Tonight, America’s Got Talent 2016 Semi Final round continues with more LIVE SHOWS. Eleven acts will compete for YOUR VOTES and the favor of the panel of judges, Simon Cowell, Mel B., Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel. The show airs LIVE from the Dolby Theater in Hollywood.
VOTE online beginning NOW at NBC.com. Only FIVE acts will survive to advance to the finals. Tonight’s list of acts and performance order with voting phone numbers are also at that link!
Brian Justin Crum has the PIMP SPOT.
Jayna Brown – Singer – She was Louis Tomlinson’s golden buzzer during the judges cuts round. She’s been accepted to a performing arts high school, so if she doesn’t make the AGT finals, she’s all set. The 14 year old really wants to buy her mother a house. She sings “Rise” by Katy Perry. Blargh. This song is such a dirge. It is dramatic, though. She sings it better than Katy. This IS probably Jayna’s best vocal to date. She has a tendency to go off pitch. Simon says…it wasn’t great…IT WAS INCREDIBLE. He’s so excited, he buzzes. Calls it her best performance. I KNEW he was faking her out. Howie says she set the bar. Mel says she pulled off a big song. “You continue to rise, rise rise,” says Heidi.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbpcEMgvcdI
Kadan Bart Rockett – Kid Magicians – Brother and sister are the youngest performers left in the competition. They have a very cool tree house. This week, the two won’t be foes. They’re working on their teamwork skills. “But she is very annoying,” bro says about sis. They unveil a photo of bro’s school class. FANCY PRIVATE SCHOOL. Or maybe it’s all fake and their aping Harry Potter. Anywho. Every single kid in the photo appears out of nowhere during various points of the trick. The teacher finally appears in a burst of pyro. Howie loves magic that makes him feel like a kid done by kids. Mel didn’t think it was that slick. They had some issues with the house falling apart. Heidi says they deserve an A+. Simon disagrees with Mel B. He thought it was their best trick to date. Hm. I agree with Mel. That bit was klugey and kind of easy to figure out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVzQY9S10jU
Kadie Lynn – Singer – She’s the 12 year old country singer with the older adoptive parents. She’s still crying about them. Mom is crying too. She sings “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack. It’s a crowd pleasing song, but a little beyond Kadie’s vocal abilities. There is a lot to like about her earnest, heartfelt delivery–but maybe not on a conventional country pop tune. There are FIVE singers tonight. Lots of competition. Mel notes that she was nervous near the end of the performance. But she asks America to vote. Heidi admires her poise. Simon is blown away. He felt she nailed it this time. Howie notes the tough competition. “You’ve done all you can do,” he says.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y0yrdTFvao
Viktor Kee – Juggler – He shares a story about his juggling mentor, who was like a father figure to him. He died before Viktor performed on a big stage. The elegiac juggler bursts out of box with his bright balls. Oh. He dropped one. He tosses them high and away and more drop from the ceiling. Viktor combines dance, movement and juggling in a graceful act. “You can play with your balls all day long!” enthuses Heidi, “I think you’re very special. “You only have balls,” says Simon, “But you do something incredible. Best performance.” All this talk about balls. Hm. He believes Viktor deserves a place in the final. Howie calls him the Baryshnikov of juggling. Mel wants to make sure people vote for him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgmQZI3I_r0
Linkin’ Bridge – A’cappella Singers – The four singers talk about their hard upbringing in Louisville as they hold photos of themselves as children. Aptly, they sing “7 Years” by Lukas Graham, This song is a tad corny for my taste. But it is a crowd pleaser. The harmonies sound a little off this week. There are plenty of solos tonight–something Simon complained about previously. They get a standing ovation. Simon calls it a stunning performance, and song choice. “Perfect,” he says. He thinks they deserve a place in the final next week. LIKE EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO HAS PERFORMED SO FAR. GUYS ONLY 5 CAN GO THROUGH. Howie says they all should be proud of themselves. “You were in it to win it,” says Mel, channelling Randy Jackson. “You put Boyz II Men to shame!” Heidi says, “Well done again!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLYe3b9iNng
The Passing Zone – Jugglers – This duo was eliminated in the quarterfinals, but brought back by the judges JUST so they could incorporate Simon into the act this week, as they promised. Simon wanted “more risk of death” from them. That’s what they’re planning. “The other three judges are going to love this!” they say. The act involves flaming torches, which they drop by accident/on purpose to make Simon nervous. To up the ante, they outfit Simon with a super dorky looking helmet with a propeller thing attached. The propellers are lit and spin while the fellows juggle fire. “I wanted to make a wish,” says Howie. “He almost died, didn’t he?” Mel B. loves their banter. “Why didn’t you keep him up there longer! Extra crispy.” Heidi hasn’t laughed that hard in a long time. She’s impressed his chest hair wasn’t burnt. Honestly, they were only put through for the Simon bit. He was a good sport, playing it to the hilt. I would be surprised if they advanced to the finals, though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG_SoPL0ra4
