Category: america’s got talent

Five more acts joined the final 10 in America’s Got Talent Season 4 Episode 24: Hairo Torres, Recycled Percussion, Barbara Padilla, Lawrence Beaman, and Drew Stevyns. They join The Texas Tenors, Grandma Lee, Kevin Skinner, Voices of Glory, and the Fab Five.

Tonight, the top 10 finalists will perform for America’s votes to win the $1 million prize. NBC has moved the show to Monday to make way for the premiere for The Biggest Loser 8 tomorrow night.

Voices of Glory go first. They sing Greatest Love of All by Whitney Houston, taking the judges’ advice and having the boys mostly just stay in the background. Piers has been waiting for it all to click into place, and tonight’s the night that it happened.

Hairo Torres is back to dance again. Sharon thinks he did the right thing by doing an emotional performance with just him and the stage. Piers loves Hairo, but he doesn’t think that routine worked. Without the group, he lost the fun.

Lawrence Beaman is going back old school with My First, My Last, My Everything by Barry White. He’s definitely in his element. Hoff is proud to be part of journey to become a star. Piers wasn’t quite getting that loving feeling like he would have gotten from love god Barry, but the vocals were great.

Barbara Padilla has been one of the clear frontrunners, so she’s got a lot to live up to tonight. She will be singing the song from her first audition. I’m not crazy about the concept of a repeat, but with her voice, I’m not sure how much it matters. Piers thinks that there are millions of people sitting at home thinking she’s one of us and living our dream. Hoff tells her to forget Vegas… she’s going to play bigger halls.

The Fab Five would like to thank their husbands for being Mr. moms and looking after their 17 (so pretty much no birth control in that family) kids between them. They dance to Britney Spears’ Circus, as a circus performs behind them. Sharon felt like she was in Vegas. Piers enjoys the infectious chemistry.

The Texas Tenors sing My Way by Frank Sinatra. Hoff loves that they did it their way. Piers loved that, despite the fact that it was the cheesiest thing ever in the history of cheese.

Drew Stevyns was cut early but found renewed life as a wild card. Now Sharon sees him as the dark horse who may potentially win this thing. He sings I’ll Stand by You by The Pretenders, recently covered by Carrie Underwood to make its return to the charts. Piers thought that was Drew’s best performance, and this could be the night when a wild card goes the whole way. If Sharon were looking for a young guy to be a soft rock singer, she’d pick him, though she’d like to see him in tighter trousers (she’s been looking at his… things all night).

Grandma Lee says she grew up playing pranks in children’s home. Sharon wants to see her move on from the Piers jokes. Grandma’s escorted out by a bunch of buff guys, and she’s pregnant. First thing out of her mouth: she’ll discuss this later with Piers. Her kids are out in the audience sweating like Ryan Seacrest watching Brokeback Mountain. She’s decided she’s over Piers. Now she loves Simon Cowell. Sharon’s accepted that the Piers jokes aren’t going away. Piers just thinks Simon’s already got enough women.

Kevin Skinner is another person who’s been running at the front of the pack since his first performance. Piers doesn’t think he’s yet delivered something that can win this whole competition, though. He sings I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing by Aerosmith, turning it into a country song. Piers views him as a rough diamond who probably needs professional training, but he represents the people who are struggling in this country.

Recycled Percussion will be closing out the show, not the closing choice I would have anticipated, but they close with a bang. They perform the song Wipe Out by The Sufaris. Piers would put them in Vegas tomorrow.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of America’s Got Talent Season 4 Episode 26, where we will find out who the America’s Got Talent Season 4 winner is, which airs Wednesday at 8/7c on NBC.

The final 10 semifinalists performed in America’s Got Talent Season 4 Episode 23, and tonight 5 more will advance to the finals.

Apparently, the Presidential address is like the Energizer Bunny. A live blog will begin whenever this is over.

Tonight there will be no judges’ pick. I don’t know. I’m okay with them making a choice.

