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Another dull start in America’s Got Talent Season 7 Episode 16 was eventually offset by some actually good acts. Tonight 4 more will advance to the next round.

Unlike last week when Howard influenced the results to his liking (I don’t think it’s a coincidence that all four acts that advanced were ones he picked), this week he declines to make a prediction.

Tim Hockenberry and Turf are up first. They both advance in the least convincing fake out of the season. What this does is reduce us to only one more result in the next 40 minutes. This is the reason why the results shows in Britain and Canada are only half an hour long.

Lisa Clark Dancers, The All Ways, Aurora Light Painters, and Big Barry are next. I don’t see any of these acts advancing, without even considering there are still more acts left to get results and only one more that will make it before the judges make their decision. That was even worse than the first fake out.

Tom Cotter, LionDanceMe, and Hawley Magic are the next group. The magic act is interesting enough, but no way they take out the comedian. Tom Cotter moves to the next round.

The last remaining acts are Ben Blaque, Donovan & Rebecca, and Danielle Stallings. Danielle seemed like the clear boot of the three, but Ben Blaque is out. In either scenario, Donovan & Rebecca were going to get the judges’ votes. Howard votes for Donovan & Rebecca. Sharon votes for Danielle. Howie makes it 2 votes for Donovan & Rebecca.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of America’s Got Talent Season 7 Episode 18, which airs Tuesday at 8/7c on NBC.

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.

The first 12 acts performed in America’s Got Talent Season 7 Episode 14. Tonight 4 acts will advance to the next round based on America’s votes.

1/4 of the way through, I’d think I would have some favorites, but I found it all very lackluster. I guess the art was pretty good.

The first group is Michael Nejad, Shanice & Maurice, and Nikki Jensen. Clearly Michael is toast. I’m guessing the father and daughter are the safe ones, though I think Nikki has more potential. As expected, Shanice & Maurice move to the next round.

The second trio of acts is Scott Brothers, Lil Starr, and 787 Crew. Any other year I’d think people would give Lil Starr a pass, but Howard derailed her, as the judges also did with 787 Crew. That leaves us with the Scott Brothers advancing.

The next group is David Garibaldi & His CMYK’s, Jarrett & Raja, and the American BMX Stunt Team. Jarrett & Raja blew it with an act that I didn’t really get in the first place. American BMX Stunt Team was interesting enough, but they just couldn’t compete with David Garibaldi, who moves with his CMYK’s to the next round.

That leaves Edon, Todd Oliver, and the Distinguished Men of Brass. One of these acts will be eliminated right away, leaving the judges to choose between the other two, who came in fourth and fifth. I didn’t really care for them, but I didn’t imagine the Distinguished Men of Brass getting the boot over Todd Oliver. That leaves the judges with a choice that was obvious regardless. Howie votes for Edon. Howard makes it two, and Edon advances to the next round. Sharon agrees with this decision.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of America’s Got Talent Season 7 Episode 16, which airs Tuesday at 8/7c on NBC.

Vegas week concluded with the standby performances in America’s Got Talent Season 7 Episode 13. Tonight the quarterfinals begin. The first 12 acts to perform are: Distinguished Men of Brass, Edon, Jarrett & Raja, Lil Starr, Todd Oliver, American BMX Stunt Team, Nikki Jensen, The Scott Brothers, Michael Nejad, 787 Crew, Shanice & Maurice Hayes, and David Garibaldi & His CMYK’s.

We kick things off with marching band Distinguished Men of Brass. This would probably be great to watch in a parade, but it’s not a Vegas act. Howie loves it and sees potential, potentially. Howard thinks it will sound strange on TV.

Edon is the first singer. Of many many many singers. He also plays the piano. Sharon felt the song choice was amazing. Howard thinks he did a great job, which seems to surprise him.

Jarrett & Raja are a pianist and a magician, a combination they have learned nobody understands. Count me in that group. By the end, the crowd turns on them and starts booing. Sharon uses the phrase we were all thinking: cheesy. Singing in the Rain just doesn’t mix with magic. To add to it, you could see the feet of the women they were making appear.

