America's Got Talent Season 5

[riffjim4069]

Michael Grasso - Saw how the trick was done live AGAIN. (when the assistant on the right went out of sight from the cameras for an instant I knew Grasso would pop out of that costume) Great showmanship and entertaining. But i would have really liked to see something that every magician isn't doing all the time. At the bottom of the top 4 and may get bumped by the sympathy vote for the ballroom dancers.

Grasso has a nice stage presence, but I too was underwhelmed since his last two acts were easily guessed...I probably saw both tricks on Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed (or similar shows) years ago. He first illusion was outstanding, but I can't believe the judges (at least Piers and Howie) haven't jumped all over him his past two performances. These guys have been around the block and shouldn't be so easily impressed.

 

[mike123abc]

Grasso has a nice stage presence, but I too was underwhelmed since his last two acts were easily guessed...I probably saw both tricks on Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed (or similar shows) years ago. He first illusion was outstanding, but I can't believe the judges (at least Piers and Howie) haven't jumped all over him his past two performances. These guys have been around the block and shouldn't be so easily impressed.

I think that it comes back to them wanting someone other than a singer to do well. They have lightened up on the critisism of non singers. I noted last night they told a lot of the singers that they may not be the best technical singer but they did well with their material selected. A good way to plant seeds of doubt for the home audience without looking like they were trying to sabotage the singing lineup. I think they would dread most is 4 singing acts voted through to the final.

 

[riffjim4069]

I think that it comes back to them wanting someone other than a singer to do well. They have lightened up on the critisism of non singers. I noted last night they told a lot of the singers that they may not be the best technical singer but they did well with their material selected. A good way to plant seeds of doubt for the home audience without looking like they were trying to sabotage the singing lineup. I think they would dread most is 4 singing acts voted through to the final.

Yes, the judges have always fought to keep too many singing acts from advancing. I agree to an certain extent, but I also feel that Alice Tan Ridley should have advanced to the Top 10 ahead of 1 or 2 or the non-singing acts. I still say that singers should be eliminated from competition or AGT create two winners tracks - one for singers and one for variety acts.

 

[riffjim4069]

Eh, a fair summary of the Top 10 performances last night is over here: 'America's Got Talent' - Top 10 led by singers Jackie Evancho, Michael Grimm, Prince Poppycock | NJ.com - perhaps the most interesting part was the fan poll which shows Jackie Evancho leading the competition. Also interesting to note is how Jeremy (Bicycle-Guy) is a distant sixth receiving only 4.5% of the votes. Although less than 8000 have voted in this poll, it may be a large enough sample to see a pattern. Of course, the problem with the poll is that voters could only vote for four of the ten candidates. Last night I voted for all 10 candidates (hey, they all deserved at least one vote) with my top candidates receiving the max 10 votes. Anyway, here is the Top 5. The Top Four could be any of these performers, but I think it is safe to say that Jeremy will not be advancing:

Jackie Evancho 22.77% (1,595 votes)
Fighting Gravity 18.73% (1,312 votes)
Prince Poppycock 17.4% (1,219 votes)
Michael Grasso 14.26% (999 votes)
Michael Grimm 13.41% (939 votes)

You see the same pattern in other fan polls such as Vote for the America’s Got Talent 2010 Top 4 | Pure America's Got Talent where Jeremy is a distant 6th receiving only 4% of the votes:

Jackie Evancho 24.26% (285 votes)
Prince Poppycock 18.89% (222 votes)
Michael Grasso 14.89% (175 votes)
Fighting Gravity 14.64% (172 votes)
Michael Grimm 13.7% (161 votes)

Oh, and here is another one by TV.com over at Who will be the America's Got Talent 2010 Top 4? | Polldaddy.com (poll 3733068) - although it appears to be associated with the above pollster.

Jackie Evancho 290 votes 24.29%
Prince Poppycock 226 votes 18.93%
Michael Grasso 177 votes 14.82%
Fighting Gravity 175 votes 14.66%
Michael Grimm 164 votes 13.74%

The bottom line is that is that Michael Grimm is beginning to look like the 5th wheel in this competition.