Hairo Torres and FootworKINGZ step forward. This one’s obvious: Hairo advances to the finals.

Erik and Rickie are next up against Jeffrey Ou. I don’t see either of them making it. Neither do.

Mario & Jenny are up against Recycled Percussion. This would be a tough call if Mario & Jenny put on a good act last night, but it’s a no brainer that Recycled Percussion is the group to advance.

Lawrence Beaman, Drew Stevyns, the EriAm Sisters, and Barbara Padilla are competing for the three remaining spots. Between the three, I’d have to get rid of the EriAm Sisters. They’ve got great potential but just are not quite there yet. Obviously, Barbara Padilla is the first one to advance. Piers calls her performance the single greatest vocal performance ever on this show. The next spot goes to Lawrence Beaman. The final spot in the top 10 goes to Drew Stevyns.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of America’s Got Talent Season 4 Episode 25, which airs Tuesday at 8/7c on NBC.

The first group of 4 5 advanced to the finals in America’s Got Talent Season 4 Episode 22: The Texas Tenors, Grandma Lee, Kevin Skinner, Voices of Glory, and the Fab Five. Now the other half of the semifinalists perform for America’s votes.

Recycled Percussion is back playing drums on items they located at the local junk yard. Ryan has a story about how he got through tough times in his life by drumming. Piers is not sure whether they’re incredibly talented or completely mad. Sharon wants to see how much clothing she can get them to take off.

Lawrence Beaman sings I Keep on Falling in Love with You by Alisha Keys. Sharon loves the rich voice but could have done without the vocal acrobatics. Hoff liked the contemporary song choice. Piers, however, would prefer the old stuff and didn’t really like that performance.

Erik and Rickie have been working extra super duper duper hard on their new routine, where they play dolls coming to life in a toy store. Piers buzzes. Brave, but a bit like eating fries and custard together. Hoff thinks that Rickie’s the boy and Erika’s the girl. Sharon could not fault anything.

Despite the technical difficulties he faced, Jeffrey Ou managed to make it through the last round, surprising even himself. This week, his keyboard is hooked up to the lighting system, so he’s controlling all the lights. Piers buzzes again. The performance was a bit like Jeffrey’s hair, completely out of control. Sharon, however, was happy to see the return of the mad scientist, although the playing was pretty out there and not very good. Hoff thinks he enjoyed it. He’ll tell whether or not later.

Hairo Torres returns for some more freaky dancing. How the bloody hell does he bend his body like that? Sharon admires the addition of all the new steps, and she hopes to see him back. Piers and Hoff found him to be good fun.

The EriAm Sisters sing When You Believe from The Prince of Egypt by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. A dangerous song choice unless you’ve got the voice to pull it off. In parts, they do. Piers thought it was a pretty shaky start, but it became really good when they got their confidence.

Mario & Jenny start off dancing, something I could do without from this particular act. Piers buzzes them. Then Mario starts playing the drums. Huh? Finally, he lights the drum on fire and balances it. That’s the extent of the danger in their act. Piers thought they blew it. Sharon likes that they’re not one dimensional.

Drew Stevyns is the only wild card act to make a splash. He sings Never Gonna Dance Again by George Michael, a contemporary version that would work today. Sharon didn’t like the song but does like Drew and hopes that he, too, is in the finals. David compares it to Daughtry. Piers thinks the massive gamble to do that song like that paid off.

The FootworKINGz made it through as a judges’ pick last time. They will try to dance at 188 beats per minute, up from their typical 160-170. Buzzer from Piers again. Then Sharon. David just wants to see them dance, not this laser Power Rangers routine. Piers considered that career suicide. Sharon’s tired of seeing the same thing every time, even if it’s very well done.

Like Kevin Skinner last week, Barbara Padilla is the one the others in the group are trying to keep up with this week. She sings Ave Maria to a standing ovation. Piers says that all of America will remember where they were when she sang that because tonight a superstar was born. Sharon bows down to her.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of America’s Got Talent Season 4 Episode 24, which airs Wednesday at 9/8c on NBC.