Lil Starr is a 6 year old who makes tap dancing look cool. Howard doesn’t think she’s up to it. Brilliant for her age, but she can’t win. At least he’s not afraid to be honest.

Todd Oliver is back with Irving the talking dog and Irving’s gal pal Lucy. The judges pan his act because the material is not very funny.

American BMX Stunt Team look good doing their bike stunts. Howard’s surprised he actually likes them and gives them credit for being better than their main competitors. Sharon points out a mistake, but says it’s understandable considering the confined space.

Nikki Jensen made her way from Australia to be a singer. Howie enjoys her unique voice, but she’ll have to do more if she wants to win. Howard finds her nice but not memorable.

The Scott Brothers have been street dancing for 32 years. They realize they lack the tricks of the other dance acts. It shows. If you’re that far behind the others in the category, the smart direction to go in would be to make people laugh, as a few interesting moves are unlikely to be enough. But they do have the support of the judges.

Michael Nejad plays instruments made with items purchased from his local hardware store. As he’s playing his bat flute, Howard immediately buzzes him. The chorus of boos starts with the shovel violin. Howie buzzes when he starts playing the vacuum. And Sharon makes three.

787 Crew have been given a second chance in spite of falling apart in Vegas. Howie calls this a step back from their first two performances.

Shanice & Maurice Hayes are the father/daughter singing duo that Howie worries are being held back by one partner. After that performance, though, Howie gives them a standing ovation.

The final act of the night is David Garibaldi & His CMYK’s. The dance aspect of it still seems like filler to me, perhaps necessary filler, but the art is very good.

Howard does something most judges are afraid to do (most judges on these shows are too timid to even name one name). His prediction of the four acts to advance: David Garibaldi, Edon, Scott Brothers, and Shanice & Maurice Hayes.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of America’s Got Talent Season 7 Episode 15, which airs Tuesday at 9/8c on NBC.

The eliminations continued in America’s Got Talent Season 7 Episode 12. Tonight Vegas week concludes. 20 spots remain for the standby acts.

Magicians go first. Hawley Magic float on air. Giani is fixin to read minds. Jarrett & Raja make an orchestra appear.

What would the night be without 3 or 4 or 12 music categories? We start with bands. The All Ways rock out to a Christina Aguilera song. Wordspit, the Illest! mix rapping with Sinatra. The HillBenders are a bluegrass band. Dillon Havins and Friends are a string band featuring a 12 year old lead singer. The Emily Anne Band is a girl plus one guy group with a throwback sound. The Distinguished Men of Brass are a marching band. I hope Howard doesn’t have his heart set on a great band because he’s not finding one in this lot.

The danger category goes next. LionDanceMe combine dancing with lion costumes. Cliff’s Demo Team are a group of child martial artists. Kota Sports ride scooters. Serengeti Steve greets Howie but can’t speak because he has a mouthful of cockroaches, which he follows by playing with a deadly cobra.

Now it’s time for more kids, all with musical talents. Lil Babywockee wants Howard to know she’s ready because she’s been dancing since she was a toddler (2 years ago). Lil Starr adds a bit of attitude to her tapping. Danielle Stallings (singer), The Cos Fam (dancers), Tevin McGuire (singer), and Unity in Motion (dancers) get lumped into a montage. Cos kids look good, but Unity in Motion make some mistakes. The Williams Bruthuz are dancers who say they’ve redone their act based on their competition, which may not have paid off since they seem to have forgotten half of it.

The acrobats take the stage. Summer Lacy does the aerial hoop. Benn Mendoza Circus perform Alice in Wonderland in the air with perhaps too much dancing. Donovan and Rebecca didn’t win Britain’s Got Talent, so now it’s time to try it in America instead.

There’s an entire category of rappers? Rob Hayes doesn’t like any of his competition, either the grandma (Granny G) or the really white guy (The Rhymatist). Svet is a rapping violinist. Not content with just rapping, Granny does some stripping. Burton Crane has been a rapper since 1972. So he pretty much invented rap music. Too bad after 40 years all his songs only have one tune.

Now for the dance groups. Battle Born is a breaking crew. Old Shoes, New Shoes is a tapping duo far apart in years. LCD – Lisa Clark Dancers, Scott Brothers, and Inspire the Fire (who also sing reasonably well) join the fun.

