Although not a lot of people had faith in him, Howard Stern kicked things off as a pretty good judge in American Idol Season 7 Episode 1. Appropriately buzzer happy, funny, and mean, in spite his lack of Britishness, and only occasionally mildly inappropriate (less so than Steven Tyler and Christina Aguilera). The new judging panel turned out to go together well. We also saw a couple good acts, including earth harpist William Close and Light Wire Theater.
David Garibaldi has put together a grafiti, music, art dance group and is joined by his CMYK’s. I don’t get the whole dance portion of this routine, but the painting is pretty good. I’m not sure who it’s supposed to be, but it’s definitely a person, one who is not Howard Stern.
Mr. Special is a grown man in a chicken costume with a horn on a tiny bicycle. That was not very special at all.
Kim McAfee is a singer who loves Howard, the king. She’s a duet, or at least half of one. Her terrible singing quickly draws three buzzes. So seeing as she’s a disaster, Nick decides to prolong it. That doesn’t last any longer.
Cristin Sandu comes out on stage shirtless. He’s a balancer. The judges are impressed, but they wonder whether he can deliver more next time. Howie wonders enough to say no, but the other two want to see more.
What is up with the cameras and microphones on the idiots in the crowd this season?
The Lisa Clark Dancers tell us they are trained in many different styles of dance. Jack of all trades, master of none, but they’re narrowly decent enough to go to Vegas.
Dave Burleigh is a comedian impressionist, one who has to tell us the names of each person he’s impersonating, though I’ll take Howie’s word that they’re spot on.
Luiz Meneghin sings to his elderly patients every day during lunch. He manages to convert Howard into an opera fan.
Paula Nelson is known as Granny G. She makes her way out on stage with her walker to rap about horny boys making babies.
Kotton Kandy is a fat guy wearing entirely too little women’s clothing. The crowd loves him for some reason, but the judges have some sense.
Tim Hockenberry has been singing for 20 years. He wanted to do something before he turned 50, which gives him about 3 months. Howard calls his performance of You Are So Beautiful a breath of fresh air.
Funk Beyond Control is a tween dance group. They could go far.
Alonso “Turf” Jones is an extreme hip hop contortionist dancer. Oh, another one of those. His mom kicked out when he said he wanted to dance, leaving him homeless for 2 years. He hopes that he just proved that you can dance if that’s what you want to do.
Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of America’s Got Talent Season 7 Episode 3, which airs Monday at 8/7c on NBC.