America's Got Talent - 2009 (09/01/2009) (W11N1)

Week 11, Night 1. First Semi-Finals show. 10 acts tonight. Live from Hollywood. Three will be voted through by us, one will be chosen by the judges. Acts have one minute and 45 seconds (1:45) to wow everyone.

Tonight: Acrodunk, Arcadian Broad, Drew Thomas Magic, Paradizo Dance, Grandma Lee, Fab Five, Kevin Skinner, Tony Hoard & Rory, The Texas Tenors, and the Voices of Glory.

First section is introducing all the judges, all the acts. The judges talk about what they will be looking for, the acts talk about who they think has a good act and what they need to do.

Break

[In the following, click the act names, and see their performance from the semi-finals]

Acrodunk (from Week 7)
(They end with two flying through a burning hoop, shooting at a burning basket and make it)
Standing ovation from the judges. Piers: That has to be one of the most thrilling, entertaining, dangerous thing I've seen on the show. Brilliant. Sharon: You make the Harlem Globetrotters look like ... forget about it. David: You came to play. You started off so cool, got a little shaky, then you just nailed it. (Some are hurt, but they did a great job.)

Break

The Texas Tenors (from Week 8)
Singing "Unchained Melody" (2nd tenor sings in Spanish, then back to English)
Sharon: That was fantastic. And the eye contact was electric. You guys nailed it, so professional. David: I can see that billboard in Las Vegas with the Texas Tenors, right now. You are the front-runners. Piers: I say be less cheesy, you come back with the cheesiest pop song in history, and sing it in the cheesiest way, and you think you know more than me about music? (they start to make a point, and Piers interrupts). Let me stop you right there. You think that... And you'd be right. That was brilliant. (EXCELLENT. They did wonderfully, mixing pop with opera, and it worked well. My wife says they could easily make it in Nashville.)

Break

Paradizo Dance (from Week 8)
(He burned his hand, and HOPES he'll be able to lift her)
Song: "I'm a Believer"
(starts with her standing on his head, and goes from there. Some fantastic lifts in there.)
Sharon: How is your hand. I don't know how you did some of those things. It's nice to see you do something more light-hearted. I prefer the romantic, but I liked you getting out of your comfort-zone. David: You are so talented, I hope America votes you back. Piers: It's very hard to follow the previous acts. I want to see you lifting him, which was what was so surprising in the first show. If you come back, I want to see more of you lifting him. (I thought they were great. He does some lifts that are damn-near impossible for anyone else. And tonight he did it with a burnt hand! Yes, her lifting him is surprising and fun, but still... I think they SHOULD go through.)

Break

Drew Thomas Magic (from Week 7)
(Built their own props on a shoestring budget, and they have the scars to prove it.)
Piers buzzed 1/2-way through. Piers: I like you Drew, but I hate this... I thought it was... I thought the music was ridiculously slow, the pace was slow... I think the only disappearing act will be you. Sharon: You were fabulous. I am still trying to figure out where the assistants are. David: You know what, I applaud you using your daughter. And in Vegas, it's nice to have the heartwarming stories. I loved it. (Piers made his daughter cry. BOOO to Piers. Yeah, it was slow, but it told a story, which many acts don't. I like him.)

Break

Tony Hoard & Rory (from Week 8)
(Sharon got grief for putting them through. Tony & Rory are now celebrities in New Castle. Biggest sacrifice Tony had to do: Quit his job of 24 years in a factory. He did to do the show.)
Song: "Let's Get it Started". Sharon: Well, Rory delivered, tonight, he was spot on, and your outfits are terrific. This guy laid you off because you wanted to do this show? (yes). I thought you were fantastic. David: Can Rory wear that outfit to the park? (He has all kinds of outfits.) Good job. Piers: Well, as you can see, I didn't buzz you. The reality is that the dog went back to what he did in the audition, and that's not drop any Frizbees. (They're great. I hope they get through.)