The novelty acts don’t quite fit anywhere else, even if half of them have music acts. David Garibaldi and his CMYK’s paint while dancing. I don’t get the point of the bad dancing, but the art’s good. Ventriloquist John Pizzi does some marriage counseling that leaves the judges thinking how hot the girl in his act is. Michael Nejad plays a shovel with strings. Mike Pierce juggles with lighted props. The Two Bits are retired dancers. Big Barry barely survived the audition round, but he lived to sing hopefully for a last time.

Next dance category, solo dancers. Turf and Stepz know each other from dance battles, and they’re looking forward to another battle and some contortionism. Unlike her competition, Lindsey Norton is as much an acrobat as she is a dancer. Elusive started dancing because he was born half deaf and needed an outlet.

With all of the acts having performed, it’s time for the judges to make their decisions.

Cos Fam, Williams Bruthuz, and Lil Babywockee have been cut, but the rest of the kids acts make it through. Elusive and Lindsey advance, as do the CYMK’s. Old Shoes, New Shoes are out. Hawley Magic and Jarrett & Raja make four magic acts in the top 48. Distinguished Men of Brass and The All Ways are the bands that make it. Inspire the Fire are going to New York, but John and The Two Bits are going home. Cliff’s Demo Team and Serengeti Steve are eliminated, but LionDanceMe somehow aren’t. Scott Brothers and Lisa Clark Dancers make it. Every rapper has been eliminated. Donovan & Rebecca are the only ones in their category to advance. Big Barry has not yet been put out of his misery, while actually talented acts get dismissed. With one spot remaining, who won the dance battle? Turf.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of America’s Got Talent Season 7 Episode 14, which airs Monday at 8:30/7:30c on NBC.

The road to the top 48 began in America’s Got Talent Season 7 Episode 11. Tonight Vegas week continues.

The magic category starts first. Eric Dittelman reads Sharon’s mind of her first crush, the name of whom she just made up. Taylor Reed makes a helicopter appear. Escape artist Spencer Horseman makes his way out of a locked tank of water.

Next singing category, vocal groups. Eric & Olivia still aren’t in love. I’m still not sure what purpose he serves, but she has an interesting voice. Maurice & Shanice Hayes stumble, as again she outperforms her partner. Jorge & Alexa Narvaez seem to be pretty much guaranteed a spot since she’s 7, though Howard says it sounds like a dress rehearsal.

Comedians are the next group, well aware they are facing an uphill battle. Jacob Williams, Sammy Obeid, Dave Burleigh, Kellen Erskine, Tom Cotter, and Frank Roche are in this group. Tom seems to have the most success. Frank can’t even get through his act, and he’s gone.

Next we move on to the kids. Sebastien “El Charro de Oro” returns with his mariachi band. Issac Brown is still primarily carried by his charisma. Piano player Edon and dance crew The Untouchables round out the musical stylings. Amazing Elizabeth is a 6 year old who does an aerial act. Now that’s something I haven’t seen before.

From musical kids, we move to male singers. Because there hasn’t been enough music yet. Ulysses remains a theme song singer. Daniel Park gets skipped past quickly. Jake Wesley Rogers has Sharon on his side. Tim Poe, who has been accused of making up his military injury, follows. Tim Hockenberry is the bright spot of the category.

Jorge & Alexa have been eliminated. Tom and Jacob are the comedians to make it. Loyalty Dance Team is out. Amazing Elizabeth and Issac are as well, but The Untouchables, Edon, Sebastien advance. Tim Poe and Ken get cut while 787 Crew make it. Tim Hockenberry, Jake, and even Ulysses are going to New York. Both the duos with noticeably weaker components make it through. Spencer does, too, as does painter Joe Castillo. Ben Blaque joins the lucky list. Apparently stupidity is a talent because Horse is not left behind. Simply Sergio and Luiz Meneghin are eliminated. Andrew de Leon, who looked like he was going to win this whole thing at first, faces perhaps the most shocking elimination of the lot.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of America’s Got Talent Season 7 Episode 13, which airs Wednesday at 9/8c on NBC.