The first night of "America's Got Talent" semifinals was packed with an array of fantastic acts. We're definitely getting to the best of the best! So many deserve to move on to the next round, but there can be only three. Here's a breakdown of this semifinal round's acts:
Andrew De Leon, the gothic opera singer, sang with confidence and seemed to hit all the right notes. The judges expressed their concern, however, that Andrew didn't have enough formal training to carry him through the competition.
Todd Oliver and Irving the Talking Dog performed a topical act in which Todd was the show host, and Irving was his doggie guest. He kept the jokes current, and the judges loved the act. Howard Stern said he believed Todd could go all the way.
Donavan and Rebecca, the married acrobatics team, displayed amazing strength and grace. This act focused on highlighting Rebecca's strength by including some impressive lifts. The judges all agreed that they were worthy of moving on to the next round.
Edon, the young singer and pianist, was fresh and took over the whole stage with his presence. Howard Stern thought that his song choice wasn't the best. Sharon disagreed, and said she thought the song was perfect and age-appropriate.
Dittelman, the mind reader, wowed the audience by accurately anticipating what colors Howard Stern would use to color in a picture of himself. The judges were equally impressed by Dittelmans' act.
Turf, the contortionist and dancer, danced his heart out for the audience. Howie Mandel gave the dancer a standing ovation and was incredibly passionate in supporting the street dancer. Turf was very emotional as he described how important the competition was to his life.
Joe Castillo, the artist who creates epic stories with sand and light, created images of peace and love to '60s music. Howard Stern said that he thought this performance was too similar to previous ones. Sharon and Howie said they love the act each and every time.
William Close, the musician who creates his own giant-scale instruments, used a science-fiction theme in the act. It was definitely different from the previous performance and had a slightly more serious tone. Howie told William, "It would be a crime if people don't get to the phones and vote you through!" Howard and Sharon agreed that this act was definitely the front-runner in the competition.
Tom Cotter, the veteran stand-up comedian, took a bold risk by choosing a judge at random and asking them to assign him a topic to talk about. Tom Cotter performed a hilarious and polished set right off the cuff. He had the judges and the audience laughing.
Academy of Villains, the dance group, did not disappoint. Their number was nuanced, engaging, and technically amazing. A perfect ending to an action-packed night.
Only three acts from this group will move on to the finals!