Calysta Bevier – Singer – She’s the young vocalist who had Ovarian cancer. She becomes very emotional as she talks about hospital friends who didn’t recover like she did. Celebrating a year in remission, Calysta sings “Human” by Christina Perri. Although there are moments when a nice tone shines through, the singer has real problems staying on pitch. She could really use some vocal training. But, her story is so heart rending, it’s hard to imagine she won’t advance. Simon wants it to happen so much for her. She was his golden buzzer. “You’ve done enough to be in the finals,” he says. Howie believes she’s a great example of survival. Mel thought she held her own with a big song, but she was waiting for that break out note. I don’t think she has the vocal chops to sing big notes, actually.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiCuEtwTvPY
Steven Brundage – Rubik’s Cube Magician – He’s obsessed with complex puzzles. What he’s doing tonight, he’s never done before. He’ll use 200 cubes in a giant tower. He begins at the judges table with one cube. Cubes magically solve themselves! He’s also got a stack of playing cards with celebrity names printed on them. Nick picks a card. Meanwhile the judges each mix up a cube, and Nick helps add the cubes to the tower. When Nick reveals his card and it says “Brad Pitt” the tower turns into a rendering of the movie star! Heidi loves his creativity. “You’ve made the boring, fascinating, says Simon who thinks Steve is most improved. He thanks America for bringing him back.
Andra Day will perform tomorrow night.
Sofie Dossi – Contortionist – She’s taught herself everything she knows, the pretzel twists come that easy to her. The 14 year old, dressed in shiny silver, begins with stunts on her pedestals, including one handed turns. Her butt is practically touching her head. A large hoop falls from the stage ceiling, and it lifts her up, up, up as she performs more tricks. She hangs on the hoop by just her neck. And that was it? Hm. Where were the flaming cross bows? Simon feels like he’s watching the olympics. He’s impressed with her showmanship. Howie was so worried and so thrilled! Mel thinks maybe it looked better in studio. “The best performance of tonight for me.” Heidi liked that she left the bow and arrow at home. I don’t know if I agree with that. Her skill with the bow and arrow is what sets her apart from other contortion acts. The wow factor was missing for me this week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnZGrFpIhhA
The Clairvoyants – Mentalists – They tell a story about finding a book in the woods blah blah blah the couple discovered they had a special connection blah blah blah. C’mon you guys. Mind reading isn’t really a thing! The dude asks Howie, Mel and Heidi to think of something specifically personal and write it down. They call Simon to the stage and ask him to imagine a particular time. They pull a clock out of a bag that matches the time he gave. The rest of the judges join the Clairvoyants on stage and sit around a table like they were conducting a seance. The woman, Amalie is able to guess what the judges wrote on their papers. A folded piece of paper in a necklace Amalie was wearing had the name of Mel’s grandmother on it. She had only written down the initials! Mel is floored. The duo’s tricks are SOOOO slick. It’s Howie’s favorite moment of the night. Mel is freaked out. “I haven’t seen my grandma for 9 years! I’m really scared.” Heidi is sure they’ll make the finals. “It’s like being in a ghost movie with you two,” says Simon. “You put on this really delicious, creepy show.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egEVFFiq9M0
Brian Justin Crum – Singer – He talks about moving to LA to MAKE it as if he’s a nobody, rather than a performer with a 10 year long Broadway career. That really bugs me. At least he hasn’t gone on about being bullied years ago in high school like he has in previous packages. Brian sings a haunting ballady version of “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears. It’s super theatrical, giving the singer an opportunity to show off his big theater-filling voice. The orchestra booms in the background! I’m not in love with this arrangement, but it suits the big AGT stage. You can actually imagine Brian headlining that big Las Vegas show in October. OOOOOH. He ends with a HUGE HUGE GLORY NOTE. He and Grace Vanderwaal will probably be the last two standing. Mel compares him to Beyonce blowing everyone away on the VMAs. Heidi loved his passion and intensity. Simon didn’t like the start of the track, but it got better midway, he says. “You were this shy little thing in the auditions,” says Simon. HE’S BEEN ON THE BROADWAY STAGE. He didn’t just fall off a truck. Simon is sure America will get behind him. “You are ruling the world tonight,” says Howie, calling it the strongest performance of the night. He BEGS America to vote.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxIEJ7YdqoY
