America’s Got Talent is the best talent show on television. It is not one-dimensional or centered solely on appearances (like American Idol). It showcases the best of all talents. Tonight, August, 30, 2011, was the second of two semi-finals performance shows. There were 12 acts performing. They are trying to win one of the final five spots available in the finals. Here is my take on the acts (in order of performance).
1) The Kinetic King. What can I say? This guy is so cool. He makes science fun. Makes me wish I had paid attention more in Physics class. Tonight’s performance was brief, but explosive. Loved it! Reminded me of a fireworks display. Maybe next time he can include pyro!
2) Fatally Unique. Bang Your Head! Mental Health will drive you mad! Very Quiet Riot meets Hannibal Lecter. Tonight, Fatally Unique was…not so unique. And it will probably prove fatal to their chances of moving on. The scare factor is done (much) better by West Springfield Dance Team.
3) Landon Swank. OK, well that was interesting. Excellent presentation. Dark and spooky. How could that not have been planned out ahead of time? I love magicians, when they are good. Landon was good. And the choice of music was top notch! I would pay to see him in Vegas. Good job.
4) Gymkana. Ooooww! He fell and got set on fire. That had to hurt. I don’t care what they said on camera. You were on fire! As for the act itself, it was kind of like a half-time show at an NBA game. Better left to the NBA and their great mascots. Trampolines and hoops are good, but not talent.
5) Summerwind Skippers. I’m so over these pompous little kids. If you’re going to have an act that visually looks like Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, you cannot have Britney Spears music playing in the background. Had they used AC/DC, this would have been a completely better performance. Double dutch is not worth a million dollars. Piers was right. Buzz.
6) Snap Boogie. Love him! He’s real. He’s authentic. So fun to watch. I’m convinced he’s made of the same stuff that’s found inside Stretch Armstrong. I don’t know how he moves the way he does. Impressive.
7) Anna Graceman. Please, America, please do not let this be the new trend in music – kids under 10 singing. Jackie Evancho was the one in a million voice. Let’s not try to duplicate that lightning strike. It only does damage to the kids. No more, please. Back to Anna. Anna had no business doing a Motley Crue classic (Home Sweet Home). It is one of the best songs ever. But somehow she did it really well! The second I heard the opening piano, I felt that she was in over head, but she did deliver. Amazing job. But, no more little kids singing.
8) Steven Retchless. Best male pole dancer I’ve ever seen. Only male pole dancer I’ve ever seen. Truthfully, his performances, week in and week out, are some of the most talented and impressive feats of grace on the show. He can do things vertically that most people can’t do horizontally. Great job! Note to Piers – time to leave the 1950s close-minded mentality behind.
9) Smage Bros. Riding Shows. Family Rule #1 – You don’t jump over grandma on a motorcycle!! If she had sneezed, she’d have been decapitated. They were that close to hitting her. Overall, though, a wonderful performance. As usual. They are the best of all the bike acts this season. Plus, the one-wheeled motorcycle was a trip! Original to the T. Loved it.
10) Professor Splash. The dive was from 70 feet up!! He jumped into 8 feet of fire water. This man is truly psychotic. He is also the act that I most look forward to on this show. Only issue is that he rushed it too quickly. Plus, he needs to go back to the shallow water dives. Next time, jump off the roof into a Dixie Cup. On TV, the deeper pool doesn’t make it look as dangerous, no matter how high up he is.
11) Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr. He makes it look effortless. His voice is so pure. It is his talent that he needs to share with the world. He can also start the 21st Century Rat Pack. Totally suave and vintage. Love it. Love it. Love it.
12) Silhouettes. I might be in the minority here, but this act just doesn’t do anything for me. None of their performances ever have. Last time they did the Tribute to America. I found it pandering and cheesy. Tonight’s performance was so utterly dull and boring that I don’t know what they were thinking. The Russian Bar act without the bar (last week) was better. And they were an embarrassment. I hated this performance. So what if you have a four-year old in the act. It isn’t worth a spot. Howie must have been watching something different when he praised them.
The 5 Acts Who SHOULD Go On – The Kinetic King, Landon Swank, Anna Graceman, Steven Retchless, Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr.
The 5 Acts Who WILL Go On – The Kinetic King, Anna Graceman, Smage Bros. Riding Shows, Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr., Silhouettes.
Check back next week for my review of the first Finals episode.