Break

The Voices of Glory (from Week 8)
Song: "Any Time You Need a Friend" or "Love Will Make It All Right"
David: You know, you guys could bring the world together. You're so sweet, so honest. Amd that's what music is all about. Piers: I really like what you stand for. More importantly, you've got talent. You guys have to remember, she's the Diva. Reminds me of when Janet Jackson first showed what she could do. You guys have to back up and let her sing. Sharon: I'm not going to say anything about your voices, your talent, your ... I'll just say that I'll see you in the finals. (They are good, but Piers is right. SHE is the BIG talent in the group, and the boys singing even the short solos here were not as strong as as she was. SHE is the star. The boys are good, especially with her, but... I hope they make it.)

Break

The Fab Five (from Week 8)
Piers: I think we often forget this kind of act, just how difficult it is. I'd like to see a different pace. Maybe slow it down, etc. Can you get through with the standard that's been set? Sharon: I like the way you keep coming back with the energy. Your footwork is very fast. Very Vegas, darlings, it really is. David: Every time I see you, I ask what are they going to do this time. You are great. (Wow... That was fun! They are great. This is gonna be TOUGH to chose, tonight.)

Break

Grandma Lee (from Week 7)
(Stands behind a couple of Chippendales Dancers, pushes them out of the way, and says, "Cut the crap" to start her act.)(Standing ovation from crowd.)
Sharon: Grandma lee, you know I love you because you're naughty, dirty, all the things I like. You're 75 years old, and you've still got it. David: I was so touched by your story, it was so heart-felt. I don't care how old you are, you're funny! Piers: I loved the new material, I loved what you said about your husband in the video, and I think if he were here, he'd be really proud. You deserve it. (Her stuff IS funny. She's great, but there are just too many other good acts, though. I don't think she'll get through. I hope she gets a good job from this show.)

Break

Arcadian Broad (from Week 7)
(He's brought a partner in, tonight. He knows it's a risk.)
David: I loved your presentation. Great job. Piers: No doubt you're a very talented young man. I asked myself if you are good enough to get to the finals, with the acts we've seen tonight. And the answer to that question is no you're not. On the basis of tonight's performances, I don't think you're good enough. Sharon: Every time you come back, you show us a different side of yourself. (He tried to say that the producers suggested he do High School Musical - that it wasn't really his choice. Nick then said that acts have the final say on what they do. He was good. And, if the producers decided what he did - How many kids his age can argue well with grown men? - it's too bad. Too many other acts were great. He should be back, next year, though, I hope. He'll be a year old, more confident, etc.)

Break

Kevin Skinner (from Week 7)
(Singing his father's favorite song. His father is too ill to travel, but he'll be watching.)
Song: "You Were Always on My Mind". He was a little flat in parts. Piers stood for him! Piers: That's the whole thing about you, Kevin. You have tears in your eyes, and I almost had them in mine. You are my favorite to win this competition. Sharon: Love to see you smile. Again, you nailed the song. You've got that kinda Johnny Cash downer thing going for you. I love it. David: You have come so far, man, from walking out here with your hat one backwards. You've come a long way from that porch.

Wife: Texas Tenors, Paridizo Dance, Tony Hoard & Rory, Kevin Skinner
Me: Texas Tenors, Paridizo Dance, Tony Hoard & Rory, Kevin Skinner

The Muppets will be here tomorrow, and an exclusive show by David Hasselhoff.

That's it. See you tomorrow.

And, once again I will say that every one of these acts, and some from before, should be performing, and making a decent living at what they do, even if they don't get through. If any talent scouts are watching, they should go to the videos, below, especially the full shows, and see everyone.

Full Show Video from tonight's show

Full Season Four episodes
Newest videos (where tonight's individual acts will appear, and the start of the video library for AGT)
Top-rated videos (watched most often, I'm sure)
If you're interested only in the music done on the show it's here

The act that wins will headline 10 shows (I believe), at least the first hosted by Jerry Springer. The show starts October 7th at The Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. (I believe this is what the winner wins, besides the $1M. They will be THE headliner for the show, and other acts from the show will be involved.)