America's Got Talent 2008 - 09/02/2008

Here are the two-minute recaps: http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/video/categories/two-minute-replays/35417/ (NBC hasn't put up any of the new videos... Wonder why?) Here's a bunch of the acts on YouTube. and more at America's Got Talent Auditions (Take your pick!)

Top five from last week's show, and the next set of 10.

Here are the top five that made it to the top 20 from last week's show:
Paul Salos (Sinatra impersonator) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcGQbUQVGoI
The Wright Kids http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=972arrDwGfU
Daniel Jens http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5Y5E70jQYw
Queen Emily http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfuefCUAi1I

Going home: Slippery Kittens, Jonathan Arons (trombonist/dancer), George the Giant, Kazual,

And the fifth and sixth spots (voted by judges) between Beyond Belief Dance Company (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI5ES-PED0M) and Zooperstars (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3kZzOa7Fik)... Two votes make it. Piers: BBDC... Sharon: Likes the Zooperstars, but they're just SILLY. Likes the others, but doesn't want to be deciding vote again. David: Zooperstars ... OMG! What the Hell? (David said, with great respect, because he knew they'd go on.)

Tonight, the 10 acts are: Texas State Strutters, Michael Strelo-Smith, Bruce Block, Shequida, The Taubl Family, Jonathan Burkin, Sarah Lenore, SickStep, Matthew Piazzi, Joseph Hall

Texas State Strutters (Dancers)
http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/video/clips/texas-state-strutters/278462/ from earlier show
Boogie song. High-kickers (Rockette-style). Buzzed by all three judges. Piers: Trouble was, it was boring. What you need to do is take your act underwater. With the cheesy grins, etc, they could be synchronized swimmers. Sharon: How could you sustain a show for an hour-and-a-half. Not all dancers are that good. David: Frankly, I just said goodbye to dancers I thought were better than you. A bit squirrelly tonight. "We went out on the stage, and did our best, and had the time of our lives" (paraphrased). (Sharon's right... Not sure they could do an hour-and-a-half. David's right - Squirrelly. Piers was right: Boring. Sorry girls.)

Michael Strelo-Smith (Operatic Singer)
http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/video/clips/michael-strelo-smith/283107/ from earlier show
Former music and drama teacher. Doesn't give up. Quit teaching to follow his dream, so he wouldn't be a hypocrit. Still gets letters from his kids. To show his kids at school, if you just stick with it, you can achieve your dream. (Operatic singer) "I Am What I Am". Buzzed by Piers and Sharon. (I think he picked the wrong type of song. It was more a broadway song than operatic.) Piers: Very tough part of the competition. He looked at everything - Clothes, singing, etc. All screamed one word: Kareoke. (He came back with "Sorry Mr Morgan that you can't see what's inside of me. There are a room full of people who disagree." Sharon: Very good performance, great determination. But screams to me, Music Teacher. David: What I like about you is you never give up. And you don't apologize for your performance. And your students should be proud that you took the shot. What's important is that you showed America and your kids to follow your dreams. (I think it was a bad choice of songs. He's more operatic than that. Good job on the song, but...)

Bruce Block (Magician)
http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/video/clips/bruce-block/276147/ from earlier show
Puts his life on the line for his performance. This is all I have left. Tonight, it's now or never. (came out with a number of "little people". He will saw a horse in half. Fake horse goes in, real pony comes out (with handler). Piers buzzed. Piers: What were you doing... What was it all about. You represent every magician in America, and you did the oldest trick in the book. You blew it, spectacularly. Sharon: If you go, can the horse stay, please? (All she said) David: Very confusing. So many people on stage, and it took away from the trick. (Yeah... Not that great. Hard to do a single trick and make things work for this show.)

Shequida (Guy, dressed as a girl, does male/female opera parts)
http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/video/clips/shequida/283101/ from earlier show
Showed up at a costume party as a joke. Black Drag Queen opera singer from Jamaica (his words). "I Will Survive" (operatic). Did it all as a girl, this time. Piers: (Buzzed) You may have survived that, not sure if I would have survived that. Normally he liked the humor of the up and down. Tonight, like his kid's pet rabbit was being killed. Sharon: Very high song. Stunning-looking. Fabulous legs. David: A one man/one woman party. First time, blown away because he sang opera as a man and woman. Tonight was a bit over the top. Very entertaining. (VERY strange tonight... Almost as strange as the girl (way he's dressed) singing alto and baritone! I don't know. Better than some of the others.)

