America's Got Talent (AGT) 2012 - 08/28/2012 - 1st Live Semi-Final

Live from the New Jersey Performing Arts Center

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Twelve acts will perform. Finals in two weeks. Only three of tonight's acts will make it through.
(This is going to be VERY tough night to vote. Only THREE acts go through. WOW!)

Howard: I think we have to be tough tonight. Only three will go through, so we have to be extra-critical.

Even if an act gets three "X"s, we can still vote for them.

Andrew de Leon (Singer)
Singing: Ave Maria
(DAMN this guy is good)
Howie: I think he did very well. You hit every note. My concern is that you don't have the formal training. If people love what you did, I hope they vote for you.
Howard: There are times I think the whole thing is getting strange. Andrew has a great personal story. This is opera. And I'm wondering if you have enough to get past the formal training.
Sharon: I have been studying the previous shows. I would like to give you a word of advice. Why don't you try taking all this off (the makeup) and people might take you more seriously.
Andrew: I think they're all entitled to their own opinion, and I will take it all into thought if necessary.
(The guy has gone from singing in his room to himself to this stage, and every time we hear him sing, it's chills. Part of the mystique is the Goth look. And it also gives him something to "hide behind". (Some singers hide behind guitars... Some behind the mics... Some behind a different persona than their own... If he took off the makeup in this show, he might lose.) After AGT, if he wants to try it without makeup, that's fine, but Sharon's wrong... People take him seriously... Just listen to the voice.)

Commercials
Segment #2

Todd Oliver and Irving (Ventriliquist with live dog)
Sharon: We know who your daddy is (Howard), and he was right to bring you back. The material was fantastic.
Howie: We know it's original - talking dog - and I loved the talk show approach.
Howard: Your material is spot on with this audience. Only three acts can go through. America has to vote for you. This act deserves to go through.
(He's very good, and I have no clue how he gets that dog to just sit there and let that "lower jaw" flap against his chin. His material has been great all along, even when he wasn't voted through. But with the limitation of three acts going on from tonight's show, it's probably gonna be pretty tight. We'll see.)

Commercials
Segment #3

Donovan and Rebecca (Strength acrobats)
(Sharon standing at end)
Howard: This is a spectacular act. I believe the strength of this act is Rebecca is so strong, wearing high heels and living Donovan. On TV, strength doesn't translate that well, But you're remarkable.
Sharon: I am just wowed. I've got some cheese, but I don't have a cheese grater, can I rub it on your abs? I've never seen abs like that on a woman before.
Howie: With only three acts going through, you deserve to go through. AGT is the only place you can see acts like this. You deseerve to go through.
(She's very good-looking and strong. He's got a lotta muscles, but is also very graceful. Together, they are an impressive act, especially when they are showcasing Rebecca's strength. Only three acts, though... We'll see, again.)

Commercials
Segment #4

Edon (Singer)
Singing: You Don't Know You're Beautiful
Standing O by audience, Sharon and Howie
Howie: That was beautiful. That was amazing. You are, when you think of the whole competition, you are the best singer in this whole competition.
Howard: I think a lot of 13 year olds will vote for you. To be honest, I was bored by the song. I think you made it tough on yourself.
Sharon: I think the song was spot on, age appropriate. You have great stage presence. I felt the emotion. You are amazing.
(The kid is damn good, too. Of course, no one would be here tonight, if they weren't. Like I said, this is going to be a hard choice tonight.)

Commercials
Segement #5

The Scott Brothers (Dancers)
Howard: I love whatt you guys do. I happen to think youo guys are the best dance act. It think, though, that people will be a little bored.
Sharon: You're great at what you do. I just think this week we are chockablock full of talent, and you may not make it.
Howie: You are the best at what you do. What you need is one move - like the walking around the hats - I didn't see that one move tonight.
(Again, very good. But there are too many other acts that do more already tonight. Sorry guys.)

Dittleman (Magician)
Sharon: Dittle-dittle-dittleman. That was fantastic how you did this. I didn't get that one (one with America), but I found the other Amazing.
Howie: What facinates me most is you can see what's in our minds, you can control America, but you can't find a girlfriend. This is tough for America. Vote.
Howard: Howie hit it on the head. People are asking about Dittleman. We have exceptional talent on this stage. He's stepped it up each week.
(If he's so good, he will influence us all to vote for him! LOL He's good. Not sure how he does it, but that's magic, right?)

Commercials
Segment #6

Turf (Street Dancer/Contortionist)
Howie standing
Howie: I said to Edon he's the best singer, I think you are the best dancer in the competition. I know some don't think it's dancing. You move to music. That's dancing.
Howard: What I'm afraid of for you... There's a certain similarity to what you do for us. I'm afraid people will think they've seen the same thing every time. When you're a street performer, people walk by you, and you can do the same things over and over. Here, it's not quite the same. I'm a little afraid for you.
Sharon: Just when I think we're done... We've seen it all... You pull me back in.
(I understand Howard, but dancing in general can be like that. I thought he was different this time than the times before. I was a more afraid that he "danced" more than "contorted"... And some of the contortions were very quick. Still, he's one of the VERY few people I've EVER seen do this type of dancing. And part of the appeal tonight was that he DID dance more than contort.

