to show America that Burlesque can be classy. It can, but these chicks aren’t. The routine is so clumsily choreographed and badly danced it comes off vulgar. Argh. – VIDEO.
  • Jonathan Burkin 17 – All through his pre-package video as he’s describing being teased because of this thing that he does…as the package works up to the big reveal I’m thinking “Baton twirler! Baton Twirler!” Ha ha. I have to say I liked this feel-good story. The kid has obviously been teased all his life and he finally gets some props for his talent. He does twirl a pretty awesome fire-tipped baton. The Hoff keeps yelling “Those kids who called you names can shove it!” The Hoff is awesome. Check out Jonathan’s mom. She’s very sweet. – VIDEO.
  • Derrick Barry, 24 – Britney Spears impersonator, Derrick advances to Vegas on two yeses from Sharon and Hoff. Eh. This is the best they can do? I’ve seen better female impersonators in Provincetown. Screw the lip syncing bullcrap–the really good ones actually sing. – VIDEO.
  • Extreme Dance FX 13-26 – This group of girls clog, tap, throw in some hip-hop and jazz. They aren’t bad for amateurs. Piers is right. Their outfits are fugly. – VIDEO.
  • Neil E. Boyd, 32 – The entire show has been working up to this last act. Neil Boyd is just a guy from a humble background. A humble guy with a dream–to be an opera singer. Does that sound familiar? It should. He’s America’s version of Paul Potts. Neil cries a lot. Mostly about his mom who sacrificed everything for him. He’s a good singer, I could have done without the overly-sentimental video package. – VIDEO.

 
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  • BigNLiddle

    you’ll probably have better luck with this show, haha. at least the people on here can actually sing well (most anyway). :)

  • Duke

    Wow- last year’s winner signed a 100 million dollar deal. thats remarkable. he deserved it though, he was one of the most talented people have seen in a while. i was rooting for Cass/butterscotch, but i remember they kinda fell flat. i would love to go see him.

    not so impressed with tonight show so far…why did they let the terrible-twins through. they weren’t even hot

  • SpenserJ

    Really Duke? A hundred million? Is that in Vegas? I didn’t watch that many episodes of this last year but what I saw of him was pretty amazing.

    I’m trying to watch right now (let’s face it – there’s nothing else on!). The audience is REALLY annoying. All of the booing just bugs.

    But so far, I was really impressed with violin playing brothers. That was pretty cool and something you don’t see very often, or never before LOL.

  • jbrad

    The thing I like most about this show is that there doesn’t seem to be an age limit. Unlike idol, people over 30 with talent can have a chance. Although I do think the 4 year old little girl they put through tonight was a bit much. She was cute and all, but what else does she have but the one song she did tonight? I guess we will see.

  • judy

    I loved the guys playing the violin. I enjoy this show – I like the fast pace and I think it’s fun. I’m hooked this year.

  • catdog

    The violin guys were amazing but I have seen them before, I think on Oprah.

    That little girl was precious but really – Vegas? come on.

    The opera guy was truly inspiring.

  • idolbeat

    Britney imitator was hysterical, the baton twirler, you just wanted to root for but the opera singer blew me away and I really don’t like opera that much. He has a gift! He must be who Simon said was the most talented of anyone to ever audition on any show! I could see it. Wow!

  • SpenserJ

    Kaitlyn Maher, 4 – Adorable little 4 year old who sings. She is cute, but just UGH. Just NO. Parents shouldnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t be putting their little ones on parade. Me no likey.

    You know I’m in agreement with you on this one! I have a 4 year old daughter, remembering the words to a whole song is difficult for them. So, I’m assuming this is the only song the girl knows. I wish they would have said no to her for her own good. I would have just told her to go home and be a kid. Vegas is no place for a 4 year old! I do not want to watch this poor child cry when she gets cut.

    I was distressed thinking about how long that day of waiting to audition must have been for that little girl. And, she has no concept of what was going on. But, mommy and daddy got a free trip to Vegas. So, good for them. Idiots.

    And idolbeat – the teenage boy baton twirler kind of tugged at my heart strings a little too.

    I did get a lot of laughs out of the dancing trombone player. He was a hoot. I think a whackjob like that is perfect for this super-campy show.

  • http://idolforums.com/index.php?showtopic=561466&st=0 Preston

    The opera singer– no. just no.