 

[riffjim4069]

And yet another poll at America's Got Talent | Reality TV Magazine :

Jackie Evancho 20.49% (325 votes)
Fighting Gravity 18.66% (296 votes)
Prince Poppycock 15.45% (245 votes)
Michael Grasso 15.26% (242 votes)
Michael Grimm 12.23% (194 votes)

 

[riffjim4069]

I think we're going to see a singer, magician, light-show, freak-show finale.

 

[TNGTony]

I still say that singers should be eliminated from competition or AGT create two winners tracks - one for singers and one for variety acts.

AGT did this in season 2 (or was it season 1?). The quarterfinals were divided. Two were all all variety acts, the others ware all singing acts. It wasn't until the final that the variety and singing acts faced each other directly. I actually did not like this because I felt that some of the singers would have been eliminated earlier on by some of the variety acts.

AGT has not revisited this format since then.

Then the question: Where would you put the winner from season 3? The puppeteer/impressionist/ventriloquist who did nothing but sing?

 

[riffjim4069]

AGT did this in season 2. The quarterfinals were divided. Two were all all variety acts, the others ware all singing acts. It wasn't until the final that the variety and singing acts faced each other directly. I actually did not like this because I felt that some of the singers would have been eliminated earlier on by some of the variety acts.

AGT has not revisited this format since then.

Yep, I remember that...and I also recall that I didn't like the format, but that's because AGT crowned only one winner. My suggestion would have two different winners.

Regardless, has anyone noticed the shameless promotion for the America's Got Talent Tour of 23 cities starting next month? I will most likely have opportunities to see them in Dallas, Detroit, Richmond VA and DC. The odd thing is that Jerry Springer will be the Master of Ceremonies for the tour...wonder if they'll drag along David Hasselhoff, Brandy Norwood (1st season judge quickly replaced) and Regis Philbin.

 

[teachsac]

I think we're going to see a singer, magician, light-show, freak-show finale.

My prediction last week after the final 10 were set. was an entertaining final 10.

S~

 

[Larobpra]

The "polls" missed one already. Micheal Grasso sent home.

 

[Ilya]

Looks like it will be between Jackie and Fighting Gravity. And of the two only Fighting Gravity can sell a show in Las Vegas.

 

[riffjim4069]

Yep, the polls were skewed because they limited the number of votes and probably wasn't fully representative of the voting population. I wish we could find-out the final vote count because I feel my predicted order (below) was spot-on with perhaps two exceptions:

- Not sure if Michael Grimm or Fighting Gravity finished in the 3rd spot...I still say it was MG.

- Studio One may have finished a notch or two lower.

Regardless, this competition is Jackie Evancho's to win or lose with her performance next week. If she nails her performance she wins no matter how well the other acts perform.

The Top Three acts are a no-brainer...the real question is who will be voted in to the 4th and final slot (it could be Fighting Gravity, Grasso or Bicycle-Guy):

1. Jackie Evancho was amazing...she sang like an angel.
2. All I can is "Wow" after watching Prince Poppycock - the guy (I use that word losely) is a one-man broadway show.
3. Michael Grimm nailed it and will almost certainly advance.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Fighting Gravity was good (very creative once again), but they spent too much time building-up to the performance and not performing IMO.
5. Michael Grasso was excellent, but I've see it. I don't think this was a Top Four performance.
6. Jeremy VanSchoonhoven - loved his act, but America is not going to advance him against more mainstream competitors.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Taylor Matthews - surprisingly great job, but doesn't have the vocals.
8. Studio One Young Beast Society - excellent job, but not mainstream enough.
9. Christina & Ali - cute kids did a great job, but their vocals aren't up to the top contenders.
10. Anna and Patryk - cuts kids...would like to see them come back when their bodies mature (of course, her crying for a minor slip at the end hurt more than the very minor error).

 

[riffjim4069]

Looks like it will be between Jackie and Fighting Gravity. And of the two only Fighting Gravity can sell a show in Las Vegas.

I like Fighting Gravity and they have potential to be successful, but there is no way they are more talented than the other candidates IMO. As far a Jackie goes...I will agree that Las Vegas isn't the best venue for an opera singer, but this kid has the potential to be bigger than Charlotte Church who has sold something like 15 million albums and sells out venues worldwide; heck, her performances are IMO better than Charlotte Church. As much as I like Blue Man Group, Fighting Gravity doesn't compare at this point...but they do have potention.