The Taubl Family (Musicians - play and sing)
http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/video/clips/the-taubl-family/268853/ from earlier show
They did the Trapp family "Sound of Music" in their first show. I don't remember them in the Vegas show. ("Not as old fashioned as some people think") ""Umbrella". Piers: Normally at this stage in the competition I split large family groups up. Loves the way they all look... The song choice, etc. Terrific performance, tonight. Sharon: It was looking extremely grim until you came on. You are all so talented. Everything was great. David: First time, I prefer you guys when you sang the "Sound of Music". HOWEVER, in the interview, I said I didn't know if you had the edge, but tonight, you proved me wrong. (Great... Best of the night.)

Jonathan Burkin (Twirler)
http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/video/clips/jonathan-burkin/266461/ from earlier show
College Student. Pressure's unbearable at times. Being a twirler, if you drop it once, you're done. From Ohio. "I'm Still Standing" Audience was chanting "Jonathan". Piers: One word for that: Incredible. What I love about you is that you never make a mistake. Every time we see you, you come back faster, more dangerous. Sharon: So exciting. Performance is non-stop. Sensational. David: You are probably the best baton twirler in the world. Fantastic. Great job. (Not bad! Compared to the others, I think he's through.)

Sarah Lenore
http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/video/clips/sarah-lenore/273675/ from earlier show
Gave up college to follower her love of singing. Vegas would be life-long dream. Dad's biggest, biggest fan. Risky song, tonight. From Plymouth, Michigan. "I'm Through Waiting"? Piers: When you came out, you looked incredibly nervous. When it kicked in, the whole audience was with you and it was stunning. Sharon: Amazingly strong voice. One little thing: Because voice is so strong, you tend to shout instead of following the melody. Be careful with that. David: You're daddy should be really proud, tonight. If I were a betting man (and I am), you'll be in the top 10. (Great job. I think she's through.)

SickStep (Dance instructors/Hip-hop Dancers)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWIF3RSw7T4 (from youtube - earlier show - short take)
They not only want it, but NEED it. From LA. "Get Up Offa That Thing". Piers: Who Choreographed this. (All did) You did a damn good job. Proved to me you are MORE than street entertainers. Leave the basketball to Kobe Bryant. (LOL) Sharon: Was fun, great attitude, lit up the stage. Well done. David: You guys are sick. If you get voted back, you've got to bring more at-ti-tude. Hopes they get voted back. (Good. We'll see.)

Matthew Piazzi (Arnold Schwartsenegger, George Clooney, etc. - Impersonator)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I3vqcDOG40 (from YouTube - earlier show, VERY short - YouTube audition? - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWRQWFrTUlg )
Actor. Piers buzzed. Piers: I think you blew it big time. Why? I think we put you through as an impersonator, never said anything about singing. You're great voices, that's what you're good at. Sharon: You have to work on your writing. Well done. David: I don't know what show they were watching. I thought you did great. (I only vaguely remember him from earlier shows. He was good tonight, I thought.)

Joseph Hall (Elvis impersonator)
http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/video/clips/joseph-hall/268888/ from earlier show
18 Months ago, he was working at his father's restaurant. Went to a party as Elvis and entertained. From Lincoln, Nebraska. "Jailhouse Rock" (They filmed most of it in black and white. Set was like Elvis' song.) Piers: You tend to polarize opinions. All the guys going BOO... All the girls love you. Didn't look as confident, tonight. I think you're taking yourself too seriously. Voice was wobbly. Sharon: Hard to dance and sing. The more practice, the easier it gets. Needs the naughtiness back. Hopes he comes back and can be dirty for him. David: First time, you blew me away. Don't need any other dancers... You just need you. (He has the look... The voice, sometimes, but not always - Tonight was rough. He may make it.)

Wife: Taubl Family, Jonathan Burkin, Sarah Lenore, sickStep, Joseph Hall
Me: Taubl Family, Jonathan Burkin, Sarah Lenore, SickStep, Joseph Hall

We'll find the top five tomorrow night, when we pick from the next 10.

Cya then!