  • Lisa

    I am not into Opera, but I loved Neil Boyd, WOW!!!!! Dude can SANG. I believe this is the guy who Simon is saying is the best talent out of all of the shows. He cries, yeah, but I love men who are not afraid to cry, heh.

  • lovegoodmusic

    Neil Boyd’s rendition of “Nessun Dorma” is one of the most passionate and soulful renditions that I ever heard. Get your opera glasses ready, this guy is a star!

  • Lisa

    Ok ok, before MJ remembers that I love me some Bocelli, I will fess up to loving me some opera too, lol.

    I agree with you lovegoodmusic! Neil gave a very passionate performance! He is no Pavarotti or even Andrea *sigh* (Andrea is HOT, italian, has a truly blessed voice & rides horses by the ocean, Ummm yum), but I think he did great and would love to see him win!

    There is a snippet of Andrea’s Nessun Dorma here:

    http://www.andreabocelli.com/andreabocelli_eng.htm

  • wfowfowfo

    I was irritated at the audience during Opera-man’s song — I wished they’d stop clapping so we could actually hear him sing. Hopefully they’ll keep it down for a minute in the next round — it was hard to hear him!

    The rest? Well, MJ summed them up nicely. I liked the trombone guy, and the brothers on the violin. That group with the ugly outfits? You missed it, MJ — there was one lonely guy in that group (although I’m thinking he’s not acutally all that lonely :smile_wp:)

    Fun show, will probably watch again. I’m waiting to see the cross-dressers from the ad — they had tremendous voices (for 10 seconds anyway).

    Thanks for the recap, MJ.

    Off to catch up on CI.

  • Ladybug

    Reality show whore that I am, of course I am watching this. :rolleyes_wp:

    It is most certainly enjoyable summer entertainment and not much else.

    I kind of enjoy these judges actually and Springer is surprisingly great as a host.

    While Neil was truly a talent, I was sick of him and his tears by the time he actually sang. And haven’t we been there, done that with Paul Potts? (Even though it was a different show, different country).

    I agree, MJ, about Nashville Star. A FAR better show just ended — Can You Duet. Terrific talent and some great singing went on there. I am hopeful for a second season of this one as the one that just ended was thoroughly entertaining with singing that put the wannabe’s on this year’s NS to shame.

  • Frogpond

    Liked the violoin playing brothers.The batton guy was really good .
    Hated that burlesque group.
    Liked the opera guy even though I had no idea what he he was singing cause I don’t know anything about opera.

  • gingerly

    I really don’t think I can watch this on TV. There’s so much that was entertaining (in the weirdest sense of the word) but I’d never want to see it again. Neil Boyd was very impressive, but I’m not so into opera.

    Those twins, though. I had flashbacks to we are two wild and crazy guys (yup showing my age again).

  • http://kmantoniva.blogspot.com/ KristiVA

    One of the funniest parts of the show was Jerry worrying about the 82 year old tap dancer getting to close to the edge of the stage. :lol_tb:

  • ettacandy

    I like America’s Got Talent – it reminds me of the Ed Sullivan Show. Now THAT comment ages me by decades – although in my defense, I was so young that it was on after my bedtime…. and I had to go to bed as soon as Topogigio said “Eddie, keeeze me good naaaaaaaaaht”.

    OK. Back to the current century and AGT.

    So, I’ve watched this show for a few years, not as rabidly as Idol but… enough to say that the singers have underwhelmed me in general. I like the variety acts a bit more. Some of the magicians have been amazing in the past. And last year’s winner, Terry Fator (the ventriloquist whose puppets impersonated famous singers) was wonderful.

    I liked the hip hop violin boys, and the dancing trombone player was pee my pants hilarious. I think the little 4 year old singing girl was adorable (her parents didn’t seem too crazy to me, but they did put her out there). I wonder how she will handle the inevitable rejection? Doesn’t seem right to have the little ones on a show like this. I cried watching the 80 year old tap dancer because my 80-something mother can’t even walk anymore, so I had to hand it to her for having that stamina! But couldn’t someone have tucked her bra strap back in for her after she danced? I wanted to love the opera singer but I’ve heard the You Tube of Paul Potts… Paul Potts is a favorite of mine… and this man is not quite Paul Potts (vocally), IMO. Can’t help but want him to do well, though – he sure seems sweet.