 

[riffjim4069]

The "polls" missed one already. Micheal Grasso sent home.

I was thinking about this one...although Michael Grasso may have received a votes from a larger percentage of viewers, there is no doubt in my mind that viewers who liked Michael Grimm voted for him far more often - up to 10X via phone or web.

 

[mike123abc]

The other problem with singers is what are they going to sing if they get a show? I doubt people will want to watch a "cover band". They will have to come up with original content. Prince Poppycock is about the costumes and show more than the singing, but can Michael Grimm write a song? What of Jackie E will she just stand up on a platform and sing for 2 hours? She needs a full opera. PP and FG had all original productions, much better for a Las Vegas show than the plain singers.

Another interesting thing for the show is if Piers will return next year or not since he is taking over for Larry King on CNN. I hope that he does return, the show needs someone like him.

 

[riffjim4069]

Poppycock will be in his element working with a team to put together a broadway musical. He can sing and dance, and his act is all about showmanship - I'm sure he will be paired with an excellent cast of writers and musicians.

I'm not sure if Michael Grimm can write a song, but I would bet 90% of the singing acts don't write their own music...Elvis Presley wasn't a song writer and it certainly didn't affect his career. Michael Grimm just released an Album (in July) titled, "You Can Leave Your Hat On." The title track by the same name was written by Randy Newman in 1972 and, after briefly peaking at the 12-tracks on the album, the other songs appear to written by professional song writers.

As for Piers...his CNN stint will not affect his summerly AGT duties - it is written into his contract. Additionally, they are also permitting him to work (if memory serves) from New York, Hollywood and London UK.

 

[TNGTony]

People forget that the vast majority of hit singing acts have never written a single note or lyric. It is a very recent thing that performers are expected to write their own music. Jackie E could easily have her own vegas act.

Anyone here ever see Celine Dion at Caesars? She essentially just stood there! There were a couple of dozen dancers and a huge video screen as a backdrop. But Celine, did nothing more than maybe walk across the stage as 30 dancers did their thing and the video screen set a mood.

So yes I can easily see Jackie E sell out Vegas theaters.

Having said that, my favorite is still Fighting Gravity.

 

[riffjim4069]

Out of all the acts I am most interested in seeing what Fighting Gravity and Prince Poppycock bring to the show. Like 'em or not, both acts bring something new to the table each time. Of course, both acts also have the largest potential to crash and burn because of the risks involved with creating new material on such short notice, or if they appear too much like a previous performance. I'm not sure what PP is going to perform, but I get the feeling he will be dawning the following garb (pictured).

Michael Grimm is the least predictable and will almost certainly be singing a song off of his new Album, "Leave Your Hat On." In fact, all of the songs he has performed to date are on his album.

Jackie Evancho will no doubt sing a "heavenly" classical song. Which one is a mystery, but I would not be surprised if she sang Ave Maria...which is a huge song by anyone's standard. Of course, we may be in for a big surprise if Jackie and AGT perform something from Phantom of the Opera or Les Miserables. With Susan Boyle leaving the set of AGT in tears the other day after Lou Reed wouldn't allow her to perform one of his songs (what a cheesedick), how awesome would it be for Jackie to perform I Dreamed a Dreamed?

 

[riffjim4069]

Lou Reed refuses to allow Susan Boyle to perform one of his songs

Source

Susan Boyle probably didn't dream a dream of this. Late Wednesday, TMZ reported that the singer stormed off the L.A. set of America's Got Talent in tears.

The reason? Boyle had planned on singing her cover of Lou Reed's "Perfect Day," set to appear on her Nov. 1 album The Gift -- but two hours before her planned taping, songwriter Reed abruptly refused to allow Boyle to perform the song.

"The bit about her storming off is not true," an insider tells UsMagazine.com. Instead, Boyle "was still in her the hotel, getting ready to go to the studio" when she learned of Reed's unexpected dis.

Still, the source confirms, Boyle "didn't have any time to prepare anything else, so the whole thing had to be scrapped."

 

[riffjim4069]

Another possible Prince Poppycock look?