10 of the top 20 performed in America’s Got Talent Season 4 Episode 21, and tonight 4 will move on to the finals.

Arcadian Broad, The Texas Tenors, and Drew Thomas Magic step forward. Drew Thomas Magic is the first act to go home. The Texas Tenors advance to the next round.

Tony and Rory, Grandma Lee, and Paradizo Dance are next. I’m assuming it’ll be Grandma Lee. Paradizo Dance is the next act to go home. Excellent act, but they just didn’t bring it strong enough last night. The next act to join the finals is Grandma Lee.

So just out of curiosity, why exactly is Hasselhoff singing?

Kevin Skinner, AcroDunk, the Voices of Glory, and the Fab Five step forward next. That basically gives everybody who’s not Kevin Skinner a 1 in 3 chance. It comes as no surprise to anyone that Kevin Skinner is going to the next round. The next act to go home is AcroDunk. Back in season 1, they were also eliminated in the semifinals.

That leaves the two acts that came in fourth in fifth in the audience vote, and it’s up to the judges who will go to the finals. Sharon doesn’t want to make a choice. David wants time to think. Piers will speak for the panel. Both acts are going through to the finals.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of America’s Got Talent Season 4 Episode 23, which airs Tuesday at 9/8c on NBC.

Drew Stevyns, The EriAm Sisters, Recycled Percussion, Barbara Padilla, and Erik and Rickie rounded out the top 20 in America’s Got Talent Season 4 Episode 20. Tonight 10 of the top 20 acts perform to kick off the semifinals. Only 4 will remain standing.

AcroDunk is up first. Their plan for the night is to jump through fire. The fire only lasts for about 5 seconds, but it’s cool when it is going on. Piers calls that one of the most thrilling, exciting, dynamic, dangerous, entertaining things he’s seen on the show.

The Texas Tenors will be taking Hasselhoff’s advice as they sing a ballad tonight. Their song choice is Unchained Melody. It sounds good but… I don’t know how well country and opera really go together. Sharon mostly still just likes the blonde guy in the middle. Hoff calls them the frontrunners to win the competition because they listened to him. Piers, however, believes they didn’t listen to him and were more cheesy than ever, but he thinks they’re right to have done that because cheesy works for them and their performance was brilliant.

Paradizo Dance will have to hope that he’s recovered from having burned his hand on a curling iron. She starts off by standing on his head. How do they do this? Then they do the amazing lifts we’ve come to expect from them. For Sharon, she liked the light-hearted act, but she would have preferred the more romantic dance. Hoff agrees but hopes America votes them back. Piers thinks they’ve forgotten their unique selling point: her lifting him. That’s what I was waiting for, too.

Drew Thomas Magic’s performance tonight will be based on his daughter. Apparently. All I see are a bunch of hot chicks appearing out of thin air. Then the girls disappear and his daughter is holding some dolls. Piers hated it. The music was slow, and the pace was absurd. He thinks he’s a one trick pony. Drew will be doing his own disappearing act after that. Sharon thinks he’s fabulous. Hoff liked the heartfelt change to the show.

Tony Hoard and Rockin Rory are not good enough for Piers, but Sharon defends her decision. Tony had to quit his job from a factory he’s been at for 24 years because they wouldn’t give him unpaid time off when he ran out of his vacation time. Boo. Dude, mention the name of that company so they get the press they deserve. After that performance, Sharon’s been vindicated. Following the compliments, she makes sure to trash Tony’s ex-boss. Piers didn’t buzz, which is new. He was impressed.

The Voices of Glory sing a version of Anytime You Need a Friend by Mariah Carey that’s mostly just okay. Piers likes what they stand for but would like Nadia to do more of the singing. Sharon will see them again at the finals.

The Fab Five have been dancing together since they were kids. Piers maybe would have liked to see a change of pace tonight. He’s not sure they can get through tonight with the standard that’s been set. Sharon calls them very Vegas.

