"America's Got Talent" was back on Tuesday, August 14, after taking a brief hiatus for the Olympics. The show was a little different this time because it was YouTube week. America got to vote on 12 acts that were entered through YouTube. Unfortunately, the whole evening was quite a letdown. Whether it was nerves, or simply wrong choices, many of the acts missed the mark. There were, however, a few bright spots. Here are some of the highlights and flops of the night:
Highlights of the night
Academy of Villains, a theater-based hip-hop company who prides themselves on their hard-core training routine, performed a macabre dance number to "The Bohemian Rhapsody." Howie and Sharon gave them a standing ovation, and Sharon said, "Its been a tough one tonight, but it was worth it to get to you."The Magic of Puck, a cruise ship magician, did a cute act in which his handkerchief comes to life. It was a rather small act, but he seemed to keep the audience with him. Howard was very positive, but said Puck should "up the stakes" if he comes back.
Misses of the night
Drew Irwin, a 16-year-old singer from Memphis, sang "Torn." With his boyish charm and innocent demeanor, he seemed to win the audience over. Sharon said, "You did extremely well." Howie suggested that he came across as green, and Howard cut to the chase and said Drew wasn't ready for the competition yet.Melinda Hill, a stand-up comedian who spends two hours a day writing new material, started off well. While she was funny, she didn't measure up to the same caliber of the other comedians already on the show. All the judges agreed that she chose the wrong material for the show and lost the audience.
Big flops of the Night
Rudy Coby, a magician performed a dark magic act in which he brought a clown to life. Howard and Sharon buzzed him early on. Sharon said that, "The big problem with the act was that it was slow moving,"Eric Buss, a performer who released small pop-up snakes in time to music, was puzzling. The act was incredibly boring and strange. Howard Stern put it best, "This is a colossal waste of time."
Romeo Dance Cheetah, an air-guitar player came down in a red leotard and collar, was actually quite entertaining. It was clear, however, that the audience coudn't agree: Some booed loudly, while others cheered. Unfortunately, he was buzzed early on in the performance.
Cast in Bronze, a masked caralon player, played a Christmas song on a large instrument with hammers striking bells. The judges unanimously hated this act and each buzzed him. Stern said, "The costume is a D minus; the instrument isn't a pleasant sound."
The act moving on to the semifinals will be revealed on Wednesday, 8/15, at 9PM EST.
