America's Got Talent 2008 - 08/27/2008

[Here are two-minute recaps of prior 2008 shows. http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/video/categories/two-minute-replays/35417/]

Top five from last night, and the next group of 10 acts.

From last night, these are the ones that got through: They brought them out in pairs... One safe and one going home:
Safe (Top 20):
Extreme Dance FX (http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/video/clips/extreme-dance-fx/533191/);
Jessica Price (http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/video/clips/jessica-price/533229/)
The Cadence (http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/video/clips/the-cadence/533225/)
Neal E. Boyd (http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/video/clips/neal-e-boyd/533242/)
Going home: Ronnie B., Shimshi, DC Cowboys, Derrick Barry
Judge's choice (5th and 6th - 2 out of three): The James Gang - Piers & Sharon chose them (http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/video/clips/the-james-gang/533226/)
Going home; Elite - (She cried hard... One of the James Gang guys walked her off stage, and carried her back for applause on his shoulder, then Hoff high-fived her.)

Beyond Belief Dance Company, Paul Salos, Kazual, Zooperstars, The Wright Kids, Jonathan Arons, Daniel Jens, Slippery Kittens, George the Giant, Queen Emily

Ok... No more listing of commercials. Suffice it to say, they happened between each act.

Beyond Belief Dance Company (Couldn't find a video)
21 dancers from Mesquite, Texas. Started dancing eight years ago out of a garage. Piers: Bad News: A bit of a ropey start... Didn't think it was that great... Good news: As it went on you all came together. Advice: Keep it tight, stay focused. Sharon: Great attitudes. Saw some gymnastics and ballet moves. Next time, need MORE... Be it gymnastics, clogging, ballet, whatever. David: Practice and hard work PAID OFF. You NAILED it. Congratulations... Great job. (They were MUCH better when they all danced together - Second half. If they do that more, they can go further.)

Paul Salos http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/video/clips/paul-salos/271766/ from earlier shows
Frank Sinatra impersonator. From Garland(?), Texas. "My Way". Judges: Standing Ovation - Piers was up FIRST. Piers: You did it the way Frank Sinatra did. You may be the oldest swinger in this show, but wants to see him swinging at the end of the show. Sharon: Pitching and phrasing perfect. Fantastic. David: The winner of this show goes to Vegas, but you ARE Vegas. He's sure that Sinatra is looking down on them, now, and saying "Yeah, Baby!" (Great Sinatra... Good job!)

Kazual
Four family singers. Did ballads first couple of times. Piers buzzed early. "Can You Feel It(?)". Piers: Here is the problem from my point of view. When you sing together, you have great harmony. With the exception of the 2nd one, the others blew it, soloing. Sharon: Tonight wasn't the best performance. David: Ok... You were nervous. But you pulled it together in the end. I HOPE that America gives you a 2nd chance. (If they do it the way the judges said, the one sing lead, the others harmony, then they can do well. BUT, they have to get through the voting, tonight.)

Zooperstars http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/video/clips/zooperstars/276176/ from first show
Mascot-type dancers. From Kentucky. Piers buzzed before they all got on stage. "Macho Man". They "Shot" one off the stage and he fell into the audience. A crewman helped him back on stage. One of the "ate" a crewman! Piers: This may just be because I'm "British", I'd like to take a large harpoon and five large darts (to them). Sharon: I can't believe I'm giving comments to a duck and whatever else. Kids will love you. I get it, but I don't know whether your act will sustain an hour and a half in Vegas. David: The name of the show is AMERICA'S Got Talent... not Britain! The audience liked 'em. They waddled off. Jerry: Piers, you just don't get it! (OMG! Funny, but they've GOT to go!)

Jerry introduced Ozzie, who's in the audience.