Three acts, huh? DAMN!

Commercials
Segment #7

Bria Kelly (Country singer from YouTube acts)
Song: Perfect (Pretty Pretty Please)
Sharon: You've got a great voice. No shadow of a doubt, you've got great pipes. Loved the song choice.
Howie: The idea is when you came to us on the YouTube show, that was a luck of a draw. I think the unluck thing for you, talented lady, is that you have to do something that makes you stand out. I don't think you did.
Howard: I disagree. Technically, your voice is the strongest of any other singers tonight.
(She's got talent. I hope, as I always do, that producers and A&R people are watching, and will pick up some of the people who won't make it through.)

Commercials
Segment #8

Joe Castillo (Sand Artist)
Howard: You have tremendous talent as an artist. I think from a performance standpoint, the audience will think they've seen it before. I don't know... Three acts will get through.
Sharon: Every time I see you, you never cease to amaze me with what you can do with sand.
Howie: I don't agree with Howard in that yes, what you do is similar - You use sand. The stories are different every time. I can imagine it would be like seeing the Beatles - I never saw the Beatles, but if I had - I'd say it would be like seeing you.
(From the first time I saw Joe on YouTube, I've liked him. He tells epic stories/sagas in sand on a lightbox, usually to music. And they are amazing each time. The only problem I see right now is THREE ACTS GO THROUGH. But right now, he's one of my three.)

Commercials
Special report - Hurricaine Isaac - Made landfall tonight. They kept it short.
Segment #9

William Close (Builds HUGE music instruments and plays them)
Standing ovation - audience and judges
Howie: There are no words to describe it. You are our favorite. I hope the people at home can sense the production. it would be a crime if they don't get to the phone and vote you through.
Sharon: I hope that people at home get the scale of this. Now you put ballet dance in the act... Two singers. Every time you come you bring us such professionalism. I cannot wait to see you again.
Howard: I saw you the first time, I knew you were a star. All the instruments were created by you. You have grown. You are the front-runner.
(Do you realize how long it takes to build these instruments? The big one, he not only has to wire up, but tune up, and then learn when to play each note in the song. This guy is fan-damn-tastic. He IS on my short-list.)

Commercials
Segment #10

Tom Cotter (Comedian)
Standing ovation - everyone
Howie: I can't say anything but OMG. It's all about material. I chose it, you went on. That was amazing.
Howard: I gotta make sure that this was for real (the choosing). We're starting to weed out some people. If you don't get the vote, then something wrong's with this show.
Sharon: Not only are you a really good guy, but you have great material.
(Hilarious. But it's gonna be hard to choose. ONLY THREE ACTS GET THROUGH!)

Commercials
Segment #11

Academy of Villains (Dance group)
Sharon: If people knew how difficult it was to be a choreographer anyway, but for how many people (30) Aiiee... You are incredible.
Howie: We have a lotta dance groups on this show every year. You are my favorite dance group I've EVER seen on this show. You change your style. You change you choreography.
Howard: I'm afraid I'm going to rain on the parade this time. I got a little bit bored with it. You're up against a lot of great talent tonight. You're very talented and I wish you the best.
(Howard can be a "jerky" as Piers was. I agree that they may not go through, but why does he have to say it. Part of that and being Howard Stern influences some people. I really don't think that's fair. These guys did an excellent job, especially considering they had to redo the choreography when one of them broke their kneecap practicing. And 30 people?  Wow.)

So, the acts tonight:
Andrew de Leon (Singer)
Todd Oliver and Irving (Ventriliquist with live dog)
Donovan and Rebecca (Strength acrobats)
Edon (Singer)
The Scott Brothers (Dancers)
Dittleman (Magician)
Turf (Street Dancer/Contortionist)
Bria Kelly (Country singer from YouTube acts)
Joe Castillo (Sand Artist)
William Close (Builds HUGE music instruments and plays them)
Tom Cotter (Comedian)
Academy of Villains (Dance group)

My choices: Andrew de Leon, William Close, Tom Cotter

Again, and I said it above, I hope there are producers, directors, R&D agents, and agents watching. There are a LOT of talented people on this show. I've not seen one so hard to choose before. Every one of these acts deserves to "go through" or have a chance to headline on their own somewhere, somehow, and I don't mean to "go home" and continue on as if they hadn't done AGT at all, and had so many people watch them perform. Good luck to everyone.

Results show tomorrow.

Cya then! ;-)