America’s Got Talent Season 7 Episode 16

The first four acts survived America’s votes in America’s Got Talent Season 7 Episode 15. Tonight the next group of 12 semifinalists perform: LionDanceMe, Turf, The All Ways, Hawley Magic, Lisa Clark Dancers, Aurora Light Painters, Danielle Stallings, Donovan & Rebecca, Big Barry, Tom Cotter, Ben Blaque, and Tim Hockenberry.

LionDanceMe is what it sounds like, a group of people dancing/jumping while dressed like lions. I guess it’s moderately entertaining for a festival or something, but I don’t get it in this setting. The judges grow tired of the same thing every week. Howie takes it a step further and says he’s bored.

Turf has been living in Vegas since boot camp, and he says he enjoys street dancing there better than San Francisco. Howie gives him a standing ovation because he thinks he wants it more than anybody else. Sharon would like to see more dance with the contortion. Howard agrees.

The All Ways is a boy band lost in the 80s. They try their hand at a poppier rock song, Lady GaGa’s Telephone. I don’t get it. Howie would rather see them as a rock band, not whatever that was. Howard tells them they can’t have it all ways. Sharon wants less screaming.

Hawley Magic are living in their parents’ basement as they struggle to make a living being illusionists. Their act for tonight is for her to balance on a sword that goes through her. Decent I suppose. The judges enjoyed that, with reservations, suggesting they are too old school.

Lisa Clark Dancers fuze jazz, contemporary, and tap. I don’t know what to make of that either. Howie buzzes. He was waiting for something that didn’t arrive. Sharon didn’t like it either, but she blames the choreographer. Howard thinks they’re being rough, though he considers them out of their league.

Aurora Light Painters do their art in the dark. Howard buzzes, and we hear some booing. Howie doesn’t know why they voted them through. Sharon was against bringing them back, and she still thinks it’s not good enough yet.

Danielle Stallings was quickly skipped past earlier in the season, but she proves to be a decent singer. Howard has decided she is memorable, which he didn’t think before. Howie’s so bored he’s surfing the web, but he pauses from Twitter to say Danielle’s one of the rare bright spots so far tonight.

Donovan & Rebecca are a powerful aerial duo who are no strangers to the Got Talent stage. Sharon respects that they do something different every time. Howard enjoyed what they did, but he’d be more impressed if she were to lift him again.

I think we can safely move past Big Barry with no comment. As much as Howard wishes to argue with Howie about how stupid it is for Big Barry to be in this competition, the fact is Howard was the second yes vote that allowed him to get past the auditions in the first place.

Comedian Tom Cotter spends his 90 seconds making fun of the English language. It’s funny because it’s true. Howard calls him the man to beat. Sharon wants him to be in the finals. Resident comic Howie agrees.

Ben Blaque returns with a crossbow. Or 4. He places balloons around his assistant and fires all the crossbows at once. Howard thinks America will put him through, and finally the night is getting started.

Tim Hockenberry has been labeled Joe Cocker, Jr., which is working for him. So tonight he hopes to shake that image some. This pleases Howie, who now thinks he could win. His biggest supporter Howard, however, was disappointed.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of America’s Got Talent Season 7 Episode 17, which airs Wednesday at 9/8c on NBC.