Grandma Lee starts off dancing with two half dressed guys. She knows everybody wants her body. Form a line. She has a warning for the married women out there: laugh it up now because in another 40 years you’ll be like her. Then she pulls off her pants to reveal Piers’ boxers. Sharon loves everything about her and just hopes that people bring her back. Piers invites her to get in his shorts any time. He thinks she deserves to get to the finals.

Arcadian Broad needs to make sure he just dances this time. He will be bringing a partner into the show with him. Potentially huge risk, but it’s mostly just his solo dancing to High School Musical mixed in with background dancers. Piers was glad there was no piano. He has just one question: is he good enough? No. Just too early for him. Arcadian’s defense: he didn’t want to do HSM. The producers made him. That ain’t gonna win you any votes.

Whatever anybody else may do, they’re going to have trouble knocking Kevin Skinner from the front of people’s radars. Tonight he’s singing his dad’s favorite song, Always on My Mind by Willie Nelson. Piers has never seen someone with this ability to move an audience on this show. He’s the favorite to win the competition. Sharon knows he’ll be coming back.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of America’s Got Talent Season 4 Episode 22, which airs Wednesday at 9/8c on NBC.

The remaining acts performed in America’s Got Talent Season 4 Episode 19, and tonight five more will round out the top 20.

The EriAm Sisters and Drew Stevyns are first. Anybody’s game, but I gotta go with Drew. He does advance to the next round. He’s not alone, though. The EriAm Sisters are through as well.

Pam Martin’s Top Dogs, African High Flyers, and Coney Island Chris are up next. Between the three, I’d go with Pam Martin, but America’s votes eliminate all of them. Tough night of competition. Pam Martin’s dog act certainly beats Rockin Rory.

Recycled Percussion, Matt and Anthony, and Ishaara are next. I’m assuming Matt and Anthony are gone, which they are. I could see either of the other two advancing, but it’s Recycled Percussion getting the votes.

The Lollipop Girls, Mia Boostrom, Barbara Padilla, and Erik and Rickie all step forward. If it’s not Barabara Padilla, I’ll eat my hat. The Lollipop Girls are the first act eliminated. Barbara Padilla moves to the next round.

That brings us down to fifth and sixth place Mia Boostrom and Erik and Rickie. Given the talent and sheer amount of other singers, I’d expect Erik & Rickie to advance over Mia. Hoff votes for Erik and Rickie. Sharon votes for Mia. Piers breaks the tie to send Erik and Rickie to the semifinals.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of America’s Got Talent Season 4 Episode 21, which airs Tuesday at 9/8c on NBC.

Jeffrey Ou, Lawrence Beaman, Mario & Jenny, Hairo Torres, and FootworKINGz advanced to the semifinals in America’s Got Talent Season 4 Episode 18. Tonight the final 12 acts perform.

The contestants competing tonight are:

Ishaara
Coney Island Chris
Matt & Anthony
Pam Martin’s Top Dogs
African High Flyers
Erik & Rickie
The EriAm Sisters
Mia Boostrom
Recycled Percussion
Barbara Padilla

Additionally, the two wild cards are:

Drew Stevyns
Lollipop Girls

Bollywood dance group Ishaara is up first. Piers enjoys the act, but mostly can’t take his eyes off the blonde chick in the middle. Hoff calls them the best dance act on the show.

Opera singer Barbara Padilla hopes to be a good example for her adopted daughter. She brings down the house. Sharon’s breath has been taken away. Hoff tells her she is exactly where she is supposed to be because she’s a star. Piers says this is the reason Simon Cowell created this show, and the bar has been raised so high that nobody will beat her tonight.

Pam Martin has brought with her another one of her top dogs, Spy, Viva’s brother. Hoff tells her she’s may not win, but she does have a place in Vegas. Piers is surprised that Spy did not make any mistakes and he didn’t have to buzz. Sharon mostly just likes dogs that don’t pee everywhere.