    The performance of the night for me was the 17 year old boy baton twirler. He was really, really good. You could read all the pain on his face, and his mother’s face, and the look on those faces when he got his standing ovation was… awesome.

    My major complaint: I found last night’s show excessively Springer-like. What’s the purpose of a nasty audience? I mean, really. I thought that was unnecessary. Don’t remember that from past years.

  • Frogpond

    The audience did seem more rude last night ,than I ever recall before .
    It was so cute how Springer was soo worried about the little old lady who tapped danced also .

  • hoodathunk

    The opera singer is probably a staged ploy to recreate the Paul Potts phenomenon last year in the UK. I’m not falling for it.

  • Michelle

    I was sitting in back but remember not being as impressed with the opera guy as everyone else in the theater seemed to be. Seems like they’re gonna pimp him though, what with the extensive backstory and all. They did encourage us to go over the top with reaction, whether it was positive or negative…I guess Springer hosting should be a clue about the overall tone of the show.

    I was cracking up watching the intro package about last season’s winner. Doing the talk circuit with his turtle puppet. Really?! who gave this guy a $100M deal? Maybe I need to check out his stuff cause it must be AMAZING.

    Cannot believe the Romanian twins got through…guess eye candy counts for something on this show. The ones that I remember today for good or for bad are the Britney impersonator and the violin-brothers…they were pretty awesome!

    Agree that it was slightly icky with the 4-yr old…she was adorable, but I do not want a rash of little kids being put through cause they are cute, and the judges can’t say no…

  • Lisa

    Really?! who gave this guy a $100M deal? Maybe I need to check out his stuff cause it must be AMAZING.

    And he is amazing, check out his performance’s from last year on youtube.

    Here is *At Last* to get you started!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnVDHzUAj30

  • mtm

    The British version of this show last year had on a contestant that is just too similar to opera singer Boyd. It smells set-up to me. No doubt the man can sing but I’d be curious to know the whole story of how he made it on the show.

    Britan’s Got Talent “discovered” Paul Potts last year. A nobody cell phone salesman who sang the exact song Boyd did last night.

    Maybe I’m just jaded but it seems very coincidental, SIMON…

    Paul Potts sings Nessun Dorma
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA

  • Duke

    SpenserJ, yeah they mentioned it at the beginning of the show. He signed a 100million dollar contract to preform in Vegas on a nightly basis. They stated that the contract made him the most successful reality star in HISTORY. thats impressive. He was unbelievable. He was an amazing ventriloquist who did amazing voice impersonations while singing for them amazingly; and he was very funny. quite a nice combo

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=hnVDHzUAj30

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=kTSFhIv9bYg&feature=related **his best**

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=CuoR6OM6KxA&feature=related

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=iDoKF1NZ8P8&feature=related

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=bVRDvR7pjN4&feature=related

    And i think they really did a damage putting through those terrible twin singing girls last night. as well as the 4 year old. i mean lets be serious.

  • Hazehel

    Something I can never understand about this show is why they have Piers Morgan as a judge. I find him hard to watch – he is a sleazy guy (for example, while he was the editor of a British newspaper, he bought shares in a company and then proceeded to pimp that company in his newspaper), a rather nasty character and I really don’t know what qualifies him to be a judge on this show.

    As for the acts, I rather like the baton twirler and the violin guys. And as someone who listens to opera occasionally, I have to say that Neil Boyd is not a good opera singer, and neither is Paul Potts for that matter. I enjoyed this show for the variety acts, the singers on the show are generally not too good.

  • SpenserJ

    SpenserJ, yeah they mentioned it at the beginning of the show. He signed a 100million dollar contract to preform in Vegas on a nightly basis. They stated that the contract made him the most successful reality star in HISTORY.

    Thanks Duke. I really need to pay better attention at the beginning! Wow, that is amazing. But, I do remember seeing him for the first time last summer and being really, really impressed. Thanks for the videos – I never got to see a few of those.

    Oh and yes, those skanky twins were ridiculous. I’m sure the general population of Bucharest is quite pleased that the Pussy Cat Twins emigrated to the US.

  • Duke

    Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m sure the general population of Bucharest is quite pleased that the Pussy Cat Twins emigrated to the US.

    haha I’m sure that is a safe bet. And now that i think of if, i think their fate was predetermined, kinda like that time they let that crazy dave guy on idol through to hollywood. the producers probably talked about it before hand. God knows what they were thinking tho.