The Wright Kids (I don't remember them from earlier shows, and couldn't find a video)
Three kids. Must have been a "group of kids" I saw in an earlier show. Don't remember them in the 2nd round (Vegas). Doing a pop song, tonight; Crossing over from Bluegrass. From Rocky Mount, Virginia. Girl on mandolin, boy on guitar, smallest kid on bass! "Daydream Believer". Great on the harmonies. Piers: Levi... You must be the only contestant whose instrument is twice as large as you. I don't think you're the best singers, but you make up it up with charm. Sharon: Big risk with pop song. But it paid off. David: That's what we need to get back to the values of the Partridge Family (which they remind him of). (Not bad... We'll see.)

Jonathan Arons http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/video/clips/jonathan-arons-audition/266460/ from earlier shows
Trombonist/Crazy Dancer - (Played trombone and "danced like crazy" in earlier shows.) Strange. Not BAD, but strange! Piers: Enjoyed it. Sharon: Great showman, but trombone is out of tune. You are fabulous, I love you. David: The worst trombone-playing, but the most entertaining. Like a live cartoon. (Funny, but could YOU stand an hour and a half in Vegas of that? :-P)

Specialist Daniel Jens http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/video/clips/daniel-jens/280738/ from earlier shows
Guitar-player/Singer. Top 40 is mind-boggling. Being able to play guitar and sing in Iraq helped everyone to go far away. Forgot lyrics in 2nd round. "No way I'm gonna forget the lyrics tonight." from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. "Every Breath You Take". Piers: How you feeling (Beyond incredible). Pretty good job. I've not heard tonight, include you in this, a singing voice that SHOULD be in Vegas. Sharon: Great song choice. You sing with great passion. Be careful about your breathing. (Short of breath part way through.) David: First time you were really "yes mam", "yes sir". We have a lotta zoo characters, we have a lotta dancers, but you know what? You're a man, and you inspire me. (Not bad... Needs some voice lessons, but he should go on.)

Slippery Kittens
The Burlesque Moms. Performed in Salt Lake City. All are mothers. "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy". Piers buzzed them when they took off their uniform shirts to reveal red/white/blue outfits. Piers: Ladies... The reason I buzzed you is when you took your clothes off, I found I wanted you to put them back on. It MAY be the tattoos... Sharon: Apologized for her "fellow Brit". David: All I can say is "June is busting out all over". "Are you Pamela Anderson's Mom?" "Another Baywatch". He loved 'em. Jerry said, "I can't wait for Mother's Day". (Not bad. Fun. MUCH more fun than Arons.)

George the Giant http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/video/clips/george-the-giant/271709/ from earlier shows
7'-3" man who does strange things on stage. Sharon: Barking mad, and dreads what he'll do next. In rehearsal, he lost consciousness. Went to hospital. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME. Chained when he's brought on stage. Hung by feet. Kids come up and beat him like a pinata. Woman comes up and beats him with a bat. He drops candy, but gets out of the chains. Piers: Thought it was childish, embarrassing, pathetic. Sharon: The buildup... And you just hung upside down and had sweets in your chest... Silly. David: This is about a million dollar competition. I don't know. That was a ... little strange. (No shit, David. No way. TOO weird!)

Queen Emily http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/video/clips/queen-emily/283100/ and http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/video/clips/queen-emily/278447/ from earlier shows
R&B Singer. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". Judges: Standing Ovation. Most of audience, too. Piers: Look at you. We have found a superstar. I said last night Neal Boyd's performance he was Michael Phelps. We just found something the Olympics couldn't find. Someone to beat him. Sharon: You have it all. David: Baby, Look at you now. You have just thrown this competition into complete disarray, because you have become the front-runner. (I don't know about THAT, but I can see her in the finals, right now.)

End of show.

Wife: Beyond Belief, Salos, Kazual, Jens and Queen Emily
Me: Beyond Belief, Salos, Wrights, Jens, and Queen Emily

I liked the Wright Kids' performance tonight better than Kazual's.
My wife says they're too young. We'll see, obviously.