The African High Flyers grew up hanging out on the beach in Kenya, performing their acrobatic dance routines for tips from tourists. Piers buzzes because they have not progressed far enough from the auditions. Although Sharon enjoyed the show, she agrees with him. Hoff, however, loved it.

Mia Boostrom returns to sing and play piano to Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen. A risky song. Sharon hopes she’s in the five. Hoff is proud to have been part of her transformation. Piers has a big but. Not a perfect performance, especially at the higher range. He can’t rate her above Kevin Skinner, Lawrence Beaman, or Barbara Padilla.

Erik & Rickie are ballroom dancers ages 8 and 9. They’ve been dancing since they were kids. Their performance for this evening is the paso doble. Quite talented for their ages, but I still say they’re no Cheeky Monkeys. Hoff could see them going all the way. Piers is impressed with Erik’s improvement. Sharon wants to see people vote.

Coney Island Chris is just hoping not to kill himself. First he lights his tongue on fire, resulting in buzzers from Piers and Sharon. Then he drinks some lamp oil and spits fire, followed by lighting his butt on fire. As he gets extinguished, Hoff makes it three buzzers. Piers was horrified. By how bad it was. Sharon doesn’t know how he got this far. Hoff just wanted to see him set himself on fire.

Matt Lucas is a guitar player, while Anthony Morigerato is a tap dancer. How do they combine to form a cohesive act? Well, I guess that’s still the unanswered question. Piers buzzes. Sharon loves Anthony’s dancing, but the combination just doesn’t gel. Hoff thinks the combination works, even though it’s a little rusty. Piers appreciates Anthony’s dancing like Sharon, but he doesn’t like that the singing, while competent, isn’t up to par.

The Lollipop Girls are the first wild card act of the night. I don’t know that they’re necessarily hot enough to do this stripper routine, although they do get themselves plenty of whistling (apparently all from one guy) regardless. Hoff says that Vegas needs an act like this. Piers could watch that for a long time. He became more certain the more they took off.

The other wild card act of the night is singer Drew Stevyns. Piers doesn’t think he has the voice to carry him through. He sings and plays guitar to How to Save a Life by The Fray. Not sure it’s enough, but he’s definitely got something there. Piers doesn’t think he’s the best singer, but he sees desire and hunger. Respectable effort and probably the best performance he’s ever given. When he heard him earlier, Hoff thought he was the guest star of the week.

Recycled Percussion create music with just about anything they can get their hands on. Sharon applauds them for listening to the judges and making it more musical. Hoff just wants to go bang on and break things as soon as he calms down a little. Piers calls them 20 times better than before.

The EriAm Sisters are semi-professional singers ages 12-16. They sing Beyonce’s Crazy in Love. Hoff warns them they sing so great, but the dancing is just okay. Piers doesn’t know what Destiny’s Child were like at their age (they performed on Star Search in the 90s, and they thought they were rappers), but he thinks we’re looking at the next Destiny’s Child.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of America’s Got Talent Season 4 Episode 20, which airs Wednesday at 9/8c on NBC.

12 more acts performed in America’s Got Talent Season 4 Episode 17, and tonight 5 of them will move on.

Bri and Jeffrey Ou step forward. Despite his technical problems, Jeffrey advances. I wouldn’t be surprised if some people voted for him because he got screwed over.

Jay Mattioli, Dave Johnson, and Lawrence Beaman are next. This should be the most obvious result of the night. Lawrence Beaman goes to the semifinals.

Mario & Jenny and Marcus Terrell and The Serenades go next. Mario & Jenny move to the next round. I don’t know whether it cost him or not, but Marcus was invited back as a solo act and failed to follow those simple instructions.

U4RIA, G-Force, and Hairo Torres are next. I’ve gotta give credit to U4RIA, but Hairo not only did well but has the established fan base. He proceeds to the semifinals.

Pixie Mystere and FootworKINGz placed fifth and sixth. The judges will vote. Sharon votes for the FootworKINGz. Piers agrees.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of America’s Got Talent Season 4 Episode 19, which airs Tuesday at 9/8c on NBC.