America's Got Talent - 2009 (07/29/2009)

Auditions are over. This is the first elimination show in Vegas, getting the winners down to 40 from the 160+ they have, now.

The Vegas Verdicts - Shooting for the Top 40!

Some acts won't even make it out of the airport. They make cuts as soon as the plane lands. Narrowing down to the 4 best dance acts.

Split the hopefuls to four groups. "For some, the dream will end right here." They're all in a hanger in Vegas.

Group A - David: Terrific. Raw talent. In the end, we all collectively agreed, you're going through.

Group B - Sharon: It's a tough decision. Our decision is you will all be going home. I'm sorry. Among them, the 9yo Blues player. (Said he'd keep playing his guitar... GOOD. I hope they ALL continue doing what they're doing. I'm assuming that some of those we DIDN'T see on prior shows have made it through, but it's quite possible that they've been cut already.

Group C and D - Piers: Our final decision is that one of the groups is going through to the next round... And the other group ... is also going through.

25 acts have left the competition. (I'm not going to try to say who made it through. We'll see how the show plays them all.) We see them enjoying the Vegas life.

(MAN! I don't think I'd like to be a judge, if they have to drop people before they even get to see/play on a Vegas stage, even a small one. They've got over 120 acts to pare down to the Top 40, tonight and tomorrow. WOW. A lotta hearts are gonna be broken.)

Break.

At the Palms Resort and Casino. The judges continue deliberating, reviewing the tapes. We hear the judges arguing... Some of those acts still in it talking about making it and not making it. (Lots of dreams, here.)

Judges want to see a few acts, personally.

1st act - Keith Johnson (singer - did "Walking in Memphis")
2nd act - Pete Peterkin (imitator)

Piers: I'm afraid we have concluded there are better singers, and therefore you will not be going through. (to Keith). Keith, of course, is heartbroken.

Sharon: I don't know how to put this any other way, but to be really direct. I think we owe you that. ... You're going to go through. (to Pete)

Break.

NOTE: We have some big lightning (wife turned her computer off!) So, I don't know if power will stay on or not. If not, I will have to post this as a partial, and maybe do it again, tomorrow, when they replay the show. We'll see.

13yo Arcadian (dancer). He's through.
Montage: The guy who sang to Hasselhoff, a couple of the dance groups, the young girl singer. The two kid groups (singers and ballroom dancers), the ones who sang "Mountain Music", The S&M lady, among others. (Sorry, I can't remember the names, and sometimes there were more than one at a time. We'll see the ones who went through, starting next week. Watch the link I'll give you when it appears, and you can see the groups, yourself.)

Next in, 74yo retired barber (dancer). Means the world, a dream come true. Loves people, to perform, and the stage. David: You have a way of bringing a smile to everybody, just because of you aura. HOWEVER, we have to judge on your talent. We came to a decision. Anthony, you're going home. You did a great job. Nick to Tony: There's always next year. Tony: I could be dead next year. Nick: Don't give up.

Break.

Three dance groups. Eu4ria, Destined 2B, and another (missed the name). VERY nervous. Piers: Big moment for you all. We came to the same conclusion for each group. We could not decide. Challenge. You will all get the same music and 12 hours to practice, then you will perform for us. Get out there, right now, and get ready.

Magicians. Drew ??? and Constantine & his wife and the first magician through (I forget his name). Piers: Two very similar acts. You both do magic. We argued about this. We couldn't decide. We could put one of you through, or none of you though. Constantine and wife didn't make it. With YOU Drew, you will be leaving Los Vegas... Because we'll be seeing you in Los Angeles. (I don't know that I like the way they do that! LOL... Making it sound like the group is gone, then turning it around.)

Break.

Spiritual Harmonizers (singers, the PO workers). David: We talked a lot about you guys. You guys have heart. Great lead singer. Just too many acts. You didn't make it. Guys, our heart goes out to you. Tough, tough, decision.

Dance groups. This was probably the most competative this year. Both go home.
Belly Dancer. Tough call. You won't be going through.
Acrobatic dancers. Here's the really tough part. It's no.
Girls. We have to put the best of the best through. Unfortunately, you're going home.

Hairo Torres. The break dancer who flipped onto his back. Piers: You're one step away from a life-changing experience. Sharon: It's a very tough decision for us. We wish you so well, we know you are going to go on to do great things. I'll put you out of your torture. Our decision is: You're going through, and you're in the quarter-final. We loved you.

Break.

(This is tough. It's all based on that one audition tape (first show). If they were just a BIT less good than someone else, they're probably out. By the same token, I think they put a few acts through to give some of the others a chance to do a couple of shows to win over America. (The odd-ball acts that we wonder why they DID put them through.) Ah, well. We are not the judges, yet. We'll just have to see what happens with everyone else, huh? Even so, I hope some of those acts that were not put through, either time, still go on with their acts.)

Last two contestants of the day, 34yo Lawrence Beaman ("Ol' Man River") and 35yo Kevin ??? (ex-chicken farmer) ("If Tomorrow Never Comes"). David: ... But then we went and looked at the tape. Sharon (to Lawrence): This is real, real tough. We don't have room for one of you. David: to Kevin: Whether you go through or not, remember, you've made a big impression on all of us, and you DO have talent. Beaman went through. Kevin did, too. WHEW! They BOTH made it. GREAT. They are both good in their own ways. I hope they both get more than one more chance.

Tomorrow. The rest of the hopefuls.

See you then!

(Seems the storm didn't do anything to our cable or power. So... Sorry for the warning, but better to be safe than sorry.)

Here is the link to the individual act videos: http://www.nbc.com/americas-got-talent/video/categories/season-4-highlights/1094635/

Link to full episode: http://www.nbc.com/americas-got-talent/video/episodes/?vid=1138305#vid=1139926